Marlon - Vancouver, British Columbia
I wish that some of these close minded so-called Americans could live in the countries of the people they persecute. Only then could
they begin to comprehend the reason people risk their lives just to get a
crummy job in North America. Some make the trip and die halfway. They are
not brave but desperate. My family was illegal once, but we had to leave the states to be given a chance to live without fear. Fear of deportation. Immigration laws only help those that can already afford to come to North America. Lots of those that come over illegally have tried to do things legally
, but there is so much red tape that illegally is there only option. Before
people in US point fingers remember that all your ancestors were immigrants
as well. The difference is that the US welcomed them with open arms. Your
ancestors were in need just like these people. The states said" "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me
All this is engraved on a plaque inside the Statue Of Liberty.Hypocrite America!

Patricia Gonzalez - CHIHUAHUA, CHIHUAHUA
Es curioso, entre a esta pagina buscando otras cosas, y me sorprendi de lo que he leido, es bueno su contenido, felicidades a quienes la hacen!!! y al leer todo lo escrito, me encuentro una vez mas con la tan cacareada xenofobia, el racismo a todo lo que da de los que viven del otro lado de frontera.Curioso tambien, es que piensen como piensan, y sientan como sienten, cuando en otros lados del mundo ellos viven y trabajan sin que nadie los moleste, y no porque porque valgan mucho senores, sino porque en otros lados
somos gente civilizada y les guste o no leerlo, somos gente educada no solo en apariencias, no se nos olvide que tener dinero no lo es todo. Nuestros pueblos tienen lo que muchos no, cultura, historia, raices, no necesitamos disfrazarnos de vaquerita en concurso para distinguirnos.Vivo y soy orgullosamente Mexicana, y he visto como los "gringos" hablan, escriben y despotrican contra todos los que no seamos gueritos (aunque sea por la fuerza del tinte) y sin embargo a ellos se les trata como gente aunque no siempre se comporten como tal (platicamos sobre los famosisimos y siempre nefastos
spring break y demas turistas igonorantes, sucios y groseros. dije ya
que normalmente vienen de E.U???) Bravo por los que piensan que algo se deberia de hacer por ayudar a los qu
e lo necesitan sin involucrar razas, ni nacionalidades. Un saludo a todos
los que piensan y sienten asi (Alessia de Canad=C3=A1, BIEN POR USTEDES).
Y senores, recuerden voltear hacia otro lado, no solo existe el norte,
recuerden lo que dijo Don Porfirio Diaz "Pobre de Mexico, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de Estados Unidos".Un brindis por la gente buena del mundo, gracias a Dios son muchas mas toda
via, que los racistas.

boulder, colorado
I am 14 years old and u adults need 2 understand b that it is unfair to do things like this to people everyone deserves a chance and I bet it was in the U.S were in this situation we would try to cros the border to Mexico also so u need to think about things and become better people cause ppl like u r ruining the world for future generations... aka my generation....

Seattle, WA
I am also wondering how to send help to these people. Are there any organizations working with them to raise money? Has Toj's mother received treatment yet?

(anonymous)
To those of you who criticize illegal immigration so harshly, I wonder how your ancestors once entered the US? Did they have legal visas when they came from Ireland, England, Germany? Did they ask the Native Americans, the only true Native people of this land, for the legal right to work and live in the United States? May us all remember that this is a land made from humble beginnings. If you are thankful for what you have now, then maybe you should extend that to others. And realize we are all human beings. And we all deserve a chance to provide for our families. I am sure that is why your family came here in the first place.

(anonymous)
As an immigrant it is heart wrenching to see this because you know how familiar to story is. However, having had to wait almost 5 years to be granted a US visa, I have to consider those like myself who went through the process of getting to the U.S. legally.We therefore need to be careful not to go too far in the direction we are heading whereby, immigrant is becoming synonymous with illegal immigrant, they are not one and the same and the classification of illegal serves a very important purpose.
What is needed is an efficient immigration system whereby people can migrate to the US legally to work pay their taxes and support their family back home.

Horace Rumphole - London, England
I'm sorry, but these people are not the responsibility of the U.S. unless we decide so. There are countries in South America that should be fixing this problem, but they would rather lay this at our feed. Latin Americans are cruel people, who care nothing for their indigenous peoples, preferring to take care of those closer to mother Spain.
As to Catholic Church involvement, the Catholic Church is the most wealthy organization of its kind, but they would rather undermine U.S. efforts to control its borders than for the Pope to sell his million dollar robes.

