Comic Series 'Separation' Documents Honduran Family's Immigration Struggles in The New York Times

The New York Times publishes an episodic comic strip titled 'Separation,' created by journalist Jake Halpern and illustrator Michael Sloan. The series follows a Honduran family residing in the New York City area as they navigate threats of deportation and seek asylum. Centered on 17-year-old Mateo, the narrative is based on his real journal entries, firsthand reporting, and legal documents. Halpern and Sloan, who previously collaborated on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 series 'Welcome to the New World' about Syrian refugees, initiated this project in early 2025 after connecting with the family through a Manhattan legal aid agency. The Times approved the project swiftly in spring 2025. Sloan illustrates the strip in a subdued style to convey the family's daily anxieties, caught between gang violence in Honduras and U.S. immigration enforcement. Halpern conducts interviews and writes scripts, which undergo editorial review before Sloan creates the artwork. The creators aim to portray the family with dignity and hope the work will eventually become a graphic novel, possibly translated into Spanish and other languages. Mateo and his family willingly participate, with Mateo reportedly proud of the collaboration despite fears related to his asylum process. Sloan expresses concern for the family's safety, noting a personal encounter with immigration enforcement heightened his awareness. The project has elicited mixed public responses, with some comments on the Times website supporting border enforcement. Sloan reports receiving no hate or personal threats related to the work. The creators view 'Separation' as giving voice to vulnerable individuals within the immigration system.