Refugees Struggle to Reunite With Family Members in the United States

 Posted on October 24, 2022 in Immigration

Refugees are people who have been forced to leave their home countries due to conflict or persecution. Every year, millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Many refugees end up in overcrowded and dangerous refugee camps, where they face starvation, disease, and violence. Others embark on treacherous journeys in an attempt to reach safety, often risking their lives in the process. 

For those who do manage to reach the United States, the challenges do not end there. The process of applying to enter the U.S. as a refugee can be long and complicated, and many refugees are uncertain of whether they will be able to stay in the country or be forced to return to their home countries. Reuniting with family members can also be difficult, as refugee family members are often spread out all over the world. Refugees and other immigrants who are seeking humanitarian relief will often need legal help as they navigate complex immigration laws and procedures, and a skilled and experienced attorney can provide invaluable assistance.

Problems Currently Affecting Refugees

Due to ongoing changes in immigration policies, many refugees are struggling to obtain the relief they need. During his time in office, President Donald Trump took steps to drastically limit the number of refugees and other immigrants who could enter the United States. He lowered the limit for the number of refugees that would be accepted per year to 15,000, which is the lowest it has ever been. The Trump administration also implemented Title 42, a rule that allowed immigrants to be expelled from the United States without going through the standard procedures, which was ostensibly put in place to protect public health.

The administration of President Joe Biden has been working to reverse these changes and accept more refugees. However, it has struggled to do so due to a lack of personnel. The administration has taken steps to admit refugees who have come to the U.S. due to the war in Ukraine, as well as those who are fleeing Afghanistan following the departure of the United States from the country. Biden has also created a program to allow Venezuelan refugees to resettle in the United States. 

Unfortunately, refugees from other countries have faced long wait times, and many have been unable to reunite with their family members. While the Biden administration has raised the limit of refugees that may be accepted per year to 125,000, the number of refugees that have been allowed to come to the U.S. has fallen far short of this amount. The total number of refugees accepted in 2021 was just 11,411. There are more than 76,000 refugees waiting for approval to come to the U.S., and many families have been forced to wait years before they will be able to be reunited.

Contact Our Dallas County Immigration Lawyers for Refugees

The immigration laws in the United States provide protections for refugees, including allowing those who have resettled in the U.S. to bring their family members to live with them. However, many refugees and other immigrants face difficulties as they navigate complex procedures and struggle with long wait times. At John W. Lawit, LLC, we work to provide legal help and representation for those who need to address immigration issues, and we can help immigrants take the proper steps to receive humanitarian relief. Contact our Carrollton immigration attorneys today at 214-609-2242 to arrange a consultation and learn how we can help you reunite with your family members and address any other issues that may affect you.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/us/politics/refugees-asylum-immigration.html

https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/refugees