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Actor and director Diego Luna says its ridiculous that immigration reform hasnt happened in the U.S. and that the work of labor leader Cesar Chavez the subject of Lunas latest film can help draw attention to the issue.

It makes no sense that this country has 11 million workers feeding, building this country, making America what it is and they dont share the same rights of those who are consuming the fruit of their labor, Luna said Tuesday at the D.C. premiere of his film Cesar Chavez, a film he directed. It makes no sense and I hope it happens. I dont see why there should even be a debate.

Its ridiculous that it hasnt happened, Luna added.

The film, which had its D.C. premiere Tuesday at the Newseum at an event co-hosted by Voto Latino and is scheduled to be screened at the White House on Wednesday, depicts the efforts of Chavez, played by Michael Pea, during the late 1960s to organize farm workers and lead a strike to seek higher pay. Luna said that movement sounded way more difficult to achieve than what it would take to pass immigration reform. He said as many as 80 percent of the workers in the fields are undocumented and that if his film can draw attention to that community, then we are talking about the necessity of immigration reform.

I do believe that if reform does not come soon, were going to regret it, he added.

Echoing Luna, was actress America Ferrera, who portrays Chavezs wife Helen in the film and who has been a vocal proponent of immigration reform herself.

Ferrera said the issue of immigration reform is still a battle, but that like Chavez connecting the farm workers struggle, it is an issue that has extends beyond the Latino community.

We need to a better job of telling that story about how the issue affects every single American, Ferrera said.

The role and importance of women in politics is also illustrated in the film, says actress Rosario Dawson, who portrays Dolores Huerta, the co-founder alongside Chavez of what is now known as the United Farm Workers.

Dawson said more youth and women need to mobilize and feel that they are a part of that conversation by looking at candidates like Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Wendy Davis.

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'Chavez' stars spotlight immigration