Newsletter January 2012 – Keeping Families Together

IN THIS ISSUE
2011: The Year That Was
Victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes
“I Have A Dream” Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Speech
The Faces of US Immigrants: Liam John Neeson, Irish-American Actor
Recipes From The Melting Pot: Mandazi: Kenyan Doughnuts
Quote of the Month

Keeping Families Together

Earlier this month, President Obama proposed allowing certain undocumented immigrants, those with a spouse or parent with U.S. citizenship, the opportunity to stay in the country while they apply for hardship 601 waivers. This is usually the first step for many before applying for a Green Card. Without such hardship waivers, immigrants could be barred from the United States for a period of 3 to 10 years, depending on how long they have been in the country.

As a result of this policy, many immigrants who would otherwise pursue a Green Card are deterred to do so because of the potential of being separated from loved ones. Under current law, individuals seeking hardship waivers to spare them from being barred have to return to their native countries and wait months or even years while their applications are being processed. According to the USCIS exactly when the proposal would take effect has yet to be determined but it is a step in the right direction because it is the right thing to do.