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July 13, 2005
Immigration problem
The article I choose was from the July 11, 2005 issue of the Startribune.
This article is about a family from the Czech Republic that faces deportation. They moved to Minnesota in 1990 so their son could recieve treatment for leukemia. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks they went to the immigration office to reniew their annual work permits. They were told that because their son's leukemia was in remission that they could not renew their permits.
This family has lived and worked in Minnesota for 15 years. They have good jobs and own their own home. They are not criminals, they are hard working people. They have a 9 year old daughter that has lived here her whole life.
They are told they are being deported as the result of a law passed in 1996. The article states that prior to '96 "the law said that in order to stay in the country, an immigrant had to show it would be an extreme hardship on themselves if they had to leave." The new law says that the hardship must be suffered by a U.S. citizen, not the person being deported.
I do believe that immigration laws need to be more strict. I believe immigration should be legal, however, I believe we need to crack down on illegal immigration. Many lawmakers want to grant citizenship to illigal immigrants that are already working in this country. And in many parts of California, police cannot ask someone their immigration status and do not work with the INS. Yet in Minnesota we are deporting people that came here legally and are working and paying taxes.
Comments
This story seems a bit strange from the information give that these people would be deported. Maybe now the laws on immigration are much stronger than they have been in the past which may have tied the judge’s hands in this case. I would think though that since they do have a daughter who is an American citizen that even thought they are being deported that they will be allowed back in after they go through the appropriate channels.
Posted by: Chuck at July 15, 2005 10:46 AM
It is so ironic, and rediculous in a way, how immigration works in this country. Before 911, most foreign employees could obtain a green card with the employer's sponsorship. Now, the employer has to prove that their international employee has the professional skills that is "irreplacable by US personel." A family friend of ours recently left the country after working for NASA as an engineer for 6 years. NASA changed his contract-base employment to project-base since November, 2001. His family had been here for a decade, and they were originally eligible for green card and neutralization at the end of 2001. However, there is a loophole in entering the country by marriage. I've heard that the fiance or fiancee of a legal immigrant can come the country within 6 months. The couple will both become citizens, but there aren't laws requiring them to get married. I just thought that's odd.
Posted by: Eva at July 15, 2005 2:32 PM