I found
this article in the LA Times to be rather eye opening as to the blatant nose-thumbing of the Illegal immigrant community in southern California.
The contestants on "Gana la Verde" (Win the Green), an unscripted, Spanish-language show that airs nightly on KRCA-TV Channel 62 in Los Angeles, don't compete for a cash prize or even fame. Instead they jump through extraordinary hoops, eat disgusting "delicacies" and perform odd jobs ... The winner of this competition walks away with a set of immigration lawyers, who for one year work to expedite the residency process ...
The real part of the article that stands out for me though is this statement:
If it's true what they say, that they are helping people get their papers in order, I think that's great," said 25-year-old Luis Sanchez of Los Angeles, who watches the show every night. "I don't think the show can hurt anyone. There are thousands of illegal immigrants, and everybody knows it. I don't think the immigration service is going to go after anyone because they are on the show ...
"Please prove me wrong U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency!" I thought to myself. Then I read this:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials warn that contestants should not get their hopes up.
"I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on the premise of a television show except to say that they are holding out false hope to people," said Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for the agency. "You're getting people to submit to unpleasant things, holding out hope that you'll be able to change their legal status in this country, when some people are just not able to adjust their status because this is all dependent on laws. It sounds very much like exploitation."
Sure exploitation, but how about the fact you have documented video of some "Undocumented Immigrants" right in your face and won't do anything about it?
does anybody know how to get a copy of this reality show. i don't live in LA and i would really like to see this show.
Posted by: natali on August 10, 2004 04:53 PM