They clean other people’s homes and raise other families’ children—often leaving their own families behind. MAID IN AMERICA is an intimate look into the lives of three Latina immigrants working as nannies and housekeepers in Los Angeles, three of the nearly 100,000 domestic workers living in that city today. Judith hasn’t seen her four daughters for the two years since she left Guatemala, but hopes to give them a better future by sending half her income back home. Telma, from El Salvador, has cared for the now six-year-old Mickey since he was a baby, essentially becoming his “mom” so his mother can keep her career on track. Eva, one of the thousands of college-educated immigrants who have fled Mexico’s unstable economy, is attending night school to improve her skills, and views housekeeping as a necessary transition.

These women’s stories vividly reveal how immigrants are redefining their roles, and underscores the vital role they play in many American households. The issue of worker’s rights is introduced in the film through Dynamic Workers, a collective of women who have formed their own business to provide job security and benefits, and Domestic Workers Association, a support organization providing information and advocacy. A rare view into what is becoming an increasingly common scenario, MAID IN AMERICA offers insight both into the immigrant experience, labor issues and contemporary Latino culture.