A new computer game allows players to take on the role of an immigrant in the United States and get a hint of the day-to-day decisions immigrants must make to become a citizens and avoid deportation.

At the beginning of the game, called ICED: I Can End Deportation, players choose from characters such as Ayesha, a green card holder who was deported for a school essay, or Marc, a green card holder who fought in Iraq and ended up in detention. 

The characters must then answer questions and make decisions as they try to live in the United States as a non-citizen. The quizzes reveal the myths and facts behind the U.S. immigration system. Eventually, each character's past comes back to haunt them and either a wrong decision or a run-in (literally) with an ICE officer puts a player in immigrant detention. There, players encounter the obstacles detainees face in seeking legal help and defending their rights.

ICED can be downloaded for free from the game's website, www.icedgame.com. It was created by Breakthrough, an organization that uses new media tools to teach about human rights, and includes a school curriculum for teachers. In many ways, ICED is more of an interactive multimedia presentation about realities immigrants face in America, but the desire to see a character "win" compels players to continue to the end and keep searching for the information that would save them. It is unclear whether it's actually possible to beat this game-perhaps a commentary the chances many immigrants have once they've been marked for deportation. But within 30 minutes of opening ICED, students and others who are just learning about the U.S. immigration system are likely to have a better understanding of its realities than if they spent the same amount of time watching CNN or most other media.