Immigrants currently considering moving their families to the United States may be a bit wary of doing so, having heard about how many families were separated at the border over the last few years. While the good news is that these separations are not expected to continue, immigrants may find themselves wondering why they happened in the first place.
Here’s what you need to know about how the border separations started and why they are ending.
The zero-tolerance policy triggered the problems
The main reason behind the border separations of families was the zero-tolerance policy that had been put in place. It essentially said that anyone who crossed this country’s border illegally had broken the law and would be prosecuted. While holding the adults for prosecution, the authorities separated them from their children.
There are a few things you should know about this process. The first, as noted above, is that these arrests are not going to be handled in the same way anymore. That doesn’t mean that crossing illegally is now legal, but families will not be separated because of it. There is going to be more focus on helping them find channels and resources to seek legal status — especially since many are coming here as refugees or to ask for asylum.
Additionally, those who do cross in a legal fashion, with all of the proper paperwork, do not need to worry about any of this. While news reports may make you feel nervous that U.S. authorities will arrest anyone, that’s not the case. If you’re interested in immigrating to be reunited with your family members in the United States, there are many ways to easily do so without any concern.
Take the proper steps in your immigration process
To immigrate with your family, just take the time to look into the proper steps and protocols you need to follow. An experienced advocate can help you through every stage of your journey.