Immigration Nation (2020) s01e03 Episode Script

1
My case is now in the government's hands.
The government can decide
if they want to give me the opportunity
or they don't give me the opportunity.
- Eric.
- Huh?
How are you?
Good, and you?
Good, my son.
I'm glad to see you.
This is the first time I've seen you
on a video call.
Where are you?
I'm here, next to Milo.
Are you together?
Yes, my son.
Do you want to come here? We are close.
We are far.
Rebecca! Rebecca!
I want to see you.
I'm tired.
Tired, sweetie?
Tired, but beautiful.
Yes, I'm tired.
One day, in any moment,
we can be together.
That's not going to happen.
What?
What I want is for you to send me money
to buy a piece of land and a house.
And then down the line,
if you ask me to come,
I'll tell you, "Okay."
That was not the deal.
Yes, but no.
For the moment, let's worry
about paying what we owe and my house,
a plot of land and then, "Rebecca, come!"
And then I'll go with pleasure.
Do you like that idea?
I do!
Do you like that idea?
No. No.
Why not?
Because I want to have you close.
- Huh?
- Is it not better to be together?
- Huh?
- At the moment
- Yes.
- No.
Yes. Do you not love me?
I love you plenty,
but I want a house first
and a piece of land.
What do you want more?
Love between family or material things?
If they deport us, where will we go?
Okay. So, don't talk anymore about that
to me.
Rebequita. Don't be like that.
I'm not like that.
This nightmare started
the day you got arrested.
I'm running a name right now.
- What have we got?
- No movement yet.
We have two vehicles,
both belonging to the individual,
so hopefully
they go to work at some point.
Even though they're not
legally allowed to work,
they're working. We know that.
You know, they have to
They do what they do to survive.
You know?
That's why they drive.
They're not allowed to drive,
but they drive anyway.
And the more they do,
the more they put themselves out there.
If people
stayed home,
they probably wouldn't be encountered
all that much,
but you gotta live.
It is what it is. I mean
Tango?
Um, no.
- You got his ID?
- Yeah.
- Your name is Brian?
- Yes.
- You're from Honduras?
- Yes.
- What type of work do you do?
- Construction.
Please let me go.
He was arrested
by Border Patrol at the border.
Have you been arrested by the police here?
- Nothing?
- No. Nothing.
I have a son here.
That's his child's birth certificate.
- He wants you to know he has a child.
- He waits for me.
We're gonna take your fingerprints, okay?
Here. All right.
- Do you wanna hold this?
- Yep, I got you.
All right, let me see
your right hand here. Thumb.
Technology at its best.
Where it gets sensitive is
when the kids are involved.
I'm a dad, and I have a grandchild,
and it's tough when the kids are involved.
No guns, no knives, no nothing? No knives?
Nobody wants to see children hurt.
Sometimes, it happens.
It's not very nice, but
that's the law.
Bad timing for that dude to be coming out.
Yeah. But you did the right thing, though.
You had to move in.
You had to make contact.
Collateral damage there, man.
Even under the Obama administration,
when we had the priorities,
that really didn't limit anything.
What people didn't realize is
there was this little
I call it the fine print at the bottom
that said,
"You can arrest anybody
you basically want to,"
you know, if you think
they present a threat to the United States
"or could possibly present a threat,"
and we did.
It's so easy to say, "You got arrested.
Boom. You're a threat to public safety."
It doesn't matter what for.
There's millions of people to choose from.
Ma'am.
Every person
that commits additional crimes
here in the United States
after entering illegally,
every one of them we take
off the streets makes everyone safer.
Here in Charlotte, we were able
to do a lot of our enforcement work
inside the jail
with our local law enforcement partners.
Everyone that is brought in
to our arrest processing,
which is, last year, over 35,000 people,
they're asked the same two questions,
every single person:
Where were you born?
Where are you a citizen or national of?
Depending on how they answer
those questions,
is whether they're gonna enter
into the 287 program.
There's thousands of jails
across the country.
ICE can't have officers
at every jail all the time.
We have limited resources.
We're not there all the time.
If you're a 287 program,
hey, you get arrested,
a local deputy is right there.
Run the checks.
Find out who that person is.
So it's faster,
and people don't slip through the cracks.
So, essentially, it's a force multiplier.
So, a person is brought in for,
let's say, DWI.
There's no ID on them.
We don't know who they are.
They're ran through this federal database.
So, if we do not have this program,
they will be released
back out into the community
once they satisfy their state charges.
But because we have the program,
ICE comes in,
and at that time, ICE makes the decision
whether they're removed
from this community, or they're not.
Most likely, they will be removed
from this community,
because they're here illegally.
The fundamental premise
of law enforcement is
that federal, state and local
work together collaboratively.
And why it's a big issue
in Mecklenburg County
we've been doing this for 12 years.
Just right now, it's an election.
The sheriff's a really good guy too.
