Immigrants make up approximately 13% of the total U.S. population. While many people know how to find a good immigration attorney and expedite their immigration process, some people — both immigrants and native born citizens — don’t quite have a realistic idea of how the process works. Here are just a few myths about immigrants and the immigration process that everybody should know the truth behind.
The immigration system makes it easy for immigrants to get a green card
Many native born citizens assume this statement is true, but it’s not at all the reality. The process of getting a green card is long and tedious, typically requiring several years. These laws are specifically designed to make it as difficult as possible for certain groups of people, e.g., low-skilled workers, undocumented immigrants, and extended family members of native citizens, to legally immigrate to the United States. In fact, there are specific quotas set in place designed to limit the number of people allowed to immigrate each year. As a result, it’s not uncommon for extended family members to have to wait decades to be eligible for permanent residency.
Most immigrants in the United States are here illegally
As another major misconception, this is one myth that has and will never be true. In fact, lawful immigrants account for three-quarters of the foreign-born population in the United States, despite the difficulty of the immigration process. There’s no evidence to back the belief that most immigrants and here illegally or under false pretenses.
The current immigration laws are unsafe and allow criminals to enter the country
Finally, this absurd myth is what fuels a number of dangerous biases. Look back at the first myth — the immigration process is difficult for a reason. It’s intended to scrutinize each and every aspect of green card applicants’ lives, from their family history to their employment history, immigration history, and of course, criminal history. There’s also an in-person interview process and a number of other safeguards in place to prevent criminals from entering the country.
Ultimately, there are many myths about immigrants and the immigration process, and the best way thing you can do for yourself is know how to find a good immigration attorney and inform yourself of the facts. For more information about immigration lawyers, contact Reeves Immigration Law Group.
