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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here regularly, so visit again to read more
comments.
5/17/07
New York City
I completely agree with this view. "we are basically sending them to a place that they
have absolutely no knowledge of, and expecting them to live there? Can anyone say suicide
waiting to happen.".... I think permanent residents should be treated equally as citizens
are. What do you expect these people to do in a society of which they do not know anything
about? I mean, we are all humans and we all make mistakes, but if you commit a crime you
should pay your debt to society in which you committed that crime. Especially when it
comes to families. How do you explain to that four year old girl that she will not see her
father maybe for the rest of her life?
The laws are way to strict.I think that since all of us,Americans, are immigrants as well,
in some way or another, we shouldn't have a right to judge or persecute anyone because we
all came here for the same common reason--the opportunities this country can give us that
our home country can not. I assume that nobody would want to leave the place where they
grew up to come to a place where they will be some more tormented by these extreme laws.
5/17/07
Anna
Brooklyn, NY
Thank you for this deeply moving film. The stories of these refugees underscore how
misguided our current immigration laws are. The fact that a refugee sentenced to
deportation has NO right to appeal their sentence before an immigration judge, AND that
there is no system in place to make exceptions to the rule is astounding. The result is
that men like Many, who are committed to being good citizens and fathers and who have
overcome their troubled pasts, are wrenched from their communties. I don't see how
deportation under these circumstances benefits anyone at all.
5/17/07
Mark
Tucson, AZ.
Since the introduction of legislated immigration, it is apparent that the impedis was and
is now classist and racist.The effort to reign in terroristic threats has left us in a
quandry. Do we vanquish families and individuals regardless of the contributions made
years after the initial crime. Or do we adjust the present paradigm to include naturalized
citizens by sending them to someplace like a Devils Island.If we allow coercion of the
least of our citizens it may not end there.
5/17/07
Aretta
Louisville, KY
I feel that the immigration laws should only pinpoint newly convicted felons. On the other
hand look at it from the government's stand point; Its clear that WE have statistical
issues with the increasing numbers of immates in prison today. For a immigrant not to take
advantage of the oppurnities available in the U.S. is.....senseless. Not to say that they
deserved to be sent home, but what makes people/immagrants think that disorderly conduct
will be tolerated? I beleive that government permitted entrance for the refugees into the
U.S. On the contrast CITIZENSHIP SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TO ACCOMPLISH UPON ARRIVAL!
5/17/07
James
SC
The current immigration laws applied in situations like the ones described in this show do
not make the USA a safer place. If anything they help make us less safe. Sending people to
a country they know little to nothing about does nothing but make them depressed,
desperate and angrier. This is the breeding ground for future terriorists. If anyone
thinks we will win the "war on terror" by shooting people you are kidding yourself, we can
only win by not giving people a reason to hate us so much that they are willing to do
anything in an attempt to cause chaos. People who were brought here as children and raised
here are just as American as the ones born here. What plot of dirt you were born on does
not make you think a certain way. If you don't believe that, then as another posted
alluded to, all of us non-100% native Americans should pack up and leave.
5/17/07
Maureen Donohue
Staten Island, New York N
First I want to commend PBS for this great series.Sentenced Home just broke my heart. Both
I and my family cried over this terrible situation. Since I live in NYC I am surrounded by
immigrants, both legal and non-legal. My mother came here from Poland with her parents and
sister. Later her other 2 siblings joined her. Since they were from Northern Europe and
from a Communist (where the "axis of evil" was in former days) they became citizens with
no problem. There were all sorts of Polish/American help centers and they sailed through
their naturalization. I am sure that the fees were no where near the $900 (even accounting
for inflation) wanted for the first filing ( I understand this is only the first step ˆ
there is more money to be paid.)
