by Joe Conry
At MLC’s most recent Movie Night, John Gutterman from the Advocates for Human Rights introduced and led a discussion on the documentary Brother Towns by Pueblos Hermanos.
The film moves between Jacaltenango, Guatemala and Jupiter, Florida, crossing the voices of impoverished Guatemalan families with those of concerned Florida contractors, residents and civic leaders to create a compelling narrative weave. It follows Jupiter’s mayor in her efforts to support a very successful community resource center called El Sol. An awkward dance with state and federal officials ensues, with lawmakers trying to determine the center’s legal status, weighing it against the need, and against obvious results. And that’s where it ends, more or less undecided—a divided community pleading for a legal resolution.
The post-film talk was lively. Gutterman emphasized the human side of immigration, the ground-level issues, like family, jobs, and the crucial services provided by volunteer-, non-profit-, and faith-communities. He also shared a bit of his intimate knowledge of the 2008 Postville Raid, when federal officials stormed a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, arresting and imprisoning hundreds of migrant workers.
Many discussions about immigration revolve around economics. ‘Can we afford to keep our borders open?’ ‘Is a more open immigration policy sustainable?’ ‘Is it fair to taxpayers?’ And that’s totally understandable. The issue is, after all, a global search for (or, depending on your camp, defense of) economic opportunities. But the people in Brother Towns—the frustrated contractors and migrant workers alike—are not driven by greed but by need, by an obligation to contribute their skills to the world and thereby provide for their families, and to somehow weather the shock of massive social, cultural, and economic changes.
The takeaway point for me was this: if we discuss only the economic components of immigration (jobs, taxes, medical expenses, etc.), then we advance the notion that our relationship with newcomers and guest workers is purely exploitative, and if you’ve seen this film, or have ever known or worked with any recent immigrants, you know that can't be the case.
It was great to encounter so many compassionate, informed people at Movie Night. Brother Towns was well worth the drive out. MLCers are a really neat bunch.
Thanks for a wonderful Monday evening.
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