In 1938 at San Quentin prison in California, inmate Pedro J. Gonzalez recalls immigrating to the United States ten years ago with his wife, Maria. After paying the immigration fee to cross the United States-Mexico border into California, they arrive in Los Angeles at the home of Pedro’s cousin, Hector Gonzalez, and his wife, Matilde. That evening, Pedro plays the guitar and sings a Spanish ballad about Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa. Knowing Pedro was Villa’s personal telegraph operator, Matilde asks about him. Pedro says Villa had been a gifted leader, and cared for his troops. The next day, Hector receives a telephone call from Captain Gene Rodriguez, of the Los Angeles Police Department, who is in need of a mechanic. As Hector and Pedro drive to the police station, Pedro asks if there are any local Spanish-language radio programs. Hector tells him no. At the station, Hector and Gene finalize the cost of repairs as District Attorney Kyle Mitchell walks by. Hector tells Pedro that Mitchell is the “main man” of Los Angeles. Later, Pedro goes to local radio station KMPC with his guitar looking for a job. However, station manger, Charlie Wolfe, tells him the station does not play Spanish music. Discouraged, Pedro leaves. Outside at a shoeshine stand, Pedro listens to the station’s live broadcast and translates a sponsor’s commercial from English to Spanish. Returning to Charlie, Pedro says that if commercials were broadcast in Spanish, sponsors’ products would reach the city’s Spanish-speaking communities. Charlie gives Pedro a chance and lets him read the transcribed commercial on the air. Impressed by Pedro’s on-air demeanor, Charlie hires him. Days later while Hector and Pedro are at a Mexican market, police officers arrive upon the orders of District Attorney Mitchell and his re-election campaign promises to strengthen the city’s immigrant deportation policy. Hector and Pedro run, but Hector is caught. Three days later, Hector returns home after re-crossing the border, saying that he was sent to Mexicali, Mexico. Pedro goes to work and reads the KMPC commercials. Afterward, he starts to play his guitar and sing in Spanish, requesting listeners to call the station if they like the music. Upset at Pedro’s stunt, Charlie fires him. Later, Charlie telephones Pedro and says people have been calling all day for more Spanish music. Pedro agrees to return to KMPC if he is given his own program with music and commercials in Spanish. Charlie agrees. Pedro’s 5 a.m. morning program, Early Riser, becomes popular throughout the city. At the District Attorney’s office, Gene Rodriguez suggests that Mitchell advertise on Pedro’s show to gain more votes from the city’s Latino community. Intrigued, Mitchell agrees. Rodriguez arrives at KMPC and convinces Pedro it would be beneficial to air Mitchell’s campaign advertisements. In the evening, Pedro and Maria attend a dinner party recognizing Consul Davila of the Mexican Consulate for raising money for families affected by the city’s deportation raids. Later, Manuel Rosalez, a sponsor of Early Riser, introduces Pedro to his sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Linda Galvan. Learning that Linda is in the running for queen of the Fiestas Patrias celebrations, Pedro offers to endorse her. Days later, Pedro interviews Consul Davila about deportation stings on his show. Mitchell tells Rodriguez he is worried that the interview will cost him votes, but Mitchell is re-elected. That evening, Pedro is invited to Mitchell’s re-election party. While there, local nightclub singer Elsa Barron introduces him to tango singer Amparo Quintero. Elsewhere, Mitchell meets gaming club owner Mr. Silver and is offered a bribe. Though Mitchell initially rejects the money, Rodriguez urges him to take the money. Afterward, Mitchell meets Pedro and tells him to stop talking with Consul Davila. As a token of thanks, Mitchell gives Pedro papers stating he is a political exile, protecting him and his family from deportation. Later, after Pedro and Amparo talk about their love of music, they go to Amparo’s apartment and spend the night together. The following morning at KMPC, Maria questions Pedro about his whereabouts the night before. While he lies to her about the party going longer than expected, Consul Davila calls, requesting Pedro attend a union rally in El Monte that evening. Pedro arrives as Consul Davila talks about the deportation raids affecting workers’ rights. Suddenly, a raid occurs. Later, Pedro speaks against Mitchell and his deportation program. Annoyed with Pedro for not taking the exile status offer, Mitchell orders Rodriguez to stop Pedro. Meanwhile, Manuel Rosalez attempts to force himself on his stepdaughter Linda, but she refuses his advances and runs away. While alone at KMPC, Pedro finds Linda crying and begging for a job. He agrees to help her find work in the morning and walks her to the front door. As Linda leaves the station, Rodriguez sees her and picks her up for vagrancy. The following morning, Linda is released to her mother and stepfather. Rodriguez and Mrs. Nolan, a city employee, tell Manuel Rosalez that Linda was seen leaving KMPC and threaten to send her to reform school the next time she is picked up by law enforcement. Later, Charlie and Maria inform Pedro as he arrives for work that Manuel Rosalez pulled all of his advertisements from Early Riser. Maria says they cannot afford to lose any more sponsors, but Pedro is not bothered and leaves. In the evening, Maria returns home, but Pedro is not there. Elsewhere, Frankie Martinez, a well-dressed hoodlum, recognizes Linda from the Fiestas Patrias and invites her to the Club Azteca, a nightclub, for a drink. Later, Elsa Barron joins them and suggests they go the Plaza Hotel. As they leave, Rodriguez follows and arrests Linda and Elsa for prostitution and pandering. Rodriguez and Mrs. Nolan tell Elsa and Linda that if they will say that Pedro raped Linda, they would not be charged. After they agree, charges are filed against Pedro and he is arrested for statutory rape. At the jail, Maria and lawyer Julia Voitek visit Pedro. When Julia asks about his whereabouts on the night in question, he admits he was with his mistress, Amparo. Upset by his confession, Maria leaves. During the trial, Linda takes the witness stand and accuses Pedro of raping her, while Elsa states she tried to stop him. During cross-examination, Julia Voitek asks the women questions pertaining to the hotel’s name, the color of Pedro’s suit and his car. However, their answers are not the same. As the jury deliberates, Rodriguez offers Pedro probation if he agrees to plead guilty. However, Pedro declines. The jury finds Pedro guilty of first-degree rape and sentences him to prison for fifty years. Arriving at San Quentin prison, Pedro is told by the captain of the guards that if he signs the probation papers, he will be free. Pedro again refuses. Maria pleads on air, telling Pedro’s listeners that Mitchell is silencing him. Hearing about the outpouring of donated money, Mitchell meets with Rodriguez and reprimands him for his flimsy plan to frame Pedro. Later, Linda calls Maria and asks if they can meet. At the Mexican Consulate the following day, Linda recounts to Maria, Julia and Consul Davila about being coerced into falsely accusing Pedro. They go to see Pedro’s trial judge and Linda recants her testimony. However, Judge Yancey says the timeframe for appeal has passed. Meanwhile, Mitchell, fearing a recall election, hires two men to suppress any evidence supporting Pedro. Late at night, Rodriguez meets Consul Davila at the Mexican Consulate with papers proving Mitchell and the mayor took bribes. While they meet, Mitchell’s hired men watch them. The next morning, the men plant a bomb in Consul Davila’s car, which explodes when he turns on the ignition switch. However, Consul Davila and the evidence survive, and Mitchell is taken to trial, found guilty, and removed from office. In 1940, after six years in prison, Pedro is freed. However, he is deported to Mexico. In 1972, Pedro is allowed to return to the United States.