Draft:The Infiltrators (2019 documentary)

The film opens with an interview of Claudio Rojas and his wife Liliana, describing their life after moving to the United States from Argentina. They talk about the day that he was detained in front of his home by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The scene is composed of the real interview and a re-enactment of the event. He is taken to Broward Transitional Center in Florida. His son, Emiliano, is seen calling ICE and is told that nothing can be done for his father by them except for speeding up Claudio's deportation. By searching online for a way to stop the deportation, he stumbles upon the National Immigrant Youth Alliance (NIYA), and their work to stop deportations

Marco recounts his time working for NIYA, stopping deportations and his plan to get people out of the Broward Transitional Center. Marco goes to a deportation center claiming to be looking for his cousin, while he has his phone recording his conversation with the ICE officer in his back pocket. The audio recording between the two, including Marcos being arrested and detained is played over the re-enactment of this event. He is subsequently taken to Broward. Marco explains the conditions and reputation of Broward, comparing it to a Florida motel. He explains how the men that were detained there were not given the right to a trial prior to detainment, as they had not committed any crimes when they were detained. He explains how they are not provided a lawyer, or given a sentence. He finds Claudio, and explains how he (Marco) was contacted by Claudio's son to find him, and how NIYA was going to attempt to get them out.

While they speak, the film cuts to an interview Marco's family, as they speak about his childhood and their hopes at the time that Marco makes it out alright. As Claudio is explaining how life at the deportation center works, Marco is introduced to Morales. The film cuts to footage from 2 years prior, of people from NIYA, such as Mohammad, and he explains his work with NIYA and their work to try and get the DREAM Act passed. He also explains their tactics, such as getting arrested publicly and their public protests to fight while avoiding deportation. Back at Broward, Marco talks to another young student, Ismael, and tells him to call a number. This is used to introduce Viri, a member of NIYA, and show their process to get info on the people NIYA was trying to get released, from petitions to emails. The film cuts between Marco and Claudio making slips of paper with the phone number, and an interview of Emiliano, who speaks of the first time both Emiliano and Claudio were detained, and how Claudio had been staying in the country with his family despite the warrant out for his deportation. After, it shows the slips of paper being passed out, and audio is played of the phone class of the detainee families calling NIYA. While explaining the working conditions of Broward (Marco is payed $1 a day, however, he is allowed more visitors), it cuts to Viri talking about how they found out about the women's side of the deportation center, and how they are added to the plan (Viri agrees to do the same thing as Marco on the women's side). Beni is revealed to be the next to be deported, however, due to his refusal to board the plane, he is taken back to Broward.

With Viri, the film depicts through cell phone audio, real footage, and re-enactment, how difficult it was to get detained purposefully. While cutting back and forth between Marco and Viri's efforts, the officers at Broward are slowly catching on to the infiltrators and start to make efforts to prevent paperwork from being brought into and out of the center. We see as officers threaten and intimidate detainees into agreeing to be deported.

As some detainees go on a fast, news gets out about Marco and Viri being infiltrators. This helps spread more detainee stories, and convince more people to join the fast. As this is happening, the film touches on how political pressure and voting demographics effect the speed at which people get released. Marco and Viri are taken to see the warden of BTC, he attempts releases them as to prevent more info from being spread to the detainees. They refuse, presenting lists of those who they are trying to get released. Eventually, Marco and Viri are released. NIYA organizes protests, and eventually, Claudio is released.

• Mohammad Abdollahi as Self
• Maynor Alvarado as Marco
• Chelsea Rendon as Viridiana (Viri)
• Manuel Uriza as Claudio
• Juan Gabriel Pareja as Beni
• Fernando Martinez as Morales
• Oscar Perez as Ismael
• Emiliano Rojas as Self
• Liliana Rojas as Self

The film was produced by Baked Studios, Naked Edge Films, and Pueblo Sight and Sound. The film is in both English and Spanish, with a majority of the film being in Spanish with English subtitles. The film was written, directed, and produced by Alex Rivera and Christina Ibarra.^[3][4]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 33 critics' reviews are positive, with the website consensus stating The Infiltrators takes a unique stylistic approach to an important topic, leaving audiences with a viewing experience that demands -- and rewards -- attention."^[5] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a 74 out of 100 based on 13 critics.^[6] Both of these scores indicate overall positive reviews.

The Infiltrators debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival where it won the The Audience Award: Next.^[7] Due to it's late debut, it did not release in theaters. However, it was later released to streaming services during early to mid 2020.^[8]