VENICE – Filmmaker Errol Morris unveiled his latest documentary, “Separated”, at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. The film delves into the U.S. government’s controversial border policies and the tragic consequences of family separation.

During the Trump administration, thousands of migrant parents were torn apart from their children as a result of criminal prosecutions for illegal border crossings. This led to minors being transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services due to laws preventing them from being held in criminal custody with their parents.

However, facing backlash and a federal court order, Trump reversed this policy in 2018. Despite this, the damage had been done, with 3,881 children separated from their families between 2017 and 2021.

Based on journalist Jacob Soboroff’s book “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy”, Morris aims to shed light on the dark chapter of American history while urging for a more humane future.

Even though the documentary focuses on the Trump era, it offers a broader perspective on immigration through interviews and dramatic reenactments. The film serves as a reminder of the past and a warning for the future.

President Joe Biden’s efforts to reunite families continue, with nearly 700 children already reunited with their families. However, the pain remains for the remaining 1,000 children still separated from their loved ones.

While “Separated” has not yet found a distributor, Morris hopes to release it before the upcoming U.S. presidential election to raise awareness and potentially influence viewers.

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