Fronted by Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay, The Beast offers unprecedented access to the human stories…
In a new timely one-off documentary, Sky News’ chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay boards “The Beast”—the infamous freight train that carries thousands of desperate migrants through Mexico, hoping to reach the U.S. border.
With stricter immigration enforcement across the region, as well as escalating cartel violence along the route, the journey is more perilous than ever before. The new documentary explores the situations that led migrants to flee their home countries and considers the implication that mass migration has on US policy – particularly in this election year.
Across all case studies, the progamme tries to understand why these migrants left their home countries and the challenging circumstances which led them to consider this treacherous and dangerous journey as the only reasonable option. The hour-long documentary sheds light on the personal toll of mass migration and understands the humanity behind the migrant headlines and numbers in the rare and unique following of these migrant’s journey.
“Produced by the International Emmy Award-winning team behind The Last Hospital: 30 Days in Myanmar, this new documentary captures the raw emotions, resilience, and determination of the individuals on “The Beast”. With unparalleled access, Sky News offers a rare insight into the lives of those making this treacherous journey, risking everything for a better life.” – Sky News
The Beast features Edgar a 14 year old boy from Colombia. The film crew meet him on the side of the road in Tapachuala, alone. His Mother and younger brother have already traversed Mexico on the Beast to make it to the States and he was on his way to join them, travelling alongside his grandmother. On the way, his grandmother passed. With agreement from his mother, he continued his journey. When Sky News find him, he is at his breaking point, having undergone extreme conditions, kidnapping and robbery on his route. The film follows his journey being handed back to the authorities and picks up with him later on as he reunites with his mother in Mexico- their future remaining unknown.
Elsewhere Laidee is travelling from Venezuela alongside her 8 family members, with hopes of reaching the United States. Along the way, she experiences being ‘pushed back’ multiple times. This is the experience of many migrants who successfully travel across the country, only to be stopped by immigration authorities and dropped at an unknown location, often in the middle of nowhere. The programme meets her after she has been pushed back and follow her consistently challenging journey, frequently being pushed back and attacked. The Beast later catches up with her at the end of the film after she has secured an appointment with the US government for asylum and see her attending the interview to get her place.
Finally, Vanessa starts her journey from Colombia 7 months before the TV cameras meet her, and Sky News meet her when she is 8 months pregnant. Having undergone this treacherous journey while going through the journey of pregnancy, she endured multiple attacks, emergency hospital visits and she claims to have had electric shocks to her stomach form immigration authorities. The crew travel on the Beast alongside her and experience the brutal journey together. The progamme catches up with Vanessa again 4 months later after she has given birth to her daughter. They are now residing in Florida together after seeking asylum.
The Beast will air on Sky Documentaries and Sky News on 22 November.
