The Dream Act

[Cathi 5,747]

I'm all in favor of DACA. I just think that it's been rushed. USCIS should have been given additional funding and time to organize the logistics of handling the DACA cases before the first applications were ever accepted. If anyone is to blame, it's the current administration, and Congress for rushing things.

With some visa types taking literally years to obtain, USCIS already has enough on their plate without having this to deal with.

We're all just lucky that sequestration hasn't seemed to have an effect on USCIS.

USCIS is self funded

[Cathi 5,747]

I'm very much for the Dream Act, but at the same time those of us paying high fees and waiting for years are really getting screwed.

It should be like this.

1. Those that pay, wait, submit documents - approved first and faster

2. Then handle the dreamact people

I have no problem with the idea of the dream act, but i do have issue with the time and cost it takes regular people that are filing documents the legal route

DACA recipients have to pay as well

[Jeikun 65]

I have absolutely nothing against DACA petitioners. They are taking advantage of something offered to them that will better their lives. Who the hell wouldn't? I DO think that the petitions were mishandled. They were rammed through at an alarming rate, much faster than the stated timeframe, and before any of the money collected form them could have any effect on the USCIS's available resources. It is my (unproven) gut feeling that this was done so during election season it would be shown that the current administration was doing what they promised.

I think tut-tutting people upset by their wait being lengthened is kind of snide and pointless. Let people vent. I do agree if someone is actually blaming the DACA applicants, that's misplaced anger. But being upset with the process and the bureaucracy and venting to like minded folks on a web forum is good therapy. Let them have it without the guilt trip.

[Cathi 5,747]

Good information, and it's nice to hear a person's heartfelt point of view, though at least for me, seeing the use of: "disgusting", "so self centered," and "whine" makes me think that the point of view espoused, or rather the manner in which it is presented is in violation of one of our basic American beliefs: "innocent until proven guilty." Something to think about perhaps?

For me it's sort of a moot point anyway. I'm not sure that the US is the great country that it used to be, perhaps it's not as good a deal as it once was to an immigrant. In 2009 I worked as a plant RN at a GM (General Motor's) facility. The maintenance person who swept out my small clinic daily was named Rose, though actually it was Roselia. She was from Guatemala and she told me that she had come to America illegally but now was eligible to become a US citizen under some program that if a person had been here for many years (maybe a subset of the Dream Act?) could apply for citizenship. The GM plant relocated down South to Virginia and so we both lost our jobs. Near the end I asked her if she was looking for a new job and she said no. She had decided that America wasn't as nice as she had hoped for and since she had to work multiple jobs just to survive that moving back to her father's farm seemed a much better option. She had decided to not take the offer.

Juliet is worried about discrimination in the US and I thought about it and at first said "no," that won't happen, but then I thought that on occasion it actually might, especially in rural New Hampshire and I explained that I thought such discrimination would be nonsensical since in my town, every person here that I know, since I don't know a single native American, has a lineage that goes back to an immigrant.

Do you live in New Hampshire? I do as well. My husband has been here 6 months, and so far he has not seen any discrimination. In fact it is quite the contrary, people here have been warm and welcoming, wanting to help a new immigrant. People are interested in his journey, especially on job interviews(luckily he is working now). I love this state and the people who live here, everyone had gone over and above in welcoming him, friends, family, neighbors and strangers alike.

I have absolutely nothing against DACA petitioners. They are taking advantage of something offered to them that will better their lives. Who the hell wouldn't? I DO think that the petitions were mishandled. They were rammed through at an alarming rate, much faster than the stated timeframe, and before any of the money collected form them could have any effect on the USCIS's available resources. It is my (unproven) gut feeling that this was done so during election season it would be shown that the current administration was doing what they promised.

I think tut-tutting people upset by their wait being lengthened is kind of snide and pointless. Let people vent. I do agree if someone is actually blaming the DACA applicants, that's misplaced anger. But being upset with the process and the bureaucracy and venting to like minded folks on a web forum is good therapy. Let them have it without the guilt trip.

that's all good and fine, but those people shouldn't be giving a guilt trip to DACA applicants

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I never blamed the DACA beneficiaries. But I do think that the USCIS, to the extent they allow themselves to be unduly influenced by the political considerations of the day, are certainly to blame. And of course I agree that those exerting those political influences are of course to blame. My point was that it's not so simple as who is or who is not for so-called "comprehensive immigration reform."

