STC Center for Mexican American Studies Presents American Exile

The Center for American Studies welcomes documentarian John J. Valadez, as he presents his latest film, American Exile via Zoom conference on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.

CMAS has provided a QR code on the attached poster serves as a Zoom registration link. Upon registration, visitors will get a link to view the talk/documentary via email. Please note that because the session will be conducted on Zoom, there is a limit on capacity.

This documentary will make its national debut shortly after on all PBS stations. There will be a Q&A session afterwards with Valadez. 

The film is about two brothers who both volunteered and fought in Vietnam. They come home wounded physically and broken mentally from the trauma of war. Now 50 years later they are being deported. They soon learn there are thousands of veterans who are being deported after completing their service in the Armed Forces. The brothers respond by becoming veterans rights activists; with one brother attempting to confront President Trump, and the other self-deporting to Mexico where he writes a memoir of his experience, and is welcomed as a hero. The film asks vexing questions about race, national service, and what it means to be American.

For more information, contact Victor Gomez at vgomez@southtexascollege.edu.