Denials of US Immigrant Visas Rise after Little-known Rule Change

 

Arturo Balbino works as a builder in Texas. On a recent day, he walked into the U.S. consulate² in the northern Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez for his visa interview. He was not fearful of the process. He felt good.

Balbino, a 33-year-old Mexican national, entered the United States illegally 14 years ago. He believed he had a strong chance of receiving a spousal visa. His wife and children are all U.S. citizens. His wife’s father promised to support him financially, if necessary. His employer wrote a letter promising³ him a job.

The interview process was the final step to legalization. He hoped it would lead to a better life for him and his family.

Instead, the consular⁴ officer denied him a visa, saying he might possibly need money from American taxpayers⁵ to survive. That decision left Balbino in Mexico indefinitely.

Reporters with the Reuters news agency examined the documents related to Balbino’s case.

More and more immigrants, especially Mexicans, are being denied visas. The denials are based on decisions by the U.S. State Department that they might become “public charges.” A “public charge” is someone who is dependent on the government for support.

Official information, research, and interviews with lawyers for some immigrants say consular officers are denying visas even when migrants fulfill⁶ legal requirements proving they have enough money to support themselves.

The refusals can trap people for months – or even longer --outside the United States. This means they are separated from their American spouses⁷ and children. And, it means they must restart the long and difficult process of requesting a visa.

One reason for the rise in denials is little-known changes made to the State Department’s foreign affairs manual last year. The changes gave diplomats⁸ greater power to deny visas using the “public charge” reason.

Some critics say the new manual permits diplomats to tighten⁹ immigration policy without considering public opinion.

“The State Department is trying to bypass public comment and implement¹⁰ changes to public-charge (policy) all on its own,” said Charles Wheeler, a lawyer with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.

The State Department would not comment, saying it is fighting legal action against the new manual in courts.

Fewer visas for Mexicans

Immigration lawyers said the public-charge denial happens a lot at the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez. That is where all Mexican immigrant visa requests are processed.

Mexicans received 11 percent fewer immigrant visas in 2018 compared to 2017.

In the past, the State Department usually accepted a letter signed by an American citizen offering to act as a sponsor for the immigrant as proof of financial support. In Balbino’s case, his wife’s father provided that letter. But Balbino’s request was still denied.

Trapped in Mexico

Balbino’s wife, Darlene, is considering moving with all of her children to Balbino’s hometown, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. She does not work and is struggling to pay her family’s living costs.

“We can’t make it on our own anymore,” she said.

Because the family is so poor, two of the couple’s five children, have already been sent to live with Balbino. The children have found the move difficult.

“They’ve spent their whole life in the United States,” Balbino said. “They don’t speak much Spanish.”

Today, Balbino is considering the possibility that his family will be apart for years.

“At times I want to think that everything will be okay and I’ll be able to be with my family again,” he said. “It is very difficult to think that I won’t be able to return to watch my children grow up.”

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

consulate – n. the building where a consul¹ lives and works

spousal – adj. having to do with one's wife or husband

manual – n. a book of instructions

implement – v. to begin to do or use

sponsor – n. someone who takes the responsibility for someone or something

1 consul   

n.领事；执政官

参考例句：

• A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。
• He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。

2 consulate   

n.领事馆

参考例句：

• The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。
• The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 consular   

a.领事的

参考例句：

• He has rounded out twenty years in the consular service. 他在领事馆工作已整整20年了。
• Consular invoices are declarations made at the consulate of the importing country. 领事发票是进口国领事馆签发的一种申报书。

5 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

6 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

7 spouses   

n.配偶，夫或妻( spouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Jobs are available for spouses on campus and in the community. 校园里和社区里有配偶可做的工作。 来自辞典例句
• An astonishing number of spouses-most particularly in the upper-income brackets-have no close notion of their husbands'paychecks. 相当大一部分妇女——特别在高收入阶层——并不很了解他们丈夫的薪金。 来自辞典例句

8 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

10 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。