Immigration Through Marriage
I am a first-generation immigrant who married an American. I live in the greater Miami area. This part of the country is very Latin. You can find the largest populations of Cubans, Venezuelans, Argentinians, Colombians, and Brazilians in the United States, in addition to many more.
And the unwritten secret is - if you come from Latin America and want to stay in the United States-- find a Cuban to marry. I know at least 10 individuals (not couples) who have "fake" married to get a green card.
Then, there is the case of Hope Hall, a US military veteran, as reported in Reason.com:
Hope Hall, an American citizen and military veteran, and her Canadian partner and soon-to-be wife Nathalie Gaulthier, who runs an internationally renowned circus arts school and has spent 17 years living and working in the U.S. Though marriage is often the one reliable path to citizenship for many straight couples, the Defense of Marriage Act prohibits United States Immigration and Citizenship Services from granting the same legal rights to gay couples, even those married in a state where gay marriage is legal.
So, my question to you is, wouldn't it make more sense to allow all adult citizens to just sponsor a limited number of people for American citizenship?
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Comments:
Sep '10
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Jeff
Aelreth: you would create [...] a second class citizen that will be removed in less than a year with a decision by the Supreme Court based on the 14th amendment.
The tale of the world is that people will choose to let somebody else take care of them in exchange for freedom.
Unrestricted immigration will hasten this nation's demise.
Not so fast. Not really. And, not so.
The Court subjects the federal government to less scrutiny when discriminating against resident aliens than it does the states. If there is a "legitimate state interest" it has been upheld. Would future courts rule this way? I don't know. And there you have a good point.
Freedom entails the right tonot take care of someone. And, all of the policies I mentioned would enshrine that right in statutory law.
Unrestricted immigration of germans, irish and italians catapulted this country into leadership of the modern world.
Giving them a special tax rate to be used as a transfer payment is what I was referring to. However I thought you would make them citizens faster, I was incorrect.
May '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
DocJay
Immigration is one of those issues where I start to get a little wary in conservative circles. When I read DocJay's comment below, it kinda rubs me the wrong way. · 42 minutes ago
How so? I thought I was being squishy.
Our policies have discouraged immigration from countries with folks who have talent and want to work hard. · 8 hours ago
Edited 7 hours ago
I appreciate that your comment wasn't intended to rub me the wrong way. Think of it this way. Name three countries without brains and work ethic. Name three that do have these qualities. Now imagine Paul Ryan saying this in a national debate. Does that help?
Edited on October 12, 2012 at 8:27amSep '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Jeff
First generation german immigrants from the late 1800s and early 1900s didn't learn English. Yet, germans became the backbone of America, it's largest ethnic group, and the largest portion of the middle class
I'll cheerfully chime in on a thread on the subject, "Must you speak English to be a U.S. Citizen?" But for now, this will do--
Germans emigrating to the U.S. were frequently coming to established German-speaking communities; descended from German settlers who came in the 1700s. Benjamin Franklin proposed to the Continental Congress that the national language be German (political gesture to a key Pennsylvania constituency); and the Declaration of Independence was first read in Easton, Pennsylvania as a gesture to the German-speaking citizenry. German-speaking regiments fought in the Civil War, and there are Pennsylvanians today, descended from immigrants who came in the 1700s, whose first language was German.
There are also, in California particularly, Spanish-speaking Americans whose ancestors lived here when the U.S. annexed the state.
Then, of course, one might ask if Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens....
Apr '12
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Barkha Herman: @FoxFier http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKqrx3yT7jY&list=UU0uVZd8N7FfIZnPu0y7o95A&index=10&feature=plcp
Really, this is not so much about DOMA (from my perspective) as it is about the way immigration laws are run in this country.... · 11 hours ago
I do not trust videos; if someone isn't objective enough about a case they're trying to build to give first-level evidence, they're generally leaving things out. (Usually innocent; folks just figure the stuff isn't important.)
The point of the video is to get outrage. My links show that, if the woman is as claimed, she could have relatively easily started here on her own.
There is a lot to be upset with in immigration policy, but a video designed to manipulate folks into outrage isn't a good basis.
Apr '12
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Jeff
I really can't understand your point in the last paragraph. You complained about an unsourced claim and then made one yourself in the same sentence.
Of course you think it's sophistry; you confuse being clear that I am not accepting your claims without evidence while pointing out that they contradict your own conclusion with "complaining."
Apr '12
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
John Murdoch
There are also, in California particularly, Spanish-speaking Americans whose ancestors lived here when the U.S. annexed the state.
The questions being:
1) did no-one in the meantime learn English,
and
2) does this affect their ability to deal with the US as it stands without accommodation?
Historically, communities were much stronger; I'd imagine everyone around immigrant groups knows someone that, as a kid, did the translating or reading for older relatives that just weren't sure they'd do alright.
Contrast that with the cop in Cali that was under investigation because, while he yelled "stop or I'll shoot!" in both English and Spanish, didn't use the extremely obscure language that the dead man spoke. (I seem to remember it was spoken by all of 200 other people.)
