Professor Prabal De, CCNY 2014
Immigration Stories
Golden Venture Fades into Obscurity? – Casey Bolles
010 years
The most astounding thing about the Golden Venture, to me, was that I had never heard of it before. I thought that I would have learned about such a momentous trial regarding immigration sooner, but for some reason, Golden Venture is not part of contemporary vernacular. Maybe it’s because I’m not from the city, and people from here have heard of it, but the film provided all new information to me.
It seemed as though the lawyers for the Golden Venture passengers had all the odds against them, and if this documentary proves anything, it is that we need to relax the immigration laws for those seeking political asylum. People sent back to China were literally sterilized by their government. The US should have been more invested in the well being of people seeking their help. How does a nation justify policing the world and “helping”” when they’re not wanted, while they deny people who actually actively seek out their help?
I thought that the documentary was really well-done in that is was very cinematic. The use of actual footage paired with interviews of those involves made the climactic moments all the more nerve-wracking. The stats at the end of the documentary was an interesting way to end it, like a total count of everything that happened in the documentary. Theses stats surprised me as well because they reflected the sheer willpower of all the Golden Venture passengers, in that many of them survived a cramped boat trip for months on the Atlantic in miserable conditions, and then jumping into freezing cold waters from the massive vessel.
The Land of the Not So Free
010 years
Even though the Golden Venture occurred two years before I was born, the documentary was actually the first that I ever heard of it, which was surprising to me. I thought I knew of all of the large events that happened in New York. But an invasion of 300 undocumented Chinese immigrants on the shore of Long Island? That had skipped my knowledge somehow. While watching the documentary, I realized that my dad had come to New York in 1990 and was probably living somewhere in Queens while the Golden Venture took place. Excited, I asked him about it the first chance I got, hoping he’d have some cool stories to tell, but to my surprise, he knew nothing about it other than it “rang a bell”. If something like that occurred today, it would have spread like wildfire! Since my dad was still a new immigrant, he said he didn’t know a lot of people and didn’t understand a lot of English, so he was naturally out of the loop with things going on around him. As we continued talking about his experiences as an immigrant, he mentioned all the racism and discrimination he faced and it reminded me of the Chinese immigrants from the Golden Venture and how much they had to work in order to get to a place where they were comfortable, if not satisfied.
The documentary Golden Venture embodied the largely controversial topic of illegal immigration. With China’s flourishing economy today, it is almost hard to believe that there was a time when Chinese were willing to risk their lives to leave China and come to America and even then under the dire conditions of being packed into a ship carrying 300 people. What really got to me was the fact that people were assigned “body spaces” which I thought automatically dehumanized them. Another thing that bothered me was the fact that all those people came to America with the knowledge and hope that the government would follow through with their catch-and-release policy. However, because of the influx of illegal immigration, the president decided to punish these immigrants and set an example for all future immigrants who plan on staying undocumented. I agree with the fact that illegal immigration should have consequences, but I believe it was too harsh to implement the change in policy immediately on people who were trying to survive and build a better life for themselves on free soil.
America, Land of the Free
010 years
Golden Venture was a very sad film. It showed the incredible struggle of the Chinese immigrants who came to the United States illegally as well the hardships they faced upon arrival. They were imprisoned immediately after arrival and kept detained out of sight for many years. The scene of the movie that struck me the most immediately followed the release of a group of the immigrants due to President Clinton pardon: the men stood together and sang “America, the land of the free” as part of the national anthem. These men came to America seeking out freedom from persecution from the Chinese government. How do they still hold on to this ideal of freedom after their freedom was snatched away from them immediately after their arrival? I applaud Clinton for releasing them, but I believe that a pardon should not have been required in the first place.
The United States’ legal system systematically takes away the freedoms of citizens and non-citizens alike without giving fair trials. The immigrants were supposed to get a date to appear in court, instead of being sent to prison. In theory, our legal system is based on “Innocent until proven guilty.” If they hadn’t been locked behind bars right away, they could have found legal aid and community support with more ease. Also, after they received their pardon, they should have been able to feel safe in America. A core tenant of our legal system is that you cannot be charged twice of the same crime, also called double jeopardy. However, after the Chinese men had built lives in the United States, they received notice of possible deportation. I realize that these rights are reserved for American citizens, but it still strikes me as odd that America is seen as a the land of the free if we handle our immigrants in such a oppressive manner.
The Golden Venture
010 years
After watching Peter Cohn’s documentary Golden Venture, I was impressed not only by its coverage of the culminating issues of this country’s failure to produce progressive immigration reform, but also the unique perspective that chronicled the personal plight of four of the Chinese immigrants aboard the freighter.
