Filmmaker calls attention to deportation of immigrant adoptees in the U.S.

Brut America

Decades after being adopted by American parents, thousands risk deportation because of an oversight in their paperwork.   In his film "Blue Bayou," actor and director Justin Chon looks at the human impact of this legislative loophole ...

Transcript

00:00It just felt like such a shocking loophole.

00:03It was very heartbreaking.

00:13An infant or a child is brought from another country by a U.S. citizen,

00:16money's exchanged, and then, you know, you're going to wait like 20, 30 years

00:23and, you know, suddenly decide that they're not American because of, like, loopholes

00:29and mishaps in paperwork.

00:42Come on.

00:43It's just inhumane, you know.

00:45But, you know, and even if they've committed a crime or whatever, I don't think it matters.

00:52There must be a way for them to stay, you know.

00:55Like, they're adopted by U.S. citizens.

00:59But, you know, you know, I found out that, no, they're being deported and very little

01:04chance of coming back and the legal process, of course, can be expensive.

01:20The U.S. government should be responsible for a child that comes

01:24and claim them.

01:26And then extends to now the refugee community.

01:28Refugees are getting deported as well.

01:30And it's a big issue.

01:32My biggest thing is, let's have a discussion.

01:35I'm not trying to make this into, like, a bipartisan issue.

01:38It's very neutral.

01:40And I'd really love if the right people see this film.

01:54He has two kids.

02:02I mean, listen to him.

02:04Look at him.

02:04He's American.

02:05It doesn't matter what he look like.

02:07It's immigration policy.

02:09I was brought here when I was three.

02:11I've been here for over 30 years.

02:13Sometimes with these international adoptions in the 80s, the proper paperwork.

02:18But like I said, I've been here for over 30 years.

02:21OK, can't you just tell them that I was adopted by white people?

02:26Are you American only if you're born in America?

02:29I know I'm an American because, you know, I love my country.

02:34And I think what makes it beautiful is that the coexistence of so many different, you know,

02:40and all the people who came before me, too, who were at first not accepted.

02:45But now, you know, whether it's the Irish or Italians,

02:51now they've become assimilated and accepted.

02:54And it's an afterthought.

03:00The adoptee experience is very underrepresented.

03:05It's such a complex issue for me to say that I have the answer to, like, what's causing

03:10exactly, you know, what's causing all that stuff.

03:13Of course, it's happening.

03:15And it's, you know, obviously, it's not right.

03:17To speak to, like, what is the root cause is very difficult.

03:24I can only focus on what I can do to help the situation,

03:28which is to make films and films that are inclusive.

03:30But across the board, not just Asian-Americans, but like,

03:34you know, wide representation of who we are, especially as Americans.

03:39I got this baby on the way and I'm just looking for another job.

03:45Where you work at now?

03:48Tattoo parlor.

03:51I think you better off there.

03:52We need a lot of different perspectives in filmmaking and storytelling.

03:58I think it's the fastest way for people to build empathy and understand,

04:02like, who we are as a collective.

04:04Our experience as Asians, you know, that live in foreign countries,

04:08whether it's Australia or the UK or Canada, you know, it's...

04:12There's so many aspects to it.

04:14You know, it's not just an Asian-American thing.

04:17I want to tell stories that normalize us,

04:20but also shows how we're all alike, more alike than different.

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