How about the areas of California that need to offer voter pamphlets in 9 languages on their web site, and more in person.
Contrast with the way that you cannot serve in the US military unless you speak English.
Modern society is integrated, and requires communication. Fracture that, and the whole thing starts to fracture.
Dec '10
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
" wouldn't it make more sense to allow all adult citizens to just sponsor a limited number of people for American citizenship? "
Not a bad idea, but I see problems with people selling their sponsorships.
May '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Foxfier
The problem happens when they don't want to escape it and instead bring it over here; Victor Davis Hanson's ongoing series illustrates what happens.
The point of the immigration system isn't to invite in everyone who lives in a worse place, it's to have good Americans.
This is very well illustrated in many of our towns, if you pay attention. I invite anyone who wants to visit Yakima, WA to see what happens in a town that imports migrant labor and becomes nearly 70% mexican (that is a made-up statistic, but I think its close). There are great people who come over and bring a rich culture - but the problem is that they have no desire to be American, just to be in America. Yakima's crime rate is the worst in WA state. Some people come over to work, but the rest of the family comes over, too... and a ton of people w/ no desire to work at all. When you bring mexico to America, you seem to bring all of mexico, and that includes crime.
Other countries don't tolerate that, and don't care about being labeled racist for it...
May '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Interestingly - and maybe as an aside - I am a criminal defense attorneys (misdemeanors only, thank God)... Recent law in WA requires me to advise my clients on immigration consequences. Don't get me started (maybe it's a whole essay) on what that does to my profession, but it is really amazing to me what those immigration consequences actually are. I have non-citizen clients on welfare and committing crimes over and over, and no deportation. But what about when they do? I had one client tell me that he wants to plead guilty ASAP because he wanted to get deported. He said "my sister just got in trouble and is getting deported for the first time, so I want to meet her at the border so I can show her what to do" (to get back). To many of them, the process is just a joke. Problem is that it is only w/ the "bad seeds." Good, hardworking people want to come over, they try to do it right and get caught up in a bureaucratic mess. We're doing the opposite of what Foxfier suggested - we discourage an influx of quality and incentivize criminality and "leeching."
Aug '12
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
" wouldn't it make more sense to allow all adult citizens to just sponsor a limited number of people for American citizenship? "
I could go along with this if the sponsor would assume financial responsibility as well. I suppose we would have to give the -- "sponsee"? -- standing to sue in the event of nonperformance. The sponsor could then claim the [there has got to be a word for "the sponsored person"] as a dependent for tax purposes.
It is the welfare state that distorts everything. I wish I could believe that it might be scaled back significantly. If it weren't for this, then I could accept most of Jeff's arguements. I just lack his touching faith in human nature. Historically, immigrants may have fit his scenario, but the environment has changed.
Jul '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Japan, China, Canada. Somalia, Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea.
OK, now I get what you mean. This sounds bad.
I still like the idea of brains and work ethic coming here for the old American dream. How to achieve is another story.
Michael Cham
DocJay
Immigration is one of those issues where I start to get a little wary in conservative circles. When I read DocJay's comment below, it kinda rubs me the wrong way. · 42 minutes ago
How so? I thought I was being squishy.
Our policies have discouraged immigration from countries with folks who have talent and want to work hard. · 8 hours ago
Edited 7 hours ago
I appreciate that your comment wasn't intended to rub me the wrong way. Think of it this way. Name three countries without brains and work ethic. Name three that do have these qualities. Now imagine Paul Ryan saying this in a national debate. Does that help? · 20 hours ago
Edited 20 hours ago
May '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
DocJay: Japan, China, Canada. Somalia, Pakistan, Equatorial Guinea.
OK, now I get what you mean. This sounds bad.
I still like the idea of brains and work ethic coming here for the old American dream. How to achieve is another story.
0 minutes ago
I'm totally with you there.
For me, the dream is that America is not for those looking for hand outs. This is the place where the govt gets out of the way such that brains and work ethic matter more and race/gender/social-status matter much much less.
Apr '11
Re: Immigration Through Marriage
Foxfier
Barkha Herman
Foxfier
Has she not bothered to get a green card? If, as reported, she runs such a great circus in Cali, should be a slam dunk. Does she have one? Then why hasn't she used the existing route?
If you follow the link - you'll see that the "other pathway" is so archaic that this woman cannot get a green card - only work permits renewed every two years?
Which link do you mean?
The green card one has an option for investors/entrepreneurs who are making an investment in an enterprise that creates new U.S. jobs and, after five years, application options for citizenship. (Takes a grand total of ten jobs.)
If, on the other hand, she had no interest in legally moving here full time before now, then that argues rather strongly towards this being an act. · Oct 11 at 7:44pm
She might not have a personal stake of sufficient size in the enterprise for an EB-5, but it looks like she could get an EB-1.
I agree that it looks as if her immigration claims are partly trumped up; it's almost certainly good publicity for her.