Status Pending 2020

Overview

Status Pending is a 2020 short film directed by Priscilla Gonzalez Sainz that examines the professional and personal lives of five immigration lawyers. The documentary follows a group of first-generation, Mexican-American solo practitioners who refer to themselves as The Tribe. These lawyers originally met while working at the same high-intensity law firm before transitioning into their own private practices. Despite their independent work, the group remains in daily contact to provide one another with professional, personal, and emotional support. The film highlights the challenges faced by these attorneys as they contend with a landscape where immigration law is under constant attack. As they work on the frontlines of the legal system, the subjects of the film navigate feelings of burnout and disillusionment. Through their collective efforts, the lawyers strive to assist immigrants in their pursuit of safety and legal status within the United States. The production, which has a runtime of 26 minutes, was released in the United States on February 22, 2020. The featured lawyers are identified as Araceli, Alma, Gladdys, Elizabeth, and Jose.