Right now, more than 1 million immigrants seek legal citizenship in the United States, about 300,000 of whom seek asylum. There is much talk about immigration policy and border control. At press time, the government sits in limbo, partly shut down as the president and Congress battle over funding for a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. It’s easy to have an opinion about politics, but it’s not always easy to understand what seeking asylum looks like. That’s why Benny Blanco and Miguel teamed with While They Wait on a new video that makes one woman’s powerful story inescapable.
In its original form, Blanco’s “I Found You” is an uplifting song of hope and wonder with vocals from his close pal Calvin Harris. The original music video features Blanco dancing with his friends and his beloved mother, but things don’t look so cute in this new version. Miguel takes the mic and twists the words to reflect uncertainty.
We meet a Honduran woman named Nilda. We get to know her family. We see her impoverished community. We hear about the hardship she faced at every turn of life, and we hear how she and her child were forced to leave home in the night under threat of gang violence. Directed by Jake Schreier, the story is told in the same style as his work with Cashmere Cat and MØ on “9 (After Coachella),” wherein Blanco also makes a cameo.
While They Wait is a new initiative that aims to raise awareness and funds for refugees like Nilda as they navigate the complicated process of legal immigration. Nilda and others are unable to work, are often not guaranteed a lawyer and are left looking for housing and other necessities. Visit While They Wait to learn how you can make a difference, and hear Nilda’s story in the video below.
