Immigration is one of the problems the US government is trying to solve. There has been a surge in illegal immigration in recent times. As a result, opinions have been different between the Republicans and the Democrats.
These two parties have struggled to develop the best immigration policies since immigration is the most pressing issue voters consider when casting their votes. In a recent poll, many voters indicated that immigration laws and policies are their top priority.
The current US administration has come under fire from many directions as a result of the immigration problem. Many critics have said that the immigration laws are too passive and impractical; others have called for a more humane immigration law, especially in areas that affect US citizens. One such area is the marriage between a US citizen and an illegal immigrant.
“Marrying a U.S. citizen does not guarantee legal immigration status for undocumented individuals. U.S. citizens who marry undocumented immigrants still face the possibility of being separated from their loved ones. This has prompted advocates to push for more compassionate immigration laws,” says immigration lawyer Zaira Solano of the Solano Law Firm, LLC.
Reacting to this, in recent times, the US government is considering enacting a law that will provide a legal path for illegal immigrants who marry US citizens to become citizens and have work permits. This law will put out the fear of many US citizens whose long-term partners are illegal immigrants.
The US Immigration Problem
Fear of deportation: According to statistics, about 1.1 million illegal migrants are married to US citizens. However, not all immigrants moved in legally. As a result, there is the constant worry that the spouse, who is a non-citizen, could face deportation anytime.
Absence of a clear path to legal immigration status: Many advocates have argued that marriage to a US citizen should change an illegal immigrant’s status to legal status. However, according to the law, marriage to a US citizen does not guarantee a work permit or a legal immigration status.
Fear of a hostile administration: Many feared that without enacting a law that changes the status of an illegal immigrant to a legal status upon marriage to a US citizen, another administration could easily decide to deport all illegal immigrants regardless of their marriage status.
The Solution to Illegal Border Immigration
In response to this, the US government is contemplating enacting two laws:
- Restricting immigration from the US-Mexican borders
- Parole in place
Restricting Border Crossing:
The US government contemplated restricting crossing immigration from the US-Mexican borders. This move is in fear of illegal border crossings climbing to an all-time high.
However, democrats have expressed their displeasure at this move. Also, a group of immigration advocates has publicly criticized this move as backward and unconcerned about the reality of the people. They claimed that it is inhumane and does not solve the current problem.
More so, a move for stricter border laws is not the concern of US voters. Affected US citizens of the current immigration laws have expressed frustration with the fact that their partners cannot get citizenship status even though they have been married for many years.
Parole in Place:
Parole in place is a policy that will create a path to a change in immigration status, granting citizenship and giving work permits to spouses of US citizens. It is by giving them temporary legal status for some time before it becomes permanent.
Some Democrats have called that to make this law more people-centric, the government should also attempt to reunite the spouses of deported US citizens.
Criticism of the Government
Some parties do not agree with the current US government’s immigration moves. One such person is Donald Trump, who claimed that the government is too passive when it comes to the problem of a surge in illegal immigration.
Illegal border crossing in the US is climbing, and lawmakers are looking for ways to curtail this. Donald Trump, former President of the US, has heavily criticized the current administration for their failure to control illegal border crossing. Trump mentioned that there are no rigid laws in place to ensure that the US reduces the number of illegal immigrants in the country.
Final Thoughts
Illegal border crossing is a crime, and the authorities must take responsibility for it. Everyone must work collaboratively to achieve a secure and flourishing country.
However, if you believe the authorities have violated your rights in any way, contact a local immigration law attorney. The attorney will help secure your rights and ensure you are not oppressed by any quarter.