Living Undocumented Explained

Genre:	Docuseries
Country:	United States
Num Seasons:	1
Num Episodes:	6
Language:	English
Network:	Netflix

Living Undocumented is a 2019 Netflix documentary series co-directed by Aaron Saidman and Anna Chai^[1] and executive produced by Selena Gomez, Mandy Teefey, Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, Sean O’Grady and Anna Chai. The series documents eight illegal immigrant families living in the United States.^{[2] [3]} The series was produced by Industrial Media-owned production company The Intellectual Property Corporation.^[4] It was released on October 2, 2019.

According to an op-ed written by Gomez for Time on October 1, 2019, Gomez said she was approached about the project in 2017 and decided to become involved after watching footage that captured "the shame, uncertainty, and fear I saw my own family struggle with. But it also captured the hope, optimism, and patriotism so many undocumented immigrants still hold in their hearts despite the hell they go through.”^[5]

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

According to an article by Hacking Immigration Law^[6], the two brothers and their father who were featured in the Netflix documentary series have not found any luck in regards to their immigration issues. The brother's father, Roberto, was deported back to Colombia as ICE arrested him in the parking lot of his job and proceeded with the deportation process. Currently, both brothers are in "hiding" and are separated with each other due to the fear that ICE will deport them. Accroding to the article by Hacking immigration law, Camilo declares that he does “not feel safe anywhere” and that he does not leave his house the odten in fear of being arrested by ICE. Their fear of being deported had taken the most important fro them school that they have been focusing since their were children.

Alejandra Juarez who starred in the Netflix series, Living Undocumented, is the wife of a Marine veteran and was deported back to Mexico in 2018^[7] . She was able to receive temporary permission to come back to the USA after 3 years of being deported^[8] . Alejandra Juarez was able to be reunited with her husband and her daughters. The two daughters are Pamela and Estela. Alejandra embodies the harsh reality of immigration and the painful separation from her family. Her experience highlights the profound impact of deportation on families, as seen in her daughter, who is repeating a grade due to the trauma caused by their situation.

Alejandra Juarez was able to come back to USA with the help of Congressman Darren Soto^[9] and the Biden-Harris administration^[10] . Congressman Darren Soto wrote a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to give Alejandra Juarez full humanitarian parole which allowed Alejandra Juarez to be reunited with her family before Mother's Day^[11] . Congressman Darren Soto has also introduced the Protect Patriot Spouses Act^[12] and H.R. 495^[13] to Congress that aims to help the situation of individuals like Alejandra Juarez.

Episodes Synopsis

Episode One: "A Prayer in the Night"

Episode one begins with immigrant families portraying an image of how it feels to live in the United States as an undocumented person. The beginning shifts focus and attributes the fear of deportation due to President Trump's stance on immigration and border enforcement. The episode shares three main stories:

• Luis and Kenia's story is centered around both not being residents of the United States. Luis is a Honduran asylum seeker. In the episode, Luis is seen taking Noah, Kenia's son, to an ICE detention center to be with his mother as they are both subjects of possible deportation. Luis is very scared throughout the trip as police can detain him at any given moment. Ultimately, Keina's appeal to pause her deportation is denied.^[14]
• Ron and wife have been in the United States for 17 years, living as undocumented people. They have built their business, using a tax ID instead of a Social Security number. Throughout the episode they do not reveal their last name, however, because of recent changes in sentiment toward immigration policy, they have concerns about ICE possibility of targeting them. The story of Ron and his wife shares the example of immigrants contributing to American society and economy and still having feelings of uncertainty.^[15]
• Alejandra is a mother who fled Mexico and crossed the border twice before settling in the United States. In the United States, she married a military man and settled. However, her appeal to stop her deportation has been denied.^[16] The episode makes comparisons involving irony due to the fact her husband voted for Donald Trump, who has had an isolationist stance on immigration.^[17]

These three stories are intended to show how immigrant families are being affected by immigration policies that tend to be strict.

Episode Two: "The World is Watching"

Episode two goes further in-depth into the lives of the families depicted in episode one:

• Luis goes on a typical trip to meet Kenia and her son. However, ICE does not allow Kenia to come outside and instead tells Luis to come inside and meet in the lobby. While Luis and his attorney see this as questionable, he is repeatedly reassured nothing will occur. Soon after, ICE agents come out and forcibly make Luis enter the building. His attorney is injured in the process.^[18]
• Ron and his wife's daughter receive DACA protection, which secures her residency in the United States for two years. However, because President Trump eliminated protections for immigrant children^[19] placed by former President Obama, there is worry between Ron and his wife on whether or not their daughter is safe.^[20] Ron is also faced with his mother's death, but he ultimately decides he cannot travel for the funeral as it would put his family in jeopardy.
• Alejandra has not been able to make any advancement for appeals as they continue to be denied. Attempts by her state senator to introduce a bull that would prevent her deportation were made, but they did not succeed.

