Looking to document his journey to his hometown as a DACA recipient, a Latino journalist and producer seeks support

Francisco Aviles Pino, a Los Angeles journalist and producer, has one prominent goal: to see his grandfather before he dies.

Aviles Pino, a DACA recipient and a regular contributor at CALÓ News, was brought to the United States from Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, at the age of seven. The opportunity to see his grandfather is only possible if he is granted emergency travel authorization, a process that, given the current political climate,  feels more challenging than ever. 

This is the first time Aviles Pino navigates this side of border separation, something he said he knew he wanted to document and share with the world. Today, with the support of friends and family, he is filming, producing and fundraising for the untitled documentary, which will follow Aviles Pino’s journey in a rush to submit his advance parole application. 

But the documentary, which is currently in production, needs financing and funding to continue, which is why Aviles Pino has turned to the community's support.

On Tuesday, June 29, 2025, Aviles Pino and the team behind the documentary will host a fundraiser for the documentary at Nativo, a Latino restaurant and bar in Highland Park. 

The free event is open to the public and will feature DJ sets, poetry, raffles and drag shows. Aviles Pino said the proceeds of the night will go toward film production, with the event “rooted in joy, sound and storytelling.” 

The event, which will begin at 7 p.m., will be hosted by Mel Loera, with a drag performance by Latina drag queen Sedusa Richman. Poetry and storytelling will be brought by poets and writers Sonia Guiñansaca and Fei Ika Shumari. Linda Nuves, LEXCALI and Vick Jagger will be the featured DJs for the night.

The documentary is being directed by Becca Guzmán, co-owner of Richie Rue Productions, where she has directed a wide range of projects, including a series of documentary-style interviews for UCLA’s “Latina Futures 2050 Lab,” and Victoria Valenzuela, a second-generation Chicana writer and director who has worked with Nike, Adidas, UCLA, Yitty and Outfest. Riccardo Stanley, with nearly a decade of experience in the industry, is the director of photography for the project. 

According to Aviles Pino, the funding will support filming and production of interviews of his family members located in Southern California and in Mexico before and after his possible return to his home country.

To RSVP to the fundraiser and learn about other ways to donate, visit https://www.favilespino.com/documentary.