Alien: American Dream Denied

Alien: American Dream Denied spotlights the emotional journey of high-skilled, documented immigrants as they seek permanence in a country that benefits from their talent, but denies them a home.

America's competitive edge in science and technology depends heavily on high-skilled immigrants from around the world. Yet, while headlines inundate us with the challenges at America's borders, a different immigration issue has been unfolding within the country. The same talent that America depends on for continued success faces an uphill battle to remain as contributing residents.

The employment-based green card backlog has grown to 1.8 million people, and applicants from countries such as India face up to 195 years of waiting for green cards. Nearly 200,000 will likely die before they get out of the backlog. Over 250,000 minors risk deportation from the country they call home if they reach the age of 21 before their parents gain permanent residence.

Alien exposes the human toll of America’s dependence on high-skilled, legal immigrants and how the Indian ​immigrant community bears the heaviest burden. The film intimately follows five Indian high-skilled immigrants ​and their families as they build lives and families in this country in an uphill battle toward their American Dream...