How did we get to this moment in America’s immigration history?
Harsh Legacy is more than just a documentary film, it’s a national outreach project tracing how the 1996 immigration law (IIRIRA) built the scaffolding for today's enforcement system—now fueled by unprecedented Department of Homeland Security resources and authorized by maximalist Supreme Court interpretations—producing consequences few could have imagined: families unable to unite, community members delegalized, detained, and deported, and asylum seekers and refugees barred.
Led by Phyllis Coven—who worked on immigration policy for several U.S. administrations, for the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees—and Yael Schacher, PhD—an immigration historian and Director at Refugees International —the film includes interviews with policymakers, advocates, and directly impacted immigrants to connect past decisions to present-day realities.
The film’s purpose is to create space for an honest conversation about responsibility, learning, and what comes next. By exploring how the 1996 law was passed, how its implementation evolved, and its human consequences, the project Harsh Legacy offers lessons for future policymakers, students, and early-career leaders whose decisions will outlast them.
Meet the Filmmakers
Phyllis Coven
Executive Producer & Director
An immigration policy leader with over 30 years of experience shaping and implementing immigration and humanitarian programs in the U.S. and globally. Phyllis served in senior roles at the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and the United Nations.
Yael Schacher
Producer & Director
An historian of U.S. immigration law and refugee policy whose work traces how statutes and administrative decisions shape the lives of asylum seekers and immigrants over time. Yael is the Director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International.
Vera Aronow
Producer & Director
An award-winning documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Turnstone Productions. Her credits include producing and editing Backpack Full of Cash, narrated by Matt Damon, and work on documentaries for PBS American Masters, Great Performances and the landmark series Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers.
Roger Grange
Director of Photography
An award-winning cinematographer and co-founder of Turnstone Productions. For more than 30 years he has served as Director of Photography on documentaries for PBS, National Geographic, Discovery, BBC as well as independent features. Recent credits include, Backpack Full of Cash, and the upcoming, The Day Freedom Died, finalist for the Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film.
R.A. Fedde
Editor
A television and film editor and producer. Her work has won Emmy Awards for 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America: Antietam (Best Non-Fiction Series) and Hostages (Outstanding Historical Documentary). Her projects have appeared in theaters, film festivals, and on most major broadcast and streaming networks.
