as he has no papers, he cannot be. While working at the church one day, Marta discovers that Samuel is undocumented. Understandably, she becomes upset, and eventually confronts her father. The same day that Maria discovered her fathers status, despite Samuel's warnings, Jorge gets a job at a warehouse that is known for deporting illegal employees on pay day. Sadly, he gets caught by the police, and is likely deported (the capture is shown; the deporting is not). Despite her father's wishes for her to not date Ramón, she goes behind his back and enlists him for help in getting all of Samuel's previous employer's signatures, so he can get his papers. Meanwhile, Jorge is deported to Mexico when he fails to present his papers. Also, at Samuel's plant, more and more employees are being fired or deported, and Samuel fears he may be next, so he is hard at work trying to find a second job, one that does not require papers. Meanwhile, Marta gets all but one signature, and goes to an auto salvage yard for the last one, but the manager is rude and stubbornly refuses to sign the papers. Marta is persistent, and the manager has a change of heart and manages to sign the papers. Also, Ramón learns how to read and surprises Marta with it. She presents her father with his signatures, and he sends them in for their papers. Soon after, he is given his temporary papers to show at his job, as it will be a while before their permanent papers arrive. Samuel thanks his daughter and they embrace. However, Marta is soon told that they found that she had been tampering with the files and she has to go inside. Expecting the worst, she discovers a surprise quince. During the quinceanera, Ramón shows Marta that he had learned to write. Cast Karla Montana as Marta de la Cruz Panchito Gómez as Ramón Jerry Stiller as Mr. Waterman Tony Plana as Samuel Dela Cruz Robert Covarrubias as Jorge Laura P. Vega as Gabrielle 'Gaby' Corea Giselle Anthony as Jackie Reception The film received positive reviews because of its realistic and non-biased depiction on the touchy subject of illegal immigration, but negative ones due to the acting. It has become somewhat of a hidden classic and is commonly shown in Spanish classes because of its clean, family-friendly depiction of Mexican culture. References External