Oscar-winning filmmaker Laura Poitras returns with a gripping short film that sheds light on 'Operation Metro Surge.' Through raw and disturbing footage, the work reveals the deployment of federal violence against the Somali community and migrants in Minnesota during Donald Trump's administration, serving as a visceral cry for human rights.

A Cinematic Testimony of Persecution

The New York Film Festival has become the stage for the premiere of They’re Here, a 24-minute documentary short designed to shake the viewer's conscience. Directed by the renowned Laura Poitras and filmmaker Rachel Lauren Mueller, the film stands as a visceral testament to immigration persecution within the United States.

The Core Conflict: Operation Metro Surge

The film documents "Operation Metro Surge," a border control campaign executed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) in the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

The narrative plunges the audience into a brutal winter, where temperatures plummeted to -23°C (-9.4°F). This extreme cold served as the bleak backdrop for a series of systematic abuses. Using a mix of dash-cams, social media clips, and counter-surveillance footage, the documentary reveals a terrifying reality:

Military Tactics

Federal agents were seen using gas masks and smoke bombs inside residential neighborhoods.

Physical Repression

The indiscriminate use of pepper spray against both citizens and peaceful protesters.

Human Tragedy

The film denounces the death of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents, specifically identifying officer Greg Bovino.

Humanizing the Statistics

To put a face to the tragedy, the film uses heartbreaking testimonies under pseudonyms to protect the victims. "Liz Lemon" recounts the harassment suffered within her own home, while Edén Villa, a Latin American immigrant, describes the sheer desperation of traveling in the trunk of a car just to reach work without being captured by authorities.

Detail Information
Film Title They’re Here
Directors Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller
Duration 24 minutes
Premiere New York Film Festival (October 2026)

More than just a piece of cinema, the short film is a political record. It links the current resistance in Minneapolis with deep historical legacies, such as the American Indian Movement and the massive protests that erupted following the deaths of George Floyd and Philando Castile, highlighting a long-standing struggle for justice in the region.

Source: IMAGO