A passionate TV crew goes on one of the most ambitious and dangerous shoots of their lives, following groups of Chinese migrants making their journey from Ecuador into America. To reach the Land of the Free, the crew tails the migrants on a most treacherous journey across South and Central America often full of organised crime and corruption. It also requires them to trek through the ‘most dangerous jungle in the world’, the Darien Gap. In this documentary special, the CNA crew bring to light why the Chinese migrants been driven to such desperation, and if the American Dream is all it’s made out to be.
Episodes
Hundreds of Chinese citizens arrive in Jacumba, California every day, having crossed the Wall that’s meant to fence the US off from Mexico. Their sudden arrival has caught Border Patrol and local residents by surprise. Chaos and tensions ensue. Meanwhile, CNA correspondent Wei Du arrives in Ecuador, where the Chinese migrants start their long trek to America. She speaks to a group about why they chose to leave China, and travels with them from Ecuador to Colombia to get a first-hand experience of the migrant trail.
Having encountered more Chinese migrants along the way, CNA correspondent Wei Du arrives in Necocli, Colombia, where the migrants are set to embark on the most dangerous part of their journey: a long trek through the Darien Gap. As the migrants move ahead, the CNA team encounters roadblocks in the drug cartel-controlled territory. Meanwhile, in Monterey Park, California, newly arrived Chinese migrants struggle to find their footing.
The Chinese migrants arrive in Mexico, and immediately end up on the receiving end of traumatic experiences. Mexico will soon turn out to be the most treacherous part of their journey, with pressure from the government, drug cartels, and smuggling gangs. Meanwhile, in the US, sentiment is rapidly changing towards migration. Texas makes it a criminal offence to cross the Wall. New York City starts to evict migrants from shelters. Ahead of the Presidential Election, former President Donald Trump threatens a mass deportation.
