Green Cards, ICE, and Uncertainty: The Impact of A lien on Immigration Discourse

A green card interview is supposed to be the last step before legal residency—but what if it’s actually a setup?

This episode of Back in America features filmmakers Sam and David Cutler Kreutz discussing their short film, "A Lien," a story about a couple navigating the complexities of the US immigration system. The conversation delves into the film's themes of family, the "banal cruelty" of the immigration process, and the broader political context surrounding immigration in America.

Key Topics

Discuss The Inspiration Behind "A Lien" The New York Times article that sparked the idea for the film and their desire to tell a story that highlights the human side of immigration. They emphasize the film's focus on families and the emotional toll of the legal process.
They share their efforts to accurately portray the immigration process, including working with lawyers and individuals who have experienced similar situations. They discuss the specific forms and procedures mentioned in the film 
The podcast explores the film's unique cinematography, including its use of kinetic visuals and the focus on the wife's perspective through her iPhone.
They discuss how the film resonates with the current political climate, particularly concerning immigration.
The conversation explores what viewers can do after watching "A Lien" to support immigration reform or get involved in advocacy. They emphasize the importance of dialogue and understanding the human stories behind immigration.

In just 15 minutes, A Lien delivers an emotional gut-punch, following an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador and his American wife as they step into what should be a routine interview—only to find themselves entrapped. With haunting cinematography and nail-biting suspense, the film exposes the brutal side of a system designed to keep immigrants on edge.

Watch A Lien (link here https://vimeo.com/997805490), then tune in as we break down the film, the real-life cases that inspired it, and what this means for America today.

From the conversation:

"I knew I was a parent, but what I didn't know until four years ago is that I was a parent of a transgender kid." -- Green Cards, ICE, and Uncertainty- The Impact of A lien on Immigration Discourse

"It was not always easy to be an ally because I feel so close, but I also am not a member of the community or the minority." -- Green Cards, ICE, and Uncertainty- The Impact of A lien on Immigration Discourse


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What is Back in America?

Interviews from a multicultural perspective that question the way we understand America

Tap, tap, tap. Allo, allo. Pourquoi je ne vois pas mon... Voilà, ça c'est bon. Ça tourne, ça tourne.

Fais pas de... Ah, tu es à cinq minutes. Tu peux faire plus, on coupera après. Mais vas-y, t'as raison, on enregistre pas. Et là, tu commences là, donc je regarde là ou je regarde là? Non, tu reviens toujours là. Moi je me mettrai là pour avoir deux engins. Ok.

Priscille, peux-tu nous présenter? Bonjour, je suis Priscille Bourqueleau. Et je suis... ...le leader de l'employé ressources groupe Open Parents... ...innovatis sandoz, global. Do you want to talk about your story? I knew I was a parent, but what I didn't know until four years ago... ...is that I was a parent of a transgender kid.

They discovered this a few years ago and came out to me. And I have traveled this road since.

Ok, super. Alors attends, on va tout recommencer. Pour une tonne de raisons, essaie.

Peut-être qu'il a enregistré, je l'ai appris. Allez, on reprend. Priscille, do you want to introduce yourself? Hi, I'm Priscille Bourqueleau. I'm a happy sandoz employee and... ...I'm a member of the Open Parents group... ...under the broader employee resource group of the Pride... ...innovatis and sandoz.

Do you want to talk about your story? So, I knew I was a parent. My kid is now 19. But four years ago, I realized... ...I was made to realize that I have actually a transgender kid.

And moreover, a non-binary transgender kid. So I had to get a lot of education. And this was only the beginning of a growth journey. Now I'm more and more active... ...to learn, educate, raise awareness in the company... ...and outside.

Is it that you were talking about it at the beginning or was it that you were talking about it at the beginning? No. Ok, go ahead. So, it was not always easy to be an ally.

Because I feel so close. But I also am not a member of the community or the minority.

And also you want to speak in support, but not on behalf.

And also you have to somehow come to terms with the secrecy and many feelings around being personally involved. So my allyship has actually developed over the last year a lot. I remember the first time I was offered by some colleagues who saw my pronouns at the bottom of my signature... ...to explain why these pronouns and why do I do that. So I explained to them how I believe it creates psychological safety for people for whom their pronouns might not be as easy to get accepted as mine. And so by saying that my pronouns are she or her... That's the way you could talk about me in my absence or even in my presence. Maybe I'm telling them it's fine to have they, them pronouns or even to have she, her even though you still have your Adam, Apple because you transitioned late.

But now fast forward, I've been involved in a number of activities with different sites of Novartis and Sandals. And also animating a group for parents of LGBTQI youth who want to have help and support just by meeting people like them. Parenting a child and discovering how to support them. We have actually written a booklet of parent stories about parenting a transgender child. And we have been told both by parents but also by associates who are not out themselves necessarily that it was so enlightening. So I'm very happy that this resource is available thanks to our group.

Do you want to talk about your evolution this year or are you coming to do it? I'm going to add something. I'm going to add something too. And more recently by participating to prepare a transgender awareness week live event throughout Novartis, I had the opportunity to meet transgender colleagues who are out at work to talk with them about their perspective and how they view working at Novartis. And I could also help prepare this event and discover how Sandals has medicines that are actually used by transgender persons for their health care along international recommendation. And I'm now involved in this work stream evaluating if we can extend the indication of these medications for transgender persons to benefit and get access, which is our mission. I'm very happy to do so.

Do you want to say something about the slide or when we integrate the slide?

So my ask for you today would be like my colleagues who will talk. Can you choose a simple task or two from either stage of a lie ship on this slide? Thank you very much. I have seven minutes so I'll record a little bit before. I think we have about five minutes. Do you have the time? I don't know.

No. Okay. But I think it's okay. Yeah. Listen, I don't know what it looks like. Six minutes something. Look.

Thank you. Thank you.

I hope I don't appear in the vision. This one.

So for the sound I'm very, very uncertain about what it's going to be. The sound is in the room, right? Yes.