11.5 Real Laws, Real Families
Carla Medel
Preface
Now, going into my last year in undergrad and looking into graduate school for programs in counseling specifically designed for children and families, I would like to thank Liz for allowing me to be a part of this project. It has been one of the best experiences so far in my academic career. I think that, at first, it doesn’t really make sense as to why I would be so passionate about something like this project, but I’ll explain. All I have ever wanted is to see myself reflected in the things that I partake in, part of that being academic materials. As a Latinx woman and daughter of immigrants, I have never really gotten that, and it can truly take a toll on the way you view yourself and your people.
Because of the privilege I have of being able to make it into higher ed and be a part of this project, I wanted to use that to write about people like me, my parents, and my family so that more children don’t see themselves as an “other,” a little section of the text that no one really goes over. Things haven’t been and aren’t fair for those who identify as immigrants, but people like me have been a part of the United States before this land was even named, and we are here to stay. It’s time for our stories to be told, too. Here, I’d like to explain several of the laws that affect not just families like mine but, tangentially, all families in the United States.
The Legal Process
“Just come here legally” is one of my most disliked phrases for immigrants because the process to do so is not as easy as the general public thinks. Immigrants, just like everyone else, seek to move because where they currently are isn’t providing them what is needed to succeed. Unlike here in the United States, they cannot just move from one state to another to seek out those opportunities, as they do not exist there either. Instead, they need to leave the country. Some people have the time and money needed to try and apply for a visa or have a family member who is a United States citizen or legal permanent resident (LPR) sponsor them to become an LPR and are able to come to the United States that way.
Immigrating can take anywhere from 6 to 28 years and will cost anywhere from $750 to $1,225 per person (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2020). Many people will not be able to afford this route, and it is even worse for others if their current situation is more urgent and they don’t have time to wait. The chart pictured in figure 11.9 is so complicated that it can’t be reproduced legibly in this textbook! Be sure to click here to view a larger, readable version. If legal immigration was easy, accessible, and fast, it’s very unlikely that people wouldn’t risk their lives entering and living in the United States without documentation.
Next, let’s look at two important programs that affect immigrant families.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a policy created under th