Almost American Film Screening and Panel

The film makers, their subject (Sam), and musical composer of the documentary will update us on their project America has always been Sam’s home. Yet without a pathway to citizenship, he and over half a million DACA recipients live in limbo, dependent on a temporary status renewed every two years. When his mother is suddenly deported by ICE, Sam must confront his own precarious reality through a new lens. His journey reveals how today’s immigration policies not only decide who gets to stay, but shape the story America tells about who belongs. What to Expect? • Introduction by panelist Mabel Rosenheck of Lancaster History • A showing of the short film • Panel with Sam Soliman (subject and co-director), Saritha Rothermel (co-director), Michael Rothermel (editor), Ellie Green (composer) who will describe the film project and update us on its impact • Q&A with the panel • Desserts and hot drinks Who’s This Event For? All of us. At a moment when immigration dominates the national conversation, Almost American asks a profound question: what does it truly mean to belong? About the Film This short documentary grounds our nation’s contentious debate through the lived experience of Sam Soliman, one of many DACA recipients living in the United States. Sam’s story is at once singular and universal: a portrait of resilience in the face of loss, and a reminder that behind every policy are lives suspended between hope and despair.