Border Crisis Documentation

Humanity is at a point of crisis.  Everywhere we turn, there are social issues that question the moral compass of society. 

This is why I and my partner are starting a digital media channel called Brazen TV; a media channel dedicated to putting women and POC behind the lens. Our mission is to document social issues and provide a venue for our followers to be able to become involved activists with the pressing issues we cover.

This issue around the inhumane treatment of people at the border at detention centers is one of extreme importance to me.

I am a first-generation American and activist filmmaker based in New York. When I was 12, I was almost separated from my parents and little sister when we came back to the States because of paperwork issues. Upon our arrival in NY, as we were going through Customs, it was discovered that my parents’ resident cards had expired and that they had filed the wrong paperwork. The customs agent was about to deport them and my sister(I was born here and was the only one in my immediate family who could be here), but, another agent allowed my parents and sister to stay while they went through the immigration process here to get their resident cards back. From 1989- 2010, my immediate family lived in fear. Court decision after court decision kept us on the edge. Fortunately, my parents were allowed to obtain work permits. 

Needless to say, the immigration process was long, expensive and stressful. My family was lucky to have prevailed. Many families are not as fortunate and live in a constant state of fear of whether or not it is their last day in this country.


One of our producers, Rosario Chico, is a DACA recipient (DREAMER) and is an amazing amazing woman. Rosario is a TV Producer based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has produced shows such as The First 48, My 600 Lb Life and has worked on other network shows for TLC, Discovery, Lifetime, and A + E.

She was one of 6 women producers at one of the largest production companies to take on this production company when one of the 6 women discovered an internal memo to stagnate women of color in a lower position as producers while putting them in harms way with the series they were producing for them- this series has been a long-running one. These 6 women rallied the union to shine a light on working conditions of women, particularly women of color, and the deep disparity of salaries between women of color and their white male counterparts. They were also retaliated against by this mammoth company. And yet, Rosario has pressed forward. Determined to change things for us as women in the media industry.

Rosario is a hero, and she is a DREAMER. She has selflessly put herself on the frontlines, and, I am in awe of this amazing woman. 

Both of us have been deeply impacted by immigration policies in the United States. Both of us know the necessity of media in shining a light on what is an otherwise dark situation. 

Rosario is leading Brazen TV's immigration content. We are kicking off our content with a border series told by producers that come from the story, highlighting content most media is not covering. We are also taking volunteers with us to help with the crisis at the border. This past week, our first set of volunteers went to the border before our cameras arrive at the border. Our volunteers raised $8,000+ all donated to shelters on the border. Our volunteers are outstanding, and we cannot take credit for their charitable work (you can see their names at the end of video). We are incredibly thankful for their support and believe in our media channel and them joining our efforts to go to the border to give our helping hand whether it is through media exposure, time spent with children at the border, helping reunite families, helping recruit lawyers to help, or donating needed items to shelters.

We are hopeful for your consideration in helping us share our Facebook video and GoFundMe link. 

Our cameras go to the border in August.

Through our camera lenses and, along with other journalists, we will document untold narratives from the crisis at our Southern Border.  We will be joined by 20 plus volunteers as well as several journalists.  There will be a Mexican media team that will accompany us for the entire trip, because it is important to get the Mexican narrative in the conversation around immigration policy.  Amongst these volunteers, are current and former political candidates such as recent Senatorial Candidate, Kerri Evelyn Harris, and Erica Vladimer, who will be challenging Carolyn Maloney in NY in the Democratic Primary.