Musings on Immigration

A medida que los inmigrantes pasan por el largo viaje de obtener un estatus legal en los Estados Unidos, van a llenar  formularios innumerables, cuestionarios, solicitudes y peticiones. Los inmigrantes pasan a través de entrevistas e incluso las visitas judiciales. En todo momento, toda la información presentada de un inmigrante debe ser verdadera y correcta. La ley establece que durante cualquier parte del proceso, si se encuentra a un inmigrante, falsificando un documento, o presenta información a sabiendas incorrectas para adquirir una visa u otra documentación, la admisión en los Estados Unidos, o cualquier otro beneficio, él o ella no serán elegible para el estatus legal en los Estados Unidos. En otras palabras, cualquier tipo de fraude, si se trata de mentir sobre una fecha o el uso de documentos falsos, en el proceso de obtención de visa u otra documentación, la admisión en los Estados Unidos, o cualquier otro beneficio, hará al inmigrante no elegible para un estatus legal....

As immigrants go through the long journey of obtaining legal status in the United States, they will fill out innumerous forms, questionnaires, applications, and petitions. Immigrants will go through interviews and even court hearings. At all times, all of the information an immigrant presents must be true and correct. The law states that during any part of the process, if an immigrant lies, falsifies a document, or presents knowingly incorrect information to procure a visa or other documentation, admission into the United States, or any other benefit, he or she will be ineligible for lawful status in the United States. In other words, any type of fraud, whether it’s lying about a date or using fake document, in the process of getting visa or other documentation, admission into the United States, or any other benefit, will make the immigrant ineligible for lawful status. Sometimes immigration grants a visa or lawful permanent residency without knowing that the immigrant committed f...

For many years now it has become routine to register to vote while applying for a driver’s license. However, to a non-U.S. citizen, this routine act can derail any future immigration benefits. Simply registering to vote can be considered a claim of U.S. citizenship. Current immigration law severely penalizes anyone who claims to be a U.S. citizen by making them permanently inadmissible without possibility of a waiver, meaning there is no way to have that claim forgiven. Because voting participation continues to drop in some parts of the country, states are getting creative in encouraging its residents to vote. As a result, in the last few days, California passed a law that seeks to encourage more participation in elections by automatically registering everyone who obtains or renews a driver’s license. At this point we do not fully understand what the California law will mean for non-U.S. citizens who apply for a California driver license. Supposedly there will be protectio...

This last weekend, for the first time since 1982, an AMERICAN won the NYC Marathon. As someone who has run several marathons and who would have been lapped by this winner, I greatly admire these fleet footed men and women. Why is this an immigration issue? Well, it turns out a commentator on CNBC by the name of Darren Rovell thinks there are different kinds of “Americans.” In this case, Meg Keflezighi, an American ,who immigrated to the United States when he was 12 as a refugee, proudly wore the USA on his sweat stained jersey as he cruised to victory in the NYC Marathon. Much was made in the press of the fact that an American had finally won this particular marathon again after more than 25 years! But, Mr. Rovell was apparently looking for a controversial way to express his ignorance. Mr. Rovell noted: “He is an American citizen thanks to taking a test and living in our country…Nothing against Keflezighi, but he’s like a ringer who you hire to work a couple hours at your office so tha...