Laredoans Speak: Voices of a South Texas Border City Review

Good intentions don't always translate into good cinema, and in Victor A. Martinez and Ryan Schafer's documentary, Laredoans Speak: Voices of a South Texas Border City, the need to counter the rising chorus of anti-immigration voices leads to a response no more nuanced or insightful than that which the film is fighting. Drawing on the testimony of a handful of residents of Laredo, Texas (the mayor, a local congressman, an ex-coyote), the doc consists of a repetitious series of statements about the important role that immigrants have played historically in building this country and in sustaining certain sectors of the nation's economy, while being compensated for their efforts with low pay, endless suspicion, and the threat of deportation. The film scores limited rhetorical points by having an immigration attorney contrast the relative openness of the Canadian-American border with the far more stringent regulations to our south, but even here, the explanations are far too simplistic. (In one of the film's many crude aesthetic gestures, a large title bearing the single word "racism" pops up on-screen.) And while other of the film's subjects do acknowledge the need for a middle ground in immigration policy between exclusion and unlimited access, the movie's argument only occasionally transcends its oozy nonspecificity and feel-good bleeding-heart vibe.

 
My Voice Nation Help
1 comments
Sort: Newest | Oldest
Dave Francis
Dave Francis

Enforcement through Attrition? E-Verify to support US workers!

My main contention is to evaporate the fog around the lies, which are spread by Liberals, Democrats and even some Republicans. Both main parties prefer to keep things as they have always been, but the social networks, C-Span cable, Fax, E-Mail and the internet have altered the conception of the communication around the world. Over the years the only way to contact Senators and Congress was through a letter or a phone call. The computer has given us almost instant ‘real-time’ access to the elusive leaders in Washington. So instead of receiving an answer to your requests weeks after a law has been passed, you now have the reliability of having some influence over your US, State or local representatives. The Balance Budget Amendment never passed, so neither party has a commitment to stop the outlandish spending sprees. The larger group of politicians in Washington draft laws to enrich themselves, not the people, which is being investigated. You mustn’t think that nothing can be done—we voted them into office, we can vote them—OUT.

Only the TEA PARTY has a serious concern to reduce the federal government size, trash the tax code, close loopholes for corporate, business and the complicity for campaign donor friends inside the Democrats, GOP, and selling citizens’ continuously to the highest bidder to ‘K’ street lobbyists. Our only hope is the TEA PARTY, the ordinary American who can rid us of the corruption in the center of government. Just in the last few days we have heard of ‘Insider Trading’ that is allowed for politicians, but outsiders—THE AMERICAN PEOPLE—will go to prison. Only the TEA PARTY can save America now from the decay that is deeply ingrained in Washington.

Lamar Smith’s, a Texas lawmaker was inspired to produce this piece of legislation, goes to the heart of the matter of immigration and its rapidly rising cost. Those businesses of every type have encouraged poverty from every country--to settle here. Unlike most developed countries illegal immigration is a felony, not a civil infraction as in the good old USA. They have caused this incredulous infection that has contaminated our country with a large chunk of discretionary spending, to support these people. That has affected each of the 50 states financial shortfalls for decades. The major majority realize now that we cannot keep accepting people who are desperate, and placing a strain of financial weight on public schools for their children, the hospitals and an overpopulated penal system.

No finger is pointed at any person’s race, color or spiritual dedication, but anybody who has arrived here through any means, with intent to grab as much free welfare assistance as possible. A MANDATORY E-VERIFY SYSTEM will deliver relief from illegal aliens in the labor market. Revised E-Verify is already expelling foreigners who are stealing jobs from the unfortunate 22 million workers, even though it has the Liberal press who denies its effectiveness. Unbelievable the main culprit that had an obligation to the American people through many changes of administration, have failed to close all loopholes in stringent enforcement. Not even the border fence has been completed--or any serious laws to hold businesses accountable for the damage caused by illegal alien labor. Going to Google you can help determine the terrible toll place on this nation, by out-of-control immigration. Our strength is in our votes and you can contact your political leader through NumbersUSA.

You can read all about corruption at Judicial Watch website, you can either contact ICE website, to report illegal aliens working. You can even join a local TEA PARTY online. You have to wonder who Obama and the Department of Justice as our Public Servants are obligated too. It certainly not to assist the majority of the citizens and legal residents, as the President and the judicial branch have been asserting their power on Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and now Indiana. All these states want to do is inhibit economic aliens from going there and ransacking the welfare and public entitlement programs.

As of November 18, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) and Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R-Miss.) is now co-sponsoring House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith's Legal Workforce Act (H.R.2885.) adding to the astounding 12 more lawmakers in the last two weeks, bringing the number of co-sponsors to 65, who wanting this law to reach the floor of the house of Representatives.

The Washington switchboard at 202-224-3121 is already inundated with infuriated callers, who are justifiably contacting not only the House ‘Ways and Means Committee led by Majority Speak John Boehner (R-OH) on this import legislation. Whoever answers the phone explain to them you are a voter and want your policymaker to sponsor this bill. You can also insisting that all of Congress, on both sides of the chamber co-sponsor this beneficial Bill. Every TEA PARTY member throughout America should join in communicating with every state and US Senator and Congressman.

Once we get illegal immigration under control, then ‘THE People’ can enact a standardized ‘Guest Worker’ program’ for agriculture, but with good regulated pay, conditions that must be observed. Not the incorrigible way some farmers are treating their charges today.

Attn: We must all be watchful of illegal aliens voting in the future election cycle.

 

Now Showing

Find capsule reviews, showtimes & tickets for all films in town.

Powered By VOICE Places

Join My Voice Nation for free stuff, film info & more!

Box Office

  1. Iron Man 3, 72.5 mil, 284.9 mil
  2. The Great Gatsby, 50.1 mil, 50.1 mil
  3. Pain & Gain, 5.0 mil, 41.6 mil
  4. Peeples, 4.6 mil, 4.6 mil
  5. 42, 4.6 mil, 84.7 mil
  6. Oblivion, 4.1 mil, 81.9 mil
  7. The Croods, 3.6 mil, 173.2 mil
  8. Mud, 2.5 mil, 8.6 mil
  9. The Big Wedding, 2.5 mil, 18.3 mil
  10. Oz The Great and Powerful, 1.1 mil, 230.3 mil
Movie Title, Weekly Earnings, Total Earnings
©2013 LA Weekly, LP, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Los Angeles

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city