Foreign Parts about the US Cities - Movie Review Example

Task Verena Paravel directs the movie “foreign parts”. Its setting is at the outskirts of New York in a small segregated place called the Willets Point, which is characterized by the vibrant and impoverished community who survive on small auto businesses. The objective of this essay is to examine the movie “Foreign parts” and offer a critical point of view relative to the aspect of immigration in the US. As a point of departure, majority of the population living at the Willets Point are all immigrants of Spanish. They live in miserable conditions characterized by mud houses and dirty water. This situation conflicts with the tenets of the American Dream that all men are created equal and their creator has endowed them with rights such as right to life, liberty and pursuit fro happiness. The movie “foreign parts” tends to give a glimpse on the status of the immigrants who moved to the cities of the US. Junkyards and auto repair shops characterize the lives of immigrants in this small town. In essence, the life is full of misery (William, 114). This neighbourhood seems to have illegal residents. There is only one legal resident and this necessitates the director of this movie to engage in sociological inquiry, which does not have a narration. This aspect elicits potent sub cultural immersion. In essence, the economic, class conflict and other social problems makes the directors to give the audience a notion that the American Dream has not been fully realized and hence, it is time they look at the possible causes of both social and economic problems associated with the immigrants, which are perceived to preoccupy the most of the American population. In reference to the immigration policy and the American immigration problem, the movie depicts the immigrants at Willets Point as dragging the American nation behind in terms of development and modernization. The displaying of the poor living milieu, small business involving auto scraps sometimes obtained through illegal means is a clear indication of the dissatisfaction of the earlier immigrants who may be claiming of originality. The director depicts a picture of the American social and economic problems as enrooted from the immigrants. The existence of low-level neighbourhoods is immensely attributed to the dense populations of immigrants still moving into the US. The aspect of immigration policy comes into perspective when social problems such as poverty, drug addiction, jail life, overpopulation in some cities among others have aroused various opinions over the issue of immigration (William, 114). The opinions include opposition and support of immigration. It is notable that, over the past 20 years the immigrants have encountered strenuous opposition from earlier arrivals who cite that the nation is full capacity and cannot accommodate more people. On the other hand, a section of the earlier immigrants argue that those intending to close the doors to the immigrants fail to understand two things which include, failing to appreciate that the social- political and economic forces precipitates the immigration trend, and also underestimate the US’s capacity to absorb people (Susan, 69). These conflicting views have necessitated the policy makers in the US to assess on the causes of immigration. It is evident that a greater percentage of the causes of immigration are driven by overpopulation in the immigrant’s country, poverty and poor economic levels. The generalization and assessment of these views brings the US immigration policy makers to an agreement that the decision on whether to allow immigrants is a humanitarian matter; however, ways should be devised to curb illegal immigration (Saskia, 59). The aspect of illegal immigration has seen the policy makers suggest for amendments to the immigration policy since 1965 up to presently. Some of the primary considerations of a sound immigration policy include a policy that selectively allows immigrants for reunification and refugee settlement. The situation reflected in the movie, the residents of the Willet Point is a broader picture of the illegal immigrants in the US. With this picture in perspective, the policy makers have endeavoured over numerous years to ensure that there is a mechanism enshrined in the constitution, particularly on the article for immigration policy that would offer only legal immigrants space in the US. For instance, in 1965 and 1986, the reforms that were passed on immigration policies aimed at reducing the number of immigrants by supporting the economic and political programs in the immigrants’ countries. These were intended to open up democratic space and allow economic expansion in a bid to make the lives of the inhabitants comfortable. It is imperative to note that, this policy did not do much in curbing the immigrants and this trend has seen continuous policy amendments to cater for the ever-changing global trends that are attributed to the US immigration (Brenda, 67). The various aspects that the residents of Willets Point undergo, despite paying taxes to the government tells us something is a mess with the nation’s policy on development for all. In essence, what is happening to the immigrants in the Willets Point does not reflect the tenets of the American Dream. The poor conditions of living, the anticipated development that remains stagnant for years among other atrocities that limit the people’s happiness and comfort is a sure indicator that, some immigrants in the US are regarded as third party citizens (Saskia, 56). Considering the labour pattern in the Willets Point, it reflects the wider national labour pattern since 1970s, which is characterized by the cheap and unskilled labour from the immigrants. We see the immigrants at Willets Point do small business and offer cheap labour in the garages to earn a living (Alan and Ferguson, 39). This is an indication that, not all the Americans are equal in terms of rights to good life and amenities. There others who offer cheap labour in exchange for a meagre salary, there others living on the mercies of others. This implies that unless there relevant amendments on the immigration laws, numerous immigrants will continue to suffer, as it is the case with those living in Wallets Point. Another issue that is evident in Willets Point is the cultural integration. The locals seem to bond well and accept their miserable living conditions as part of them. For instance, when the city development committee came with a plan of changing the Willets Point streets into modern city designs the locals refused by citing that they will lose jobs. This is an indication that besides the benefits attributed to the immigrants; they stall the development plans of the US government, hence derailing the realization of the American Dream. This forms one of the disadvantages of the immigrants (Alan and Ferguson, 34). This implies that any further amendment on the immigrants’ policy should include the laws guiding the immigrants, particularly those who would live in isolated streets across the US. In conclusion, the movie “foreign parts” is a reflection of the aspect of immigration in some towns of the US. The movie reflects existence of conflicting aspects that do not meet the values of the tenets of the American Dream. Some immigrants’ are not able to access proper service despite their struggle to pay taxes through their odd jobs such as those living in Willets Point. It is imperative to note that, the government should align the immigration policies with the ever-changing global trends to ensure that, the immigrants are able to access all that they need from anywhere as long as they live on the US soils. The policy makers should carry out detailed research on the causes of immigration and draft apt ways of averting the issue. Work cited Allport, Alan, and John E. Ferguson. Immigration Policy. New York: Chelsea House, 2009. Print. Chalfin, Brenda. "Border Security As Late-Capitalist “fix”." (2012): 283-300. Print. Coutin, Susan B. "Cultural Logics of Belonging and Movement Transnationalism, Naturalization, and U.s. Immigration Politics." American Ethnologist. 30.4 (2003): 508-526. Print. Dudley, William. Illegal Immigration: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Print. Sassen, Saskia. "Americas Immigration “problem”." (2008): 319-325. Print Read More