Errol Morris, an acclaimed filmmaker, has turned his focus to the U.S. government’s family separation policy at the border with his latest documentary, “Separated.” This film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and dives into the controversial policy enacted by the Trump administration, which led to thousands of migrant children being separated from their parents. The policy, which aimed to criminally prosecute those crossing the Southwestern border illegally, resulted in minors being placed under the care of the Department of Health and Human Services, as they could not be held with their parents in criminal custody.
Following significant public outcry and legal challenges, including a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Trump administration reversed the policy in 2018. However, the damage was significant, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting that 3,881 children were separated from their families between 2017 and 2021. The film, which is based on Jacob Soboroff’s book, “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy,” was produced in collaboration with NBC News Studios and other partners.
Morris’s film not only documents the events during the Trump era but also examines the broader context of U.S. immigration policy over the years, highlighting statements from multiple American presidents. He describes the film as a warning for the future, stressing that there needs to be a more humane approach to immigration. The documentary features dramatic reenactments of family separations and includes interviews with key figures such as Elaine Duke, the former acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, and whistleblower Jonathan White.
The film does not shy away from the lasting impacts of the policy. On his first day in office in 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order to reunite families who had been separated. By 2023, nearly 700 children had been reunited with their families, although about 1,000 remained separated. Morris hopes that “Separated” will serve as a reminder of the past and a call to action to prevent such policies from being implemented again.
The film runs for 93 minutes and has not yet secured distribution. However, Morris emphasized the importance of releasing it before the next U.S. presidential election, hoping that it could influence public opinion and policy.