Golden Venture

The history of immigration to the U.S. has been controversial and bias, as U.S. policy has varied throughout the years. This was not an exception during the late 20^th century with increasing terrorism and economic recession becoming major influences toward immigration policies. The film Golden Venture seeks to portray how desperate illegal aliens want to come to America in order to gain freedom and a better living standard. Consequently, this documentary will mainly revolve around the recounts of four survivors, their stay in the U.S, and their current lives.

Golden Venture for the most part sympathizes with the survivors after their life-threatening two year journey to America. However, what really captivates the viewer are the tragedies and heartbreaks that the survivors will continue to face during their tenure in America. None of the immigrants were expecting to be put in jail after being smuggled to the U.S. by snakeheads. What viewers can decide after watching is whether the U.S. government was justified in detaining the survivors in jail just to set an example toward future illegal aliens.

While the outside world was watching, the arts and crafts that the survivors would make in captivity cannot not go unnoticed. These sculptures were a message and symbolized hope and everyone’s desire for freedom. Now, what was really unfortunate were the two choices given to the survivors: either to choose asylum or to be deported. I was stricken by the fact that despair had led some to decide to go back to China only to see themselves in jail again, become sterilized, fall into debt, and attempt to come back to the U.S. years later. (such was the case for Yan Li and Kaiqu Zheng)

Fortunately, during President Clinton’s second term the remaining survivors were freed after four years of being detained. Being separated from their families, needing to learn different customs, and having the start anew, the newly freed captives exemplify persevering characters for all Americans to acknowledge. Therefore, another message that the directors were aiming to convey is for the people to appreciate and to not take for granted their current status as legal American citizens.

Sentenced Home

All citizens and their past ancestors immigrated to this country at one point in time or another in this country’s history unless they are Native Americans. Nevertheless, there are visible signs of bias and prejudice that the U.S. government displays toward aliens when enacting laws during times of crisis.

In the film Sentenced Home, the injustices that the 1996 Immigration Acts has brought upon to American’s non-citizens are clearly portrayed through the lives of three Cambodians. The directors produced an emotional video conveying the message that these three men have to be deported just because they have committed a past crime. Viewers will have a hard time not feeling any sympathy toward the deportees as these assimilated men currently have stable lives and families only to be forced by this immigration law to move back to their home country.

The movie revolves around three Cambodians: Kim Ho Ma, Loeun Lun, and Many Uch who have all committed a crime but have served their sentences. Now, the conflict that is emphasized throughout the movie is that there is no discretion in choosing who gets deported. I felt the producers successfully described the cruel measures of the law in not allowing the court to review any of these deportee’s histories before they sent back to a third world country. What’s really controversial is that even minor criminal offenses are subject to automatic deportation. As a result, there is an obvious lack of representation for legal non-residents, as Kim Ho Ma and Loeun Lun have to now integrate back into their native country and start anew. Likewise, it is difficult for the viewer to fathom the fear that Many Uch has to constantly live through, as he is a phone call away from being on the deportation list. Therefore, the theme that is expressed through Many Uch and potential deportees is that all must appreciate and make the most of their lives with the available freedom that America provides.

Now, the movie can be considered slightly one-sided in its negative portrayal of Congress and its legislative acts. One scene I believe that could have been further addressed is the severity of the crimes committed by Kim Ho Ma and his fellow deportees. Even though Kim Ho Ma did state he was involved in violent gangs as a teenager, the makers should have instead left it to the viewers themselves to contemplate and determine whether or not he deserves to be sent back to Cambodia. In the end, Sentence Home deeply displays that while the American government has been strictly controlling the immigration laws, it has also in the process undermined fundamental American principles which are suppose to protect all U.S. residents.