Fr. Roberto Mena - Bainbridge, Georgia
It is a good report. The Catholic Church has to be very ative for future Immigration Reforms to have just laws for everyone.

(anonymous)
I hope that people take a chance to think about this and discover that the reasons that make us come to this country is not another option, it is a need!I

Hollywood, Fla.
What about the Americans who came here legally and can't afford school, homes, medical care and to give their children a decent life? We spend on those that are here illegally on the back of the aged, sick, poor and those that pay taxes, while these illegal intruders are sending BILLIONS to their home country and paying NOTHING here. That is not the way this country started.

Dawa Sherpa - New York, New York
I was wondering if there is any way for me to know what happened to the women with cancer and her treatment ? I am actually interested in raising some money (what ever I can) for her - if she allows - for her treatment.

F.C. Browne - Melbourne, Florida
Your documentary puts a real face on illegal immigration in this country. I really believe if the shoe was on the other foot of U.S. citizens, they would cross too. It comes down to survival for a lot of these people.

(anonymous)
Many ignorant Americans can't see that these people are humans too. They are just trying to live and care for their families. I don't think anyone wants to see their own mother or any family member suffer. Especially if they are sick and nowhere to live. They should concentrate more on drug trafficking not families that are just trying to live a decent life. Thanks for the documentary, we wish to see more.

Kainette Jones - Omaha, NE
While I feel for the families and the immigration system, it clearly needs a lot of work. I find it hard to believe that no one wants those jobs -- I am sure many teens would welcome a job paying $7 an hour (particularly in Iowa). I work with at-risk youth in the Heartland, and trust me -- they want jobs -- so much so that job programs implemented as a result of grant funds were overwhelmed. The need outweighed the resources.

What about the 75% of our minority men and women, young and old who comprise the penal system? They come out seeking gainful employment to keep them off the streets and out of trouble so they can take care of their families and cannot find a job to save their lives. What about OUR families here in the US?

san francisco, ca
There are billions of people living hand-to-mouth in this world. (And too often we forget about far-away Africa, unarguably the most deprived continent on this planet.)

They collapse into sleep every night with a sore back, and get hungry often throughout the day because of a low protein diets. But they're not alone -- they're alongside their family, extended relatives, lifelong neighbors, church, & culture. Things that are priceless.

To pay my way through school I worked many 'undesirable' jobs - cleaning cabins, washing dishes, pulling weeds & picking rocks from fields, and detassling corn. I was never going to make these a career, but there were many other students willing to do agriculture jobs in summer, & the indoor ones during the school year (not to mention many adults I've known who clean houses or wash dishes P/T).

Obviously, work visas are needed. And enforcement of employers has to come earlier, before a community becomes dependent on a business that is operating illegally by hiring undocumented workers. The film had much less value for showing only one perspective. The Guatemalans said they crossed the border to help their families, but it's illegal, and a gamble. Life is hard back home, but staying there to keep your family whole has a lot of value, too.

Ellen Graham - Los Angeles, CA
Sorry, but meatpacking jobs used to be 15 to 20 dollar an hour unionized jobs that were held by Americans. This is all a result of the US looking the other way to allow slave labor.

While I sympathize with people who are victims of greed, I sympathize more with the declining American middle class.

gaithersburg, mD
What gives them the right to be here illegally ? my wife is a legal immigrant and we went through a lot to do it the right way. Why should these people have it different? They broke the law and got caught.

Just because they are poor, do we let every poor person in the USA? Why can't Central and South America fix their own problems, instead of sending their people to the USA fixing the Issue in the first place.

Do we get to pick and choose the laws ? If they get amnesty do i get a refund on what I spent on my wife to do it legally? How can they spend $7K on a smuggler when they could put that money to use back home?

These jobs we done by Americans before we built this country not illegals. Who is paying for all these kids ? The immigration system is slow but not broken they should enforce the laws -- just like me and my wife had to obey.

I'm sorry Postsville had these issues but they based their economy on illegal immigrants hoping not to get caught. How are these people really helping the USA by sending their earnings back home? Just do a guest worker program; but with 10% unemployment I doubt you will get much sympathy from anyone.