I remember, as a teen-ager, going over all the questions on the test with my Aunt Maria
who just got here in 1953. She became a citizen in 1958 but had help all along the way. I
was always well aware that my relatives got special treatment because they were white
Europeans. The Communists were our enemy and so they were awarded carte blanche in
becoming American. What horrifies me is that my county after supporting disgusting
governments who kill and create chaos for their citizens feels absolutely blameless in the
fates of those who escape these countries.
5/17/07
Mike
Barstow, CA
I love how these people and others that blame the USA for their situation. Those deported
have not bothered to gain citizenship yet they chose to become criminals and join gangs.
So in other words no personal responsibility and no gratitude for what this country tried
to do to help them. Why wasn't there a contrast with someone who came to the US from
Cambodia during the same time and has become a citizen and even possibly a success? Then I
wonder why these guys just didn't go underground and stay in the US illegally like
millions of others?
5/17/07
Lei
Texas
Yes, I think our immigration laws definitely need reform. I think there should be a time
restriction in terms of when the offense was committed and there should be an allowance
for an appeal where a Judge will be able to have a more comprehensive view of the
indivdual's family and work life as well as their contributions to their communities. I
also think that individuals with permanent residency status who are facing possible
deportation should be allowed paid legal representation.Why do we even have the
distinction of 'permanent residency' status? I believe this is just a nice way of
characterizing a person as a second class American citizen.Thank you for filming this
piece, I probably would have never known of the plight of these poor individuals if not
for this program tonight. My heart goes out to the individuals profiled on your film and
their loved ones. Please keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing more work from
the filmmakers.
5/17/07
Christopher
Houma, LA
I can't understand how this is happening. This is America; these guys are American. This
IS Cruel and Usual punishment in it's lowest form. We are at a cross-roads in America. I
know there is a lot of non-chalant-secular talk in a matter of fact sense, but this IS a
CHRISTIAN NATION. Christians don't do this! As a Christian, I wish we could find it in our
hearts to be more kind to our nieghbors. When did the Christ's patience whane? It
didn't!As an American, I can't believe how open some people are to this dangerous new
example.One could argue that these "Cambodians" were "privliged" in a sense that they grew
up in America, but lets face facts. They grew up in America, they learned crime in
America, they did time in America. They walk like Americans, they talk like Americans,
they commit crime MUCH like Americans. So how did Cambodia come up in conversation?
We are just splitting hairs now. And what will we do next to sink lower (I don't want to
know).I am well aware that some people have a cousin, brother, or uncle who "had it
coming," but this is about more than family grievences, this is about America, and our
traditional experience and the continuation of it.I can't help but feel that we are
putting down the torch because other countries used to be the ones to deport people in a
trivial manner like this. How much more official do we want to make this? America is
losing it's once tightly held higher ground. I don't know why in the world we would take
this dangerous step backwards. We can't do this to Americans-- and make no mistake, they
are Americans!
5/17/07
Howard Story
Texas
This is just wrong on so many levels. Again our government is missing the point of Home
Land Security and wasting millions of dollar on as I see it easy targets to fill in some
numbers on a chart. I can see how the parents of this people would not fully understand
what they needed to be citizens considering the time frame they came over. What I REALLY
see wrong with this is the fact the government is spending there time on these people that
easily found that came to this country legally but they are not hardly doing anything the
illegal Mexicans that are in this country. The key word here ILLEGAL. At this time in
place it looks like the ILLEGAL Mexicans are having more rights than the Cambodians. THAT
IS JUST FLAT OUT WRONG. Here is something to compare. Granted these guys made some
mistakes. But look where they were living and the environment they were in. They at least
paid there dues. They speak ENGLISH and were taught and pushed by there parent to do so.
There is at least honor in there family.
5/17/07
Nomi
I just watched the film. The cases shown are, obviously, heartbreaking. It seems a kind of
crime against humanity to send those young men "back" to a country where they will be more
alienated and isolated than they ever were here, and their families brutally decimated.My
feeling is that the sentiment behind this law was not truly meant to include people who
years prior had committed relatively minor crimes in their youth and then went on to live
straight lives.