These men humanized what has become an increasingly convoluted political, social, and economic debate. Will the influx of undocumented immigrants harm the American economy and strained job market? Topple an already-oversized population? Or in the abhorrent words of Rep. Louie Gohmert, bring “terror babies” through our democratic borders? These are all questions that have stimulated the ongoing controversy, and formed the basis of American animosity towards the 286 immigrants who arrived on the Golden Venture in 1993. Instead of this animosity being focused on the exploitative gang who sent the immigrants across the ocean, or the exploitative employers who offer immigrants jobs with excessively low wages and long hours; it is forced upon the Chinese expatriates. Cohn was able to successfully show the repercussions of this political animosity on a much more personal level in the lives of these select immigrants, who expressed impressive resilience in the face of such strong political and social adversity.
The debacle over immigration reform and the influx of undocumented immigrants is not simply polarizing political and social groups, but it is directly affecting the immigrants, and in the case of the Golden Venture, had forced a great number of the Chinese immigrants to accept deportation over their emotionally-draining incarceration. So while Cohn conveys the inherent concerns of illegal immigration, he also reveals the harrowing effects it has on the lives of the immigrants in question, to whom my sympathy is vehemently given in the context of this country’s abhorrent state of political affairs and blatant bigotry.
The Huddled Masses
010 years
Around twenty years ago, the first carrying illegal immigrants ran aground in Queens. Inside the vessel were close to three hundred undocumented immigrants, cramped together like sardines in a can. Some of these three hundred could be described at political refugees however most of them could be described as migrants looking for the American dream. Some of these immigrants were able to obtain amnesty status while some were deported right away. The documentary outlines every little detail of the path these immigrants took to get to America and what had happened while they were here. This close look into the lives of several immigrant passengers shed some light on what illegal immigrants have to go through. Until the Golden Venture had run aboard if immigrants arrived in the United States illegally, but requested asylum when they got here, they were generally given a court date, and then released. This policy had bought forth multiple waves of illegal immigrants and this time the government had decided that while their asylum claims were processed, the immigrants would be sent to jail and held there.
During our in-class debate many topics came up which were addressed in this documentary. First was the idea that immigrating illegally was quicker and much cheaper. The documentary shows that this isn’t necessarily true because the two hundred eighty six immigrants had to pay close to a total of forty thousand dollars each in order to get a cramped spot on the boat and the entire trip took a total of a hundred and twenty days, so close to four months. Secondly the entire issue of these illegal immigrants being able to take over the jobs of legal citizen if granted admission into America. However through the documentary we see that the jobs that these immigrants took on were long, low wage jobs. And in exchange for these menial jobs in America these immigrants gave up their lives back home. They left their families, their households, and their comfort zones. And even after they were released from jail and began to settle down in the “golden land” there was always the constant fear of being deported whenever the government felt like it.
The treatment of these immigrants was truly horrendous in comparison to previous cases however the support and advocacy they received from groups here was tremendous. These immigrants came looking for an opportunity to escape from the suppressive conditions back at their homes and we were supposed to welcome them as the word on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty state:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free;
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless,
Tempest-tossed to me
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
The Golden Venture
010 years
by Lisa Wong
in Immigration Stories
Laws exist for good reason. Without the punishment that comes with breaking them, our society would have no order. Logically, there is not a doubt in my mind that laws are a necessary force. However, The Golden Venture has created in me support for undocumented immigrants. Hearing the weakness in these immigrant’s voices and the monotony that awaited them made me understand why Jeff Lobach, Craig Trebilcock, Beverly Church spoke on behalf of these human beings. Some may argue that the film is biased towards undocumented immigrants, as it is very personal in nature. But I feel that for an issue involving the lives of real human beings, the humanization seen in the film is necessary. If we do not know about them, then how can we possibly judge them?
The filmmakers were aiming for sympathy, and they did not fail. Thinking of how these fathers, mothers, and teenagers were separated from their families for so long was rather heartbreaking. Some men simply aged too much during their incarceration to start anew after they were released. Even those that did find jobs were left with low wages and long hours. Was the weight of their unlawful trespassing really equivalent to a life of adversity?
Although having compassion for your fellow man is never a bad thing, I feel that the filmmakers could have included more than narrative and interviews. Giving a larger scope that included the legal matters of the situation would have been helpful. The statistics at the end of the film made me curious as to how those thirty-five individuals received asylum, or how those two people received artist’s visas. Also, how were the undocumented immigrants simply held in jail for nearly four years? In providing more information about these matters, the public can gain a better understanding of what should have been done then and what to do in the future.
The Golden Venture
010 years
The documentary was definitely geared towards garnering sympathy for the Chinese that came on the Golden Venture. It followed the accounts of four people that survived the crash of the Golden Venture.
I was especially surprised to see that some of the immigrants came back illegally multiple times, even after being deported back to China. Rather than save the money, they spend tens of thousands to travel illegally to America. This really showed how desperate these people were. I think this documentary showed that the current immigration laws in place must be reviewed and possibly changed, in light of the fact that there are so many “illegal immigrants” currently in the United States.
