Documentary about U.S./Mexico border hits on issues in Merced

Merced native Rodrigo Reyes screened his documentary "Purgatorio: A Journey Into the Heart of the Border" for residents in his hometown, and followed it with a panel to discuss issues raised by the film. One such issue was the experience of undocumented residents, a population estimated to be near 25,000 in Merced County. "I’m a U.S. citizen but my parents are undocumented. I see firsthand the way they have internalized this feeling of being a second-class citizen and feeling like they’re less than because they don’t speak English or because they don’t have the best jobs." Folks in attendance reflected on how their community feels about the border to youth reporters from We'Ced.