There are more than 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the United States. The political and economic ramifications of this underground, immigrant population are covered in great depth by the news media.
But the fervor ignited by fears and questions about the impact of this population drowns out a basic, human story: What is it actually like to live in America as an undocumented immigrant?
This segment looks at the underground world of “getting by” on the undocumented fringes of California society.
- “Size and Characteristics of the Unauthorized Migrant Population in the U.S.”, a report by the Pew Hispanic Center
- Korean Resource Center
- New America Media, a collaboration of ethnic news organizations
- “At Issue: Illegal Immigration”, PPIC report with facts and figures about undocumented immigrants
Listen to the commentary
May 5th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
Dear California Connected,
I was disappointed at your coverage. Many caucasians have the same difficulties. Jobs are hard to get with no drivers license. Why do they not wish to be a citizen? My students are proud to have papers and be AMerican citizens loyal to this countrry. They are happy to be here legally
and have the freedoms we cherish. Lets wxplore the reasons they do not wish to become citizens.
May 6th, 2006 at 3:10 am
There are more than 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the United States. The political and economic ramifications of this underground, immigrant population are covered in great depth by the news media.
But the fervor ignited by fears and questions about the impact of this population drowns out a basic, human story: What is it actually like to live in America as an undocumented immigrant?
This segment looks at the underground world of “getting by” on the undocumented fringes of California society.
I watched this ’segment’ on Saturday early morning programming, when most are asleddp. Why are we worrried of how illegals are “getting by?”
It seems that the ways the press ‘word’ issues broadcasted on news programming are more sympathetic to the plight of people who broke our immigration laws by coming here illegally. I never get the message that we strongly oppose illegal immigration here in the U.S. I do not get enough emphasis on this opposition of our laws. Instead, I am getting a feeling that we wish to be simpathetic to the sad plight of the poor illegal people who are now ‘demanding rights.’ They are demanding rights and receiving good publicity for their protests proudly holding up flags of Mexico. And they are given a voice and interviewed by sympathetic camera people who allow them to speak on camera, telling us in broken English, that they did not risk their lives coming across our borders, not wanting to find work here, so they should be rewarded by being allowed to be given ‘temporary permits.’ The truth is, though, none of them wish to remain temporary. They wish to live here permanently!
What are we to do? Are we going to allow the whole world to immigrate here illegally? This is already happening, and nothing is being done to stop it.
The Media and the press is not taking any sides about this issue, because the press is ‘free.’ But, I say the press seems to be a big part of our problem, at this time and the press is supposed to represent Americans and therefore represent and support our laws as Americans, not our laws as the ‘general public,’ which includes illegal aliens. This is the problem!
May 6th, 2006 at 2:26 pm
I am not an un doctemented person but my husband is. No one quite knows what it is like to have to worry every day “will he come home” “will he get stoped and sent to a detetion center” Its a awful life to live. these are people like you and me, but they hide. They have feelings like we all do, they hurt just like we do. We have faimlies and friends, we go places, work and pay taxes. But they are looked down on by some and treated badley by others.
May 6th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Your episode “Undocumented Life” is irresponsible journalism!!!! To produce a segment that tells of the woes of ILLEGAL aliens living in the United States is simply an attempt to pull at the heart strings of either the uneducated or the illegal populations.
We don’t care about the burdens of ILLEGAL aliens. If they obeyed the laws of our land and were here LEGALLY then there would be something to report about.
What next, an episode about how difficult it is to make a living selling drugs in the United States with all the law we have against it?!???!!!!
If they want to enjoy the benefits that this country has to offer, then they need to START by obeying the laws and become LEGAL citizens. Until then, shame on them, and shame on you for trying to make it seem like what they are doing is right.
I think that whenever there is a protest INS should be there to check green cards. No green cards, get in line and the bus will take you back to Mexico.
May 7th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
After watching your story on undocumented workers I wanted to comment on the one thing I noticed during the interviews. These ILLEGAL ALIENS ,as I would like to refer to them, had smug attitudes about working so hard to not get caught. The one ILLEGAL ALIEN was laughing about how he has to “dodge the authorities” just to get through the day. I hope that authorities got a good look at his ugly face. We AMERICANS have been way to good to these ILLEGAL ALIENS for too long. If you want to come into this beautiful country then EARN YOUR WAY IN!!!!! THE ILLEGAL ALIENS are costing this country TOOO much money to support them. I am so sick and tired of hearing them complain that THEIR rights are being violated. They are ILLEGAL ALIENS, THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS!!! It is not the USA’s responsibility to support these ILLEGAL ALIENS. You want to come to this country EARN YOUR WAY IN!!!!! We AMERICANS MUST ENFORCE STRICTER LAWS. What the heck is Mexico doing to keep their people there? Nothing. The Mexican government is corrupt. If that country had a democracy, ILLEGAL ALIENS wouldn’t be fleeing. I am a PROUD AMERICAN CITIZEN and if I ever go to a store where there are Day Laborers, I will pay the extra money to have A LEGAL, DOCUMENTED, employee assist me or I will do it myself. Thank you for this story and for your time.
