Sonoma Report
A portion of downtown Santa Rosa was closed Thursday while an independent film crew staged a scene involving actors portraying immigration agents, prompting the city to issue advance warnings to residents and businesses.
D Street between Second and Third streets was closed during filming of “The Silence We Flee,” according to NBC Bay Area. Temporary traffic controls were in place as crews worked on the production.
The film follows an African immigrant seeking asylum in the United States. Director Hasan Mageye said the story examines challenges immigrants may face after arriving in the country, including difficulties finding safety and acceptance.
Santa Rosa officials said they used more extensive public notification than usual because portions of the scene could be mistaken for actual immigration enforcement activity. The city shared information in both English and Spanish, according to spokesperson Misti Wood.
“We wanted to give our community a heads up,” Wood said, adding that the notices were intended to make clear that the activity was part of a film production rather than a real enforcement operation.
Before filming began, the city had not released the precise location, saying it wanted the production to remain discreet and avoid attracting large crowds. The city also warned residents that temporary street closures and traffic controls would occur.
The planned scene drew concern from some people who commented on the city’s notice, according to NBC Bay Area. Stephanie Manieri, executive director of Latino Service Providers, said the organization remained concerned about fear the acting could cause but appreciated local officials’ communication and response to calls for additional attention.
People passing the set stopped to watch the production. Santa Rosa resident Briana McCrea said film projects in the city were interesting regardless of their subject. Nearby business owner Vikram Badhan said he welcomed the production and its focus on immigration.
The production said it did not plan to film additional immigration-enforcement scenes in Santa Rosa after Thursday.
