
Two Republican senators unveiled legislation Tuesday aimed at eventually reducing legal immigration by half.
Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and David Perdue, R-Ga., revealed the Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment Act, otherwise known as the RAISE Act, which Cotton's office estimates would reduce immigration to about 638,000 during its initial year and to roughly 540,000 in 10 years. Such levels would represent a dramatic decrease in immigration, as about 1.05 million people received green cards in 2015, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Among some of the proposed changes, one in particular will have great impact in our clients' lives, as it directly involves their "parents." One of the key points in Cotton's bill would be a change to immigration law that would mean parents of citizens would no longer qualify as "immediate relatives."
The designation is an important one, as immediate relatives receive an immigration priority and aren't forced to wait for a visa number, according to the government. If this legislation is enacted, it could take years for a parent of a U.S. citizen to receive status as permanent resident of the U.S.
Thus, if you are a U.S. citizen and your mom or dad is not yet a U.S. permanent resident, you should consider filing a petition immediately.
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to discuss if these changes may apply to you or yours!