Episode 6: Peril and Promise

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Episode 6: Perils and Promise
Perils and Promise is a tribute to the life of Latino Americans in the 20th century (Telles n.p). The episode highlights Cuban migration to the U.S that saw to an influx of refugees in Miami. After witnessing the magnitude of this immigration and the backlash that ensued resulting to discriminatory state laws and the move to declare all illegal immigrants as felons, president jimmy carter calls on the Americans to accommodate the refugees. After the embrace of these immigrants, they were later blamed for the economic woes of the country.
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Control and Reforms act (ICRA) in a bid to control the number of illegal immigrants and maintain a stable source of labor for its citizens. This bill provided an opportunity for the Mexicans, Guatemalans, and immigrants from all over to become American citizens. To further control immigration and maintain sustainable numbers, states formulate their immigration laws. Stringent border measures are put in place to reduce the number of immigrants.
The American laws claim that the undocumented immigrants drain the public resources. However, in the actual sense most of the Cuban undocumented immigrants’ aid in making and sustaining the booming of businesses in Miami. Also, they thrive in politics, media, sports, and entertainment. Irrespective of these benefits, the Americans leveled racial discrimination and prejudiced against the immigrants.

The episode portrays how the immigrants would boost the American economy yet strict rules had been legislated against them and harsh border policies.
In summary, Perils and Promise depict the historical injustices leveled against immigrants irrespective of their productivity within America. This paper has highlighted a brief review of the episode. The movie portrays how a country can use immigrants to their benefits and later still blame them for problems arising within the borders even if they are not to blame.
Work Cited
Episode 6: perils and promise. Dir. Ray Telles. 2013. Online.