Just, you know
sheriff's an elected official
in North Carolina, obviously,
and he's gotta do what the voters want.
So the sheriff
who's currently in office right now,
he supports a few programs
that are a little problematic.
Yeah.
So, I'm Latino, and I'm an immigrant,
so for me, one of the biggest issue is
that he's partnering
with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
to basically deputize sheriffs
and place people
into deportation proceedings
if they come in contact with the jail.
And that could be something
as little as a traffic citation,
driving without a license.
So, we're really trying to make sure
that people know that on May 8th,
you can go out to vote.
- Okay.
- You can vote for our community.
- Okay.
- Yeah.
So we're trying
to push people to vote for Garry McFadden.
Because he's committed
to ending the program.
If we can get more Latinos out,
it will make a big difference.
- I wish I could vote.
- I wish I could vote.
I can't vote.
So I'm trying to motivate people
who can vote
to vote for issues
that will affect people like me,
people who like
who are affected by these policies.
Go tell everybody you know.
If they live in Mecklenburg County,
it matters so much right now,
'cause we have a possibility
of getting rid of the program.
Five seconds.
Hi.
Please, McFadden,
- we want to do something.
- Sure.
I, Garry McFadden, promise
that I will burn the 287 if I got elected.
I, Garry McFadden,
promise I will burn 287.
I want him to sign this
for "The Voice of Immigrants."
- You're going to sign it.
- Burn it!
Sign here!
We're just leaving the literature.
We're just leaving the literature,
and we left one on your door.
Thank you, ma'am.
I worked in homicide for 22 years.
287 has hindered my investigations.
Why?
Witnesses don't wanna come forward.
Even victims don't wanna come forward.
They are reluctant to talk to us.
People won't even name the suspect
because they're afraid
they will also be deported.
People approached me,
and one thing stood out
more than anything else was that fear,
the fear of being deported,
the fear of, you know, coming home,
and your father is gone.
Do I understand that? Yes.
In the African-American community,
we have that fear of being shot and killed
by law enforcement.
So when the people are talking
about these fears and uneasiness,
I can relate to that.
I do believe that once
the government's got their sights on you,
you're done, man.
It doesn't matter what you do.
You're done.
And that's where I'm at right now.
The government has got me done.
I've been stopped by the cops twice.
And once they stop me,
and my record comes up,
they can't believe it.
"They're like,"
Are you a Marine?
I'm like, "Yes, I am.
That's what it says on my record, right?"
And they're like, "Yeah."
Bulk Fuel Specialist, 1391.
Pumping gas and kicking ass.
That was my job.
I refueled cars, tanks, helicopters.
And they're like,
"It also says you were deported."
I'm like, "And that is right too."
And they just can't get it
through their head.
They're like, "So, right now,
I have to turn you in."
Yeah, that's what the law says.
Those two times, they haven't.
They've been Marines,
and they're like,
"No, man, I just can't do that.
You're a Marine. You served this country.
You're as American as I am."
And both times, they let me go home.
I got in trouble with the law
in New Mexico.
I got caught with some marijuana.
Under the advice of my lawyer,
I pleaded guilty to it.
I didn't serve any time in jail.
They let me out right there and then.
They said that was gonna be the end of it,
and I moved on with my life.
Twelve years later,
I got a translator job,
and I'm offered to go to Costa Rica.
Relax, Mama.
When I was coming back,
they didn't let me back into the country.
They said that because
of a previous conviction that I had,
that I was a terrorist,
and that I wasn't allowed in the country.
And I told them, like,
"A terrorist? I'm a Marine, man."
And I got deported because of that.
The day that I got deported,
we got to a point on the Mexican side
where they ask if you have tattoos.
So I showed him,
and he was shaking his head,
and he told me
that he felt really bad
about what the US government was doing
to his countrymen,
and
but he said especially
to servicemen like me.
And that kind of got me wondering,
because I had never heard that before.
That was the first time I got exposed to,
"What? Wait. Wait a minute.
You mean there's more than me?"
I never doubted
that the United States was my country.
There's nothing I would've changed
about that.
I feel like I would have died
for that country.
I got over 160 combat missions.
I got blood on my shoes. How about you?
People enjoy those freedoms
'cause I got blood on my shoes,
on my boots, on my desert camo.
I remember the judge saying
something about deportation
when I took my plea deal,
but, you know, I never knew
that veterans could be deported.
And then I just started seeing
more people and more people.
Now, there's hundreds of us,
and possibly, there could be thousands
of us out there.
ICE came to pick me up at the facility.
Even the ICE agents were like, "Oh, man!"
"Oh, I'm a veteran too.
You're a veteran? Oh, wow!
It sucks that you're getting deported,
that you're going through this right here.
I wish we could just let you go,
and you didn't have
to go through this process.
"You served this country, you know.
You deserve to be here."
I went to Vietnam.
I feel betrayed
by the United States government,
especially our president, Donald Trump.
He's a dodger.
