10-Year Bars Split Up Families

by Dave Bennion · 2009-07-28 20:01:00 UTC
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From the inbox today comes a story that is all-too-familiar to some of our regular readers:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

"They scream out in the night for their father," says Aurora G., a U.S. citizen and military veteran, whose husband of ten years was suddenly arrested and deported. Aurora was living an everyday American life when one day without warning her life and the lives of her two U.S. citizen children were turned upside down. Although eligible for an immigrant visa based on marriage even though he was undocumented, Aurora's husband could not obtain one in the U.S. but had to return to Mexico to do so. Not a big deal, right? Not for him. Because he was undocumented, if he left the U.S. he would be barred from re-entering for ten years. He was stuck in a Catch-22 -- eligible for a visa but unable to obtain one.

Please click here to read Aurora's story and others like her.

This is the unfortunate story for many families ripped apart by an unforgiving immigration system because of what's called the three- and ten-year bars. Since 1996, anyone who has accumulated more than one year of unlawful presence in the U.S. is barred from re-entering the U.S. for ten years; 180 days of unlawful presence in the U.S. (but less than one year) results in the three-year bar.

Please click here to learn more about the three- and ten-year bars and why the law needs to be fixed.

Immigrants' List is working to amend the immigration law for deserving, eligible immigrants like Mr. G. Fixes also would eliminate the incentive for foreign nationals already subject to the bars to remain in the United States indefinitely and underground.

Aurora's entire family ultimately moved to Mexico in order to remain together as a family. "I don't think it is fair for my children to have to have to move to Mexico and completely change our lifestyles in order for our family not to be broken up! It is not right that after I served my country, my country will not accept my husband."

Please click here to join the movement to fix our immigration system.

President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders have promised to tackle meaningful immigration reform. We need to keep them to their word. The time to act is now.

Thank you for your support.

Amy R. Novick
Executive Director
Immigrants' List

Dave Bennion
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