Advanced Multimedia Reporting 2019

Documentary Pitch: El Sueño Americano

Every day many immigrants try to cross the border in search of a better life. From escaping domestic violence to fear of being murder by gangs, thousands of people want to live in the United States with the belief they will have the opportunity to transform their lives. However, most of the time, due to the lack of opportunities, these people have to come to the US illegally. Whey they are caught by authorities, especially the ICE, they are take to detention centers where they stay there for an uncertain period of time.

Nevertheless, these facilities are worse than prison because they don’t present an educational or professional training for these people who might stay there for months or even years. According to podcasts, news articles, and reports, people in these facilities also live in terrible conditions.

For my documentary, I would like to tell the story of Juan Carlos, an immigrant who stayed in a detention center for one and a half year. I would like to show his story and how he overcame the challenges of achieving freedom and finally being able to live in the United States.