And, as I've pointed out in my analysis thread, the I-129F processing did not have to give to the extent it did. I-129Fs were singled out and targeted for a slowdown while DACA apps flew through the system at a rate faster than the 2 year average completions per receipts ratio for all applications. I don't see the point of trying to make excuses for this fact. Yes, not everyone at the USCIS has control over their priorities, but someone there does. And we deserve for them to be accountable for that.

Now we are talking. I do too -and I'm sure many others here- want to see some accountability, not just in USCIS but government in general, because while some in the USCIS might have caved, someone else up in the chain has pressed, and then someone else higher up; if it goes all the way to the President office, let the chips fall where they may I say. It is just not right that any given group is given utmost priority at the expense of other(s)

Your analysis is excellent by the way.

[Bayareaguy 156]

Well i'm sorry that the lawyer messed up your life. That's not the fault of a child.

No I don't agree in how they do the petitions. But that is the USCIS who is doing it. How is it the fault of a DACA petitioner?

1. Somehow, people are jumping on me that I am blaming the people filing the DACA applications. Find one post where I do that before accusing me.

2. Yes, it is not the child's fault for what their parents did, and it certainly isn't the child's fault (well, actually most are adults now that are applying) for anything that is happening in my case. But at the same time, it isn't my fault that they are here either.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Need to add ROC to the K1 fees.

and AOS 1070!

[Andrea&Henry 311]

I don't know what some people are complaining about when there are so many people here that instead of using the regular channels like the CR1/IR1 and k1 visa, they are adjusting from TOURIST VISAS. A lot of them start the topics with..."I came just to visit but we woke up one morning and decided to marry and stay!" :bonk: And I'm talking about the people who don't have any kind of problem to file for a spouse or fiance visa (no death, or illness, or adoption...people with normal life) who don't want to wait the long wait and they rather to get marry and STAY which it's pretty illegal to me. So whats the difference between then and some of the people who are adjusting unjustified from a tourist visa? NONE! maybe the only difference is that your are becoming legal first than a DACA petitioner. But in order to complain you must to give a good example first.

It really pissed me off when people who just adjust from tourist are already receiving their greencard while, I've 8 month of waiting plus the k1 visa 7 month. But the government do something about it? NO, they keep rewarding to all those people who don't to follow the regular procedures. That's exactly what is happening with the DACA stuff...they can't complain about having 11,000,000 of illegal immigrants in this country.

Im not against immigration, Im an immigrant myself so my parents and siblings, but we all did it legally...I do support LEGAL immigration

Edited March 26, 2013 by Andrea&Henry

[Dallas47 2]

My Problem is Not with the dream act. my problem is with DHS and why on earth did they send those applications all to Vermont service center when every major city has a immigration office, it makes to much sense to spread them out regionally. and they knew full well that it would cause massive problems doing it the way they did. They were more concerned with getting the applications in Before the election and not about what it did to all of us that are still waiting for 10 months.

[Boiler 45,467]

They obeyed orders.

[christeen 966]

First off, it is rather shocking the lack of empathy for other that I am reading, especially from people who are in the same system. however I can only think (and pray) that the lack of compassion is due to the stress of being separated. I am in the end stages of our 10 year journey and obviously not facing the same issues.

However one key point that I heard in several comments is that the dreamers should go back to THEIR country and wait and apply legally... However, to them, America IS their country and the only country they have ever known, only system they have ever known and in many cases, they do not even speak the language of their parents country.

Should they be put in line in front of others, no, and I would venture to guess and a majority of dreamers would say the same thing. The decision first off to come to to America is one that was made for them, the decision by uscis or whoever the powers that be that organized the processing and decided to process them priority is also not a decision they made. To be upset at uscis, the system, the adults who brought innocent children here or the political system that allowed this mess is fine, but to have such venom towards victims is to me as bad as those who blame a robbery victim for being in the wrong place.

I pray that you all have swift and successful journeys and i also pray that once all your journeys are done you can find peace and perhaps compassion for the plight of others not as fortunate to be born here, but brought here, raised here and are contributing members of society. After all, we are all immigrants on this earth struggling to find our own path. Life is not black and white and sometimes wonderful things come from the grey shadows.

[fantonledzepp 159]

Mimo,

I think you need to get off your high horse a bit. I am sure it is easy for you to be critical of others when (it appears) you are already done with the process and with your loved one. If you have a problem with others "whining" or being inappropriate, then call them out specifically when they post. Reply to their post, or send them a personal note. But when you start a new thread, as you have done, it makes you appear as though you are being critical of all of us who are still waiting.

