On September 18, 2008, Senator Menendez (D-NJ) and Representative Honda (D-CA) introduced the Reuniting Families Act, a bill aimed at promoting family unity in the immigration system.
If passed, the Act would implement practical solutions for reducing family immigration backlogs. It would recapture thousands of immigrant visas from annual quotas that went unused due to bureaucratic delays. The spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents would be reclassified as immediate relatives, reuniting these families without the current 5 year waiting period. The Act would address country limits and unreasonably long backlogs. Increased government discretion would be promoted in cases of family members in removal proceedings, allowing legal immigration despite bars to reentry. Relief would be provided for certain orphans and widows of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, helping families reunite after the death of a petitioner. Certain veterans from the Philippines would be exempted from immigrant visa limits.
For more information concerning the Reuniting Families Act, please see the American Immigration Lawyers Web site at www.aila.com.
Information for this article was obtained from the American Immigration Lawyers Association Web Site at www.aila.com, and the Asian American Justice Center Web Site at www.advancingequality.org.
