ICED makes game out of Immigration debate

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 18th 2008 at 6:45PM }

A new free download game for PC and Mac looks to inform people of US immigration practices targeting legal permanent residents, asylum seekers, students and undocumented immigrants. GameDaily explains that ICED (I Can End Deportation), by international human rights organization Breakthough, seeks to give players another perspective on the immigration debate. Playing as one of five characters with different backgrounds the player can end up being deported, incarcerated, voluntarily deported or become a citizen.

The game's designer, Heidi Boisvert, says the game was created to show people what happens to thousands of immigrants on a daily basis. She hopes that people will become more aware of the scope of the situation through the game and take action. The download is less than 100 MB and takes 15-45 minutes to play. At least this game is a little more sensitive and culturally relevant than Border Patrol.

Tags: boisvert, breakthrough, iced, immigration, politics

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

eugene @ Feb 18th 2008 6:51PM

aww, poor criminals, lets feel bad for them. Boohoo. They only broke our laws to try and make a better life for themselves... wait... isn't that what ALL criminals do?

kavendano14 @ Feb 18th 2008 7:58PM

What a dick, you would do the same shit too if your family was starving fucktard. Typical American. Jack White could'nt have said it better "White Americans nothing better to do, why dont you kick yourself out? You're an immigrant too!"

eugene @ Feb 18th 2008 8:14PM

Again, how is that different from any criminal? Besides, America already has more LEGAL immigrants than every other nation on earth put together. And last time I checked, we weren't turning riot police and fire hoses on our illegal immigrants like some countries... like FRANCE. Nor do we have barbed wire fences with soldiers armed with machine guns on our borders... like, oh MEXICO.

So before you start wailing on the evils of America, maybe you can do some research and see how the rest of the world handles criminals, who sneak into their country, steal the identities of their citizens and mooch off the system.

kavendano14 @ Feb 18th 2008 10:32PM

I'll tell you how other countries handle it, they deport them immediately instead of waiting for 13 million to sneak the border. You guys wouldnt be bitching about it if you actually followed protocols instead of waiting for more illegal immigrants so they can work the land and do the jobs that the "inferior" (read:not white)would do for you. I guess you are fixing the problem right now by writing a comment on a videogame blog so i'll let you live your life and I'll live mine.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 18th 2008 10:47PM

Someone's a racist here, and its not Eugene.

Why don't you take your white hate to the black panther forums, I'm sure you'll be much more welcome there.

Yishai08 @ Feb 19th 2008 1:54AM

I've worked the same jobs that many illegal immigrants work for several years and the bottom line is, when it comes to our illegal immigrants particularly from Mexico, a large majority of them are here with absolutely no intention to EVER become legal citizens. They're here to rake in the cash and send it home to Mexico. There are actual programs designed so you can legally work here and send money to your family in another country. I worked with a large number of Jamaicans that did just that. However, employers like to work Illegal Immigrants long hours with low pay so a sort of unspoken deal has been arranged.

The game made some valid arguments to immigrant cruelty but then called things like US Americans losing jobs to immigrants a myth. It also said it was unfair that illegal immigrants pay taxes but can't vote, which is just ridiculous, you have to have your feet planted in this country with the intention of being a part of this country before you should be given the right to vote. It makes some valid claims about cruelty to illegal immigrants, but it's conclusions are nothing short of propaganda.

rokerovakero @ Feb 19th 2008 2:57AM

eugene, are you a neo-nazi? hope you not part of the Ku Kux Klan... you sound like one.

eugene @ Feb 19th 2008 5:35AM

wow, what a typical response from the opposition. Can't attack the arguments directly, well then, attack the person saying them.

If you've read any of my posts, you wuld see that I'm in favor of immigration reform that I find many things about our current system to be inadequate. Further, unlike some people here, I have not resorted to name calling nor race baiting.

I find it completely laughable that you would see my support of keeping illegal immigrants out of this country as my somehow being associated with a hate group. However, I find it completely in keeping with the sort of nonsensical, red herring, vulgar and insulting response that usually comes from your side.

na2ru1 @ Feb 19th 2008 11:13AM

@eugen
Y wud it be of any of your concern. a lot of you's rant on as if they gna hav to f*cking share ur bed!

AND unless u expect to take up a job in car wash or a kebab shop for ur entire life, jus be a bit more considerate - they wud hav nothing to do wit u except take up low profile jobs,

U didn't and DO NOT have anything to do with the welfare of ur country. U did NOT build(destroy?) the economy. U do NOT own every acre of the land. u are at most a gamer like me

Maybe so u work, in some case work ur ass off. but u are provide with minimum wage.

