Points to Ponder Concerning Immigration Part 5 of 10
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“They
should get in line” “…”But where is the end?”
Many advocates of border-only enforcement suggest that undocumented
immigrants should get in line like everyone else.
While everyone should be subjected to the same requirements,
procedures and wait times; our current immigration system is not capable
of meeting the needs of immigrants.
Some are hoping to reunite with family members, some are fleeing
the desperate situations of crime and political persecution.
Other immigrants hope to fill the need for skilled workers or basic
laborers where the demand for workers is not being met by US citizens.
The
various categories through which one may immigrate are family-based,
corporate sponsorship or by lottery.
Presently there are 226,000 TOTAL family based visas available each
year, limited by country of origin and NO ONE country may receive more
than 7% of the annual visas available.
As of October 2009 there were already 3,369,455 people waiting for
a visa in the family based category!
Congress exclusively controls the annual numbers of visas
and their allocation and these numbers vary depending on country of
origin.
Here’s
an example of what happens when applying for a family-based visa.
A permanent resident, Juan, holds a green card which allows him to
work legally in this country.
He wishes to bring his wife and 6 year old daughter to the US to
live united as a family. The immigration service is currently reviewing
visa applications from Mexico that were applied for in Dec 1992!!
This means there is now an 18
year wait. Juan’s
daughter will be 24 years old before she would be eligible for a visa,
however at that time she would then exceed the “unmarried children under
21 years of age” category and would have to be moved to a different
category.
She would re-petition in the “unmarried children over 21”
category.
She goes to the back of the line and would begin her wait again.(1)
Our country is willing to accept the worker’s contribution to our
economy. Does
our complex policy also reflect our pro-family values with family
unification as a goal?
The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have consistently called for
our Comprehensive Immigration Reform to include family-based reform that
reduces waiting times for family reunification and bears in mind the
devastating effects of separation on a family.(2)
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me…”
Luke
9:48
1.
“VISA Bulletin for Nov 2010”,
US State Department,
http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin
2.
USCCB Justice for Immigrants ,
“Comprehensive Immigration Reform” www.justiceforimmigrants.org.
Submitted
by The Immigration Education sub - committee of the Justice and Peace
Committee
**
”A Guide to Understanding Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration and
the Movement of Peoples”, US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
www.usccb.org/mrs/cst
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