PBS’s VOCES series presents Almost American, a powerful and timely documentary by producer and director Nina Alvarez, premiering on Monday, 26 August 2024, at 10-11:30 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app. The film offers a human perspective on the difficult immigration debate, focusing on the personal story of the Ayala Flores family, whose lives are deeply impacted by the revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
In 2018, the Department of Homeland Security abruptly revoked TPS for six countries, leaving thousands of established American families facing potential separation. The Ayala Flores family, sheltered by TPS status since 2001, finds themselves in a precarious situation. With American-born children and deep roots in the nation’s capital, they join a class-action lawsuit, Ramos V. Neilsen, in an attempt to halt the termination.
The film captures the impact of hard-line immigration sentiment and explores how shifting political agendas can have profound consequences on individuals and families. Through interviews with elected officials and former State Department and Department of Homeland Security personnel, Almost American sheds light on the decision-making process and the impact of anti-immigrant sentiment.
The court initially ruled in favour of the plaintiffs, but the government appealed, and in September 2020, the verdict was reversed, maintaining the termination of TPS status. In 2023, protection for TPS holders was reinstated, but the Ayala Flores family and hundreds of thousands of others face another review in 2025, leaving their future uncertain.
Almost American provides a nuanced perspective on the ongoing immigration policy debate, reminding viewers that beyond the headlines, there are individuals and families whose lives are deeply intertwined with policy changes. The film underscores the human dimension of immigration and the impact of political decisions on those seeking a better life in the United States.
Almost American premieres on 26 August 2024, at 10-11:30 p.m. ET on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app.