Furthermore, after hearing their stories, I believe these immigrants deserve a certain amount of sympathy. The fact that they were detained in prison for such a long time because the government could not decide what action to take was somewhat ridiculous. Additionally, seeing these people realize how different life in America truly was compared to the expectations they had initially was disheartening. Some even had to stay, because at this point they had been separated from their families for so long there was nothing for them to go back to in China, or they would otherwise lose face if they went back. These people are trying to make a better life for themselves as any other person would do, and I am more inclined to believe they should have a chance.
The Golden Venture
010 years
Golden Venture documents the journeys of a few Chinese immigrants as they seek prosperity in America. Although they each bought passage on the Golden Venture, each story varies; some migrants were able to receive amnesty in America while some failed to ever live in the United States. This documentary follows the story of these immigrants from the beginning of their journey in China to years after the beaching of the Golden Venture.
The landing of the Golden Venture on Rockaway Beach proved to be an extremely polarizing event, leading to outcry from people in favor of amnesty as well as from those who thought the migrants should be immediately deported. This debate proved to even conflict members of the government, splitting public officials based upon their opinions on the subject. President Clinton’s inability to quickly make a decision shows how complicated the situation was. Despite any personal opinions on the subject, Clinton must also account for the ramifications that his decision would have on future immigration. While the Chinese migrants were initially held in jail, they were set free because of a presidential pardon in 1997.
Although the documentary showed both sides of the argument, I believe that the filmmakers had a slight bias in favor of the migrants staying in America. This is evident because the film spends much more time showing the perspective of the legal counsel of the Chinese immigrants than the arguments of people advocating deportation. This is not meant to be a criticism of the movie because most documentaries display a bias towards one side of the story they are covering. In fact, I thought this film was extremely well put together despite its obvious low budget. The movie was well directed, and I think the use of footage from the time of the incident as well as interviews years later really helped the viewers understand how the immigrants were treated.
The “Golden” Venture
010 years
by Allen Kim
in Immigration Stories
During our class mini-debate, there was an argument that illegal immigrants are largely criminals or gang members that are detrimental to society. However, the documentary really helps to develop some sympathy for these illegal immigrants. They are shown to be simple people who seek to escape government oppression and search for a better life. It’s unbelievable how much they are willing to sacrifice just to come to the United States. Not only do they have to muster up tens of thousands of dollars and leave their families behind, they’re forced in cramped, inhumane travel conditions. Additionally, it was brought up that these illegal immigrants most likely are fully aware of the problems and consequences that they have to face. They were fined heavily and one was even sterilized… The fact that these people choose to illegally immigrate just shows how desperate and hopeful they really are.
It’s truly terrible how these immigrants were treated when they arrived in America, but I was really happy to see so much support they received as well. The fact that there were people who actually grouped up outside of the prison and sang songs to raise awareness of the issue really makes me more of an optimist in nature. I hope that in the future, we fight to help assimilate immigrants into society rather than wasting our money to send them away.
Guaranteed a Better Life?
010 years
What’s significant about the Golden Venture is that it shows a close and intimate look into the lives of several ‘illegal’ immigrants from China. The previous week when we had a mini debate about whether undocumented immigrants should be given identification cards, we also touched upon the topic of morality and whether these immigrants should even be able to stay in America. I argued vehemently against these identification cards; my main point was that giving undocumented immigrants ID cards would be unfair towards the immigrants who came here legally and would set a negative precedent for more immigrants to come illegally and undermine federal laws. However, after watching the Golden Venture and seeing the brutal tribulations that these undocumented immigrants had to endure, I realized how cruel and morally unjust simply deporting these immigrants would be.
For many of these immigrants, the hardships never end. They were willing to gamble everything they had; thousands of dollars, their familial ties back at home, their health and sanity aboard the Golden Venture, even their lives for a tiny chance that they could make it to America. And even then just landing in America isn’t going to guarantee them a better life. These immigrants were then jailed for several years, and after they were released, they had to start from scratch in a new country without any knowledge of the language or special skills. It was so heartbreaking to see how far these immigrants have come, through the voyage and legal battles and still struggle with working lower-than-minimum-wage jobs attempting to make ends meet. What one of the immigrants said really stood out to me: life is short, only the rich say that. It’s amazing because I can’t imagine having to endure all those years, with the constant troubling thoughts about not really having a home to belong to, not wanted in China nor America. These immigrants have devoted their entire lives for this little beacon of hope for a better life, not for themselves, but hopefully for their children. I’m amazed by the desperation and dedication of these immigrants and watching the Golden Venture really illustrated their strength and perseverance. Watching their stories and journeys as individual people makes the cold thought of deportation simply deplorable. And what’s even more appalling is that the federal government is still attempting to deport them even after they have settled in America for decades. I would say that even if these immigrants came to America illegally, if they have served the country through their jobs (and thus efficiently contributing to the economy) for a certain amount of years, they should be granted citizenship. It feels impossible to deny their determination, and the Golden Venture has certainly helped to put a human face onto the undocumented immigrant issue.