He refused
to go to the service so many times.
My mom brought me to the US
when I was two years old.
Man, what a great nation to pick me up
and my mother from the ground
and just give us shelter,
give us food,
give us an opportunity to work.
That's the fucking country
I wanna be a part of.
And if that requires
I always heard that freedom ain't free.
Freedom is built on the blood of patriots.
Fuck, I want it to be my blood
to be part of that patriot blood
on the ground, you know?
I'm okay to die for it,
but I'm not okay to live in it, you know?
That's kind of bullshit.
Basically, we're deported
for life right now.
And the only way
to go back to the United States
is if we die.
It we're dead, then we're able to get back
to the States, our remains,
and they'll honor us. You know
what I mean? Do a military funeral.
Flag will be given
to your mom or your dad,
and they'll say, "Thank you
from a grateful nation,"
and there's no honor in that.
I think we need
to bring these men home alive.
See that big wall, Mama?
You see that big wall?
Do you know what this wall's for?
So that we can't cross no more.
Look. See? Watch.
We can't cross right here.
Say, "Uh-oh."
Uh-oh!
How do I feel
about everything that I've been through,
and being so close to home
and never being able to go home?
There's not words.
I just don't wanna go back illegally.
You're always gonna have
to watch your back.
Any type of trouble you get into,
and you're gone.
I have these nightmares
of ICE agents raiding the house.
Just coming in and storming us like that.
I established cameras with censors.
So if they're coming in,
at least I know they're coming in.
I can make some type of preparations.
Hold the door.
I mean, they're just not coming in
unless they got warrants or whatever,
but I'm not letting nobody in.
We can put two plants here. Just two.
And then I can plant my peas
and one tomato in the middle.
I think there might be some other drips.
When I met Cesar,
that was eight years ago.
I was working as a host
in a Mexican restaurant.
He was one
of those pain-in-the-butt customers.
What the heck?
Every time he takes a to-go order,
he calls to complain.
He was like, "Well, I used to do that
just to get to talk to you."
After probably, like, five months,
I'm like, "Okay,
I'm gonna give you a chance. Let's go."
And two months later, we got married.
"We married immediately.
I'm like, "Hey, baby,
let me get your paperwork started."
I never thought he was gonna get deported.
I thought I was gonna be the one
to get deported,
because he got papers. He was a resident.
"And I told him,"
I'm not like that.
I didn't marry you for your papers
"or your money."
I'm like, "You don't even have money."
I'm like,
"But I didn't marry you for that."
That went on for two years
until she finally decided to do it,
- and then
- Months later, he got deported.
It was like, "Is this really"
It looks like a joke.
"Like," All right,
now you wanna get your papers?
Guess what. You're not gonna have it."
When I first came back into the country,
we decided that we wanted
to build a little safety net.
And so in six years,
we have managed to buy a house.
But because I'm undocumented now,
we are building on quicksand.
That's what me and my wife are on
right now.
We're building on quicksand,
and at any moment, it could give away.
This is our little patch of land, man.
For now.
By being undocumented, I lost everything.
It's like,
"Where do you want me to start?"
I cannot drive.
I cannot go to the hospital.
I can't get insurance.
I cannot work.
I cannot fly.
I lost, uh
the freedom to live.
He even lost his hair
thanks to all this.
Yeah, he changed a lot.
He was a happy person.
He tries to be. He tries to
keep all the funny in him,
because that's how I met him.
That's why I wanted to go with him.
His personality, I know it's still there,
but I know it's not gonna come out
until all this
is over.
Just
to me, this is, like, unreal, you know?
It's like
It's like I'm looking at America
through a mirror or a window,
because it's not the America I grew up in.
- And you're not allowed
- And I'm not allowed in it.
Sorry. Your ticket has been expired.
I'm gonna come around in the front
and see if I can just stop this right now.
- Tango or no?
- -No.
No?
That's not him. That's not our guy at all.
- Run him.
- Yep.
Ask him where he's from.
- Who? The driver?
- Yep.
Okay.
Evidently, you rolled
through that stop sign on the way out.
He's checking them out.
I just wanna know where what country?
- He's saying the US.
- Is he?
- Yeah.
- Where you from?
California.
He's a USC.
Let's let him go quickly.
Sorry about the inconvenience.
I really am. Okay?
- Okay.
- Take care of yourself.
All right, we're out.
Regardless of this election,
we're not gonna stop doing what we do.
I understand it's not
the most popular thing in the world.
We're gonna continue to do what we do
until somebody stops us from doing it.
- Hey, how are you?
- Hi.
We're out here today trying
to inform people
there's a sheriff primary going on.
So, what's the No 2
- 287?
- Yeah.
The current sheriff has signed
an agreement with ICE
that's responsible
for over 15,000 removals of individuals.
Yes, first-generation immigrants.
This is, like, one of our key issues
for us.
Because our families are affected,
our friends are affected,
and it's tough
to live in fear constantly, right?
