Well-founded fear, a documentary showing a a revealing look inside the INS's political asylum process. The film-makers were given unprecedented access to the process, including cameras in normally closed asylum interviews, along with interviews of the people seeking asylum, the asylum officers who hear the cases and make the decisions, and their supervisors. The film shows the truly human process of deciding who gets asylum and who does not, and shows both the officers and the applicants in a revealing light. At times the officers look jaded, sometimes compassionate, and sometimes frustrated at the process they have to administer. The individual stories range from the frustrating ones of people who have obviously suffered, but may not meet the US's asylum standard even if their stories are true, to truly inspiring stories, like one of a tortured Chinese poet. Not easy movie to watch, but *definitely* worth watching.
3 Reviews
A Different Perspective...
blondiegirlJLK1 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The film, Well-Founded Fear, documents the lives of about six applicants seeking political asylum in the United States. These people have waited years to obtain an appointment at the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), which will determine their fate. They come from around the world in hopes that America will accept them and their families. An immigration officer meets with each individual for approximately an hour, conducting an interview to decide if the individual has an established "well-founded fear" in their country. If they do, the officer will approve their asylum application. If a person's case doubtful, the officer will refer them to an immigration judge for a final decision. More often than not, this referral does not go in favor of the applicant.
While viewing this film, I couldn't help feeling sympathy toward the immigration officers. They became desensitized from hearing so many similar stories, and even the most gruesome stories seemed like nothing to them. Undoubtedly, the applicants' stories were heartwarming and some were depressing, but the amount of stress that is put upon these officers every single day is incredible. The newer workers in the office found it extremely difficult to stay sane while working there. For someone to have to personally deny people freedom in the United States, seemed mentally and emotionally draining. One woman officer admitted to approving applications even if she wasn't sure they were being truthful with her. Her morals may have gotten in the way of her work, but at the end of the day, she confessed feeling better about herself when she approved more applications.
Of course, this system is flawed, by human instinct, character judgment, intuitions and the nature of emotions. The immigration officers are only human, and because each case is so different, there is no computer program or calculations one can do to decide to approve or deny an application. Some of the officers just considered it a part of their job to be the detectives and make a decision, however it seemed like most everyone was affected by the applicant stories in one way, whether the officers were shaken up or distraught or feeling sentimental. As an American citizen, I know that I would feel nothing but guilt or regret my decisions. A job like an immigration officer has a huge impact on ones' beliefs, morals and values. Certainly, this causes psychological stress and pain to many of the officers, as it would any other human being.
While viewing this film, I couldn't help feeling sympathy toward the immigration officers. They became desensitized from hearing so many similar stories, and even the most gruesome stories seemed like nothing to them. Undoubtedly, the applicants' stories were heartwarming and some were depressing, but the amount of stress that is put upon these officers every single day is incredible. The newer workers in the office found it extremely difficult to stay sane while working there. For someone to have to personally deny people freedom in the United States, seemed mentally and emotionally draining. One woman officer admitted to approving applications even if she wasn't sure they were being truthful with her. Her morals may have gotten in the way of her work, but at the end of the day, she confessed feeling better about herself when she approved more applications.
Of course, this system is flawed, by human instinct, character judgment, intuitions and the nature of emotions. The immigration officers are only human, and because each case is so different, there is no computer program or calculations one can do to decide to approve or deny an application. Some of the officers just considered it a part of their job to be the detectives and make a decision, however it seemed like most everyone was affected by the applicant stories in one way, whether the officers were shaken up or distraught or feeling sentimental. As an American citizen, I know that I would feel nothing but guilt or regret my decisions. A job like an immigration officer has a huge impact on ones' beliefs, morals and values. Certainly, this causes psychological stress and pain to many of the officers, as it would any other human being.
Touching documentary involving U.S. refugees.
OllieSuave-0076 June 2007
This is a touching documentary about the asylum process within the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). In this film, we see people who are struggling from political or religious persecutions in their home countries and, therefore, trying to seek refuge in the United States. Each individual's lives is depicted in depth in this film, with them stating their own reasons to seek refuge to the United States as they appear in an interview before an asylum officer at the INS. Some applicants try to overstep their authority with the officer, trying to convince them that they are entitled to stay in the U.S., making up stories during the interview process. When officers detect any suspicious, they refer those cases to an Immigration Judge for a decision. Those who are truthful can lead to an immediate approval of refugee status. At least two people depicted in this film, who were tortured in their countries because of their beliefs, were immediately granted status in the United States. Their reactions of relief and gladness were heartwarming.
Overall, a very detailed and emotional documentary. Though the INS can be sometimes seen as bureaucratic, it can be seen as a fodder of hope and goodness. I had the pleasure of meeting the directors of this film, Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson, back in 2002 when they were filming a documentary at the Sacramento INS office involving the naturalization process, and was privileged to be part of the film.
Grade A
Overall, a very detailed and emotional documentary. Though the INS can be sometimes seen as bureaucratic, it can be seen as a fodder of hope and goodness. I had the pleasure of meeting the directors of this film, Michael Camerini and Shari Robertson, back in 2002 when they were filming a documentary at the Sacramento INS office involving the naturalization process, and was privileged to be part of the film.
Grade A
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