Ep 1. A Prayer in the Night

Living Undocumented is an emotional docuseries that follows the lives of eight undocumented families as they navigate the complexities of living in the United States without proper legal documentation. The first episode of season one, titled "A Prayer in the Night," introduces the audience to just a few of the individuals facing this challenge.

The episode opens with a young boy named Saul. He is getting ready for bed, reciting a prayer in his head as he tucks himself in. Saul is a typical nine-year-old, excited about birthday parties and the start of the school year. But Saul is also undocumented. His parents, Luis and Kenia, brought him to the United States when he was an infant. They fled violence and poverty in their native Guatemala, seeking a better life for their family.

The documentary weaves together the stories of several other families, each facing their own challenges as they attempt to build a life in a country that does not recognize their legal status. There is Marcos and Salma, a young couple who have been living in the United States for several years. They met at work and fell in love, but the fear of sudden deportation hangs over their heads every day. There are also the Perales siblings, whose parents were deported several years ago. They are now living with their grandmother, who struggles to provide for them on her meager income.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking story belongs to Luis and Claudia. They have been living in the United States for over two decades, raising a family and building a life for themselves. They have three children, all of whom were born in the United States and are therefore U.S. citizens. Claudia is a stay-at-home mom, while Luis works in construction. They have paid taxes and contributed to their community for years. But despite all of this, they face the constant fear of deportation. Luis had a run-in with the law several years back and has been fighting to stay in the country ever since. The episode follows the family as they prepare to attend a hearing that could determine their fate.

Throughout the episode, several themes emerge. The first is the fear that permeates the lives of these families. Every interaction with law enforcement, every trip to a government office, every knock on the door brings with it the possibility of separation and deportation. This constant fear takes a toll on the mental health and wellbeing of these individuals and their families.

Another theme is the complexity of the immigration system. The families in Living Undocumented all have different stories, but they share a common thread: the difficulty of navigating a system that is designed to be confusing and unforgiving. The episode shows Luis and Claudia poring over stacks of paperwork, trying to make sense of the legal jargon and figure out a way to stay in the country. It also highlights the role that lawyers and advocates play in assisting undocumented individuals and families.

Perhaps most importantly, Living Undocumented humanizes an issue that has become overly politicized in recent years. The families featured in the show are not criminals or freeloaders, as they are often portrayed in the media. They are hardworking individuals who, for various reasons, have found themselves living in the United States without proper documentation. They are parents who want nothing more than to provide a better life for their children, and individuals who contribute to their communities in countless ways.

"A Prayer in the Night" sets the tone for the rest of the season, showing just how high the stakes are for undocumented individuals and families in the United States. Through the stories of Saul, Luis and Claudia, Marcos and Salma, and the Perales siblings, the episode highlights the fear, complexity, and humanity of this issue. It is a powerful start to a series that sheds light on an often-misunderstood topic.