Texas Tribune by Julian Aguilar
An excellent story that highlights one of the draconian parts of current immigration law -- a false claim of U.S. citizenship by a teenager prevents her from ever entering the U.S. legally even if she is the immediate relative of a U.S. citizen. Judges and immigration officials have no discretion to pardon or waive false claims that were made even by minors.
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rouke, D-El Paso, intends to file legislation to address this problem:
O’Rourke said the American Families United Act would allow Department of Homeland Security officials or U.S. immigration judges the discretion to determine the outcome in deportation or inadmissibility proceedings when a person is an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen. It would also establish waivers under which certain applicants — including those with a history of misrepresenting their legal status — could reside in the U.S. while their applications are being reviewed. The congressman said he intends to file the legislation when members return next month after their August recess.
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