Well, I had just spoken to the staffer in Sen. Harry Reids’ Reno office yesterday, getting an update on the status of Natacha’s work permit, after having done a little discreet inquiry with his Washington D. C. staff during the Constituent Breakfast last week.
The staffer here wasn’t very positive sounding. In fact, it was damn discouraging. He told me that immigration is the one agency that they dare not push too hard with, as the chance of nasty blowback was too great. All they can do is politely inquire.
Natacha applied for a renewal of her work permit in May of this year. She tried to apply a few months in advance so there would be no gap, but was told by immigration that she had to wait until the old permit had expired before she could request a new one. So when she requested the new one, it was like starting from scratch - new fingerprints and the works. Like any of that had changed since August of 2007.
The bottom line here is that she couldn’t work through the summer to earn the money for school this fall. Guess who had to come up with the exorbitant ‘out-of-state’ tuition? Yeah, that’s right.
She could have worked illegally. I discouraged that. I don’t want to see her get into trouble with immigration over a couple thousand dollars and completely end her chances to stay her and complete her education.
My question is this: with immigration being such a hot button issue for people before, during and after each election cycle, why isn’t anybody asking about making the immigration people answerable, and accountable plus making it easier for immigrants to get their permits and follow the law of the land.
This seems to be a no-brainer.
Natacha had taken a trip back to Baltimore, Maryland this summer, paid for by a cousin that lives back there. Evidently, she could have stayed if she’d wanted to. There is, apparently, quite a few Africans living there and working illegally. She could easily have joined them. I guess we’ve been a good influence, as she declined.
But the fact remains that these draconian agencies and laws aren’t doing what they were intended to do. Keep the ones out that don’t want to play by the rules - they’re all here and doing well, and making it damn near impossible for those who do play by the rules to stay and tough it out. This isn’t regulation - this is more like a punishment for believing the Hollywood version of America and coming over here to attain a better life.
Well, this one is good until May of 2009, at which time she will have graduated with two associate degrees and is then required to work for one year in the field of study. Thank gawd for small favors.
Catch me before I swoon with joy.
maven
Monday, October 6, 2008 at 13:12 