Chicago's immigration landscape is being captured on film in a new documentary, "Shouldering Sanctuary," which aims to humanize the city's response to federal immigration enforcement operations launched by President Donald Trump. The 12-month production is still a work in progress, but it promises to provide a nuanced and grounded perspective on the issue.
Filmmakers Fatima Omar and Ian Resnick are joined by artist Cliff Questel, who sketches courtroom scenes without cameras allowed inside the Downtown building. His drawings offer a unique insight into the inner workings of the immigration court system, which is often shrouded in mystery for those outside.
The documentary explores Chicago's response to Trump's executive orders on immigration and delves into the lives of individuals affected by these policies. It features interviews with local politicians, advocates, and community members, as well as footage from protests and rallies.
One key aspect of the film is its focus on characterization and storytelling. By using a combination of hotseat interviews, bodycam footage, and videos from social media, Omar and Resnick aim to create a more personal connection with their audience. The screenings will be followed by discussions with local politicians and advocates, who will share their perspectives on the issue.
The filmmakers are also working to capture moments of community and resilience in the face of adversity. They acknowledge that portraying ordinary members of the public can be challenging when the stakes are high, but they believe that this is crucial in conveying the human impact of immigration policies.
"Shouldering Sanctuary" will screen at the Edge Theater in Edgewater on Thursday, with clips available online through the Truth & Documentary team's YouTube channel and Media Burn Archive website. Tickets are free and can be reserved online, with donations requested for families or individuals impacted by ICE operations.
Filmmakers Fatima Omar and Ian Resnick are joined by artist Cliff Questel, who sketches courtroom scenes without cameras allowed inside the Downtown building. His drawings offer a unique insight into the inner workings of the immigration court system, which is often shrouded in mystery for those outside.
The documentary explores Chicago's response to Trump's executive orders on immigration and delves into the lives of individuals affected by these policies. It features interviews with local politicians, advocates, and community members, as well as footage from protests and rallies.
One key aspect of the film is its focus on characterization and storytelling. By using a combination of hotseat interviews, bodycam footage, and videos from social media, Omar and Resnick aim to create a more personal connection with their audience. The screenings will be followed by discussions with local politicians and advocates, who will share their perspectives on the issue.
The filmmakers are also working to capture moments of community and resilience in the face of adversity. They acknowledge that portraying ordinary members of the public can be challenging when the stakes are high, but they believe that this is crucial in conveying the human impact of immigration policies.
"Shouldering Sanctuary" will screen at the Edge Theater in Edgewater on Thursday, with clips available online through the Truth & Documentary team's YouTube channel and Media Burn Archive website. Tickets are free and can be reserved online, with donations requested for families or individuals impacted by ICE operations.
anyway, this doc "shouldering sanctuary" sounds like it's gonna give us a real insight into chicago's response to all the trump policies. i love that they're focusing on characterization and storytelling - it's so rare you see immigration issues portrayed in a human way. and it's awesome they're doing these community screenings with discussions afterwards, that sounds super important. my only hope is they don't get too many of those sketchy ICE agents in the film lol
. I mean, we're living in 2025 and stuff like this is still happening right under our noses, but people are finally using film to tell the human side of things 
. The fact that they're doing interviews with local politicians and community members, as well as showing protests and rallies, gives me hope that it'll be a real eye-opener for people who might not know what's really going on 
. I love how the filmmakers are trying to capture moments of resilience and community – we need more stories like that right now 
. And the best part? It's free and anyone can watch it online or at the screening event, so let's get behind this doc and spread some awareness 
... But at the same time, I don't know if it'll really make a difference in the grand scheme of things. We'll see how it plays out when it hits the big screen! 
. But I guess this one's trying to humanize the issue and make people think about what's really going on behind closed doors. I'd love to see some real-life stories from people who've been affected by Trump's policies, that would be really interesting 
. It's gonna be so cool to see it all on screen and get a better understanding of what it's really like for the ppl who are impacted by these policies 
.
. We need more conversations about this stuff! 
I mean, we need more of these kinds of films that show the human side of things, not just the politics 
Cliff Questel's drawings are genius 
can't wait to see them on screen! Also, I love how they're making it accessible online and even offering free tickets 
Anyway, I'm sure the filmmakers will do a great job of characterization and storytelling – those interviews with politicians and community members should give us some real insight into what's going on. And sketching courtroom scenes without cameras allowed is genius, lol... I mean, who needs footage when you have Cliff Questel's art 
like we used to talk about politics on my uncle's old dial-up internet at home now its all about these fancy documentaries and online platforms 
still sounds like a big undertaking tho
the way they're humanizing ppl affected by trump's policies is straight fire 
i love that they're featuring local politicians & community members to share their stories, it's so necessary for us to hear from both sides of the aisle 
anyone else excited for the screenings? 
and I'm still thinking about the cherry pie they have there... it's like a whole different world! Anyway, what caught my attention about this documentary is how they're trying to humanize the immigration landscape by focusing on characterization and storytelling. It's like, we don't always see the impact of these policies on regular people, right? 
. And don't even get me started on the protesters and politicians - they're all just trying to get attention for their own agendas, not actually making a difference 
. I mean, if you want to humanize the issue, why not try showing some real footage of people actually benefiting from the policies? Like, how many successful business owners or entrepreneurs can we really say were affected by Trump's immigration orders? 
I'm so down for this documentary! It's about time we see a more personal side of immigration in Chicago 
. I love that the filmmakers are focusing on characterization and storytelling – it's easy to get caught up in the headlines, but this doc will help us connect with people's real-life struggles 
I'm still skeptical, but at the same time, it's great that they're tackling a tough topic in a way that's not too preachy or polarizing. Fingers crossed it'll be more than just a feel-good film 
And let's be real, having Cliff Questel's sketches of courtroom scenes is just genius 
Can't wait to see how the filmmakers capture those moments of community and resilience – it's gonna make for some powerful storytelling 