Even before the Trump Administration took office, some 11 million undocumented immigrants were subject to a brutal detention and deportation machine. Since then, an even more drastic shift in rhetoric around immigration, a sharp rise in raids, the travel ban, and the rescindment of DACA indicate a harder stance and antagonism intended to push some of the country’s most vulnerable residents out. A new film called Out of Reach, part of the Epix America Divides series, follows actress America Ferrera as she travels to Texas in the final months of the Obama Administration to find out how immigration policies are affecting the 1.65 million undocumented people currently living in the state.
Texas Senate Bill 4 is a controversial measure designed to crack down on “sanctuary cities.” If implemented, the bill, commonly referred to as the “show me your papers” law, would give local law enforcement the authority to ask about a person’s immigration status during routine interactions such as traffic stops and force local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration officials. Although a federal court issued an order temporarily blocking the majority of the law from going into effect on September 1st, a federal appeals court recently limited that federal court’s decision. The next court hearing on SB4 will be scheduled in early November.
To build public awareness of the bill and mobilize opposition to stop it, we’ve partnered with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) and local organizations throughout Texas to hold a statewide screening tour of Out of Reach beginning in Austin on October 23rd. Each screening event will be followed by a Q&A and discussion with local leaders to share the ways audiences can support opposition to policies like SB4.
If your city is not on the list and you would like to host a screening of Out of Reach, please contact Andy Myers at amyers@workingfilms.org.
Austin – Monday October 23rd at 7pm
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Mueller
1911 Aldrich St. Suite 120.
Austin, TX 78723
Hosted by: Indivisible Austin, Workers Defense, and RAICES
Dallas – Tuesday October 24th at 7pm
The Texas Theatre
231 W Jefferson Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75208
Hosted by: Dallas SURJ, North Texas Dream Team, Texas Organizing Project, and RAICES
MacAllen – Wednesday, October 25th at 6pm
South Texas College Pecan Campus
Building D Auditorium
3201 Pecan Blvd
McAllen, TX 78501
Hosted by: Fuerza del Valle Workers Center and Women’s Studies Committee at South Texas College and National Domestic Workers Alliance
San Antonio – Wednesday October 25th at 7pm
Santikos Bijou Cinema & Bistro
4522 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
Hosted by: Pro Immigrant Coalition and RAICES
Denton – Saturday October 28th at 7pm
Movie Tavern
916 W University Dr.
Denton, TX 76201
Hosted by: North Texas Dream Team, Indivisible Denton, MUEVE, and Thin Line Film Festival
Waco – Thursday November 2nd at 7pm
Common Grounds
1123 S 8th St.
Waco, TX 76706
Hosted by: Waco Immigrants Alliance
Arlington – Thursday November 9th at 7pm
UT Arlington-MAC Lone Star Auditorium
500 We. Nedderman Dr.
Arlington, TX 76019.
Hosted by: Mavericks United
Houston – Wednesday November 15th at 7pm
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Mason Park
531 Mason Rd
Katy, TX 77450
Hosted by: Fe y Justicia Workers Center, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, RAICES, United We Dream, and Houston SURJ.
El Paso – Friday November 17th at 5:30pm
UTEP College of Health and Sciences – Room 217
1851 Wiggins Way
El Paso, TX 79902
Hosted by: Comité de Justicia Laboral and UTEP Department of Social Work
Fort Worth – Thursday November 30th at 7pm
Funky Town Creative Arts Lounge
1549 North Main St.
Fort Worth, TX 76164
Hosted by: RAICES, United Fort Worth, and North Texas Dream Team.