Angela - Memphis, TN
I speak with immigrants both legal and illegal all the time. Their stories are both heartbreaking and inspiring. These are people who take nothing for granted in America. They see the good in jobs that many American citizens spurn. For people who struggled to make $6 for a full day''s work at home, they are ecstatic about being paid hourly wages that most people here can't understand how live on.

America is a nation of immigrants. When we see these people, we're seeing the passion for America and the passion to achieve the American Dream that our own immigrant ancestors had. The only difference is that most of our immigrant ancestors never had to fear being captured and sent back in debt. Instead, they had a chance to succeed.

Stories like this one exemplify the urgent need for immigration reform.

Alessia DiPietrodominici - St. Eustache, Quebec, Canada
When I saw this I was in complete shock and saddened. In fact, in Canada we NEED these workers and are very happy to have them here. The government has implemented a plan to allow Mexicans the opportunity to come to Canada to work. In fact, we have a farm that employs Mexican migrants. We were having a tough time finding Canadians to work on a farm.

My husband and I are both grateful that we have our employees and many come back the following year when the season starts up again. We are responsible to house, feed, pay medical expenses, airfare and we pay them above minimum wage!

There are even immigration officials that come for surprise visits to make sure working conditions are safe and that employees are taken care of. We are so ever thankful because without these labourers we cannot operate our business.

I get tired of the negative attention I hear about illegals in the US taking away jobs; especially those that most do not want to do. I was surprised they were making as much as $7/hour at the meatpacking plant. I have heard horror stories of them making as little as 4$! Also keep in mind that these "illegals" are pumping so much money to the local economy and sending money back home to help their families.

One of my employees told me how he was able to send all his children to school, help his ailing mother and support other members of his family.

We all benefit from these hard working individuals who practically sacrifice their life to support their families back home.

Krishna Kumar - San Jose, CA
It is unfortunate that the company who employed them got away lightly. Of course mega corporations have their cronies. I wish the company was penalized and asked to pay for every illegal hired, give them a year's pay, send them back.

In addition to this, the processing departments in the federal side should have come up with costs that will be borne by the company it addition to signing a contract that if they continue these practices in the future their ability to run the corporation will be seized. Of course the illegals should be deported back but in a fair manner.

But it is just like any other burning issue that this nation faces like drugs coming through the borders (in tunnels I might add). Ieffective search mechanisms of transport vehicles crossing through from Canada, Mexico is another issue largely ignored.

Unless all border problems are resolved, how can you be sure if a person with intent to harm this country will not make it?

This story has been said many times, watched many times, felt many times yet this is a transient issue till the next airing of another such case.
As always good job to the team who captured the sense of this burning issue.

Miami, FL
Yes they are impoverished and in a bad situation. My question is, does that give them the automatic right to come in illegally? Also, what would happen if our poor would come into their country and expect them to just let it go?

Jody - Stout, Ohio
An excellent film. So sad for both towns and their families. I kept thinking that it would be so easy for a group of Americans to bail this one family out... and yet, there are so many similar stories.

Even here in America, people suffer from poverty and its effects daily. Something must be done about the immigration issues. A temporary worker permit could help everyone. Donations to assist people in dire consequence is a more immediate need, as is contacting our legislators to support worker visas.

(anonymous)
Thank you so much for this amazing documentary! It really brought tears to my eyes to see what my fellow countrymen are faced with in order to sustain their families. I really hope that the USA changes its laws to help hardworking people that all they want to do is work hard to make a living, which here in Guatemala is impossible.

We are faced with so much violence and poverty that would drive anyone out of the country to seek a better life.

In any case, let's face the fact that hardly any North Americans (born in USA) really WANT those jobs anyways (cleaning toilets, working at factories, washing dishes).

George Cooke - Tavares, Florida
This is a nation of friendly, kind, and generous people, many of whom paradoxically are also racists with not a grain of pity or love for the hated minority of the moment.

Dana Wilson - Memphis, TN
This is an amazing story. This video shows something we Americans often forget -- labor is the backbone of our economy.

We may find ourselves calling human beings "illegals," but you show that these often invisible, hardworking people are as desperate as we are to keep their families healthy and safe. We all have so much in common.

Congratulations and thank you for doing such amazing work!

