California families and others across the nation are appealing to Congress to ease the restrictions on bars that keep their loved ones out of the country. Bars occur when someone undocumented is going through the citizenship process, but gets caught crossing the border from their country back into the United States. One representative has called the punishments cruel because it separates families and forces one parent to raise the children alone.
California immigration: felony deters citizenship pursuit
Millions of immigrants took advantage of a 1986 law that allowed them the right to gain a green card. While many of those people received temporary status, some failed to pursue formal citizenship due to a fear that mistakes in their youth would prevent them from being eligible. One man that was part of the 1986 immigration program did not pursue citizenship because of a felony conviction he received prior to obtaining a green card. He reportedly lied to a border agent about his status after he tried to reenter the United States at the California border.
California setback for those moving family members to the U.S.
The current presidential administration has made strides in immigration reform, but a potential downside to the current proposed reform bars immigrants from receiving healthcare benefits under the new Affordable Care Act. While there are positive aspects to the immigration plan, California immigrants currently moving family members to the U.S. may have to come up with another way to obtain health insurance. The new plan would offer several million undocumented immigrants the opportunity to receive probationary legal status in this country, allowing them to stay here legally and offer them the possibility of earning eventual citizenship. Unfortunately those immigrants would be barred from receiving medical benefits under the Act, but they would also be exempt from the requirement to carry insurance, at least while they are seeking citizenship.
DREAMers assist families in immigration battles
California families affected by the negative parts of immigration may have a friend in the DREAMers. One woman whose family members became detained by immigration authorities secured the help of DREAM Act advocates, and soon after they stepped in, the family members were released. DREAMers are young undocumented people living in this country, and they have answered the call to action in securing rights for immigrants across the country. Once attention was called to the plight of her family, officials received numerous phone calls, and although authorities claim that the activism was not related to the family's release, the woman believes that the pressure applied ultimately resulted in their reunion.