I believe the law should be ammended to include some measure for appeal. However, that is
not a simple proposition. As many of the people being deported as convicted criminal are
not like the young men we met in the film, but rather hardened criminals continuing the
life -- continuing to harm others -- adding an appeals process means that those whom most
would agree should be deported would linger here indefinitely, costing us money and the
price of their continued criminal acts.This is a true dilemma, not something easily
solved.
5/17/07
David
Quincy, MA
All laws are put in place for a reason, but to pass a law that does not allow for the fact
that the government may have made a mistake is absolutely ludicrous! We founded this
country with one of the most important ideals being due process of law. Unfortunately in
recent times, the only process of law that we see is that which the ultra-conservative
right wants us to see. We need to see much more separation of church and state in this
country, with a little more emphasis on good old common sense. It seems that when too many
of our politicians get into office, common sense and logical thinking starts a permanent
vacation!
5/17/07
I have just watched "Independent Lens" program about deportation of Cambodians. I worked
for Catholic Social Services during the time when refugees from the Vietnam war were still
coming to the States. I did not counsel them myself, but talked with the people who did. I
am very upset to learn we are now deporting some of those children (now young adults). The
parents may be aliens, but the children grew up here. They are Americans, and we give
Americans who commit the same crimes a chance to rehabilitate. As far as I could see in
this film, all but one of the deportees were well-adjusted, responsible people. I
definitely disagree with the practice of deportation. These people should be treated as we
treat other Americans.
5/17/07
S. Samel
Signal Hill, CA
I was at the CSULB screening of this film and am glad I was dragged to attend and was able
to listen to the film maker and one permanent resident (awaiting deportation) comment on
the film itself. I think that due to terrorist acts that have occurred in recent years,
the U.S. is justified in trying to tighten laws concerning immigrants. However, I also
believe that if a resident has already served time, then why punish the resident
twice-fold? I think that if any immigrant is facing deportation, he should be guaranteed a
hearing to review his case and his current situation in the United States.
Furthermore, I was quizzing myself with the U.S. citizenship questions today and the
document stated that all people living in the United States are to be guaranteed
protection under the Bill of Rights. What about the right to a fair trial? In light of the
recent immigration incidents around the country, I am deeply concerned that this nation
(built on the hard work of immigrants) will start a quasi-witch hunt hoping to send back
immigrants, be they good or bad, out on the whim of a terrorism craze.
5/17/07
Alexia
Michigan
As a permanent resident, should I be afraid to even drive pass the speed limit now? This
is a law that is ridiculous. The only difference between a citizen and us are . .we can't
vote or hold a government job. We pay taxes just like everyone else. Then why should we be
penalized any different? The reason these people act out and have problems is because they
have a post traumatic stress disorder, the stress of learning and adapting into a new
environment etc.. Sure, the person might truly be evil, then they should be punished not
sent back to a country where they first escaped from! Why did the government accept all
the refugees and immigrants from different countries in the first place? When the
governments reponsibility becomes too much you dump them all like some piece of trash. The
governement should focus on how they can help them from a young age. With love,
understanding and education. That's why we pay taxes so you can help people in need. The
government needs to get their stuff straight and take away all the MONEY spent on mindless
stuff like paying welfare to people who pop out children to avoid working.
5/17/07
non-hypenated American
Long Island, New York
The effects on the lives of these three men and their immediate families were touching.
However it is about time that the United States starts taking action against persons here
illegally who have not bothered to try to gain citizenship or who have committed crimes.
The quality of life in the United States has deteriorated drastically because of millions
of illegals draining the system dry (schools, hospitals, social services, etc) on top of
which most don't want to learn English or pay taxes (why bother when you live amoung
thousands/millions of your fellow illegals). I don't feel sorry for them -- MILLIONS MORE
NEED TO BE DEPORTED.
