Home Illegal Immigration Illegal Immigration – Your Rights, Benefits, Status

Illegal Immigration – Your Rights, Benefits, Status

Illegal Immigration - Your Rights, Benefits, Status

Illegal Immigration – Your Rights, Benefits, and Status

Illegal immigration is a contentious issue that has sparked heated debates across the United States in recent years. The United States is a land of opportunities; many people come to the country to seek a better life, better pay, and experience America’s exuberance. However, not everyone can achieve their dreams through conventional channels, leading to illegal immigration. This article looks into the rights, benefits, and status of illegal immigration.

Introduction

Illegal immigration is when an individual, also known as an undocumented immigrant, enters the United States without proper authorization and documents. Illegal immigrants are those who have overstayed their visa, entered without proper documentation, or entered with fake identification or passport. Although illegal, these individuals form a critical section of the US population and contribute immensely to the country’s economy.

It is estimated that there are about 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States, with the majority coming from Mexico and Latin America. This article will explore illegal immigrants’ rights, benefits and status, and the latest updates on the subject.

The Status of Illegal Immigrants

Illegal immigrants have a different legal status compared to legal authorized immigrants. According to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), all individuals entering the United States must have a valid visa. An individual overstays the visa after the expiration date, or the visa becomes invalid, the individual becomes an illegal immigrant.

Illegal immigrants become deportable once they are caught by law enforcement officers. As a result, they receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) that contains the charges against them. Also, the NTA indicates the immigrant’s hearing date before an immigration judge who will determine their fate.

Rights of Illegal Immigrants

Many people believe that illegal immigrants do not have rights due to their undocumented status. However, these individuals have certain fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, regardless of their immigration status. These rights include the right to:

1. Be safe from unreasonable search and seizure.
2. Remain silent during questioning and do not have to incriminate themselves.
3. Have legal representation in immigration court.
4. Access public education
5. Receive emergency medical care.
6. Be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

The Benefits of Illegal Immigration

Illegal immigrants contribute to the American economy in many ways. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of illegal immigrants work at low-paying jobs that many Americans avoid. These jobs include farm labor, construction work, housekeeping, and fast-food restaurants.

These jobs are the backbone of the U.S. economy. The agricultural industry, in particular, relies heavily on illegal immigrants’ labor. According to a recent study by the USDA, without illegal immigrants, the U.S. farm labor supply would decrease by 60%.

Illegal immigrants also contribute to state and federal economies in various ways. Firstly, they pay taxes. Although they are not U.S. citizens, they pay sales tax, property tax, and other taxes. Additionally, they contribute to the Social Security Trust Fund, but cannot access benefits. In 2017 alone, illegal immigrants paid approximately $13.5 billion in state and local taxes.

Illegal immigrants also inject a spark into the American economy. They are responsible for starting small businesses that create jobs and contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. According to the New American Economy, immigrants, both legal and illegal, own 28% of all American businesses.

Latest Updates on Illegal Immigration

The issue of immigration reform has been a focal point for many U.S. administrations. In 2018, the Trump administration implemented several policies aimed at reducing the number of illegal immigrants in the country. However, the Biden administration has reversed some of these policies.

The Biden administration has introduced different immigration initiatives aimed at creating a pathway to citizenship for many illegal immigrants living in the United States. One such initiative is the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.

The Citizenship Act of 2021 is a comprehensive immigration reform bill that seeks to create a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants in the United States. The bill proposes different pathways to citizenship for different groups of illegal immigrants, including the following:

1. Undocumented individuals who entered the United States before January 1, 2021, and can pass a background check and pay taxes can apply for a temporary legal status.
2. Dreamers, who are individuals brought to the United States as children, can apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status immediately and apply for citizenship three years later.
3. Farmworkers can earn a five-year renewable status if they have worked for at least 180 days during the past two years.
4. Essential workers like healthcare workers, agricultural workers, and those who work in food processing, can earn a five-year path to LPR status if they pass a background test, pay taxes, and have consistently been in the United States.
5. TPS (Temporary Protected Status) and DED (Deferred Enforced Departure) beneficiaries are eligible to apply for LPR status.

Conclusion

Illegal immigration is a complex issue that has been debated for years. Despite their illegal status, undocumented immigrants have some rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. They also contribute significantly to the U.S. economy and create businesses that contribute to the American dream.

The Biden administration’s efforts to create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants are a significant milestone towards immigration reform in the United States. As we move towards a more inclusive America, it is undoubtedly essential to understand the rights, benefits, and status of illegal immigrants in the country. 


 

Are You An Illegal Immigrant?

