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A Northern California city is warning residents not to be alarmed when actors portraying immigration agents appear downtown during a movie shoot Thursday evening.
"Some scenes may look real, so we wanted to let you know in advance," Santa Rosa officials said Tuesday in notices published in English and Spanish.
The filming will include actors depicting immigration agents and enforcement activity. Temporary road closures and traffic controls are expected, although the city has not disclosed the exact location or filming time.
Officials issued the warning to prevent residents from mistaking the production for a real federal immigration operation in a city where roughly one-third of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The scene is for "The Silence We Flee," an independent feature film written and directed by Santa Rosa filmmaker Hassan Mageye. The drama follows Naomi, a young African woman seeking asylum in the United States after fleeing violence in her home country.
A casting description says Naomi must navigate an "unforgiving system and an unfamiliar country" while confronting memories of the violence she escaped. Nisha Kalema plays the lead role, according to IMDb.
The city said signs in English and Spanish would be posted near the set to make clear that the activity was staged. The production company was also expected to provide security and hire contractors to manage traffic.
Santa Rosa requires a permit for commercial filming on public property.
The city has also taken public positions in support of immigrant residents. It says California law and Santa Rosa Police Department policy limit the use of local resources for federal immigration enforcement. The City Council this year also urged Congress to increase transparency and accountability for federal immigration agents.
Santa Rosa had 178,127 residents in the 2020 census. More than 61,000 identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Filming for "The Silence We Flee" began in Northern California earlier this year, according to production notes. The crew has worked in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Lake County and is expected to film additional scenes overseas.
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