5/17/07
Allendale, SC
I watched the show to-night and it broke my heart, How can we just split up families like
this??????????? We shuold be ashamed!! I know we have to make alot of changes since 9/11
but this is truly unfair, is there any kind of petition that can be signed to get these
poeple back to their familes,?? and to get this law changed to be a fair and just law,
they should not take the right to be here so lightly,, but they were children when they
came here not adults. Please let me know if i can pass on a pitition or any thing? I have
been in this Country for over 30 years almost 40 truth be known, (not trying to tell my
age) but i came here as a bride from UK not as a child, The one guy who was cussing so
much,,has so much hatred for us now it seems, his whole family has been taken away from
him !! how awful, it just breaks my heart, and the one with 2 small children please bring
him home where he belongs, "Home is where the Heart is" and i can tell his heart is with
is children and wife.
5/17/07
Elaine
Reading, PA
Patricia Vroom, Chief Counsel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (INS), implied that
deportation of immigrants who commit a serious crime is a just and fair punishment. She
said (not an exact quote) that those given the privilege to live in this country should
act as those born to this country do, implying that natural born citizens do not commit
the amount of serious crimes that immigrants do. At the very least, Congress needs to
rethink Immigration laws to re-include an appeal process. Or something similar to the
"three strikes" law. One chance is not enough for someone raised in the
projects/slums/poverty by parents who don't understand American laws and customs. We can't
punish those who we have not properly educated and informed of the consequences.
5/17/07
AMERICANT
NYC
Patricia Vroom, Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (INS).seeing this women
speaking with no heart and bland understanding of what people really need is expected from
the politicians in government.sure immigration policy has its purpose but the constant
repetitious disfunctional example that we as a world power exude and represent is
devastating to a world progression. we can spend billions on war and death, but yet we
cant see a simple man's respect and love to himself and his family and this country.
becoming a better person and a honorable american citizen is what he lives for. we have
all come here at one time or another from another country.to pass by Loeun Lun and deport
him to oblivion in Cambodia is a tragedy to say the least.
RELEASE LOEUN LUN BACK TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS COUNTRY UNITED!
5/17/07
Sarah
Nashville,TN
I feel that the immigration deportation laws should be more leniant towards immigrants who
have already made a life here for them and there families. Where is the justice if once we
say that its acceptable for an immigrant to come here and live here and make a life here
and then all of a sudden say that we passed another law that changes what we said before
so now you have to give up on the one thing that everyone who is a human being seeks,
which is freedom?
5/17/07
christine
new jersey
I think the laws are absolutely too strict & a reactionary response to 9/11. These are not
Al Qaeda terrorists - cases should be reviewed individually.I have not had personal
experience with immigration or deportation, but to all the other posters that believe the
laws need to be stricter: perhaps we should begin deporting all the U.S. citizens who
commit crimes and break the law each and every single day...that would make just as much
sense because God knows they don't get the punishment for their crimes the people in this
film got. We let pedophiles out of prison in the U.S. to live lives of privilege &
reoffend go figure.....
5/17/07
Donna
I saw the program tonight, for those indiviual who have made changes in their lives to be
a good "citizen in the US they should not be punish twice with deportation. Many person
who are well respectable citizen in this country do have some criminal background wheather
it's jumping the turn stile in the subway or not paying child support. Every one deserve a
second change in life.These men deserve better. This country pride on "family", what are
we doing to those families.
5/17/07
Donna
Boston
The last scene is so painful and so needless. I wish I were shocked that our government
has acted so indiscriminantly, but unfortunately, I am not. I imagine Patricia Vroom,
Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (INS) believes herself to be invoking
justice but it's clearly ignorance.
5/15/07
Morgan
Boston
Thanks for asking me my opinion, I look forward to seeing my post.
