Short documentary, 24 minutes, color, commissioned by Al Jazeera English
Director/Camera: Amie Williams
Roughly two million young people in the US are unaware that they are classified as illegal immigrants. More than one million people have been deported from the US since Barack Obama took office. This film follows one young woman living under the threat of deportation and reveals how she is fighting back. Viridiana Martinez only discovered her illegal status after graduating from high school and realizing that she could not work or go to college. She responded in public, by declaring her illegal status and setting up the North Carolina Dream Team, which has halted the deportation of several other young people. They are also trying to push officials to support the Dream Act, which is before Congress and would provide citizenship to millions of undocumented young people.
“I’ve come out publically as an “illegal citizen” which is how my government likes to label me. My undocumented status means I am unofficially tolerated, but I am always at risk of deportation any time. Why am I doing this? I want people like me—there are millions of us—to have the right to continue living in the US.” Viridiana Martinez.
The film was commissioned and produced by Al Jazeera English for its ACTIVATE series and can be seen HERE:
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/activate/2011/09/20119411404592267.html
