LOS ANGELES -- Some people will do anything for a green card.

Take Ariana De La Luz, who swallowed 38 grams of live tequila worms, or Diego Di Giovanni, who managed to trap a slippery pig drenched in butter, or Michael Couto, who jumped six times from one 18-wheeler traveling 60 mph to another in pursuit of six tiny green flags.

If these stunts seem extreme, bizarre, or oh, so familiar -- "Fear Factor" anyone? -- that's because they are. But these challenges don't come with a cash prize or even fame, the two most enticing payoffs for participating in television reality shows. The contestants on "Gana la Verde" (Win the Green), a Spanish-language reality show that airs nightly on KRCA-TV Channel 62 in Los Angeles, jump through extraordinary hoops, eat disgusting "delicacies" and perform odd jobs, all in pursuit of the American drea

Four semifinalists break bread together over gourmet treats, such as live crabs, scorpions and worms. The remaining two go head-to-head performing a job, such as towing a car or washing the outside of a 10-story building. The winner is picked up by a limo at the end of the show, presumably to be taken to meet with an immigration lawyer.

"If it's true what they say, that they are helping people get their papers in order, I think that's great," said 25-year-old Luis Sanchez of Los Angeles, who watches the show every night. "I don't think the show can hurt anyone. There are thousands of illegal immigrants, and everybody knows it. I don't think the immigration service is going to go after anyone because they are on the show. There are things we do out of necessity, not because we want to. Eating worms for your papers is one of those things."