American DREAMers

Gr 9 Up—With families divided by citizenship status and divergent political beliefs surrounding the issue, immigration reform is a hugely complicated subject. While solutions are discussed, there is little conversation about the people affected. This documentary, though, is about a group of young men and women who trekked across the country, from San Francisco to Washington, DC, in 2012 to highlight the challenges and treacherous journey migrants face when coming to our country. All but one walker faced deportation, and along the way they participated in protests, interviews, and more. This trip was not only an immense political statement but also physically exhausting, as the trekkers walked 20 to 30 miles a day for seven months. A notable point was when they participated in a sit-in at a President Obama campaign office and the protest turned into a hunger strike. This set up a series of other hunger strikes or sit-ins at other Obama campaign offices. Days later, the president issued the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which will allow children and teens who aren't U.S. citizens the opportunity to stay, but it is not a pathway to citizenship. This film is moving, with its examination of the nuances of immigration law and the accounts of immigrants who call this country home and yearn for their own American dream.