‘The Bridge’ Star Demian Bichir Discusses How New Show Delves into Immigration, Border Issues

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Demian Bichir On New TV Series 'The Bridge'

Bichir stars as Detective Marco Ruiz in the FX drama, opposite Diane Kruger, who plays his counterpart in the U.S.

Mexican actor Demian Bichir is using his new TV show, "The Bridge," to point out the obvious metaphor new series' title plays on the ongoing immigration and border security debate currently being taken up in Congress.

"We need bridges more than walls, you know what I mean?" Bichir said.

"The Bridge," which premieres Wednesday on FX channel, stars Bichir as Detective Marco Ruiz in the FX drama, opposite Diane Kruger, who plays his counterpart in the U.S.

The pair is forced to work together after a body is found on the bridge connecting Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. By the end of the pilot series, they suspect a serial killer. Their partnership, and subplots involving other characters, allows the show's writers to also address immigration and political issues on the border.

The U.S. Congress is debating a proposal that would strengthen security along its southern border, while providing a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented workers living in the U.S.

"They're talking about this possible amnesty, but also they're talking about spending millions of dollars building taller, bigger, stronger walls," said Bichir during an interview in New York earlier this month. "We need to find a way of doing it right because that will not stop anybody from coming over here if they see the possibility of having a better life."

Bichir, nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for playing an undocumented worker in "A Better Life," dislikes the political rhetoric that often accompanies the immigration debate.

"Oh, this tremendous enemy called the immigrants. They're taking our jobs and this and that," he said. "They close many factories and fields in Alabama and not even one single American citizen went over there and claimed those jobs and these immigrants, these undocumented workers, just left and it became almost like a ghost town and there was not a single American claiming those jobs, you know what I mean? So it's all a circle of lies that people need to be careful and aware of."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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