Many immigrants arrive in the United States with little more than the clothes on their backs and horrific stories of persecution and threats from their homeland. It can take them a while to land back on their feet after arriving here in our country.
Somehow, the term “family reunification” morphed into the much more negative-sounding “chain migration.” Here’s why it matters.
Words matter when it comes to public perception
It’s hard to argue that family reunification is a negative thing. However, describing the practice as “chain migration” envisions an endless loop of people from other countries arriving on our shores, and that paints another picture entirely. The phrase “chain migration” portrays immigrants in a bad light.
In reality, immigrants can only sponsor their children and spouses until they attain permanent residency status. To continue to sponsor more distant relatives like siblings or parents, they must become citizens. Many immigrants never apply for citizenship, and for those who do, it can take years for them to achieve this goal.
Working with professionals can improve sponsorship chances
There’s no doubt that the current immigration climate can be daunting to those who want to sponsor family to come to the United States. But it is always better to apply legally for entry into the country and work within the system to bring family members to join you than to pay “coyotes” who may be abusive to sneak you across the border.
There is power in knowledge
Immigration is a hot topic now in the USA. Most immigrants want to get it right by doing it legally. Learning more about the rights and responsibilities of immigrants can help you make the right moves.