U ARE JUS A LUCKY BOY TO BE GIVEN LIFE IN A DEVELOPED COUNTRY. Give those guys a rest.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 19th 2008 12:17PM

Your post is a crime against the english language. You might have a point, if I could possibly read it.

yes, we are lucky we were born in the United States. Yes, we have a developed country and a booming economy (relatively speaking). But that does not give the rest of the world's citizens the right to invade it and take or ruin what the sons of this country and the legal immigrants have worked so hard to build.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 19th 2008 12:33PM

I freaking hate the sense of entitlement everybody seems to have now.

"I'm poor, and you're rich. But you don't deserve to be rich, I do, so I'm going to get the government to take your riches and give them to me" or "Life hasn't dealt me the hand I want, so I'm entitled to do whatever I want to"

Look, just because you're poor and we're rich doesn't give you the right to mooch and steal what we have. If you want to live in a rich country so badly, then go though the legal means of doing so or help reform your own country. Being poor doesn't give you the right to break the law to become rich.

xGeneral DEATHx @ Feb 19th 2008 2:29PM

Amen, Crono. Amen.

Chris @ Feb 18th 2008 6:54PM

I bet the guy who made this was a immigrant

Damian G. @ Feb 18th 2008 7:03PM

In the grand scheme of things, we're all immigrants - it's just that now that there is a legal process to enter a sovereign State, we differentiate between illegal aliens and immigrants.

(Cue "The More You Know")

Tiptup300 @ Feb 18th 2008 9:00PM

I bet the creator of this was an illegal immigrant from american law.

Yishai08 @ Feb 19th 2008 1:53AM

I actually played as a polish woman and her voice sounded mexican... lol. Not only that but when I went to detention the police called me "monkey". What police calls a blond hair blue eyed girl monky? Sexual harassment maybe, but monkey. I tried out the Asian kid to see if he sounded Mexican too, he didn't but the accent seemed really ignorant.

Jonawllen @ Feb 18th 2008 6:58PM

I don't think anyone's opinions will be swayed on illegal immigration based on an emotional appeal for sympathy. If anything this game will raise more hate as people see it as a case for entitlement.

Britton @ Feb 18th 2008 6:59PM

I could care less who stays here as long as they pay taxes. Everyone deserves a fair chance, right?

Leonidas @ Feb 18th 2008 6:59PM

Yeah, keep those Americans out of Canada!

kinshadow @ Feb 18th 2008 7:34PM

ewwww... That place is full of Canadians!

tmacairjordan87 @ Feb 18th 2008 7:01PM

so is this game trying to tell me i should be respectful of illegal immigrants rights when they really dont have any since you know...they're not citizens?

too bad tasering isn't an option, I'd love to get my guy tasered then be like DON'T TASE ME BRO!!

Fernando Rocker (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 18th 2008 7:01PM

I, as a legal resident... let me tell you. The illegal mexicans inmigrants are lazy mexicans that doesnt want to work. They want an easy life. Period.

People with studies and worker mexicans doesnt need to go to USA... I have double citizenship because I wanted to expand my little bussines, not because I need it.

3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Feb 18th 2008 7:06PM

Fernando, you are so wrong.
I as an immigrant turned citizen, with better grammar than you, can tell you that immigrants are not lazy. They actually work harder than us. They start their own businesses whether they are auto shops, restaurants, or construction companies are way better than American born Mexicans that steal and join gangs.
Yo sabia que estabas medio menso, pero no sabia que tu eres una idota!

Fernando Rocker (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 18th 2008 7:09PM

Cada dia, decenas de deportados se quedan aqui en Nuevo Laredo (a muchos deportados los regresan a esta ciudad), y los indices de violencia y robos se ha incrementado demasiado.

La mayoria de esos criminales son los "mojados" que se quedan en Nuevo Laredo sin hacer nada de provecho.

Fernando Rocker (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 18th 2008 7:10PM

*Not everyone... but a big percentage of illegal inmigrants.

3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Feb 18th 2008 7:13PM

La problema es que tu vives por la frontera. Si te vas mas arriba Norte, los mojados son los trabajadores. Muchos de los mejicano americanos venden drogas o estan en gangas. debes de ir a otra ciudades como San Antonio y Amarillo.

Fernando Rocker (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 18th 2008 7:18PM

Mira... en verdad no quise ofender, ni quiero ofender a nadie...

Hemos tenido muchos problemas aqui en Nuevo Laredo, incluso en Laredo, Tx... se esta infestado de Maras... hay muchos secuestros express por parte de toda esta gente...

Muchos deportados se estan quedando aqui en Nuevo Laredo y no quieren trabajar... quieren todo facil...

No digo que todos sean asi... pido disculpas si ofendi a nadie. No quise ofender, y mucho menos siendo yo mexicano.

