Expanding Sanctuary

Expanding Sanctuary has been over six years in the making, born from my deep collaboration with Juntos, a Latinx immigrant rights nonprofit. This partnership lies at the heart of my filmmaking process, focusing on authentic, community-driven storytelling.

The film follows an immigrant mother who becomes a leader in the fight to end police data-sharing with ICE. What begins as her effort to bring her mother to the U.S. transforms into a passionate journey for immigrant rights. As Linda discovers her voice, the film documents her powerful shift from personal desire to collective action, culminating in a historic victory for the community.

This project is deeply personal to me, inspired by my love for my immigrant parents and my desire to honor the struggles of immigrant families, particularly Latina mothers. As a first-generation Latinx nonbinary person, my experiences mirror those of the community, yet I recognize the privilege I hold in telling these stories. I aim to decolonize the typical portrayal of immigrants in media and provide a platform for authentic representation.

My work with Juntos ensures that power, transparency, and accountability are at the forefront of the process. The crew, made up primarily of Latinx, immigrant, and gender-expansive people of color, reflects the community we document, ensuring an inclusive and intersectional approach to filmmaking.