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Staten Island Immigration & Naturalization Law Blog

Man's naturalization still leads to deportation attempts

Just last week, we wrote about the inconsistencies and tribulations of the U.S. immigration detention process. It was discovered that thousands of undocumented minors had been held in adult detention centers for longer than the legal maximum length of time.

This is just another example in a long line of infractions by detention centers across the U.S. People have been discriminated against; clerical errors have cost people lots of time, forcing them to waste away in detention centers; and in some cases, people have been illegally deported. This has been the daunting situation posed to a 39-year-old man who has been on the wrong side of the law for more than a decade; but his treatment by immigration officials has been despicable.

Immigration detention centers: renewed criticism after new fiasco

Immigration detention centers have been scrutinized for some time. At best, they are a prison for people who have committed a non-violent crime (entering the country illegally); and at worst, they detain U.S. citizens based on discriminatory factors, treat people terribly and, in general, obstruct human rights. Immigration detention centers are back in the news this week, after a report detailed the startling tactic of adult detention centers holding minors for more than three days (which is supposed to be the legal limit for placing a minor in an adult detention center).

According to the report, roughly 1,400 undocumented minors were left in adult detention centers for more than 72 hours during a four-year period from 2008 to 2012. That means nearly once every day during that window of time, U.S. immigration detention centers were breaking the law -- and this is specific just to this rule.

Young New York City immigrant asks Obama to justify deportation

Families are complex, no matter where you're from or what you do for a living, and the same goes for immigrants. Last week, we discussed some possible changes to family immigration law. Legislators, we hope, are trying to get things right, and more and more people in higher-up positions are lending an ear to the concerns of immigrants and their family members.

One young man who was born in Morocco was actually able to meet with President Obama earlier this month. The 22-year-old, whose parents wanted a better life for him, came to the United States when he was 7 years old. Like many people living in New York, he didn't seek an adjustment of status until years later -- 14 years in his case.

Amendments needed for immigration reform to protect families

The U.S. Senate is in the process of amending the immigration reform bill, and some amendments are designed to protect and extend immigrants' rights, while other amendments would effectively limit or eliminate those rights. For families on Staten Island and throughout New York, family immigration law is a key aspect of the proposed reforms, and some carefully designed amendments will be necessary to keep families together.

For example, the bill currently before the Senate actually takes away a sibling's right to sponsor his or her brother or sister from another country. The bill also greatly hinders some parents' ability to bring their kids to the U.S.

Senators vote down fingerprint amendment to immigration bill

The immigration reform bill offering tremendous changes to the U.S. immigration system is now making its way through the Senate. Legislators are poring over the contents of the bill and considering its effects in the long and short terms. For example, can the provisions be implemented affordably? And do some proposed amendments create overwhelming barriers for people seeking citizenship or permanent residency?

New Yorkers following the proceedings will be interested to know that on May 14 one amendment was voted down by Senators who want to keep the core of the bill intact.

Local theater group stages Staten Island play about immigration

New Yorkers have a few days left to experience the theatrical play, "La Ruta," which will be staged this weekend at Staten Island's Snug Harbor Cultural Center. The play is about the plight of immigrants who come to the United States without legal permission.

Anyone who is familiar with the difficulties associated with the path to U.S. permanent residency or citizenship will appreciate this production by Working Theater. The play, which may not be appropriate for people under age 13, is actually set within a 48-foot truck, suggesting the severe conditions people have to endure to pursue a better life in the United States.

Kids of detained immigrants take legal action to stop deportation

Family members of detained immigrants are often shocked that their loved one, who isn't a violent or otherwise dangerous person, has to sit in a detention center while his or her immigration case moves forward. Families are split up, even when children in the family are U.S. citizens but their parents are not.

Consider the saddening detention story of one family in Newburgh, New York. The 18-year-old daughter, who is a student at a local community college, has had to essentially stop her life while she and her brother work on freeing their parents from immigration detention.

Immigrants make up 21 percent of Staten Island residents

Since 2000, Staten Island has seen a steadily rising degree of diversity among its inhabitants. At a recent lecture at Wagner College, Dr. Joseph Salvo, director of the Department of Planning's Population Division, spoke about the Island's quickly growing immigrant population.

Consider that in 1970 Staten Island's foreign-born population totaled at 26,700. By 2000, there were 72,700 Islanders who were born outside of the U.S. But now, of the 470,000 people currently living on the Island, about 100,500 -- roughly 20 percent -- are immigrants.

Seeking asylum: A difficult battle

The United States guarantees asylum to individuals who are in the country and can prove they have suffered persecution or have a legitimate fear that they will if they go back to their country of origin. This is one very viable path to citizenship in the country. Also, the country does not limit the number of people who can seek asylum. Nevertheless, immigrants seeking citizenship always face hurdles in their chance for a new life.

To obtain asylum privileges, candidates must make a case. This is usually completed through interviews with immigration officials. If they make an unsuccessful case, immigrants must return to their home country. However, it is important to know that the process is very difficult. Approximately 86,053 applicants sought asylum in the U.S. in 2012; however, only 29 percent were victorious.

NYC Irish immigrants hope for work visas in immigration bill

The recent unveiling of the Senate bill for comprehensive immigration reform has people throughout New York City hoping that real change may be on the way, but immigrants also have a healthy degree of skepticism about whether the proposal will actually be signed into law.

The five boroughs are home to immigrants from nations across the globe. People from Ireland, for instance, have historically played a major role in the city's construction industry. Now Irish and Latin American immigrants are hoping together that the Senate bill makes headway, in large part because the bill would provide thousands of temporary work visas for laborers in the construction industry.

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