Luis’ Journey

Luis Cortes Romero was born in Mexico in 1988. As an infant, he moved to California with his parents. The neighborhood where he grew up — Little Michoacán — was targeted for immigration raids. His family’s undocumented status severely limited their opportunities.

Luis recalls the day his father was deported. Luis lost interest in everything he loved. Yet with his mother’s firm and loving encouragement, he worked his way through law school, uncertain that he’d even be allowed to practice law. Young undocumented activists known as Dreamers pressed President Obama to implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program, which temporarily relieved Luis from the threat of deportation. As a DACA recipient, he received an ID card, driver's license and work permit — but no path to citizenship. He became a licensed immigration attorney, and his docket quickly filled with families fleeing violence and those like his father who faced deportation. And then, Luis got a phone call that changed his life forever.

The Moment Everything Changed

Three weeks after Trump becomes president, Luis hears from a young father, Daniel Ramirez, a DACA recipient, who has been falsely accused of being a gang member because of his tattoos. Now, he faces deportation.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. Luis takes the case. “I’m brown, I have DACA, and I have tattoos. That could have been me.” Soon, the Administration rescinds DACA altogether. 700,000 young Dreamers can be kicked out of the U.S., the only home they’ve ever known. Luis joins a powerful legal team — including unlikely conservative ally Ted Olson — to sue the government. They win, but their triumph still can’t protect Dreamers like Daniel and Luis. ICE continues to track, target and terrorize undocumented people. Prominent politicians and media figures stoke anti-immigrant fears for political gain. And Luis and his allies continue the fight for legislation that will codify compassionate immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship.

From the Director, Mo Morris

Our creative team is uniquely positioned to tell Luis’ story due to our potent combination of lived experiences in the worlds of immigration, law, and social justice mediamaking. ­Prior to becoming a filmmaker, I was an attorney immersed in our broken immigration system, fighting for clients like Luis to remain in the country. Producer Nicole Solis-Sison is a DACA recipient born in the Philippines and founding member of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective. Cinematographer Vicente Franco came to the U.S. fleeing Spanish military conscription under General Franco’s regime. Producer Jed Riffe, Consulting Producer, Carlos Sandoval come from backgrounds of activism for civil rights and have dedicated their award-winning filmmaking careers to telling compelling stories within social justice movements. And, editors, Manuel Tsingaris and Ken Schneider, have cut dozens of award-winning social issue documentaries, many centered around immigrant themes.  I am grateful for their contributions and for Luis’ generosity in sharing his story. As a director, I am interested in far more than filmmaking. I have always envisioned a strong impact strategy for this film in partnership with undocumented and DACAmented youth activists and their allies. Together, we can bring about positive social change through the power of storytelling.