Green Card Applicants File Immigration Lawsuit Over Denials

At least a dozen highly-skilled immigrants have filed an immigration lawsuit against the U.S. State Department over a last-minute denial of their permanent residency applications. The permanent residency program, better known as a “green card”, allows immigrants with specific skills to stay in the country. The immigration lawsuit alleges that the State Department and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office revised their qualifications for immigrants who could apply for a green card.

Details on the Immigration Lawsuit

The immigration lawsuit claims that the State Department reneged on a previous bulletin. An earlier bulletin, dated September 9, stated that the department would speed up the process for qualified immigrants to receive approval for permanent residency. The department released the bulletin as a reaction to President Barack Obama’s call to streamline the immigration process. The immigration lawsuit stated that a later bulletin, dated September 25, changed the criteria and established earlier deadlines for the application process, without notifying those who had complied with the earlier bulletin.

Immigration Lawsuit Could Affect Thousands

Attorneys for the immigrants who filed the initial immigration lawsuit are seeking to have the case established as a class-action lawsuit. They claim that the change in State Department policy could affect up to 30,000 legal immigrants. Many of these immigrants work in the technology fields, including computer science, engineering, energy research and medicine. The immigration lawsuit alleges that the policy changes could force the federal government to deport thousands of qualified workers.

Immigration Lawsuit Claims Expenses

The immigration lawsuit also cites the expenses these immigrants incurred to produce the proper paperwork. In addition to the fees charged by the State Department for process the green card applications, thousands of immigrants must provide documentation ranging from birth certificates to medical records. The immigration lawsuit stated that these immigrants “spend millions of dollars preparing to apply for green cards,” but must now deal with a “hapless federal bureaucracy has abruptly…reneged on its promise.”

Immigration Lawsuit and the “American Dream”

The immigrants affected by the State Department policies cited in the immigration lawsuit will have their lives put on hold. While they have waited through the green card approval process, they were not able to change jobs, accept promotions, or move to different areas. They also face potential deportation if they lose their jobs. At least one of the immigrants participating in the immigration lawsuit told reporters that he came to this country “to have the American Dream” and that the State Department changes have left him and his family “frustrated, disappointed (and) heartbroken.”

Source: San Jose Mercury News

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NOTE: This post is a news story and does not imply an endorsement of Arguello Law Firm by any of the parties mentioned herein.