Maybe you came to the U.S. for undergrad. Or maybe you got your PhD here. Either way, graduation is drawing near, and you’re wondering what this means for your future in the U.S.
Can you stay in the U.S. to look for a job? What are your options?
Living in fear: how ICE raids affect immigrants’ health
An undocumented immigrant in the U.S. faces many disadvantages. They are more prone to exploitation at work. If they are the victim of crime, they may be afraid to report it to the police. If they become sick or injured, even going to the doctor can put them at risk of deportation.
In addition to these stressors, the current administration is seeking to disrupt immigrant lives at every turn—from separating them from their children at border crossings to raiding their homes and workplaces. These acts create a constant sense of instability and fear. They also have collateral consequences—including negative effects on health.
How do ICE raids affect children of undocumented immigrants?
The United States is a country of immigrants. Nearly all of us have relatives who have moved here from another country as some point. Yet somehow, in this diverse melting pot, hostility towards immigrants has grown in recent years. As a result, a large percentage of our population lives every day in fear.
In this anti-immigrant climate, it’s easy to assume that being a citizen makes you “safe.” But this is not necessarily true. Imagine being a child—a U.S. citizen—whose parents are immigrants. As a citizen, you have many protections that they don’t. But imagine the anxiety that comes with knowing your parents could be removed from your country at any moment without you.
Workplace raids leave children without their parents
Child separation has become a heated issue in the United States. Ever since the current administration’s deplorable policy to separate immigrant children from their parents at border crossings last year, there has been overwhelming public outcry. Finally, the president ordered for children and parents to be reunited.
Notwithstanding this horrifying episode in our nation’s history, the current administration is still separating parents from their children. Only this time, it’s not quite as obvious.
Soon U.S. military brats born abroad won't get U.S. citizenship
Many Americans take pride in serving their country--either through military service or civil service in the federal government. Sometimes that service may relocate such citizens to other countries.
Imagine choosing to dedicate your career to serving your country. Now imagine that your country responded by making it harder for your kids to get citizenship. That's what happened today.
How to protect yourself if ICE comes to your home
If you’re an undocumented immigrant living in the U.S., you may be worried about your ability to remain in the country. The president’s “deportation force” is trying to remove millions of immigrants from the United States. This has made many immigrants fearful to go to work—or even leave their home.
But what if an officer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes to your house? What are your rights, and how should you respond?
A new immigration regulation could affect members of your family
Each year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants petition to adjust their status in order to become permanent residents of the United States. As you know, the state of immigration in this country is highly uncertain right now. It seems as though the rules continue to change without warning.
The latest change came recently with a new regulation that has the potential of limiting the number of green cards issued. If you have a family member wanting to adjust his or her status, you may need to know what the regulation says.
How the REAL ID driver's license will affect immigrants
Beginning in October 2020, a new homeland security change will go into effect. Any adult in the United States who wants to board a flight or enter a government building will have to present either their passport or a REAL ID driver's license. A regular driver's license will no longer be accepted.
The REAL ID is meant to enhance security. However, in order to get a REAL ID, you have to submit more documents than a regular driver's license. This may create challenges for immigrants with limited documentation.
Avoiding common immigration interview mistakes
You have probably had interviews before. Perhaps a potential employer interviewed you for a job. Such meetings help an employer determine if you have the skills, attitude and personality to fit with the existing staff. If you do well, you may get the job. If you make a mistake, you may have to start all over looking for a new job.
If you have an interview with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the near future, you have even more on the line than a new job. Doing well in your interview could open for you a new world of opportunity. Making a mistake could mean the loss of every step you have made in the immigration process so far.
Update: House passes bill to address green card backlog
The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 passed in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday, the latest step toward addressing the backlog of green card applications we have covered in recent weeks. The bill passed with support from both sides of the aisle, with a final vote of 365 in favor and 65 against.