In the United States, illegal immigration refers to the actof foreign nationals violating American immigration policies and laws throughthe entering or remaining in the country without receiving proper authorizationfrom the Federal Government.  You may be termed an “illegal immigrant” in one of the following threeWays:  

·      Illegally Entering the United States: referred to as “Border Crossing Card Violator” these individuals enter theUnited States migrate via illegal entry. A common method of border crossing isto hire professional organizations who smuggle illegal immigrants across theUnited States’ borders. The Mexican/American border is the most common access pointfor illegal immigration. Thismethod of illegal entry accounts for roughly 6.5 million illegal immigrantstatuses in the United States.  

·      Overstaying your Visa: The individual entered the United States in a legal fashion(obtained a Visa) but stayed beyond the allotted time period in the nation or violated the terms of legal entry. Roughly 5 million migrants entered Americawith a legal visa; tourists and students are the most common groups to securevisas before travelling to the United States. Their status of a legal migrantchanges to “visa overstay” once the individual remains in the United Statesafter their authorized time of admission has expired. The time allotted by avisa will vary based on the visa class the individual secured. The majority ofthese illegal immigrants enter the country with tourist or business visas.  

·      Border Crossing Card Violations: This method accounts for a smaller number ofillegal immigrants. The Border Crossing Card is a form of identification thatenables an individual to cross into the United States for a limited amount oftime. These entry accounts for the majority of registered non0immigrant entryinto America.  

Laws Surrounding Illegal Entry or Over-Staying:

An immigrant may be classified as illegal for the following three reasons: the individual enters without inspection or authorization, the individual stays beyond an authorized period following legal entry, or the individual violates the terms of legal entry.

The laws revolving around illegal entry or overstaying arefound in Section 1325 in Title 8 of the United States Code. This section, titled “Improper Entry of Alien” will provide a fine or imprisonment (or both)for any immigrant who:

1.    Enters or attempts to enter America at anytime or location other than what was designated by the United States Government(immigration official, or  

2.    Any individual who eludes inspection or examination instituted by the United States Government and its immigration agents, or   

3.    Any individual who attempts to enter theUnited States by providing a false or misleading representation of oneself orthrough a willful concealment of fact. For instance, if you provide a false passport, driver’s license or pretend to be anyone else, you will be charged with attempting to enter theUnited States in an illegal fashion.

The maximum prison sentence for an individual caught in theact of violating immigration policy is 6 months for the first offense andadditional 2 years for any subsequent offense.  

How does the United States Enforce Illegal Immigration Laws?

The United States government is attempting to crack-down onillegal immigration. If you have over-stayed your visa or illegally crossed theborder, chances are, the United States government will uncover documentationthat leads to your imprisonment or deportation. The following methods are used by the United States government to curb and reveal cases of illegal immigration:

Protection at the Border: The United States Customs and Border Protection agency is responsible for arresting individuals who attempt to illegally enter the UnitedStates. The United States Border Patrol is a uniformed law enforcement agency that is responsible for deterring, detecting and subsequently apprehending those individuals who enter the United States in an illegal fashion—without permission from the government and outside the designated points of entry.

Workplace Investigations: The United States government conducts audits on employment records (the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency initiates the audits) to reveal any discrepancies with regards to identification records and the documentation itself. Workplace audits may result in deportation if absoluteevidence of illegal immigration is uncovered. Immigration authorities, duringworkplace investigation, will alert employers of mismatches between anemployees’ Social Security card and the actual identification information ofthe card holder. In addition to employment records, an immigrant’s visa isperpetually updated and observed by the United States government. Simply put,the government will know, through your employer, as to when your visa expires.  

What is the Punishment Associated with Illegal Immigration?

Individuals who are caught illegally immigrating will facedetention, imprisonment or deportation. The United States, per year, holdsroughly 300,000 illegal immigrants in immigration detention centers. An illegal immigrant’s deportation is determined in administrative or removal proceedings, held by the government in accordance with United States immigration law. A removal proceeding is typically conducted in an Immigration Court and held by an immigration judge. If the individual is found guilty of illegally immigrating, he/she may be sent back to their home country and barred fromre-entry to the United States. Complications in deportation will arise when the parents are deemed illegal immigrants, but their children were born in America.  

Laws Surrounding Deportation:

If you do not have a Visa, a Green Card or citizenship inthe United States and are currently living in the country, you are subject todeportation. Getting deported is a very serious aspect of immigration law; itis the process of the United States government removing illegal immigrants fromthe country. Deportation may eliminate your ability to secure a visa in the future. The United States Government may deport you for the following reasons:

·      If you enter the United States while being deemed “legally inadmissible” by the immigration laws of the federal government

·      Entering the country without a legal visa

·      Failure to renew a conditional permanent residency visa

·      Aiding an illegal immigrant with entering the country

·      Conviction of a criminal offense

·      Endangering national or public security

·      Participating in a fraudulent marriage for thepurpose of securing an immigrant visa

The Legalization Process:

There are several ways to become a legal resident of theUnited States. The exact procedure to obtain legalization will depend on yourlocation, your background and your residency status. In most cases, before you can obtain aGreen Card (permanent residence) you must obtain a legal status. If you are residing–because of illegal crossing or an expired visa–in the United States as an illegal immigrant, you must obtain legalization thru your family (if permanent residents or American citizens), your place of employment, the UnitedStates military, thru marriage or from an educational endeavor.

