Errol Morris Documentary Exposes Hidden US Border Family Separations

Errol Morris's documentary "Separated" unveils a disturbing truth about the Trump administration's family separation policy at the US-Mexico border. The film, which premiered at the Venice and Telluride film festivals, reveals that the practice began as early as July 2017, months before it became public knowledge.

Jonathan White, former deputy director of children's programs at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), states in the film:

"Family separation ... was going on months before there was any policy to do it, and it was going on while my own leadership maintained it wasn't."

The documentary exposes how the policy was concealed for over a year, raising questions about its true purpose and implementation. Morris, in a Venice news conference, questioned the covert nature of the policy, suggesting potential embarrassment or hidden motives behind its execution.

According to Department of Homeland Security data presented in the film, 4,227 children were separated from their parents between Donald Trump's inauguration and June 20, 2018, when he signed an executive order ending the policy. However, Jacob Soboroff, an NBC News reporter whose book inspired the documentary, estimates the total number to be closer to 5,500.

The film provides a comprehensive look at the policy's implementation and its aftermath, featuring interviews with officials who both carried out and opposed the separations. It also includes reenactments of border crossings and detainments based on real accounts.

Morris's documentary serves as a stark reminder of past events and a warning for the future. White emphasizes in the film that without congressional action, such policies could potentially be reinstated.

The documentary also contextualizes the family separation policy within the broader history of US immigration practices. It highlights that previous administrations, including those of Clinton, Bush, and Obama, implemented various deterrence-based policies.

Some key facts about US immigration:

• The US-Mexico border stretches approximately 1,954 miles.
• The US immigration court system currently faces a backlog of over 1 million cases.
• The Office of Refugee Resettlement was established in 1980 to support refugees entering the United States.
• The US Border Patrol, founded in 1924, plays a crucial role in border enforcement.
• The term "Dreamers" refers to undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children, derived from the 2001 DREAM Act proposal.

Morris emphasizes the importance of preventing such policies from recurring, stating, "No one is saying that the country shouldn't have borders, that we shouldn't have an immigration policy. But I'm saying we shouldn't have an immigration policy based on meanness."

As the film seeks distribution, Morris hopes it will be released before the upcoming election, serving as a powerful reminder of past actions and their consequences on immigrant families.