- Oh, yeah, yeah.
- Yeah.
-It's been a melting pot over here,
-Mm-hmm.
So, you know, we know lots of people
who have
these issues.
- Yeah.
- So
A lot of my friends
who I grew up with
lost family members due to 287.
There was lots of ICE activity
in our city.
I was the only person
with a driver's license in my neighborhood
that could go pick up people
who had their children
who were stuck at an ID check.
So, I was there and got to witness people
with their families
on a two-way road getting put
into sheriff's office vans.
I was given people's cars
with their children
and told, "Please take them home."
So I saw the risk and the fear.
We decided we had to do something.
We couldn't stay still.
We took a moment to realize
what should we really focus on
and what was at stake.
And we noticed that the 287 program
was something that
it was here locally,
and we had power to do something about,
especially because we knew
the elections were coming up.
ICE out of Charlotte!
ICE out of Charlotte!
ICE out of Charlotte!
ICE out of Charlotte!
The race for Mecklenburg County
sheriff is quickly becoming a referendum
on the controversial 287 program.
I understand earlier this week
your county commissioners meeting
debated this program.
How frustrating is that for you?
Well, you know
we've heard from city council,
county commissioners,
folks running for office
that they do not support this program.
This program is about safety and security
of our county.
I saw the national news.
Well, it truly is a referendum.
The immigrant community here
has been very vocal.
They make it known who they like,
and they make it known who they dislike.
They are tired,
and they are letting
their voice be heard here.
It's a factor. I mean, it's a factor.
ICE out of Charlotte!
The current administration
has publicly stated
that one of its priorities is an expansion
of 287.
Obviously, local elections are
for local people to decide,
"but our role is to say,"
All right,
Sheriff, whomever you may be,
if you are under the impression
that not cooperating
with ICE will somehow result
in less immigration enforcement
in your community,
just be aware, that's not true.
ICE will then have no choice
"but to send more officers
into your community."
But, you know, those jurisdictions
are gonna make their own decisions.
Thank you all for being here tonight.
We have some members here from ICE.
The purpose of this meeting is to talk
about 287.
I really appreciate that you're here,
that you're doing this training for us,
because I've been very curious as to how
and why the county even implemented
the 287 program.
Bottom line is
the overwhelming majority
of ICE encounters for the current year
were pursuant to a criminal conviction
or a criminal arrest.
Another thing that comes up quite a bit
is fear in the community.
They think that if they call the police,
they're gonna get arrested
because they are undocumented.
Unless they themselves have committed
a criminal offense,
they have nothing to worry about.
My problem with all of this,
when we hear the word "criminal offense,"
we're thinking Law & Order: SVU
or whatever,
that they've done something horrendous.
People are thinking felonies.
They're thinking murder.
They're thinking major drug dealers.
They're not thinking broken taillight.
You're right.
"Criminal" is somewhat of a broad word
that includes everything from murderer
to, you know
Jaywalking.
So, there is a spectrum there.
I would simply say our focus is on persons
who are in the country unlawfully
who also commit criminal offenses.
I do wanna compliment you as a PR person.
You're really good
at fielding all of this stuff.
I mean, you're pretty slick, because you
- I'm not slick.
- I'm just saying
It's a complex issue.
Part of my job is to explain it.
It's very smooth,
which means you've done this a lot.
As of public affairs person,
where better to be
than where the action is?
I mean, what issue are we dealing with
as a country right now
that is more high-profile
than immigration?
ICE is sworn
to enforce federal immigration law.
So, this agency is going to do so
with or without local cooperation.
So, I think 287 itself,
you know, obviously it's a decision
of the local jurisdiction
as to what they want to do.
It is not our place
as federal law enforcement
to tell a local municipality
what their local policies should be.
This is a passionate issue
people feel strongly about,
but that's understandable.
I mean, my job is to explain to people
what arguably
the most controversial agency
in the federal government does.
Good morning.
Welcome and thank you for being here.
So, what is the purpose of 287?
Basically, at the end of the day,
the purpose is
to enhance the safety and security
of communities.
- You don't live here!
- Here's why.
You're not from here!
You don't see our community!
You know nothing about our community!
And you sit up here
and give us this professional line.
These people are in the classrooms.
We live next door to these people.
Ma'am, if you're gonna make
a statement calling me a liar
and stating that we are violating
I'm not going to
Get out!
Hold on. Let me talk.
Basically, at the end of the day,
ICE is a law enforcement agency.
Again, I'm a career official,
not a political appointee.
Salesman!
- Yeah!
- All right, well
you know, call me any names you like.
I'm still gonna give the presentation.
So, since the program has been active,
you've had less than 50 persons removed
from the United States as a result.
- In Knox County?
- In Knox County.
What about Morristown?
How many of those 50 people
had children at home?
I don't know.
Why don't you know how many of
those people had children at home alone?
I don't know
Why don't you know?
