Joliet Filmmaker Creating Documentary to Show Immigrant's Journey

JOLIET, IL — When Donald Trump began calling Mexican immigrants rapists and drug dealers, Joliet filmmaker Juan Carlos Angeles knew he had to speak up.

Using cinema as his platform, Angeles is filming “American Outlander,” a documentary about the immigrant’s journey to America and how they fare when they’re returned to Mexico after living most of their life in the U.S.

The first part of his documentary, which he’s already filmed, shows one of the deadliest paths immigrants use to get into the United States: the Sonoran Desert. Using a cameraman and an Apache guide, Angeles traveled 25 miles to show the route.

“This area is where thousands of people have died,” Angeles said, adding that the heat and lack of water are the deadliest aspects. “Whatever water you have on you when you start, that’s all you can count on for the trip.”

To film the second part of his documentary, Angeles needs to raise $20,000. He plans to spend 30 to 60 days in a town in Central Mexico. He was born in the United States and will get to experience first-hand what it’s like to live in a country that was never your home.

“I want them to see what undocumented immigrants are about, who they are and what they went through to get here,” he said. “I’m hoping to gain sympathy and empathy for them.”

Angeles said a lot of stereotypes have been spread about immigrants and he’s hoping his film will dispel that.

“A lot of Mexicans in the U.S. are people that keep to themselves. They just work and go home. Most people don’t get to know them and who they are as people. When Trump made those comments, it reminded me of when I would get bullied at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.”

To donate to Angeles’ documentary, visit his Kickstarter page.

Screenshot courtesy of "American Outlander."