Why does the United States currently have an immigration crisis on our Southern borders?
     In order to answer this question, the filmmakers traveled to the U.S. border five times, beginning in 2012, to walk the desert and interview humanitarian groups, social workers, legal professionals, the undocumented, and anti-immigration protesters.
      The film also seeks to provide a variety of responses to other questions on the topic, such as:

• What are the historical and economic reasons for this dilemma?
• How have politicians used this issue to garner votes?
• How are some communities of faith responding to the crisis? 

Translation of Story
from Page to Screen
 
The screenplay was written by Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre, author of several books on immigration.  The film attempts to explain why they come. Special care was taken so as not to speak for the undocumented as if they were objects, but rather, to provide a space for them to speak for themselves, and for allies to speak in solidarity with them.  

Trails of Hope and Terror the movie has been a work in progress since 2012.  The content and story of the film has developed over time, including the incorporation of new historical events relevant to the subject matter.  Screenings of partial versions of the film have been held in various humanitarian, faith-based, academic and classroom settings throughout the country, and have received positive reviews.