Episode two illustrates how the immigration fears and anxiety have become a perpetual issue in many families who reside in the United States.

Release

Living Undocumented was released on October 2, 2019, on Netflix.

Reception

This docuseries, Living Undocumented, highlights eight families from different ethnic backgrounds allowing viewers to relate to and connect to their stories. This helps change the stereotype of only Mexicans being undocumented. Mexicans are a part of a large population of those who migrate to the U.S. which does not diminish other groups of people who migrate to this country. ^[21] The docuseries sheds light on families from Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Laos, Israel, and Mauritania which emphasizes diversity. It received a 7.2 rating out of 10 on IMDb. ^[22] Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 100% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10 for the series.^[23]

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
International Documentary Association	December 7, 2019	Best Episodic Series	Anna Chai, Aaron Saidman (directors); Eli Holzman, Sean O'Grady, Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefey (executive producers)		^[24]
News and Documentary Emmy Awards	September 21–22, 2020	Outstanding Editing: Documentary	Bradley Dean, Ed Greene, Kevin Hibbard & Vincent Oresman		^[25]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chai, Anna - Filmmaker . 2024-10-19 . DCEFF . en-US.
2. Web site: Netflix releases trailer for Living Undocumented series produced by Selena Gomez . 2019-09-18 . AV Club. 18 September 2019 .
3. Web site: Selena Gomez-Produced Docuseries 'Living Undocumented' Ordered at Netflix . 2019-09-18 . Variety. 17 September 2019 .
4. Web site: Selena Gomez-Produced 'Living Undocumented' Docuseries a Go at Netflix. The Hollywood Reporter. 17 September 2019. en. 2019-10-01.
5. Selena Gomez on America's Undocumented Immigration Crisis. Time. en. 2019-10-01.
6. Web site: Hacking . Jim . 2019-11-07 . Brothers featured in "Living Undocumented" Netflix series say they had to go into hiding to avoid ICE . 2024-12-02 . Hacking Immigration Law, LLC. . en-US.
7. Web site: Copp . Tara . 2018-07-26 . ICE to deport wife of Marine, Iraq veteran Aug. 3 . 2024-12-02 . Military Times . en.
8. Web site: White . Gary . 'It felt like a miracle': Alejandra Juarez returns to US 3 years after being forced back to Mexico . 2024-12-02 . The Ledger . en-US.
9. Web site: 2023-05-22 . REP. DARREN SOTO CHCI . 2024-12-02 . CHCI CHCI develops the next generation of Latino leaders. . en.
10. Web site: The Biden-Harris Administration . 2024-12-02 . The White House . en-US.
11. Web site: 2021-05-08 . Soto Statement on Alejandra Juarez’s Return to Central Florida Congressman Darren Soto . 2024-12-02 . soto.house.gov . en.
12. Web site: Rep. Soto . Darren [D-FL-9 |date=2021-03-04 |title=Text - H.R.163 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Protect Patriot Spouses Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/163/text |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.congress.gov].
13. Web site: Rep. Soto . Darren [D-FL-9 |date=2021-03-05 |title=Text - H.R.495 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): For the relief of Alejandra Juarez. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/495/text?s=1&r=8 |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=www.congress.gov].
14. Web site: Hart . Daniel . 2019-10-02 . Living Undocumented Recap: New Administration, New Rules . 2024-12-03 . Ready Steady Cut . en-GB.
15. Web site: Hart . Daniel . 2019-10-02 . Living Undocumented Recap: New Administration, New Rules . 2024-12-03 . Ready Steady Cut . en-GB.
16. Web site: Hart . Daniel . 2019-10-02 . Living Undocumented Recap: New Administration, New Rules . 2024-12-03 . Ready Steady Cut . en-GB.
17. Web site: Immigration – The White House . 2024-12-03 . trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov.
18. Web site: Hart . Daniel . 2019-10-02 . Living Undocumented Recap: A Sad State Of Affairs . 2024-12-03 . Ready Steady Cut . en-GB.
19. Web site: Trump on Immigration . 2024-12-03 . American Civil Liberties Union . en-US.
20. Web site: “Living Undocumented”: A docuseries to better understand the hidden lives of undocumented migrants in the United States . 2024-12-03 . en-US.
21. Web site: Mexican Immigrants in the United States .
22. Web site: Living Undocumented .
23. Web site: Living Undocumented: Season 1 (2019). Rotten Tomatoes. August 7, 2020.
24. Web site: IDA Documentary Awards: ‘For Sama’ Wins Best Feature. The Hollywood Reporter. December 7, 2019. December 7, 2019.
25. Web site: THE 41st NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMYS NOMINEES. Television Academy. September 22, 2020.