I don't know
what color hair they had either.
There are certain data points
I don't have.
That's something that we can look at.
No, sir!
I know we have a lot of people
who wanted to talk.
And so, let's go down the list,
and we'll turn it over.
My name is Meghan Conley.
I'm a professor
in the Department of Sociology
at the University of Tennessee
where I teach and write
about immigration politics and policies.
Our data show that 90% of inmates
with ICE holds in the Knox County jail
are arrested on misdemeanor offenses.
Shame.
Now, as far as I can tell,
ICE is an unaccountable organization.
Say that!
So, my question is for the sheriff
of Knox County.
How do you continue to justify
Knox County's participation in 287
knowing that it leads to the separation
of families in our community
predominantly through arrests
for minor offenses?
Please use the microphone.
I'm sorry.
- Use the microphone.
- Microphone!
I'll just as soon stand right here.
- No
- I can't hear you!
- My son has hearing aids
- This is a perfect forum
I think y'all should listen
because this program is here to stay.
I'm getting exact numbers of the people
in our jail that are misdemeanors.
There are certainly horror stories
that have come out from police agencies
about ICE detainees,
and I'm standing here telling you
that the things you're talking about
are not happening in Knox County.
It may be happening somewhere else,
but they're not happening here. Period.
Her research is a lie? She made that up?
I did not say she lied.
Research is research,
and we all know what research is.
You can make it any way you want It.
- Fuck you! Fuck you!
- I can stand here
- I can stand here and tell you
- Shame!
You're getting ready to leave.
If you say one more profanity,
I will take you out myself.
- Shame!
- Anybody
- Anybody can use the numbers
- JJ is making you look bad, ICE.
He's making you look bad.
Thank you very much. Our hour is up.
I wanna thank you all for coming.
- If you have any further questions
- We're not leaving!
That's up. We are done. Thank you.
There should be no apology
that we maintain vigilance
and take this seriously.
Our job is to, bottom line,
protect the public.
Every individual who comes
into the United States unlawfully
could be detained.
Under the law, absolutely,
ICE could make the initial decision
to say, "We're gonna detain you."
ICE operates a national network
of detention facilities
all across the country
with a total capacity of about 50,000 beds
on any given day.
I've been covering immigration
for a decade.
The last couple of years,
our collective focus has been
on these border patrol facilities,
on the conditions inside of them.
But I felt it was important
to show to everybody that,
"Hey, those are temporary facilities.
ICE is where they end up long-term."
This facility is a detention center.
It's not a prison. It's not a jail.
In this facility,
the persons that are detained,
they're undergoing
an administrative immigration process.
So, there are no sentences here.
No one is being punished in the sense
from a sentencing perspective.
They're here to await
either removal to their country,
or they're here
to see an immigration judge
who will determine
if they could be released,
or they could be removed.
There's at least 220 facilities.
They're all around the country.
They're spread out in 47 states.
Of all this sprawling network
that ICE has,
they only own and operate five of them.
This much broader network are run
by private companies.
There's money in almost every aspect
of immigration detention.
First, ICE pays for each person
that you detain for each day.
Those detainees in turn then pay
to use the telephone
for what can be these incredibly expensive
phone calls and video chats
with their families.
If they want something
that's not handed out in the cafeteria,
they have to pay money
to use the commissary,
and they're allowed
to voluntarily sign up to work.
Detainees that do the work
get paid a dollar a day.
You can't do double shifts.
You can't do 16 hours for $2.
It's one shift a day.
You get paid a dollar.
The idea of using private
companies to run ICE detention centers
is not something new,
but it really exploded
under this administration.
This has been big, big business for them.
Right after the election,
we saw the stock prices of the GEO Group
and CoreCivic literally double overnight.
The for-profit prison industry
is making a killing in the Trump era.
- Invest every cent you have in them.
- No, don't.
Because they are having a field day.
I try and look away
from the morality of it,
because it's just a necessary evil,
and it's a necessary evil I like having
as part of my portfolio.
They call themselves private prisons,
but they are privately run,
publicly financed.
It is our taxpayer money
that goes to these very corporations
that push for policies
that incarcerate us.
Their client is ICE. The detainees
they're more the product.
I know
that sounds incredibly dehumanizing,
but immigrants for them mean money.
You're talking about the treatment
of tens of thousands of people.
Two-thirds of those have
zero criminal record
other than their immigration violations.
Right now, I am such a good driver
that I could be
a teenage driving instructor.
I follow all my turn signals,
all my laws, speed limits.
I am one of the best drivers there is.
It's all because I gotta watch myself.
A lot of people have been deported
because of traffic tickets, man.
So
those are the big, MS-13 criminals,
speeding.
They've been doing a lot of raids here
from after Trump took office,
and they go to raid
in the Hispanic sides of town,
you know, so
But that's one thing
my people don't understand.
Don't conglomerate where they're gonna be
coming to get you, but
So me myself, I hide in plain sight
in a white neighborhood.