(anonymous)
Yes temporary work permit is the best route, or how about an exchange work permit, as a humanitarian gesture?

(anonymous)
Thank you for making this video showing why men and women risk their lives to come to the U.S.. You captured the pain and suffering of Postville and Guatemala. I hope this video will help soften the hearts of those who focus on "the breaking of the law".

Mundelein, IL
Part of the story is how do these people live on US $7 in Postville? How do they pay for medical expenses? How do they support the schools and other social services? Their presence depresses the labor costs preventing the ability to support these services. All this so Americans can have a 99 cent value menu.

Richard Mercer - Dorchester, Mass
This situation cries out for immigration reform. If the U.S. would grant temporary work permits, workers from one villiage could work six months, and workers from the other villiage would work the remaining six months. I believe this effort would not only benifit hard working Guatemalan families, but also the economy of Postville, Iowa. I realize the complex issues of U.S. illegal immigration. However, doing nothing at all will continue the revolving door of deportation and desperation for the Guatemalan people. Whats more, it hurts the ghost town of Potsville, Iowa, and the people who needed the jobs the slaughterhouse provided.

Angela Fuentes - Berkeley, California
This documentary is exactly why I became an immigration attorney: To defend immigrants against deportation. Thank you.

David Jenkins - Shelby, NC
Shattering film. I had the great good fortune to spend a couple of weeks in Guatemala with some friends working with a relief organization. They took me way off the beaten tracks and I saw these streets and met people just like those portrayed. It's a magical, exquisitely beautiful and heartbreaking place ... it changes you ... as many have noted the people are for the most part so warm and hospitable that it humbles you forever. As someone else asked, is there a fund? The woman who needs cancer surgery.
... I'll donate two hundred dollars... surely we can do something...

Shaya Manzi - Austin, Texas
Oh people, get real. These people came to the USA illegally. Sure, they owe the scum who smuggled them here thousands of dollars. They broke the law and there are consequences. Why don't you set up a fund to bring a couple million Africans who are in the same predicament to live on your doorstep? Or Indians or Afghans? Get real... Secure the borders and remove the illegals. I am African and I got here legally. Yes, it was tough and, yes, it cost $15,000 and it took 10 years, but now I am a LEGAL U.S. CITIZEN.

Betsy McNair - Santa Cruz, CA
It's heartbreaking to see the suffering in both the US and Guatemala. And to what end? There are simply no winners in a situation such as this. Brilliantly done video, Greg and Jennifer, gracias.

Elizabeth & Stephen Nivet - Berwick, VIC Australia
Thank you for bringing this very sad story to our attention. Our prayers and thoughts are with these suffering people. Please let us know what we can do to help.

(anonymous)
I am Guatemalan and I love my country, but mainly, I love my people. This is just a tiny sample of the life of hard working people, people that give their everything to feed their families and have a decent life. I am proud to say that there are lots of kind and warm-hearted people in my Guatemala who deserve a chance to achieve and make a dream come true, find a decent job and earn enough to provide their families.

Chicago, Illinois
Thank you for sharing. I have experience living in Iowa and also have been to Guatamala to witness the poverty there and the happiness of the people when they live and share.

Jeff Harrington - Lynchburg, VA
My heart is grieved with the knowledge that there are many people in the world right now who are longing for an opportunity to work hard for a simple, decent livelihood... and would consider it a miracle to enjoy an existence like an average American has at his/her disposal everyday. Somehow the systems and rules of mankind fall exceedingly short in situations like these. Injustice still runs rampant in every corner of the earth.

The story of the Guatemalan immigrants motivates me to be more grateful for our nation of bounty and convicts me to become more aggressive in my efforts of outreach to those in the world less fortunate. Every American shares in the responsibility of stewardship with the abundant resources within our reach. It is true..."to whom much is given, much is required." Most of us have been given much, directly or indirectly, and may we not squander it on merely self-oriented activities.

Longmeadow, MA
How can we help some of these people pay off their loans and get medical help. Can't we set up a fund to help them?

mark johnson - hood river, oregon
The story is certainly tragic. I have had the opportunity to visit Guatemala more than a dozen times in the past ten years. I love the people and the culture. But the fact remains that all of the folks that were rounded up in the raid made a calculated effort to enter this country illegally.