This will enable you tomaintain residence in the United States for a certain period of time. It is crucialto understand that all visas have expiration dates—Green Cards and Citizenshipare permanent, not Visas. Before your expiration date, you must secure a GreenCard through marriage, the military or a family member, employment or business.  

To acquire legalization you must engage in or be categorized as one of the following: a family-based immigrant, a member of the UnitedStates Armed Forces, a worker or student with exceptional skills, an employment-based worker, or an asylum seeker/refugee. The visas associated withthese categories are all temporary; however, they will enable you to live inthe country legally and apply for permanent residency in the future.  

Legalization from Family Members:

A number of people become legalized by way of their familymembers. The following individuals may be eligible to legally live in theUnited States:

·      Any immediate relatives of American citizens, including spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents ofAmerican citizen petitioners 21 years or older.  

·      Family members of green card holders, including spouses and unmarried children of the sponsoring individual   

·      A family member of an American citizen who fitsinto a preference category, including unmarried children over the age of 21,brothers and sisters of an American citizen petitioner over 21 and marriedchildren of any age.  

·      Members of special categories, includingbattered children or spouses, individuals born to foreign diplomats in theUnited States, a widower of a United States’ citizen or a K non-immigrant.  

Process of Legalization through Family:

To promote family unity, United States immigration lawenables citizens to petition for qualified relatives to live permanently inAmerica. As stated above, eligible relatives include, spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21 and parents of the U.S. citizen if over 21. These individuals possess special immigration priority; they do not have to wait inline for a visa to immigrate because the government offers a chance to immediate family members of citizens or green card holders to reunite the family.

Being an immediate relative of a US citizen allows you toapply for residency through the filing of Form I-485 (Application to AdjustStatus or Register Permanent Residence). While filling this form out your American citizen petitioner must file Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative). When filing Form I-130, your petitioner must provide proof of status to demonstrate permanent residency and must submit evidence to qualify your relationship.Permitted evidence includes: a birth certificate, divorce decree or marriage certificate.

When your relative or spouse is petitioning, the government will observe the following preference categories:

·        First Preference: All unmarried, adult sons and daughters of American Citizens(Adult encompasses all individuals over the age of 21)

·        SecondPreference (2A): Spouses of green card holders and unmarried children under the age of 21 of permanent residents

·        SecondPreference (2B): Unmarried adult sons and daughters of green card holders

·        Third Preference: Married sons and daughters of a United States citizen

·        Fourth Preferences: Sisters and brothers of adult American citizens.  

A visa will become available to the above preference categories depending on their priority dates (the date the I-130 form was filed).

 If you are livingoutside of the United States and are an immediate relative of a U.S. citizenyou can apply for permanent residency by engaging in consular processing. Thisprocedure connects the USCIS with your Department of State to issue a permanentvisa assuming the approval of Form I-130.  

Legalization through Marriage:

A fiancé visa is one of the most common ways to obtain citizenship. If you are planning on marrying a US citizen, your partner willfile the petition to award you with permanent residence. When filing the petition, your partner must satisfy the following requirements:

·      The petitioner must be a citizen of the United States

·      The petitioner must show that they intend on marrying you within 90 days of your entry into the United states.

·      You and your fiancé are both available to marry and previous marriages have been legally terminated by death, annulment or divorce.

·      You met each other in person at least oncewithin 2 years of filing the petition.  

If you are living outside of the United States and are animmediate relative of a U.S. citizen you can apply for permanent residency byengaging in consular processing. This procedure connects the USCIS with yourDepartment of State to issue a permanent visa assuming the approval of FormI-130.  

Legalization through Employment:

Every year, thousands of people are legalized through anemployment opportunity. The approval for a work visa will require certificationfrom the United States Department Labor. The United States Government, beforeissuing the visa, will investigate the need for the specific job. TheGovernment must see a lack of U.S. workers who are able, qualified, willing oravailable to satisfy the job requirements in that particular area. TheGovernment will ensure that no American workers are displaced through the issuance of the visa.

A visa will also be given for employment if you areconsidered a “highly skilled worker” or in possession of extraordinaryabilities in a specific field. These workers are typically sought-after by theUnited States government. For instance, in 2002, a number of computer technicians and programmers were awarded a work visa.  

