Explaining the fuss around Netflix's Living Undocumented
If you've been on Netflix over the past few days, you've probably seen Living Undocumented in the "New Releases" section.
You may also have heard that singer/actress Selena Gomez was involved behind the scenes.
But what is the documentary series all about? Why is there a buzz around it? And what does Selena have to do with it?
What is Living Undocumented about?
Living Undocumented is a six-part documentary that follows eight undocumented immigrant families living in the United States.
It explores the changes in immigration policy that have occurred under the Trump administration, as well as the threat of deportation for at least one member of each family.
Scenes show people preparing for appointments with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dealing with the everyday struggles that come with their status – even being deported.
Selena, who's spoken about her own family's experience in immigrating from Mexico to America, serves as executive producer. Earlier this month, she explained to Time that her aunt crossed the border hiding in the back of a truck.
In a behind-the-scenes video provided to BuzzFeed News, she said: "A huge part of why I wanted to be a part of this is to also be a voice for so many people who can’t and are terrified to speak about it."
Why is everyone talking about it?
It's safe to say that there are some eye-opening scenes.
One person we meet is Alejandra Juarez, who crossed the US-Mexico border in 1998. After living in the US for over 20 years and having two daughters with husband Temo, she now faces deportation despite Temo being an ex-Marine.
Interestingly, Temo voted for Trump in the 2016 election. He agreed with the president's strategy for stronger immigration policies but didn't think it would directly affect his family.
There's also an incident at an ICE facility when an undocumented man named Luis Diaz is detained while delivering his step-son Noah to his mother, Kenia, who's being deported to Honduras at six months pregnant.
Luis' attorney – trying to stay by his side – is pushed to the floor.
What are people are saying about it?
While the series places a focus on Trump's administration, it's also been praised for referring back to past presidents' controversial policy reforms.
For example, Israeli immigrant Ron struggled to extend his holiday visa after arriving in the US three months after 9/11. Alejandra Juarez's situation relates to Bill Clinton's time in office.
While it's been suggested that the show is "preaching to the choir", it's also been called "educational", "raw" and "eye-opening" on Twitter.
Why is it so relevant right now?
The United States is currently preparing for its 2020 presidential election. Unsurprisingly, immigration policy is a key issue for candidates.
Living Undocumented's executive producer Aaron Saidman told BuzzFeed News he thinks "we’re at a fever pitch of sorts" regarding undocumented immigrants in the US.
"There is a focus on the policy of the current administration, but the truth is that many presidents have struggled and have not been successful on solving the immigration issue," he said.
Living Undocumented is available to watch now on Netflix.
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