10 Best Documentaries About Illegal Immigration

Immigration has always been a thorny issue in the United States, and it was an even bigger topic in 2024 because of the presidential elections. According to the Pew Research Center, America has about 48 million immigrants, accounting for 14.3% of the population, followed by India, China, the Philippines, and El Salvador (3%). Today, the country is home to one-fifth of the world’s international migrants, hence there has been endless political discourse about the dynamics surrounding the entry of foreigners, especially when it comes to illegal immigration.

Everyone has an opinion about the matter, and one person’s view is likely to be opposed by another. Thankfully, several documentaries and docuseries tackle illegal immigration in a detailed and intellectual manner, leaving viewers more informed about the subject. From the circumstances that force people to seek a home in America, to the views of the citizens, these productions cover all topics that those researching the subject are likely to be looking for.

10 ‘The Undocumented Lawyer’ (2021)

The Undocumented Lawyer is the story of Lizbeth Mateo, an undocumented immigrant who became a prolific lawyer. More like Mike Ross, her greatness was born of pain, but there was always the threat of more pain. This illuminating and arresting documentary delves into Lizbeth’s tough childhood and angst-ridden immigrant life, using a creative blend of narrations, interviews, and rare footage.

Illegal Immigrant Turns into a Legal Titan

There has been an assumption that only the “worst ones” come in, but The Undocumented Immigrant shows that plenty of good can come from opening the doors for foreigners. Here, the subject not only starts a successful firm but also changes the lives of many people facing the same predicament as her. Additionally, the documentary focuses on those various people who Lizbeth has approached for help. Needless to say, none of them come out smelling like a rose.

9 ‘I’m Leaving Now’ (2018)

Felipe I’m Leaving Now has a simple message to the American government: “Sorry I’ve stayed so long. I won’t be a bother anymore.” After living illegally in Brooklyn for 16 years, and faithfully sending most of his income to his family in Mexico, he figures it’s time to return home. However, that’s what he wants, not what his family wants (his money means everything to them), so a conflict emerges.

Felipe Vs Family

Filled with thrilling argument-packed footage that makes divorce movies look like a joke, and buoyed by a snappy Ranchera score, I’m Leaving Now feels grand and intimate at the same time… also heartwarming and poignant. Even though the story is presented as a family affair, it offers great insights into the perspectives of families who chose to stay behind. They miss their loved ones, but that’s a minor issue. The major issue is fiscal.

8 ‘The Trek: A Migrant Trail to America’ (2023)

Culling down over dozens of hours of by-the-second footage, CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh fashions a one-of-a-kind, Emmy-worthy installation that’s undoubtedly destined for cult classic status. In The Trek, he accompanies immigrants on a hazardous journey through Central and South America, their path leading them through the treacherous Darien Gap — a 66-mile stretch of dense jungle fraught with peril.

Tossing Away the Fear

No one would have done this kind of job better. After getting turned on to the risks taken by Latin American immigrants, and becoming their primary documentarian, Nick Paton Walsh ends up channeling his inner Indiana Jones, but he never makes himself the star of the story. He remains compassionate and dedicated, reminding audiences that the journey is never easy, neither is it born out of ill intention. Like the biblical Israelites, most immigrants just dream of a better land and are willing to risk everything for it.

Stream it on Max

7 ‘Border Wars’ (2010)

There has always been a major war going on at the Mexican border and Border Wars gives us a peek into the rarely seen ‘battlefield.’ The docuseries follows agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other Department of Homeland Security divisions as they investigate and arrest illegal immigrants.

A Need for Peaceful Resolution

This spellbinding story, crafted by a dream team of familiar National Geographic faces, captures the raw, horrifying, and occasionally enlightening essence of border politics. The plans that the immigrants concoct while blocked by repressive laws are something to behold, but not one gets glorified. Additionally, the perspectives of both the agents and those trying to cross over are each explored in detail. Regardless of your views on immigration, feel free to let this life-affirming powerhouse educate you.

6 ‘Living Undocumented’ (2019)

Executive-produced by Selena Gomez, Living Undocumented examines the joys and woes of eight illegal immigrant families living in the United States. From how they got to America, to what they are currently doing, the docuseries bares it all.

