Immigration, especially the illegal kind, is very much in the news these days thanks to Arizona’s frustration based legislation. Words like amnesty are bandied about and cause much furore. Little however is said for those who jump over the various legal fences to do it properly.
Even when you do things by the book, it can all go wrong. Just because you play by the rules, which resemble shifting sands at times, doesn’t mean you will always get the right to stay in the country. Spare a thought for those decent people who try to come in legally and are put through the ringer by bureaucracy.
What specifically brings this side of the argument to mind is the case of a couple from Wells, Maine. If a change of decision is not made in the next week, a much beloved business owner will be forced to sell up and leave the country.
Their sin? Have they solicited money for terrorism, plotted to kill Americans or committed some heinous crime? Not exactly, it seems they are being booted from the country because their company does not earn enough money to warrant their stay. So the business will be closed, forcing local people out of their jobs. This will hurt the local economy already hurting from the recession. bit.ly/cjMTYB
“After successfully running their business for nine years, the Franks were told by USCIS' California Service Center that their investment was "marginal" because profits were down due to the recession. USCIS gave the Franks 30 days to leave the country.”
The local restaurant which they have run for a decade is much beloved and will be seriously missed. bit.ly/91LAyV
There is, of course, an online petition (bit.ly/9h2XXd) and Facebook (http://bit.ly/deXLWW) group for their pressing cause. Supporters are being encouraged to get in touch with their Senators and Representatives on an urgent basis to help the couple.
The restaurant is closed and they are being forced to go to Canada to keep up their fight to come back to their business. Dean Franks wrote on their Facebook page.
“We are heading to Nova Scotia, great, kind people there are letting us stay with them while we continue to fight.:
Do what you can to help this couple come back and provide the jobs that are so sorely needed in Maine. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when someone playing by the rules is forced to leave the country, while millions who didn’t are being considered for an amnesty. Immigration reform by all means, but those who are doing right by the country need to be helped first.
Oh yes and to add insult to injury the Federal Government is increasing fees for those seeking legal immigration.Blinkered and blind bureaucracy is one of the issues that inspired fed up Americans to rise up and lets their voices be heard. It would be a shame is this case got lost in the shuffle over the problem of illegal immigration and reform of the system.
Comments
I am totally shocked and dismayed that NO ONE has commented on this article. The only thing I can think of is USCIS is picking on the low hanging fruit. This is absolutely sickening. So exactly is the correct amount they must earn to stay in the US?
UNBELIEVABLE!
it is ridiculous that when the US Govt tries to deport those who have links with terrorist organizations, hundreds of voices cry in protest; and here are two people, not from any country sworn to obliterate the American dreams, but from the country that is considered the closest ally of the US, entering the country legally, abiding by its laws, running a legitimate business, generating jobs for the locals, adding to the society in general; they are asked to leave the country, and no one protests? where is the America that Jefferson and Lincoln shaped? I am not an American, i dont even live there; yet this strikes me more out of kafka-esque bureaucracy than the US!
This is absurd that a legal immigrant has to jump innumerable hoops and pay many fees to be a productive member here in this country only to be kicked out, but an illegal immigrant can sneak in here, collect money from us taxpayers for services meant for those that pay those taxes legally get a free pass. Rediculous! and Angering!
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