3cubed minus 3squared plus1 @ Feb 18th 2008 7:24PM

Esta bien. Perdoname por llamando te una idota.
Aver si cuando sale Brawl jugemos y puedemos hablar :)

Fernando Rocker (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 18th 2008 7:26PM

Claro... disculpame tambien tu a mi... estos son temas muy delicados, y no pueden tratarse por medio de un blog. Mejor dediquemonos a los que nos gusta, videojuegos. =)

Y pues, espero que todo se pueda solucionar.

Arturo @ Feb 18th 2008 7:26PM

Fuck you. None of what you say is true. I am not of legal status and work hard to have what I do. It disgusts me that people here can legally achieve great things and can fail so miserably and take all they have for granted. It's laughable that I have amassed more education, proper grammar, etc. than many "citizens" of the USA.

Ghen @ Feb 18th 2008 7:36PM

My company has employed some of the same illegal mexicans for the past 10 years. The past 4 years 2 of them decided to go legit and we've been helping them the whole way with the thousands of dollars it costs to do so.

Point being, they're all damn hard workers and I wouldn't fire any of them for a lazy legal Mexican or a lazy white guy or a lazy ANYONE. Our company is so much more efficient now that we found these particular people over the high school drop outs who used to work here. Plus, everyone is happier all day including me. We all eat lunch together, joke around, and still get the job done while having a good time.

So your idiotic stereotyping holds no water. Anyone from any background can be a good worker just like anyone from any background can be a lazy asshole with a chip on his shoulder. It doesn't matter.

Brian @ Feb 18th 2008 7:40PM

I don't know about that; Teenagers today seem to be the laziest workers, can we deport them?

kinshadow @ Feb 18th 2008 7:39PM

Una cerveza, por favor.

Tengo una fiesta en mis pantelones.

(That's the only Spanish I can remember. It's suprisingly useful)

Mr.ESC @ Feb 18th 2008 7:44PM

"una idota!"

Lolque?

Nazi de la gramática reportándose.

Neebs @ Feb 18th 2008 9:00PM

Mi español de escuela secondaria no puede ayudarme aqui. Yo debo sacar un año más, por que yo no puedo comprender nada.

James @ Feb 18th 2008 9:25PM

I'm sorry I'm pure British so I don't really care. But LOL at the Mexicans going mad XD

Mr.ESC @ Feb 18th 2008 9:36PM

Racism, people speaking other languages, bad grammar, retarded responses, british assholes.

Hey this like the xbox live except for the tea bags and that no one has said the N word.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 18th 2008 10:50PM

...
"The N Word"

There, I said it. :)

Mr.ESC @ Feb 18th 2008 11:39PM

No you have to say Ni..oh you almost got me.

Well I tea bagged Eugene so yeah this is pretty much the xbox live.

upz @ Feb 18th 2008 7:04PM

I don't think I've ever seen so much narrowmindedness in one thread. And we're only eight posts down.

Mykalson @ Feb 18th 2008 7:17PM

[dripping sarcasm]
Wow, What an excellent post!
Everyone who has strong convictions on an issue should *automatically* be labeled narrow-minded and should be ridiculed for it.
Keep up the good work.
[/dripping sarcasm]

ThornedVenom (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 18th 2008 8:53PM

Trust me, it could be worse.

HAIL LUDWIG!

upz @ Feb 18th 2008 9:02PM

Well, my good friend Mykal, when you use "conviction" as a synonym for "unwavering ignorance," then yes, by all means.

Jackass.

Misquito @ Feb 18th 2008 10:47PM

well, by "Unwavering ignorance", you mean "prefer people going through legal means" than i prefer to wallow in ignorance then be an enlightened being such as yourself.

I've worked with many immigrants, mostly nice with the occasional ass hole (guy who decided to cut me in line), but the thing i really take issue with them expecting me to to speak THEIR language.

Mykalson @ Feb 19th 2008 12:48AM

So, my good and dear friend upz, what you are saying is that anyone who disagrees with your point of view is ignorant?
Since they don't agree with you, they must not know what they're talking about, and therefore have no grasp of the issue at hand?
It doesn't even matter which side of the issue you come down on, that is the very definition of petty, arrogant narrow-minded behavior.
You haven't even mentioned *what* you believe, as if your mere statement of superiority insures the plaudits of your supporters and the derision of your enemies.
Take a good look at yourself, pot, before you complain about the stainless steel kettle next door.

upz @ Feb 19th 2008 10:15AM

Need I mention that neither have you?

Nevermind the fact that I could be criticizing neither side of the issue, but instead the unswerving conviction of those on both sides of the argument?

What do you call someone who jumps to conclusions about others jumping to conclusions? I think you should check the kettle again, speedy. Looks like it's starting to rust.