Educating Audiences of the Challenges Faced by Citizens of Different Countries

Why do people come to America? Living Undocumented gives a concrete answer to this question by educating viewers about the political and economic climates of not just Mexico, but also Colombia, Honduras, Laos, Israel, and Mauritania, where the rest of the immigrants are from. The docuseries was also created with good intentions. In a Time Magazine op-ed, Gomez revealed she decided to become involved after watching footage that “captured the hope, optimism, and patriotism so many undocumented immigrants still hold in their hearts despite the hell they go through.”’

Stream it on Netflix

5 ‘Kids Caught in the Crackdown’ (2019)

Kids Caught in the Crackdown profiles the astounding tale of the “zero tolerance” policy implementation which led to a surge in detained migrant children. One of the most contemptible, outsize examples of political hubris on record, the film focuses on all the players who loomed large in this debacle while also peaking into the conditions inside federally funded shelters.

Rooting for the Children

The documentary doesn’t argue that children should be exempted from immigration laws. It simply argues that they should be treated better once the “illegal” status of their parents is exposed. And most viewers will agree that this isn’t a lot to ask. Get some Kleenex, as you might be left with tears. Most importantly, you’ll feel the need to make a change, in whichever way you can.

4 ‘The Other Side of Immigration’ (2009)

The Other Side of Immigration provides an in-depth look at the Mexican immigrant experience, specifically explaining why so many people leave rural Mexico to look for jobs in the United States and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Have the remittances improved Mexico’s economy? Roy Germano — an International Relations professor at New York University — has the answers.

Lending Everyone an Ear

This justly lauded American Library Association Notable Video Award winner is the definitive docu for all wishing to fully understand this crisis — and that should be almost everyone. Germano combines exclusive footage with interviews (more than 700) by both influential and obscure participants to create something worth the viewer’s time. Perhaps most importantly, it gives voice to the locals who have all the answers but rarely get asked the questions.

3 ‘Which Way Home’ (2009)

There is a legendary freight train known as La Bestia (“The Beast”), also known as El Tren de la Muerte (“The Train of Death”) and El Tren de los Desconocidos (“The Train of the Unknowns”), that starts its route in near the border of Guatemala and stops near the US. Every year, over 500,000 migrants, mostly from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, ride the train, hoping to enter America. Which Way Home takes us on a ride with them.

A Journey with a Purpose

This inquisitive exploration of a torturous journey manifests itself in the innocent faces of the travelers. It mostly focuses on the children, so we see both their hopes and fears. Slowly and delicately, the Oscar-nominated masterpiece reveals the unrivaled power of sound, and image, to honor brave young individuals. Each of the children has a personal story… a powerful one. You’ll be hooked… more than you’ll ever be while watching a train movie.

2 ‘Change the Subject’ (2019)

Change the Subject elucidates the difference between the terms ‘Illegal Alien’ and ‘Undocumented immigrants,’ leaving audiences with a better understanding of why the latter is better than the former. The debate is brought forward by Dartmouth College students as they lobby the Library of Congress to switch the terminology.

The Importance of Sensitivity

Armed with desire and lots of facts, the students courageously flambée the gatekeepers of grammar, charging them with insensitivity and subterfuge. They are extremely provocative, and their sense of outrage seems justified, especially when you see some of the press headlines. Overall, the film delivers a clever and shattering slap in the face to the arrogance of wording, leaving you contemplative about the words you have been using.

1 ‘The Hand that Feeds’ (2014)

The Hand that Feeds revolves around a group of undocumented immigrants working at a bakery café. Forced to persevere with sub-legal wages, overbearing managers who keep threatening to fire them, and working with dangerous machinery, they attempt to unionize to achieve fair working conditions. Unsurprisingly, the mission proves hard.

Fighting for Money and Safety

The documentary offers a thorough examination of what constitutes “normal working conditions” and takes us inside the experiences of foreign workers with compassion and endless insight. At the 22nd Annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival held in Durham, North Carolina, it won the Audience Award for Best Feature, and after just a few minutes of watching, you’ll easily see why.