When you live life in that reality there are no guarantees. Laws may be enforced. And the consequences may be very harsh on those involved. We are a nation of laws. Some we choose to enforce. May we all promote pro-economic development policies in our governments.

meriden, ct
Your documentary is very engaging and beautifully photographed. One cannot help empathizing with these poor, hardworking people who are trying to work for their families. Well done, Greg and Jennifer.

(anonymous)
Gracias por compartir con el mundo, un pedacito de mi Guatemala. De su gente y de su realidad.Thanks for sharing with the world a small piece of my Guatemala, and the reality of its people.

Sister Mary McCauley, BVM - Dubuque, Iowa
Greg and Jennifer, I remember the day that you arrived in Postville and requested to spend time with some of our people. Your documentary is excellent. It tells a heartbreaking story and calls all of us to do what we can to reach out to the poor and to foster initiatves that promote comprehensive immigration reform.

Thank you for using your special gift to bring to light the pain of our brothers and sisters. Sister Mary McCauley, BVM

Stephanie Borise - Westport, CT
A vivid, shocking tale, expertly told and beautifully filmed.

Thank you for all your work in bringing this tragic story to light. I hope the report will bring help for these hardworking people, both in Guatemala and the U.S.

Heather MacKenzie - Winston-Salem, NC
In the end what good is served by this policy? A US employer and an American city suffers an economic setback; willing hard-working non-citizens are returned all at the expense of US taxpayers. If this does not illustrate the urgent need for temporary work permits for unskilled labor I don't know what does.

The Obama Administration must be rational about finding mutually beneficial solutions to this labor shortage issue in key industries and stop fixating on who is "breaking the law". Employers and employees would happily comply with the law if there was an available avenue for lawful immigration for such workers.

Erik Camayd-Freixas - Miami, FL
I have been privileged to know William, Rosita, and over 100 other victims of the raid, whom I interviewed in court, in jail, in Postville, and in Guatemala, over the past year. I do not pity them. I admire them as human beings, every one of them, for their honesty, work ethic and steadfastness, their humble wisdom and undying faith, their courage, and their absolute lack of bitterness in the face of unspeakable suffering and injustice.

Ilistened to their stories in awe, painful and inspiring, thinking that maybe, just maybe, if put to the test, I too might have the heart to do for my family half of what they have endured for theirs. They are a testament to the human spirit and a model for parents everywhere.

Take Willian's story, multiply it by 400 and you start to get a sense of the Postville tragedy. Multiply it by a million and you begin to fathom the magnitude of our national disgrace.

These men and women are too decent to tell you publicly how they were beaten, chained, mocked, humiliated, criminalized, and incarcerated for slaving away at the Iowa slaughterhouse in order to feed their children, and us. That much is our job, as decent Americans, to reckon with.

The regional head of immigration enforcement said: "Put that at the feet of those who broke the law."

A local citizen of Postville said: "I was shocked to see my friends and neighbors persecuted and tormented. Why? I'm glad people are documenting it, so future generations will look back upon these deeds in disbelief and shame.

Thank you, Greg and Jennifer, for sharing this burden on behalf of all of us.

Kimberly Smith - Surprise, AZ
This video breaks my heart. In a world where there is no shortage of work to be done, no shortage of food to go around, the inhumanity of our broken immigration system seems ironic for the leader of the free world. It is my hope and dream that a better future is ahead for all of us.

Oonagh Purcell - Melbourne, Australia
This is such a powerful story and video showing so vividly the interdependence of a tragic and failed world economy. The solutions are indeed complex - but not beyond our reach. The current status quo for both Villages in this story is untenable and benefits no one.

Luis Argueta - New York, NY
This excellent report shows vividly the impact on the lives of real people, inside the US and abroad, of a broken immigration system that desperately
needs to be righted.

These tragic situations can be put in context if we also look carefully at the forces that fuel immigration: a Cold War US foreign policy that sponsored a 36-year war in Guatemala, unfair free trade agreements, lax labor laws enforcement at home and our own disregard for how food is brought to our table.

Congratulations to Greg Brosnan and Jennifer Szymaszek for a great job.

Angela Zettler - Maplewood, NJ
This is an EXCELLENT video. Thank you for creating it and sharing their stories with us. You movingly captured their despair and the captivity they live under. Thank you for this video.