I, like most people, don't have a problem with illegals having the opportunity to apply and go through the immigration process. If you have a problem with them being called illegals, then get over it. It is not racist, or prejudicial. It is fact. They are here illegally. To call them illegals is simply calling them what they are. Having said I have no problem with them going through the process, I do have a MAJOR problem with them cutting in line. I am a law abiding, tax paying citizen. And my needs / wants are being displaced by people who are here illegally. But let’s call a spade a spade. We are currently being run by a very liberal administration. And DACA, Dream Act, whatever you want to call it, is nothing more than democrats making a reach for future votes. Very sleazy if you ask me. I doubt any of them are doing it out of the kindness of their own hearts.

11,000,000 illegals currently in the country? How can anyone not see that as a problem? I have 3 kids. Run the numbers. Very roughly 11/330 means 1/30 currently in the US are here illegally. That means from a statistical standpoint, each one of my kids has 1 kid in their classroom who does not belong there. They are draining the system, most likely not paying taxes, and now allowed to cut in line.

I'm very offended by your post. I can't believe you had the gall to post something so rediculous. Let them apply and go through the process normally just like the rest of us.

Well said, dammit!

[Zipline 23]

DACA's effect on I-129F petitioners is not a result of the current immigration laws; it is the result of the USCIS's intra-agency choices and priorities. And the way the USCIS has executed those choices matters a great deal. DACA application processing is not affecting "everybody"; it is disproportionately affecting I-129F petitioners. Heck, even DACA applicants themselves are having their applications cleared through at a rate (completions per receipts) that far outstrips the rate of I-129F processings. In other words, I-129F petitioners are bearing a bigger part of the burden for the DACA filings than the DACA filers themselves. It's just wrong, no matter how you cut it.

And why is the USCIS acting in such a biased fashion to serve the needs of a single petitioner class (DACA) at the expense of another class (I-129F)? If you don't think it has anything to do with the current administrations' electoral priorities, then I'd love to hear an alternative explanation.

+1

[Zipline 23]

Everybody is impacted, there is no question about it, but instead of blaming DACA, 'illegals', etc; How about going to the real root cause: The representatives of Congress that can not even freaking agree on a budget because of their partisan reasons. But we sort of have a handle on that, it's called election. So next time you vote -because you do vote, right? check who supports or not an immigration reform (and I'm not advocating neither, it is up to each one to decide what's best); check who actually does work in your favor, as oppose to a lobby or to a given interest. And when your spouse becomes a citizen, there is another vote.

Given the numbers of people in this forum, plus a potential double (spouses), and the general lack of participation of the general public, I would submit that we here can make changes happen, not tomorrow, but in the not very distant future.

As for now, everyone here can let their own representative know what they think (one way or another). If you feel impacted unfavorably, let your representative know; heck, ask your relatives and friends to let them know. Isn't this the way the original Tea Party ended up bringing independence from the Brits?

Elections are a dog and pony show. These politicians' idea of "immigration reform" is not the real "immigration reform" that needs to be done.

[Andy and Pui 16]

Elections are a dog and pony show. These politicians' idea of "immigration reform" is not the real "immigration reform" that needs to be done.

I agree. I think the President has talked about changing the immigration system so we are not waiting "years" to bring our loved ones here but I do not think anything has been done on that subject like what has been done with deca.

I remember after I sent in my k1 back in September 2010. By the end of year in 2010 and start of 2011 the processing times on the k1's were past processing times. At that time the hold up was because of Haiti and the earthquake there and we all know what happened there. I remember some of the frustrations at that time was some expedites were done for people from Haiti who were already here in America. I remember there was one poster here that either started a lot of his own topics or replied to a lot of topics about his service center and taking so long. He was complaining about the waiting and what it was doing to his relationship and then he and his fiance broke up before they got their NOA2 and then he was gone and never heard from him again. I know this is frustrating but sometimes you need to look at the big picture. Once your loved one is with you most of this will be forgotten and you will most likely forget about deca and or anything else that is frustrating you in this long complicated process.

One of my friend's is going through the k1 process and he sent it back in October 2012. He keeps asking me if there is any progress in the processing of k1s. I know for him it is hard for him because his fiance and her family are very poor and sends money to them every month.