“IF I COULD STAY / SI PUDIERA QUEDARME”
| Film Premieres on PBS Stations,PBS.org and the PBS App on June 1, 2026 |
| Por Mary Lugo/CaraMar Inc. Los Angeles, CA — Set in Colorado, If I Could Stay/Si Pudiera Quedarme follows two undocumented mothers, Jeanette and Ingrid, as they face deportation and the threat of being separated from their young children. In a life-altering decision, they choose to seek sanctuary inside local churches in defiance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Filmed over several emotionally charged years, their journey unfolds amid constant uncertainty, legal battles, and the quiet bravery of life in refuge. Throughout their struggle, their courage inspires powerful alliances within the predominantly white faith communities that host them. Produced and directed by Theo Rigby and Florencia Krochik, If I Could Stay/Si Pudiera Quedarme premieres on PBS.org, the PBS app and PBS stations (check local listings) on Monday, June 1, 2026. Fleeing violence in Mexico, Jeanette Vizguerra and her husband came to the U.S. in 1997 and worked a variety of jobs. In 2009, she was pulled over by a local sheriff, resulting in a conviction for “attempted possession of a forged instrument” after authorities claimed she used a false Social Security number. The incident resulted in an order of removal; she appealed and has been fighting to stay in the U.S. for both her family and others like them ever since. In 2017, under threat of deportation, she found sanctuary at Denver’s First Unitarian Church. 86 days later, she received a “stay of removal” and went home to her family, only to return to live in sanctuary in 2019 when the stay of deportation was ended. The film puts a human face on the emotionally draining journey so many undocumented mothers are taking in order to provide a better life for their children. The film also explores the relationship between those seeking sanctuary and the congregations providing it. It can be challenging, as the mainly white faith communities must grapple with how to use their power, privilege, and faith to support — not dominate or control —their sanctuary guests. Says Rev. Kelly Dignan, “The idea of justice is a lot more fun and easy than the actual doing of it. I don’t pretend to think that everyone in this congregation is excited about this way of doing justice. With sanctuary, this is not work that can be done from the mind, it has to be done from the heart.” Peruvian immigrant Ingrid came to the U.S. in 2002 as a teenager, hoping to create a better life. When she finds herself faced with deportation, she and her two children find sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder. Along with the church’s parishioners, she campaigns for a road to citizenship for herself and others like her. After living for four long years in sanctuary, Colorado Governor Jared Polis grants her clemency. Free to return home, she must then petition ICE to reopen her case. In March 2025, Jeanette was arrested by ICE and sent to the GEO ICE detention facility in Aurora, CO. She was awarded the 42nd annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award while still in custody. During her detention, Jeanette continued organizing and speaking with the press, community supporters held weekly vigils, and her legal team filed a First Amendment case, claiming Jeanette had been detained for exercising her right to free speech. She was released in December 2025 and continues to advocate for immigrant rights. “Sanctuary is not a favor,” says Jeanette. “It’s an act of social justice, of making a better world.” In Boulder, Ingrid continues to advocate for her family and the rights of all immigrants. “This powerful film takes us deep inside the lives of these two mothers and their decades-long struggle to care for their families,” said Sandie Viquez Pedlow, Executive Director of LPB. “Unlike so much of what we see in the media about immigration, this film tells a very human story about family, dreams, faith and the power of communities to make real change in people’s lives.” About the Filmmakers Theo Rigby (Producer/Director) is a director, cinematographer, and interactive storyteller based out of San Francisco. He has been creating stories focusing on the immigrant experience in the U.S. for over the last decade and is the founder of iNation Media. He directed and filmed Waking Dream, a six-part series following a diverse cast of young undocumented people with DACA permits. The series was funded by ITVS, premiered on Indie Lens Storycast, and is currently reaching wide audiences through a multi-platform impact campaign. Theo also directed Immigrant Nation, a series of short films about immigration in the U.S., as well as an online storytelling platform, and series of live storytelling events. Immigrant Nation has been showcased on The New York Times, nationally broadcast on POV, shown at Ellis Island, the 2014 New York Film Festival, and the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. The project received a MacArthur Documentary Film grant, as well as a Tribeca Institute New Media Fund grant. His film, SIn País(Without Country), won a Student Academy Award, screened in over 30 film festivals, and was nationally broadcast on POV in 2012. Theo graduated with an M.F.A. in Documentary Film from Stanford University and was an award-winning photojournalist working for major newspapers and magazines around the world before making films. Florencia Krochik (Producer/Director) is an award-winning director whose work has been supported by the Sundance Institute, Women in Film, and the Gotham Film & Media Institute. Drawing from her lived experience, Florencia centers deeply personal, human stories that illuminate systemic issues while inspiring awareness and change. For the past decade, she has directed commercials and branded content spotlighting underrepresented communities, including campaigns for DoorDash, Target and Ebay. In addition to her non-fiction work, Florencia has worked as a director in the live content space, both in sports and tech. If I Could Stay/Si Pudiera Quedarme is a production of iNation Media, LLC in association with Latino Public Broadcasting. |
| About Latino Public BroadcastingFor over 28 years,Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) has been developing award-winning film and digital media that explores the history, arts and culture of Latino Americans, bringing these powerful and illuminating stories to a national audience on PBS — on TV, online and on the PBS app. LPB projects have spotlighted Latino contributions to the arts (Julia Alvarez: A Life Reimagined, John Leguizamo’s Road to Broadway, Raúl Julia: The World’s a Stage);told the story of Latino icons from Dolores Huerta to Luis Valdez, Tito Puente to Celia Cruz, Ruben Salazar to Roberto Clemente; explored history and politics through a Latino lens (John Leguizamo’s American Historia, Latino Vote 2024); and told stories from Mexico, Puerto Rico and Latin America (Water for Life, Reportero), many as part of its signature PBS series VOCES. LPB programs have won over 130 awards, including three prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards as well as Emmys, Imagen Awards and documentary awards at the Sundance Film Festival, including Festival Favorite, Audience Award, NEXT Special Award for Creative Expression, and Best Director. LPB has been the recipient of the Norman Lear Legacy Award and the NCLR Alma Award for Special Achievement – Year in Documentaries. Sandie Viquez Pedlow is executive director of LPB; Edward James Olmos is co-founder and chairman. About American Public Television American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and nearly one-half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, dramas, how-to programs, classic movies, children’s series and news and current affairs programs. America’s Test Kitchen, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, The Chavis Chronicles, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Doc Martin, Hope Street, Lidia’s Kitchen, Midsomer Murders, Miriam and Alan Lost in Scotland, Pati’s Mexican Table, Rick Steves’ Europe, Samantha Brown’s Places to Love, Table for All with Buki Elegbede, Willie Nelson’s 90th Birthday Celebration and NHK Newsline are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. More information at https://aptonline.org. |