May 8th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
as a investigative reporter for over 2 decades i remember one simple thing when i did the show on the border over 20 years ago. the border patrol is understaffed and is running at 1/30 of what they need and always has. people don’t need to blame the people who want a better life and who have already set up housekeeping in the land of the free.
June 16th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
On UNDOCUMENTED LIFE aired 06-16-06. Your reportage takes a sympathetic tone as if it is alright to break the law. Both pairs of my grandparents came here as immigrants, “signed in” and got their citizenship. These folks should do the same so they can rightfully enjoy benefits and services in the USA. It is not alright to be here, get a job, a driver’s license and other benefits without paying for them through citizenship and taxation. Finally, your sympathetic portrayal of their lives says its ok to live in the shadows and still get benefits and services.
June 18th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Why is that every time we see anything about immigration it’s from the lawbreakers point of view, with ocntinued apparent sympathy for their plight? If you were honorable, you’d have the guts to run a show about how pissed “Real Americans” are about all the negative impact these people are having on our society. For example… the $20 Billion dollars that gets sucked out of our economy and sent to Mexico each year. Or the fact that some Mexicans stole our money pouch the other day at our garage sale.
To the majority of legal Americans, the negatives out way the positives on this by far. Why haven’t you ever run an article about the majorities feelings about immigration issues?
No guts is my guess….
August 11th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
Maybe you just do not get it? The people you presented in the program are here ILLEGALLY, even though you euphemistically call them “undocumented aliens”.
Let me tell you some details from when I immigrated, LEGALLY:
It took two years (and I missed a lot of jobs during this time) and $5000 (and this was quite a few years ago, at least threee times todays value) for immigration lawyers. I had to travel across Sweden to the American Embassy in Stockholm for an interview where I had to prove that I could speak English. I had to provide papers from the police that I had no criminal background, I had to see a MD, approved by the U.S. Embassy, checking for TB, Syfilis and what not. I had to provide verified translations of all my school grades, 25 years back, even though I had an Engineer degree more recently. Who cares what grade I had in Chemistry in 8th grade? Especially for to be judged by a bureaucrat who never had a chemistry class. I had to provide a sponsor who could pay for my return trip, should I get kicked out. So this was a long and costly process. Since I decided to move here there has been two naturalizations of illegals. I was stupiud, wasting two years and $5 grand (plus the costs for all the travel, papers and translations) on time that could have used working and getting an earlier start here.
As I see all kinds of forms, with spanish translation, I usually ask for the one version with Swedish translation. I have not found any yet. Neither have I seen the Swedish National Day (June 6th) celebrated on Olvera Street. In fact, it is not even mentioned on KCET, the staion who is so sensitive to cultural differences. There sure is a (difference) between Scandinavian culture and the Mexican.
One job I applied for I was told that I had to be bi-lingual. I told them that I was, my English is pretty good and my Swedish is near perfect. “Eh, uh- we mean English and Spanish.” Why do you not say so then? I am bi-lingual and that was what you wanted, right? Numbnuts!
As comes to the program tonight, why do you take their side? They ruin our school systems, they do not pay at hospitals, they overload the emergency intakes and the prison system, they drive without license (=the necessary training and skill, which cannot be given them by handing out drivers liceses) and insurance. Just 5% less traffic on the freeways would ease up the mess, and you probably have these 5% there. What do we care if they need the car to get to their illehgal work? It is their problem and it is they who have to revolutionize Mexico so it moves into the 21st century.
What to do with the illegals? Well, maybe Mexico itself has the answer! Check out how they treat people that are illegally in their country and make a program about that! Try to get a job there as an illegal!
It is time to stop all the BS around this subject. People who willingly have broken the law cannot expect to get preferential treatment. It is like a bankrobber should not have to be worried about getting busted. Of course he should, he broke the law! If it was for to feed his family is besides the point. And what about all the millions who are playing it by the rules, waiting, waiting…? Do they have no rights?
I am royally sick and tired of this liberal garbage. Do not complain when your station does not get enough money during your fund rasings! Why do you not then go to the Mexican Consulate and ask for them for money? You are playing their cards anyway.
On the other hand, your program about the security in the LA Harbor was well made and interesting. Of course, I figured out already some 15-20 years ago what a kilo of 137 Cesium cloride and a stick of dynamite could do, and with todays GPS receivers a kid could pull it off. I also realized that the effect would be the larger by the snmart move to have different radio types for police, fire brigade, harbor security, military and whoever would need to communicate. The ships for example. As far as I know, there has been no training in communication either, so the premier will be when it needs to work. Why do I think of the Twin Towers in NYC? Well, serious problems like this needs to be handled by the competent security personell (why do I think of FYMA?) and as a foreigner I cannot be trusted to even go close to the problem, much less contribute to solve it. I have a feeling that I one day will say:”What did I say”, but I hope not, adfter all, I do live here. So does my wife and our two sons, all American Citizens.
Carl, who is paying his own hospital bills, have a drivers license, registration and insurance for the car, in spite of being out of work and facing economical hardship.