1. The laws should NOT be changed. The laws should be better enforced.
2. I have not had personal experience with immigration deportation. Permanent resident
status is a precious gift, parents with this status have a larger responsibility to
educate their chilren to this fact(especially the ones shooting guns in self
defense)
3. Laws are NOT too strict; laws should be enforced.
5/15/07
I don't think immigrantion law are strict at all. I have a brother who already been
deported to cambodian as well and in california they gave him 2 many chance to change but
he still doesn't do so i think it fair for the law to deported him if they don't do that
he'll never learn,and now that he is in cambodian he wish he never commit a minor crime. I
myself came here in 1980 I Thank God everyday for a chance to be here, I never forget the
Khmer Rouge torturing my family, all of the nightmare are still haunting us.
5/9/07
Thy Kong
Fresno, California
In response to Patricia Vroom, Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (INS).
Khmer people are here because the USA had made some mistakes during the vietnam war era by
secretly bombing part of Cambodia and digging it into further misery. You (the USA) had
created a mess by doing so and had yet to bring khmer people to this country. But yet if
some 1,200 khmer youths had made a few simple mistakes then you want to deport them back
and split families apart. We're talking about a war torn country where the khmer people
just escaped from, got inserted into poverty, most non-english speaking refugees who have
to be able to cope with americans daily lives. War is very harsh to have gone through,
only on top of that that war had mad some 1,200 khmer youths made poor decisions. Some
crimes they have committed does not justify for the consequences of them and their
families having to go through the reality of a family member getting sent back. It's just
very unfair. There need to be a movement change.
5/9/07
Englewood, Florida
Hind sight is 20/20. imagine if the American Indians had had immigration policies? where
would we be? by the way, the slain indians are the ones that guard the gates of heaven.
5/9/07
I've watched the segment on Monday night. And I'm so touch by what I've saw. Thank you so
much for share the documentary to the world. Living in S.F nowaday, it seem that there's
no other like myself anymore. I came here from Cambodia when I was 8 years old. Seeing the
guys willing to go back is amazing.
5/2/07
Sandra Wise
Broken Arrow, Ok
I think that the deportation of immigrants with permanent resident status should be
stopped. If they have done a crime and did time in prison for it then they have paid their
debt. We are no better than them just because we were born here. Actually everyone is an
immigrant that lives here unless they are full blooded indian. It is not fair to take away
everything that they have worked to achieve. It is even more unfair to their families.
Husbands and wives and children should not be ripped apart. These laws need to be changed
and should have never been passed in the first place.
4/25/07
Christopher Kidwell
Aberdeen, MD
I think that immigration laws in the cases of men like this, who have been in this country
since they were infants and have no knowledge of how to live in these other countries,
should be relaxed.
I mean, we are basically sending them to a place that they have absolutely no knowledge
of, and expecting them to live there? Can anyone say suicide waiting to happen.
If permanent residents break the law, then they should be sent to jail in this country and
treated like citizens of this country, not deported back to a country that they have no
knowledge of and cannot live in.
I have to say that in general I think that immigration laws are way too strict, that there
are not enough spots given for people to join our country, and that we should NOT be
giving tests to people that regular citizens could not pass in order to become
citizens.
You come here, spend at most 2 years here, ask to be a naturalized citizen, you are a
citizen! Period and done with.
We should also ONLY deport people for LARGE offenses, like murder, forcible rape,
etc.
Not for small crimes like loitering, petty theft, etc. We don't punish Americans unduly
because they do those things, so why should we punish permanent residents or others for
those things unduly and harsher than we punish citizens in the United States.
4/19/07
Camilo Viveiros
Providence, RI
We at PrYSM: the Providence Youth Student Movement are glad this issue is getting more
widely publicized. We are a Southeast Asian youth lead organizing project that was founded
from the struggles against Cambodian deportations.You all should check out segments of our
video "We Shall Not Be Moved" on our myspace page which is about the same subject.
www.myspace.com/providence_movement
Solidarity in Struggle,
Camilo
Camilo@prysm.us
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