The Plight of Migrants Is Deeply Misunderstood. Can a Video Game Help?

In the past Year, Carla Reyes and Anima Interactive have visited the US-Mexico border twice to interview her immigrants and humanities. Once a month, Reyes interviewed immigrants remotely through video calls. He talked to a few dozen. They come from Latin America, but with a share of each shared aim to South Asia, Middle East and Africa, entering the United States in search of protection.

In January, after a few hours of President Donald Trump InaugurationThousands of immigrants suddenly received notice that their appointments with US customs and border protection – a company that would help them seek shelter-Has been discardedThe Administration Closed CBP One app that allows immigrants to apply for shelter. This was the first to block the new administration in front of people who were trying to migrate to America.

“In a moment’s notification, the path of their life has been changed again,” said Reyes. “These people who had been waiting for a long time.”

For Reyes, it has simply strengthened the urgent feeling around the current project of his team: called a crowded game Take us to the north About the migrants crossing the border. “Although the game is not yet published, we are critically thinking about how to share information, to deal with chaos and share resources with our community.”

One of the biggest misconceptions about immigrants, Reyes says – one he hopes that the game will help me correct – the story of why they leave their home in the United States. “Ordinary people often get this narrative that immigrants are mostly trying to come to the United States for pure economic opportunities,” he said. “The reality is that most of the immigrants I interviewed don’t want to leave their homes. Most of them are fleeing from oppression and violence. They are leaving behind what they like, but they have no choice ””

Participants play an early version Take us to the north At an event organized by non -profit games for change.

Courtesy of games for change

The game puts players in a migrant guide shoe.

Courtesy of games for change

By plans to publish Anima Take us to the north In the late 2026 or early 2027, in this situation, immigrants may be more stark than the circumstances.

At the end of February, Department of Homeland Security “More than 20,000 illegal aliens were arrested in a month under President Trump.” Confirmed further arrest with the administration attempted Ramp up to deportThe Ay Reports of recent Washington PostDuring the period of President Joe Biden, more than 5 million immigrants admitted to the United States may face rapid removal. Immigrants who were arrested in the US are facing rising dangerous conditions, including simply away from deportation Imprisonment At Guantanamo Bay Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center in Cuba. The journey of a asylum candidate is never easy, but in 2025 it is a growing potential.

Take us to the northSonoran is a narrative, adventure-surviving game about traveling through the desert-“unfortunately is often trying to raise awareness about the issues that are reduced to statistics or dividing speeches in mainstream media.” Many migrants do not want to leave their homes, but it is forced to cause violence, oppression or extreme poverty. Others, Reyes, said he was abducted and could not return home. “These are innocent and honest people who have just read in the unfortunate situation,” he says.