July 31st, 2010: Broken

This last week I shadowed the Center for Immigration & Citizenship Legal Assistance at Catholic Charities. Interesting enough parts of the Arizona SB-1070 law took affect on Thursday. It was a great week for me to ask a lot of questions and learn a lot about our broken immigration system. I have avoided the topic of immigration in previous blogs because of the tense political climate in the US around immigration for as long as I have known. So rather than feed the frenzy I am going to just tell a few stories.

Nine months ago Catholic Charities was introduced to a refugee Cuban family consisting of two people, a mother and her adult son. Legally, after one year and one day of being a refugee in the US (with proper documentation) refugees can petition for legal permanent resident (LPR) status. The paperwork process for Catholic Charities and the clients in these cases are usually not difficult because refugees have been with Catholic Charities for quite some time and Catholic Charities knows their histories. Currently the family of two is bringing in about $1,600 a month in income. I am not certain on how many hours a week they work but we are certain that they both have a job. This income is to pay for their rent, food, utilities, and anything to get by. However, now that they want to file for LPR status. Financially it will cost both people in the family, combined, approximately $3,000 to become legal permanent residents. What I did find out is that they don't loose their refugee status after one year and one day but eventually, I believe, and I could be wrong, if they wait longer than seven years they could loose their status. Regardless, financially they are barely getting by. What is the client to do?

A young man walks into the office. He is about 23 years old. His mother is petitioning for him to become a LPR. She became a LPR via a marriage with an American citizen. His mom brought him over from Mexico when he was three months old. He has grown up his entire life in the US. He has never been to Mexico. When he was younger on a I-9 form once he was employeed he claimed that he was a US Citizen; this is a serious crime so much so that this young man now has a ban that could either delay his LPR status for a really long time or potentially he would never get legal status. I am not saying what he did was right. He was young and wanted a job and did what it took. But now what he did for the job might cause him his legal residency status. Imagine a young man, 23 years old, his life ahead of him, only speaks English, and has never left the country...what is the client to do?

A young woman walks into the office. She is 18 years old and a US Citizen. Her mother is a Mexican citizen living in Juarez. She wants to petition for LPR status for her mother. The young woman is scared that the violence that is erupting in Juarez will affect her mother. There is no direct threat to her mother, merely, indirect, which is still scary. Regardless the young woman is turned away. For a child to petition their parent the child must be 21 years old. She leaves and says she will be back in three years. The 18 year old child is scared about her mothers safety. What does this client do for the next three years as she waits, in fear, for a phone call from a relative about the situation in Juarez?

The system is broken, and honestly, I am not so sure what the answer is. Its true we need comprehensive immigration reform in the US. But what does comprehensive immigration reform look like? And beyond what we need in the US, globally, we need peace and a way people can earn a living in their own countries to support themselves and their families. The majority of people who migrate, from what I have learned, if they had the resources (food, shelter, clothing, money) to live in their birth country they would. But because of lack of resources and/or war and violence they just can't 'live' in their country for fear of death either from no food or violence.

What can we do? Pray - first and foremost - that God work with our human laws and hearts so that people are treated with dignity and respect where ever they are. Also advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. If you look at the website created by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, Justice for Immigrants, http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/, you will see some of the ideas the Bishops' believe are important for immigration reform in the United States. Talk to your local representatives and see what you can do to make immigration reform occur. Lastly I think one of the most important issues in any social justice matter is putting a face to the cause. Interacting with immigrants so that one realizes that they are human, they have families they love and are caring for, they are here to attempt to live...open your eyes, hands, and time so that God can work with your heart.

Leviticus 19:32-34
If a stranger lives with you in your land,
do not molest him. You must count him as one of
your own countrymen and love him as yourself -
for you were once strangers yourselves in Egypt.
I am Yahweh your God.