I'm the only military person in my family,
and I believe in America 100%.
I believe in the Constitution.
Even though
I'm breaking the law right now,
I do believe in the law.
But also, I believe
that the law has gotta be just.
Thomas Jefferson said,
"When injustice becomes law,
resistance becomes duty."
So, that's the way I see it.
I'm a patriot,
even though I had to break the law
to come back home.
Somebody had to ring the bell,
and I did that.
This is the video I made
the day I came back to the US.
Okay, so this is
This is the moment where I'm gonna be
crossing back into the US.
I'm coming home.
Sorry, guys, but fuck you.
You can't fucking send me out of my house.
So, that over there, that's TJ.
I don't know if you guys can see it.
That's all Tecate, all that.
I'm going through here,
and I'm going up the mountain.
So, hopefully,
everything will be all right,
and I'll be home soon, baby.
I love you. Bye.
The first year I came back
across the border,
I was completely useless.
I mean, in the sense that I was terrified
to even just go out to the store.
The year after that, I was tired.
I'm like, "No, all of us gotta come home."
There's over 500 to 1,000 military
deported all over the world.
And we shed our blood for this country.
We shed red blood for all Americans.
Honor us now. Bring us home.
Without Cesar,
we wouldn't have the ability
to have our presence in Washington, DC.
And that's really what we need.
We need our congressmen and senators
to wake the fuck up.
We're gonna go about
who are our best targets.
I already have a list of congressmen
that I already see a soft-meet.
And out of all the ruckus I did,
Miss Michelle Lujan, she found out
that we were doing this around Congress,
and she invited us to come over.
They willingly put their own lives
on the line
and served this country.
I have a real problem with that.
Congresswoman Michelle Lujan
Grisham wants to change that.
Now, Ms. Lujan is running
for governor of New Mexico.
This is my opportunity
to get straight again.
If she gives me a pardon,
it's my way to get back home legally, man,
and finally be able to put this behind me.
Hey, babe.
- They found a way in.
- Hey, guys.
We need to go to New Mexico
to talk to the governor.
- After the election.
- Yes, Mama, the election's tomorrow.
Okay. That's true.
Enchiladas and tacos.
If they're really willing to help out,
hopefully, we can convince her
to give us a pardon
at the beginning of her governorship.
Pardoning a veteran,
I think, would be a positive note
to start her tenure as governor.
The amazing thing to me is
that one signature, just a signature,
can give me my life back.
- It can go back
- One person can give me my life back.
You can go back to work.
And we can have babies.
And we can have babies, Mama.
That's one of the reasons
that we haven't had the babies,
because we're not gonna have a baby
on the run.
I refuse to have a child on
being a fugitive.
I know, but we're running out of time.
I know, Mama, we're running out of time,
but I'm not gonna
raise a child on the run.
- I'm just not. I refuse to do that.
- I know.
Here. Do you want crust?
- Of course. Crust is great.
- Here, have the whole thing.
I still think
that since Trump getting in power,
on me, he has tried
to cancel every single program
- Yeah.
- That is working for immigrants.
He would like to have just a red button
just to delete them.
Just to delete all of us at once.
Oh, yeah, if he could just circle
everybody and just
- Yeah.
- Yeah, no, I could see that.
Mija, how many years we have been
covered for TPS?
My parents, my brother,
in fact, as well, are protected
under Temporary Protected Status.
My cousins, my aunts,
we're all TPS holders.
Trump has recently rescinded TPS
for Salvadorans.
So my family's situation currently lies
in limbo.
I have my family members who will
at one point be at risk for deportation.
Ever since I can remember,
my parents instilled in me
that just one screw up
one tiny little thing can land you
right back to El Salvador.
You have to be twice as good. Literally.
It just takes one mistake
to boot us out, so
We know that this is our chance
and our opportunity
to challenge the sheriff's office
that has never been truly challenged
the way that it needs to be.
We know what our end goal is,
and we don't know
if we're gonna necessarily get there,
but people are starting to take notice.
So, um
we'll see.
How you doing, guys?
Yeah. Vote for a progressive candidate
for sheriff.
We don't want Carmichael in there,
so make sure you vote
for a progressive person.
Garry McFadden is the best choice.
We need a change. We need a change.
That's Carmichael.
Just touch it.
Just touch it? I got you.
Keep it up. Keep up the great work.
I appreciate you.
I've got students who are undocumented,
and their moms and dads are undocumented.
If they get pulled over,
and then this program is
what takes them away from their families,
- that's not good.
- Right, and I agree.
And we shouldn't be getting rid
of folks who
- No, I totally agree. Absolutely.
- I mean, we got some amazing families.
Can they get a driver's license
in North Carolina?
No, you cannot.
Garry McFadden, 56%.
So if there's one thing you've learned
from this campaign season with 287,
- what do you think it is?
- Irwin Carmichael, last place!
I doubt it!
