America_I_Too_071018 HD

[Based on actual testimonies and true experiences] [America; I Too] - I'm out. - We're about to eat! - Mom— - Seat down, please. I also have to go to work. And you, Maya, drop that phone already, stop texting, man. Chela’s father’s deported. - What happened? - I don’t know. By the time they found out he was already going to Mexico. - And did they have a lawyer? - I don't know, I don't think so. I'll tell you both again the same thing. If you are approached by a police man or an Immigration officer, You don't have to tell them anything but your name. And if you're asked something, you only have to reply when— The lawyer is there. We know, Ma. We know, we know, Ma. Mom, I gotta go while there's still light. - Alright. - Wait! What now? What is she doing? ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday— ♪ You're 18 now! ♪ Happy birthday, dear Manny ♪ Now you're an adult now loser. All right. Bye. Tell me what happened. I don't know. When they got home— Wow, you are good at making. He came back again. You are lucky. You should say thank you. - Thank you. - Thank you. Good, girl! Hey! Hey! You're defacing public property. Can you turn around please? This is my mural. Tagging makes it yours? I wasn't tagging, I was signing my name. Call the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space—they hired me for this. You don't have consent to search my stuff. You got a little weed in there? No! I wasn't doing anything. I was just painting. Don't you have anything better to do than to harass me? - What's your name kid? - Manuel Sanchez. Get off me, ow! - What's this? - My phone. You don't have my permission to search me! You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I just read to you? [Police] The Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space checked out. We're not pressing charges. How's your grandson doing at school? He is doing okay but I am still worried. Are you Manuel Sanchez? Yes. You have an outstanding removal order. Go ahead and step out of line please. - What? - You were ordered removed from Harligen, Texas, in 1998. Go ahead and step out of line. I was five years old. Come on son, let's go. Let's go! Pizza? All right, quiet down everyone. Quiet down! Quiet down! I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here. Immigrations Custom Enforcement. If you got papers, please stand on this side of the room. If you don't, stand on this side of the room. Immigration and Custom Enforcement. Please stand on this side of the room. If you don't have papers, please, stand on the other side of the room. Now. Respondent was transferred from LAPD custody after arrest for tagging. I wasn't tagging. I was signing my name on my artwork. Your name came up in the gang database. The what? I'm not in a gang! So why's your name in the gang database? You shouldn't be here. Go over there. Where are you going? Please sir, I no be here. What? My grandson is alone at home. Speak American. America, I too— It says here "Manito", is that what your gang calls you? That's what my mother calls me. Admits that his gang moniker is "Manito." Can you get back in the fucking line please? If you sign this, you can be in Tijuana in a couple hours. Or you can sit in detention for months and the judge is just going to deport you anyway. I'm not signing anything. Judges don't let gang members stay here. I want to talk to my family. Sign the form. No. Sign the form. No. Get off of me, get off of me! Sign the form! I'm not signing anything. I have the right to speak to my lawyer! I just want to talk to my family! Hello? I'm sorry, Mom, I'm sorry. But listen, Immigration picked me up. You have to call that lawyer. Don't—don't— I don't know. Please call that lawyer Mom, please! Excuse me, where... Where are we going? Disneyland. What is your name? Esmeralda Rodriguez. What is your country of origin? Where were you born, ma'am? I will remain silent. I refuse to answer your questions. If I am detained, I have the right to contact an attorney. This is not a hotel. Come on, let's go. Let's go! Excuse me? Excuse me? Sorry... She's been waiting here a long time, and no one called her name. She needs to go pick up her grandson. Please. Tell her I have an autistic grandson. Her grandson is autism—autism. So she needs to go pick him up so he's all alone. Please. This woman is the grandmother of an autistic child. She is the sole guardian. Why didn't you say anything? She can't speak English. I'll see what I can do. Yeah, do we have any more of those ankle bracelets? All right, we're going to get you a humanitarian release. Welcome to the ISAP program. This is your ankle monitor, and you will need to wear it 24 hours a day and charge it two hours a day. I feel like it's going to burn my skin. She says it's burning. I know it's uncomfortable. This is the only way she gets to go home. You can only go home when you wear this. I know I have to wear this but I feel like I became a criminal. Hey Manuel, let me get one. Are you good? Yeah, I hadn't had my inhaler when I got arrested. Did you tell them? I did. They keep telling me they'll get me one but they never do. You know? You sure you should be out here? It's kinda cold. We only got one hour. I like this much better than inside. I guess they're going back to wherever they came from. Yeah. I'm getting out. You are? Yeah. My lawyer got the judge to get me a bond. You got a lawyer? Yeah, my family did a legal intake a long time ago, before any of this happened. The organization got us one. So that's it, you can stay? We keep fighting on the outside. Man if they took me back to Somalia— I don't even know no one there. Then that's why we got to fight your case. What case? Listen, let's go to the law library so you could figure it out. For what? So you can learn about your case. Don't just take the deportation when you don't even understand - your situation. - I understand my situation. Look man, now I'm not like you. Nobody give a shit that I'm in here. Look, my lawyer's coming. You should try to talk to her. Because if you don't defend yourself, no one else is going to. I'm supposed to read all this? You got someplace else to be? Instead of complaining, you should be getting your request in to see a legal orientation lawyer. Oh, one more. This is a good one. Study up grasshopper. If you sign a voluntary departure, you'll be barred from returning to the United States for at least 10 years. Do you understand? If you sign a voluntary departure, you cannot return to the United States for ten years. Excuse me. I need a lawyer. I can't take on any more cases. I'm Manny's friend. I already put in the request. Here's a list of community organizations and consulates. If you reach out to them they might connect you to a pro-bono lawyer. I heard that if you are a victim of a crime, you're eligible for a visa. Is that right? My mom's husband used to beat us up both. One day he beat me up so bad that I ended up at the hospital. That's when the courts took me away from my mom. So that's child abuse, right? Isn't that a crime? Yes, and you're right. You may be eligible for a U Visa if we can prove that you're a victim of a crime. She was working on getting us papers before I was taken away. Have you talked to your mother since you were separated? She passed away. So can you just take my case? I'll see what I can do. In the meantime reach out to those organizations. Can't I just work with you? Please? Who do you think knows you're in here besides the other people inside? You want help getting out? Write some letters. [PRAYING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Come back in a month with a receipt that you've applied for a U Visa and I'll give you time to pursue the application. Anything else counselor? Nothing further, your Honor. Counselor? Matter adjourned. Thank you, your Honor. I thought you said she'd let me go. No, remember? I explained. You're not eligible for a bond until you've been detained for at least six months. I can't last that long in there. If you give up now, you'll be deported and you won't be able to come back. I know this doesn't feel good, but this is good news. It's not a bad birthday present. Oh yeah, that's today. Happy birthday, Ahmed. Thanks. ♪ Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday dear, Ahmed Happy birthday to you ♪ We're fighting for you, Ahmed! Stay strong, Ahmed! You're gonna get out brother, you're gonna get out! [Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed.] [I, too, am America. Langston Hughes] [Exercise your constitutional rights] [You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. [You have the right to speak to an attorney.] [Get a referral from an immigrant rights organization - don't just trust anyone.] [For more information about Know Your Rights workshops, go to CHIRLA.org] [Tell your representative to support immigrants and their families.] [Prepare yourself. Stay strong.] [Don't give up. You belong.]