Process for Acquiring a Green Card through Employment:

The majority of employment categories will require your employer to obtain a labor certification then subsequently file Form I-140,(The Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) for you.

Green Cards may also be offered to entrepreneurs/investorswho are seeking to make a substantial investment in an entity or enterprisethat creates new jobs.  

Visas for Students:

If you are interesting in becoming a full-time student inthe United States, you will need to acquire either an M-1 Student Visa or anF-1 Student Visa. To acquire temporary legalization with a student visa you must meet the following criteria:

·      You must be enrolled in an educational program, a vocational program or a language-training program.

·      Your academic institution must be approved by the USCIS.

·      You must be enrolled as a student (full-time) atthe academic institution.

·      You must be proficient in the English language or be enrolled in classes leading to fluency

·      You must have enough money to support yourself during the course of study

·      You must maintain a home abroad that you have nointention to give up.  

The F-1 Student Visa enables you to enter America as a full-time student at an accredited university, college, academic high school, elementary school or language training program. You must be enrolled in acourse of study that culminates in a degree or certificate. Your school must also be authorized by the United States Federal Government to accept international students.

The M-1 Student Visa is for vocational students or studentsof non-academic programs (other than language courses).  

Citizenship and the Military:

Members and certain veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for citizenship through their military service.Qualifying military service refers to participation in the United States Army,Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and certain branches of the National Guard.

Those who honorably serve in the United States Armed Services (at any time), will be deemed eligible to apply for citizenship; however, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:

·      Be at least 18 years of age

·      Be able to read, write and speak basic English

·      Maintain permanent residency at the time of the application

·      Possess strong moral character

·      Have a knowledge of U.S history and government

·      Have resided in the United States, continuously, for at least give years and have been physically present in the country for at least 30 months out of the 5 years preceding the application.

Spouses and children of military members are also deemed eligible to apply for citizenship assuming they pass the following criteria:

·      Be at least 18 years of age

·      Establish that his or her spouse or parent is deployed abroad as an active service member

·      Be present in the United States pursuant toadmission for permanent residence or at the time of naturalization

·      Be able to read, write and speak English

·      Have a basic knowledge of United States’government and history.  

Legalization through Asylee or Refugee Status:

If you were admitted to the United States as a qualifyingmember of an asylee or as a refugee, you may apply for permanent residence 1year after your entry into America. If you were granted asylum in America, you may apply for permanent residency 1 year after you secured your status.

To apply for a Green Card you must file the Form I-485(Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status). If your asylum status is granted, you should file, in addition to Form I-485, a completed FormI-693 (Report of Medical Exam and Vaccination Record), a completed Form I-602(Application by Refugee for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability), a copy of yourI-94 Card, a completed Form G-325A, two passport-style photos and certified copies of court records if you were ever arrested.

Form I-485 is also required if you are applying for a GreenCard through Refugee status. In addition to Form I-485, you should enclose withyour application two photos, Form G-28, Form G-325A, Form I-693 (only needed ifthere were medical grounds of inadmissibility at the time you arrived inAmerica).   

What Happens After I Acquire Legalization?

·      After you acquire legalization you must obtain permanent residency (a green card) to live in the United States. All visas have expiration dates—if you stay in the United States past your expiration date your status will become illegal. Once you stay in the United States for at least five years as a permanent resident, demonstrate proficiency for English and knowledge for United States’ history and government, you may obtain citizenship. The primary motives for immigrants to acquire citizenship is to vote in public elections and assist their relatives immigrate to America.  

Other Ways to get a Green Card:

The majority of immigrants attain permanent resident through their job or family; however, there are several other ways to attain a green card, including:

·      American Indian Born in Canada

·      Cuban Native or Citizen

·      Member of the Armed Forces

·      Registry

·      Person born to Foreign Diplomat of the United States

·      Informant(S Nonimmigrant)

·      Haitian Refugee

·      AmerasianChild of a U.S. Citizen

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

·      Help HAITI Act of 2010

·      Legal ImmigrationFamily Equity Act

·      Lautenberg People

·      Victim of Criminal Activity (U Non immigrant)

·      Victim of Trafficking (T Non immigrant)  

What are my Rights and Responsibilities as a Legal Immigrant?
Once you have obtained legalization you are allowed to live in the United States and enjoy the following rights:

·      The right to live in America provided that you do not commit any crimes or engage in any actions that would make you removable according to immigration law.

·      You have the right to work in the Unites States at any place of your choosing.

·      You have the right to be protected by allAmerican laws, including those found at the federal, state and jurisdictional.

As a legal immigrant of the United States you are responsible for the following:

·      You must obey all laws of the United States, including all federal, state and jurisdictional.

·      You are required to file income taxes and report your income to the United States Internal Revenue Service, as well as state taxing authorities.