Have you seen Superman -- the superhero, not the movie? If so, you should probably report him to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After all, he is an undocumented immigrant.
That's the thinking behind California-based artist Neil Rivas' latest work "Illegal Superheroes." The series of posters addresses immigration issues by applying current U.S. policies to characters seen as pinnacles of good and advocates of law, order and justice.
"If humans can be considered illegal according to our immigration laws, then that must be applied to superheroes as well," Rivas explained in an interview with The Huffington Post.
Rivas, a Salvadorian-American graduate student at California College of the Arts, was inspired by his childhood love of comic books and history of activism.
"I started thinking about all these comic book heroes and how growing up it wasn't a big deal where these superheroes were from and where they would end up, what borders they crossed," Rivas said. "That experience and then the heated debate surrounding immigration policy in the U.S., it just made sense to me that I would tackle that issue and challenge the dichotomy of good and evil and, more specifically, immigration policy through these comic book characters."
Rivas' colorful 'wanted' posters, show popular comic book characters from DC Comics and Marvel -- the two brands Rivas read most as a child -- like Superman, Wonder Woman and Thor with "ILLEGAL" written beneath their photos.
In the fine print below, Rivas writes:
Super heroes who enter this country without proper authorization are breaking the law, plain and simple. These "illegal super heroes" are subject to deportation at any time. Their very presence is in direct violation of federal law. To report an illegal super hero, contact the San Francisco ICE Field Office - ISH Department. Their area of responsibility covers Northern California, Hawaii, and Guam. Officers in these divisions are obligated by law to make records of any reported "illegal super hero activity."
Inspired by photojournalists and documentary photography, Rivas sees art as a vital tool for social change.
But "Illegal Superheroes," which was on display at the Ramp Gallery in San Francisco, is just the first step. Next up, Rivas plans to establish a campaign for a speciality ICE unit for superheroes -- an extension of the ICE field offices -- in an exhibition.
Check out the gallery below to see Rivas' "Illegal Superheroes."
Neil Rivas' "Illegal Superheroes" Series
Superman(01 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super hero Superman. Superman, perhaps the most notorious of all illegal super heroes, is known to have entered the U.S. countless times illegally since his first appearance in Action Comics #1 (1938). He was born on the planet Krypton and has resided illegally in Smallville and Metropolis. He is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America. " By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Black Widow(02 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super heroine Black Widow. Black Widow was born in Stalingrad of the former Soviet Union and is a former citizen of Russia. She has entered the U.S. illegally while informally assisting the Avengers, when she teamed up with Angel and Iceman, and to help Daredevil save American lives. She is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America. "By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Nightcrawler(03 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super hero Nightcrawler. Nightcrawler was born in Germany to shape-shifting mutant, Mystique. He has entered the U.S. illegally when he was drugged and trafficked by circus owner Amos Jardine, as a member of the X-Men, and while undertaking priesthood studies in Brooklyn, NY. He is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America." By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Thor(04 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super hero Thor. Thor, aka God of Thunder and Lord of Asgard, was born in a cave in Norway and is a citizen of Asgard. He is known to have entered the U.S. illegally many times including to see his love Jane Foster and to fight Loki with the Avengers. He is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America."By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
The Thundercats(05 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super heroes the Thundercats family. The Thundercats, a family of cat-like humanoid aliens from the planet Thundera, are known to have entered the U.S. illegally when they saved the world with Superman from Mumm-Ra and his Mutants in a 2004 DC crossover. These super heroes are all suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America." By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Optimus Prime, Transformers(06 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super hero Optimus Prime of the Transformers. Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, was born on Cybertron and has entered the U.S. illegally while saving the world from the Decepticons, while fighting alongside G.I. Joe and Cobra in a 1986 Marvel series, and alongside Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man in a 2008 crossover. He is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America." By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Wolverine(07 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super hero Wolverine. Wolverine was born in Alberta, Canada sometime during the late 19th century. He is a Canadian citizen with possible dual citizenship in Japan. He has entered the U.S illegally often over the centuries with most recently having done so as a member of the X-Men and the Avengers. He is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America." By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Wild Thing(08 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super heroine Wild Thing. Wild Thing is a Canadian citizen and the daughter of fellow illegal aliens Wolverine and Elektra. She has entered illegally while saving her father from Loki, while attending the Avengers Academy, and to attend high school in New Jersey. She is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America." By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
Wonder Woman(09 of09)
Open Image Modal"Hello, you've reached the Illegal Super Heroes Department for the San Francisco Immigration Customs Enforcement Field Office. This is the report hotline for illegal super heroine Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman, aka the former goddess of Truth, was born in Themyscira and is an Amazonian citizen. She has entered the U.S. illegally as a member of the Justice League of America and while running operations out of Washington DC and Boston. She is suspected to currently be illegally present within U.S. borders. To make a report, please leave a detailed message after the tone. Thank you & God Bless America." By Neil Rivas (credit:Neil Rivas)
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