Mother of Exiles
Mother of Exiles is a powerful forthcoming oratorio-musical "Behind the Borderlines: The Beast" that brings together filmmaker Diego Sedano, composer Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra, and journalist Eileen Truax in a bold collaboration. Drawing inspiration from Emma Lazarus’ famous poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, this project sheds light on the untold stories of migrants from Mexico and Central America who are forced to flee their homes due to violence, persecution, and poverty.
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Through a moving blend of music, film, and investigative storytelling, Mother of Exiles explores the deep contradictions between U.S.’s promise of refuge and the harsh realities of its immigration policies. It centers on the voices of those too often silenced—undocumented migrants, Indigenous women, trans and queer individuals, and grieving families—and shares how, despite adversity, they persist with dignity, courage, and hope.
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This is not just a production. It’s a call to witness, to feel, and to understand the lived experiences behind today’s immigration headlines, using the arts as a path toward empathy, justice, and healing.
Borderlines: Stories the
Statue Can't Hold
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Inspired by Emma Lazarus’ iconic phrase "Mother of Exiles" first written for the Statue of Liberty, this production exposes the contradictions between the welcoming image the U.S. creates and its immigration realities. It features stories like:
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Doña Sara and Saúl, who fled Guadalupe after the brutal murders of five relatives.
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Jorge, a trans undocumented migrant facing dual discrimination.
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Odilia, a Zapotec woman who built translation services to support Indigenous migrants in the U.S.
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Lucha, an attorney in México who works with grieving mothers to fight femicide.
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At its core, this production stages true stories documented in migration journalist Eileen Truax's books Dreamers: An Immigrant Generation's Fight for Their American Dream; How Does It Feel to Be Unwanted? Stories of Resistance and Resilience from Mexicans Living in the United States; We Built the Wall: How the U.S. Keeps Out Asylum Seekers from México, Central America and Beyond; and investigative journalist Óscar Martínez’s acclaimed book, The Beast: Riding the Rails and Dodging Narcos on the Migrant Trail, depicting his journeys atop freight trains with Latin American migrants. Through powerful reporting, Truax and Martínez dismantle the political myths of migration and amplify the voices too often silenced by the system.
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Through music and storytelling, Mother of Exiles exposes unjust immigration narratives and honors the complex humanity and tenacity of people forced to migrate.