How to watch Critical Incident: Death at the Border in Canada

Here’s everything you need to know about the HBO documentary Critical Incident: Death at the Border, which investigates the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas and uncovers the hidden systems that shaped the official response.

Critical Incident: Death at the Border Synopsis

Critical Incident: Death at the Border is a 2025 documentary that investigates the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas, an undocumented Mexican immigrant who died while in U.S. Border Patrol custody at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

The film revisits the night Hernández-Rojas was detained after attempting to reenter the United States and follows the events that led to his violent death, which was partially captured on eyewitness video. As previously unseen footage emerges, journalists, civil rights attorneys, and Hernández’s family members begin to challenge the official account provided by federal authorities. The documentary traces the investigation from the border region to Washington, D.C., uncovering allegations of evidence tampering, erased recordings, and the involvement of now-defunct Border Patrol Critical Incident Teams. Through interviews, legal records, and investigative reporting, the film exposes how these internal units allegedly worked to shield agents from accountability and reveals broader questions about oversight, unchecked power, and human rights violations within one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the United States.

When Does Critical Incident: Death at the Border Premiere?

Critical Incident: Death at the Border premiered on December 29, 2025.

Where to Watch Critical Incident: Death at the Border documentary in Canada

In Canada, you can watch Critical Incident: Death at the Border by streaming it on Crave. Subscribers can stream the full documentary on demand across supported devices.

Who Is John Carlos Frey?

John Carlos Frey is an investigative journalist, on-screen contributor, and former actor whose work spans both documentary journalism and scripted television. He is best known for appearing as himself in hard-hitting nonfiction projects that examine government accountability, media truth, and civil rights, including All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone and Critical Incident: Death at the Border. Earlier in his career, he also worked as an actor, with roles in films and television series such as Freaky Friday, Party of Five, Married… with Children, The Practice, and The Gatekeeper, before shifting his primary focus toward investigative reporting and documentary storytelling.

Is Critical Incident: Death at the Border Suitable for All Ages?

The documentary is intended for mature audiences due to its graphic subject matter, real-world violence, and discussions of death, abuse of authority, and human rights violations. It is not recommended for children or younger viewers, and parental discretion is strongly advised.

On What Devices Can You Watch Crave?

Device Category	Supported Devices
Mobile Devices	iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Android tablets
Streaming Devices	Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast
Smart TVs	Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV
Game Consoles	PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Web Browsers	Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge

FAQs

Who directed Critical Incident: Death at the Border?
The documentary is directed by Rick Rowley, an investigative filmmaker known for socially and politically focused documentaries.

Is Critical Incident: Death at the Border based on real events?
Yes. The documentary is based entirely on real events surrounding the 2010 death of Anastasio Hernández-Rojas and the investigations that followed.

Does the film include real video footage from the incident?
The documentary incorporates eyewitness video and archival material that played a crucial role in reopening questions about what happened during Hernández-Rojas’s detention.

What are Critical Incident Teams mentioned in the documentary?
Critical Incident Teams were specialized internal units within the Border Patrol tasked with investigating serious incidents involving agents, which the film alleges were used to limit accountability before being disbanded.

Trailer

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