- I doubt it.
- Right here. Via We Election.
Really? Already?
- Already, early vote totals.
- How do you have that?
Where? Where does it say?
Right there.
Wow!
57% for Garry McFadden?
Aw, nice! Nice.
- That's interesting.
- Yeah, that is. That is.
But I feel you.
I feel sorry for you actually sometimes.
- I'm looking around, and I'm like
- You see how yeah.
I mean, I get it, yeah.
But I also I hear them.
Democrat Michelle Lujan
Grisham with a nine-point lead
over Republican opponent, Steve Pearce.
She's got a comfortable lead,
but the night is still young,
and this one is too early to call.
The one that I'm watching today is
the governor of New Mexico.
Okay.
I contacted her, and I told her,
"if you win the the governorship,
I need you to pardon me."
Me not being able to vote,
now, I really know and understand
the true power of voting.
Garry! Garry! Garry!
Garry! Garry! Garry!
Garry! Garry! Garry! Garry! Garry! Garry!
Okay, so now, let me tell you.
History has been made.
- I want to introduce to you
- Garry!
Your next and my next sheriff
of Mecklenburg County.
What's next? 287
- It's gone.
- Say it. Say it!
287 is going to be history
in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
- I got to burn something, right?
- Oh, my God!
Yes, yes, yes!
Yeah, that's the one I need!
This is a state that's ready to lead
in so many ways.
I gotta fucking push, push, push, push.
Everything that I've already done
this is when we go for it right now.
Yeah, in 2020,
we bring everybody back, Miguel,
like the way we talked about it.
I'm gonna be going to New Mexico.
I'm gonna be driving over there
to remind her and to tell her,
"What else do you need from me?
I got all the paperwork filled out."
- You better be careful.
- I will.
I'll be back home, Mama.
- I love you.
- I love you more, though.
I've been doing this for about five years,
and one thing I know is
that politicians are really good
at listening and telling you
that they're willing to help,
but they got very
very short memories.
And even though it's dangerous
for me to be traveling,
it has to be done.
I lost my compass
because I don't have nothing
to guide me anymore.
I'm out of options. This is it.
The governor in New Mexico is
my last shot.
I get so nervous putting on my uniform.
I love being a Marine.
We're a different kind of people.
I meet Marines on the street,
and we hug each other,
and we just laugh, and we
My wife is like, "Do you know 'em?"
I'm like, "Yeah, they're Marines."
Not bad. I can still fit after 15 years.
Thank you
Thank you, Father, for another day.
Thank you for protecting me.
Thank you for protecting my wife.
Thank you for taking care of my family
and my brothers.
Please continue to protect us
on this journey to the
To what we believe to be right.
I know that
we will always come home eventually,
but we want to come back home alive.
Please, Lord,
make this happen in our lifetime.
Amen.
We're asking the governor
to pardon deported veterans
that have been convicted of state crimes
here in New Mexico.
- Understood.
- I am one of those veterans
that have been convicted here.
- And Dominic has the file?
- Yes, he does.
- Okay.
- And since I live in Las Vegas
- Sure.
- And I'm still undocumented,
I'm risking federal imprisonment.
Let me pull Dominic out.
I didn't know Dominic actually had
the paperwork on this.
Let me go back and visit with Dominic
in a little while. We'll go from there.
- Gentlemen, thank you for your service.
- Thank you. We appreciate it.
- Thank you, sir. We appreciate that.
- Thank you very much.
When you're speaking to her,
stick to the script.
Don't go too far out.
Don't go too far out.
Try and stay as organized
and direct as possible,
because again,
she might only give you five minutes, bro.
- She's busy.
- Yeah.
- I'll get my point across in 30 seconds.
- Get your point across in 30 seconds,
get a few answers
by the second or third minute,
and then we'll go from there, all right?
Our fallen heroes on the wall.
It's a tribute to those
that have courageously given their lives
to protect the freedoms
that we know today.
Honorary servicemen.
Enjoy your visit.
If she says she can't
see you or won't see you,
what do you plan to do?
Try to get an appointment to come back.
And if they don't give you an appointment?
Then I'm gonna be coming back.
- Get kicked out.
- Hmm?
- Get kicked out.
- Mm-hmm.
- Get security to come get you out.
- Mm-hmm.
It's gonna look really bad.
Get the banner, open it up,
get kicked out.
Okay. Let's do it.
And I'll record it.
You can get press and everything.
You know it.
- Make sure you call my lawyer.
- No.
Okay, gentlemen, the plan is
we're not leaving this building
without an answer.
So, I'm not moving
until she gives me an answer.
But since I first made you aware
of the issue, three men have died.
How many more before you listen?
- Cesar.
- I'm Claudia Tristán,
press secretary for the governor.
I'm sorry for the wait.
I've been trying to get answers for you.
Everyone's been stuck in a meeting.
Is there gonna be a chance for me
to speak with the governor in person?
