We're starting a movement to humanize the conversation around immigrants and their families in the U.S., provide a legal path to employment for guest workers, and bring an end to undocumented immigration and the exploitation of undocumented workers.
Illegal The Project
We Support Immigrants, Industries, Our Economy, And Our Country
Lawmakers have tried for a generation for wholesale immigration reform, yet we have not moved the ball much. It is a huge topic that involves many complex issues. So, it makes sense that we try another way, by focusing on making improvements one lane at a time so that we can repair the entire road.
Illegal The Project's mission is to push for incremental changes to current immigration laws that can have a meaningful impact rather than getting bogged down in “comprehensive reform” that often gets stalled due to various objections.
Making improvements to the current guest worker program will have an immediate impact on the US economy and reduce overall immigration (including illegal immigration), by providing a program that works well for guest workers, who know they can return to their home country instead of feeling compelled to bring their families to the U.S.
Illegal - One Immigrant's Life Or Death Journey To The American Dream
Illegal was an official selection at 45+ film festivals and garnered 15+ nominations and awards, including Best Southern Feature at KIFF2020 and Best Documentary at Los Angeles Film Festival and Beverly Hills Film Festival.
The movie is now available on video on demand on platforms to rent and buy, such as Apple TV, iTunes, Xbox, Youtube, Google Play, and many more!
Available To Rent Or Own Today On:
Streaming Platforms:
Cable/Specialty Providers:
AT&T U-Verse
DirecTV
Dish Network and Sling TV
iN DEMAND (Comcast)
Vubiquity (Verizon Fios)
Swank (hospitals, colleges)
The DVD is now available through:
Together, we will help our industries thrive, provide a legal path to employment for guest workers, and bring an end to undocumented immigration and the exploitation of undocumented workers in the U.S.
Raise Your Voice
We are powerful when we act together, and our work is just beginning.
Help us end the labor shortage impacting our agriculture, hospitality, and construction industries, provide a legal path to employment for immigrants who wish to work in the US seasonally, and end illegal employment and exploitation of these undocumented workers.
The only way that real change will take place is when millions of people get involved in the movement. Get involved today!
We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. Here’s what’s next and how you can take action to influence meaningful immigration reform!
Design your own letter
Once you have fully familiarized yourself with the mechanics of the formula, you will be able to launch a letter-writing campaign with just a handful of people.
Not sure what to say to your senators or representative?
Here's a sample letter to give you a few ideas. You can use our letter and put in your own representative's name and district, or design your own letter, using some of the suggestions below.
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Identify your district, county or city.
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Identify the issue as the US Illegal Employment Crisis, for example, " I would like for you to support the idea of ending the labor/illegal employment crisis in the U.S. and providing a legal path to employment for guest workers."
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Include the following talking points:
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We currently have an illegal employment system that lures undocumented immigrants with the prospects of illegal employment. A system that taxes undocumented immigrants without rights, votes or representation, demonizes and criminalizes them, and then exploits them as political pawns.
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Point out to congressional representatives that it is time to address the labor crisis in our country and provide a legal path to employment for guest workers. Doing so will allow our industries to thrive and drastically reduce undocumented immigration by providing immigrants who wish to work in the U.S. seasonally a legal path to do so.
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In tandem with expanded guest worker programs, there must be legislation requiring tough enforcement of a revamped E-Verify system that is accurate and dependable. The law must require employers to verify the legal status of each employee and carry stiff penalties and consequences for employers that violate the law.
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Functional guest worker programs and E-verify implementation would create an environment where employers and workers have only one choice – a legal one.
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If we are going to end undocumented employment, then we need to provide our guest workers with a manageable path to legal jobs so that they can come here, provide a tremendous service to our country and then return home with their hard-earned money to support their families and promote economic stability in their community.
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Sample Letter
“Our country is participating in an illegal employment system fueled by a lack of blue-collar, domestic workers and functional guest worker programs. We need legislation that provides a humane and legal path to employment for guest workers. This legislation should include an annual assessment of the labor needs of various industries and authorize the needed guest worker visas to meet those needs. We need to remove the mountains of red tape encircling our current guest worker programs in order to make it feasible for guest workers and employers to participate.
In tandem with expanded guest worker programs, there must be legislation requiring tough enforcement of a revamped E-Verify system that is accurate and dependable. The law must require employers to verify the legal status of each employee and carry stiff penalties and consequences for employers that violate the law. Functional guest worker programs and E-verify implementation would create an environment where employers and workers have only one choice – a legal one. If we are going to end undocumented employment, then we need to provide our guest workers with a manageable path to legal jobs so that they can come here, provide a tremendous service to our country and then return home with their hard-earned money to support their families and promote economic stability in their community.”
Invite People To The Website
Share the website address on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. Thank them for their time and interest and ask them to support the bill and to carry it in the House or Senate respectively.
1. Call Your Members of Congress.
Dial (844) 899-8261 now to call your representative, and then dial (202) 226-8000 to call your senators (a switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request).
Tell them how you feel about the current narrative toward immigrants in America and the civil rights abuses taking place at our border.
If you support our call to create a better guest-worker system that will help our industries hire the legal workforce they need and give immigrants a clear path to legal jobs, then say to them,
“Our country is participating in an illegal employment system fueled by a lack of blue-collar, domestic workers and functional guest worker programs. We need legislation that provides a humane and legal path to employment for guest workers. This legislation should include an annual assessment of the labor needs of various industries and authorize the needed guest worker visas to meet those needs. We need to remove the mountains of red tape encircling our current guest worker programs in order to make it feasible for guest workers and employers to participate.
In tandem with expanded guest worker programs, there must be legislation requiring tough enforcement of a revamped E-Verify system that is accurate and dependable. The law must require employers to verify the legal status of each employee and carry stiff penalties and consequences for employers that violate the law. Functional guest worker programs and E-verify implementation would create an environment where employers and workers have only one choice – a legal one. If we are going to end undocumented employment, then we need to provide our guest workers with a manageable path to legal jobs so that they can come here, provide a tremendous service to our country and then return home with their hard-earned money to support their families and promote economic stability in their community.”
2. Sign The Petition
Tell Congress To Create A Legal Pathway To Employment For Immigrant Workers
3. Email Your Board of Commissioners
Your community deserves the opportunity to voice their concerns on the topic of immigration. If you would like to provide input and learn about what our elected representatives are doing to address this issue in your county, please email your Board of Commissioners asking them to hold a public hearing on this topic.
Consider emailing them the following: “I would like to attend a public hearing around the topic of immigration. Specifically about our current labor shortage and the need for more guest worker programs".
4. Follow Us On Social Media And Share What You Agree With
This small task is super easy to do and will have a huge impact on helping us promote the film and share this movement with the eyes and hearts of the nation. When you see or read something that resonates with you, please share our Facebook and Twitter posts and engage in the conversation on social media.
By supporting this project you are playing a huge role in making something incredible that will change the narrative around immigration in America!
5. Tweet a Mighty Tweet!
Will you #GiveVoice to the voiceless of this country and speak out on #ImmigrationReform ? illegaltheproject.org #2020Election
6. Have Productive Conversations By Seeking Common Ground
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Try your hardest to keep your comments on the topic politically neutral, recognizing that both major political parties are responsible for the broken immigration system and that such a system has existed for decades under Republican and Democratic administrations.
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Engage in constructive, informative and respectful discussion on the topic and avoid social media confrontations. Try to understand opposing viewpoints and seek common ground in every situation while doing your best to educate in a kind and respectful way.