Behind the Title: The Meaning and Message of The Immigration Resident
The Immigration Resident commemorates Latino immigrant history, our labor, our contribution to our state, and the collective struggle and resiliency community-based organizations have faced. On The Horizon Films captures the realities Latino immigrants live through in Eastern Washington to overcome an unjust immigration system, a global pandemic, the 2016 Trump red tap and unjust era, and systemic community barriers to justice.
The title "The Immigration Resident" refers to those who come to the US undocumented from other countries. It carries hidden meanings, such as a “dent” in the ratio or census of the residents in a specific community, suggesting that some Immigrants are not being accounted for in population numbers. It also implies that immigrants are present and positively impacting communities. When a father is separated from his 5-year-old child by Border Patrol, when a mother journeys across three countries to seek cancer treatment for her daughter, and when a city allows Border Patrol to racially profile people of color, the consequences are devastating to our community and future generations.
Washington State Tour Dates
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April 2, 2025 | Magic Lantern Theatre | 6:00pm
We are exicted to have you in our first 2025 showing! If you missed our documentary last year, now’s your chance to see it.
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July 10, 2024 | Magic Lantern Theatre | 6:00pm
Surprise! We have two showings in Spokane! If you can’t make Spokans first showing, here's your chance to catch it!
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July 3, 2024 | Garland Theater | 6:00pm
We’re excited to kick off our film tour right here at home in Spokane, WA! If you missed our documentary last year, now’s your chance to see it. Get your tickets today!
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July 8th, 2024 | SIFF Film Center on the Seattle Center Campus | 6:00pm
We're thrilled to announce that our film tour will be continuing in Seattle!
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October 11, 2024 | Wenatchee Valley Office - Music and Arts Center | 6:00pm
Admission is FREE, so bring your friends and family!
2023 Film Premiere Highlight
We want to give thanks to everyone who donated to our documentary, The Immigration Resident. Because of you, Latinos en Spokane is able to hire full-time immigration attorneys! This is huge for our community, we will be able to continue to stand up to the system that tried to knock us down!
Your support made a powerful statement towards building solidarity for immigrant communities across Washington State.
ABOUT OUR FILM
How Your Donations Can Help
The donations will be used to directly support the creation of this team and provide much-needed legal services and support to our most vulnerable community members.
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Legal services for refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers continue to be an immense service gap in the communities of Eastern Washington. There are only a handful of private attorneys practicing immigration law in the Spokane Area, with only one of those providing a sliding-scale discount, and no attorneys doing pro bono work.
While all cases cost more than the client in need can afford, asylum cases are the costliest, with charges ranging from $5,000-$10,000. Many asylum seekers are escaping violence and arrive at our borders with nothing but the clothes on their backs and do not have access to legal support or the monetary resources to start their new lives. However, seeking asylum is a human right protected by US laws and should not mean that those who need that support should have to go into debt.
To help fill this gap, LES has been providing monthly immigration clinics in partnership with Gonzaga’s School of Law. The students provide consultation and technical support to attendees. Even with the education and resources provided in these clinics, attendees still struggle to navigate the complicated and unfamiliar United States Judicial system.
As Spokane continues to welcome more and more incoming refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, the already limited resources available will be insufficient to meet the needs. But we also know that immigrants who are represented by an attorney are five times more likely to win their cases. This need can’t be ignored.
In response, Latinos En Spokane has created a legal immigration team. This team will include a full-time attorney (who will provide pro bono legal services) and offer important educational workshops to help refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers develop an understanding of their rights and how to navigate the legal system.
Latinos En Spokane wants to take a moment to thank our sponsors for our documentary, The Immigration Resident. Your support and partnership will play a key role in funding our new legal immigration team at Latinos En Spokane, and we appreciate your participation.
Thank You To Our 2023 Sponsors
