Backbone Campaign to host documentary, discussion about immigration

Backbone Meaningful Movies, a project of the Backbone Campaign, will host the immigration documentary “Indivisible: Love Knows No Borders” at the Vashon Theatre next week.

Following the screening, there will be a discussion with islander and immigration attorney Marie Higuera, who will discuss issues related to immigration, detention and deportation. Susie Murphy, chair of Vashon’s Indivisible Immigrant Refugee Working Group, will facilitate the post-film talk. Last Friday — with President Donald Trump poised to make an announcement regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) — Murphy noted that the working group formed after the election and that members are working to communicate what they are learning about immigration in this country, which she called a long and complex story.

“Any way we can educate ourselves and our neighbors about immigration, the more we all can be engaged changing immigration policy,” she said. “This country is ripe for immigration reform. We have to do something about it.”

Next week’s film focuses on the DACA program, which provides some immigrants who came to the United States as children a reprieve from the threat of deportation and enables them to obtain a work permit. Currently, the program is protecting nearly 800,000 young people, so-called “Dreamers” from deportation. At press time, several news outlets had reported that Trump was planning on discontinuing the program with a six-month delay. Doing so would fulfill one of his campaign promises, but the action is expected to draw an outpouring of criticism. His announcement was expected Tuesday, after press time.

Acknowledging Trump’s potential decision, Murphy said she believes islanders, in connection with people all over the country, can make a difference. She noted that Trump has created a lot of chaos around immigration and that many people believe immigration is an issue that must be solved

“Our voices are getting louder and louder,” she added.

The film “Indivisible” reveals how U.S. immigration policies affect families, according to the Backbone Campaign’s Amy Morrison. The film centers on the struggle of three young undocumented immigrants who campaign in the halls of Congress and testify for immigration reform. Each had different reasons for coming to the U.S., but they all still hold the same love for the this country.

In one scene at the U.S.-Mexico border, the three youth meet their mothers at the steel fence separating our two countries and hug, or try to hug around massive steel beams separating them.

Morrison added that prior to the screening there will be a showing of “Not One of Us.” Islander Bill Jarcho and Sean Burns, of Bill &Sean’s Excellent Animation, created the nine-minute stop motion animated film.

Jarcho describes the film as, “When a brutish band of orange meanies conquers a small tribe of green natives, their callous actions escalate to a surprising finale that does not bode well for the planet.”

The films appears to be a child-like fable, but ultimately it is a dark commentary about the walls that get built in the name of greed, violence and xenophobia, Jarcho said.

Admission is by donation. The event will also include information on how to get involved and help stop deportation and immigration raids, as well as how to support impacted families. The film will be shown at 6 p.m Tuesday, Sept. 12.