THE LEAST OF THESE
Price: $310.00 Code: 2341 |
Directed by Clark Lyda and Jesse Lyda
2009, 62 minutes
Purchase: $310 Classroom Rental: $125
A look at one of the most controversial aspects of American immigration policy: family detention. As part of the Bush administration policy to end what they termed the "catch and release" of undocumented immigrants, the U.S. government opened the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in May 2006 as a prototype family detention facility. The facility is a former medium-security prison in central Texas operated by CCA, the largest private prison operator in the country. The facility houses immigrant children and their parents from all over the world who are awaiting asylum hearings or deportation proceedings.
The facility was initially activated with little media attention or public knowledge. Soon, however, immigration attorney Barbara Hines was contacted by detainees seeking representation, and she became increasingly concerned about the troubling conditions there. She joined forces with Vanita Gupta of the ACLU and Michelle Brané of the Women's Refugee Commission to investigate conditions and seek changes. Their efforts were initially hampered by a lack of openness and oversight within the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) organization. Undeterred, the three attorneys attempted to bring about changes in both policy and conditions, by making their findings public, encouraging involvement by activists and the media, and ultimately by filing a historic lawsuit.
As these events unfold, the film explores the government rationale for family detention, conditions at the facility, collateral damage, and the role (and limits) of community activism in bringing change.
The film leads viewers to consider how core American rights and values - presumption of innocence, the protection of children, upholding the family structure as the basic unit of civil society, and America as a refuge of last resort - should apply to immigrants, particularly children.
"Recommended …Testimonials from immigrant advocates are cut with interviews of formerly detained families and segments from Fox News, in which Bill O’Reilly and former Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff assure each other that incarcerating entire families is all part of preserving the American Dream." - Washington City Paper
2009, 62 minutes
Purchase: $310 Classroom Rental: $125
A look at one of the most controversial aspects of American immigration policy: family detention. As part of the Bush administration policy to end what they termed the "catch and release" of undocumented immigrants, the U.S. government opened the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in May 2006 as a prototype family detention facility. The facility is a former medium-security prison in central Texas operated by CCA, the largest private prison operator in the country. The facility houses immigrant children and their parents from all over the world who are awaiting asylum hearings or deportation proceedings.
The facility was initially activated with little media attention or public knowledge. Soon, however, immigration attorney Barbara Hines was contacted by detainees seeking representation, and she became increasingly concerned about the troubling conditions there. She joined forces with Vanita Gupta of the ACLU and Michelle Brané of the Women's Refugee Commission to investigate conditions and seek changes. Their efforts were initially hampered by a lack of openness and oversight within the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) organization. Undeterred, the three attorneys attempted to bring about changes in both policy and conditions, by making their findings public, encouraging involvement by activists and the media, and ultimately by filing a historic lawsuit.
As these events unfold, the film explores the government rationale for family detention, conditions at the facility, collateral damage, and the role (and limits) of community activism in bringing change.
The film leads viewers to consider how core American rights and values - presumption of innocence, the protection of children, upholding the family structure as the basic unit of civil society, and America as a refuge of last resort - should apply to immigrants, particularly children.
Subjects & Collections
Latino Studies Latin-American Studies Criminal & Law American Studies Political Science 2009 Immigration
Festivals & Awards
* World Premiere, South by Southwest Film Festival, 2009 * Official Selection, NY Int'l Latino Film Festival, 2009 * Official Selection, New Orleans Int'l Human Rights Film Festival, 2009Reviews
“Recommended. The Least of These raises important questions, and is recommended for all libraries. “ - Educational Media Reviews Online"Recommended …Testimonials from immigrant advocates are cut with interviews of formerly detained families and segments from Fox News, in which Bill O’Reilly and former Department of Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff assure each other that incarcerating entire families is all part of preserving the American Dream." - Washington City Paper