The governor is definitely way too busy.
I gave you business card earlier.
I had Chris give it to you.
So, here's my business card.
And this is where we can request
for more meetings with the governor.
But today, I mean,
she's got a busy schedule.
- If you talked with our transition team
- I sent emails to Dominic.
Dominic says he has your file.
That's for sure.
We do have your file
and are looking at the case.
I never received any answer.
I called, no answers.
Can we get an appointment
to speak with the governor?
Yeah, you can email me,
and we can go ahead and do that.
- I'll check with our scheduler
- Can you get me an appointment?
I don't have that access on my phone.
I'm not the scheduler for the governor.
Can we talk to the scheduler?
The scheduler actually just walked out
with the governor as well, so
I've been undocumented for six years,
fighting, going back and forth
to Congress,
and they don't listen.
And the governor,
when she was in Congress,
she said she wanted to help us,
and that's why I came.
She already said she wanted to help us.
Help us.
Quit talking about it.
You can save my life.
She is my political Marine right now,
and I'm wounded.
I've been wounded for six years,
alone, in the dark,
screaming about this issue,
but I'm tired.
I'm tired,
and I'm tired
of the politicians not listening to us.
How can they do this to us?
We were willing to give our lives.
I would have given my life
for you right now.
I would stand in front of a bullet
for anyone here.
All I ask is for her to say,
"You know what?"
You guys are worth it.
You guys are Marines, are Army.
"You should have never been deported.
This should have never happened."
This is a tear
in the American fabric of our society,
and we need to mend it.
And we need to mend it with actions,
not words.
We need to do it now.
Save me, please.
I want to come home legally.
I want to have a child
with my wife. I want to move on.
Please.
Please tell her to just give me this.
I corrected my mistakes.
I have always have been a man,
and I have always taken the responsibility
for everything I've done.
But I will not take more punishment
than I deserve,
and I don't deserve what they done
to me and my family,
and she can correct that.
One signature can correct my life.
Just do it.
I don't know. I'm fucking lost.
I'm lost, I'm screaming,
and nobody listens.
Please.
- I don't know what else to say.
- We need them.
No, I hear you.
And I want to make sure
I stay on top of this.
I understand what's going on
as much as I can understand
what's going on.
So, I just wanted to make sure
that you're updated
on what we're trying to do on our end,
and I'll send you guys an email
with my contact information
just to make sure we
at least get a group chat going.
Breaking right now:
Mecklenburg County's new sheriff
just got rid of a controversial program
that some believe targeted
undocumented immigrants.
Sheriff Garry McFadden signed the document
that will end 287.
We've seen families being torn apart.
We're still seeing the effects of 287
in this community.
Sheriff McFadden, you don't understand
how big of a deal this is.
This was the moment
that Charlotte's Hispanic community
has looked forward to for 12 years.
Emotional!
Latin community, we're happy, right?
Garry! Garry! Garry!
Garry! Garry! Garry! Garry! Garry! Garry!
Thank you.
We need more meetings
and assemblies like this
with all communities.
This would help us and you
to become less fearful of each other.
Invite us to your parties.
Invite us to your restaurants.
Invite us to your weddings.
And we will come.
ICE has been informed
that they cannot operate
inside the Mecklenburg County Jail
unless they have a criminal warrant,
not a detainer.
Mecklenburg County's decision
to restrict cooperation with ICE serves
as an open invitation to aliens
who commit criminal offenses
that Mecklenburg County is
now a safe haven
for persons seeking
to evade federal authorities.
This decision to undermine
cooperative law enforcement efforts
seriously undermines public safety
and makes the people of Mecklenburg County
less safe today than they were yesterday.
And they are to notify us
if they want to come
to the Mecklenburg County Courthouse.
Yes, they have jurisdiction,
but I have the authority.
- I can tell you that
- That's exactly what we've said.
If you do this, we have no choice.
There will be a seriously increased
presence of enforcement.
And make no mistake about it.
Every case that we get,
we're gonna point out.
We're gonna work with you,
and do press releases
and things like that.
Oh, sure. This is a person
that we could have taken into custody
but was out on the street to re-offend,
and we had to go get ourselves.
I can't wait to do the one where,
you know,
Juan Miguel Torres was arrested today
by Charlotte fugitive operations
along with six other people.
You know what I'm saying?
- It would have been one
- -It would have been one
- but now, it's everybody.
- But now, it's a total of seven.
I have to protect you
whether you are documented
or undocumented.
I am Garry McFadden, your sheriff.
If that's the way they wanna go,
then they can own that,
and we'll have to make clear
that that is why
we have fugitive operations
with an increased presence
in those communities.
We charge probably
over 600 people a year.
We got to make up that number of arrests.
There's 45,000 beds in the United States,
and in this field office,
we got about 4,000 of them.
We plan on keeping every one of them full.
We're gonna fill our beds for sure.
We're gonna do everything we can.
Everyone look here, please!
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.