Roach, who took his first film class at UNC, said he wants to use his documentary to share a personal story that reveals some of the harsh realities immigrant families face.
“You’re going to see a side of the immigration debate that you’ve never seen before,” he said.
“120 Days” follows the life of Miguel Cortes and his family, residents of Raleigh who have been living as undocumented immigrants for 12 years.
Sponsored by the Carolina Latina/o Collaborative and the Southern Documentary Fund, the event will begin with a screening of the film followed by a question and answer session with Roach and Cortes’ lawyer, Marty Rosenbluth, who will answer immigration-related legal questions.
The Cortes family story begins when Miguel Cortes was charged for driving without a license and arrested. He was detained and ultimately told he had four months — 120 days — before being deported.
Roach said he filmed the Cortes family with just one cameraman to avoid intrusion. The film chronicles Miguel Cortes’ crucial decision to face deportation — requiring him to say goodbye to his wife and two daughters — or to change his name and flee to another U.S. city as a fugitive.
“The audience is going to feel like they’re part of the Cortes family because they allowed us to be a part of theirs,” Roach said.
The film ignites the immigration debate further, showcasing the controversy of the 287(g) agreement, part of a federal immigration law that authorizes local police to act as enforcers of immigration.
