A new study shows that use of the “abused spousal aliens” path to securing permanent status for immigrants doubled from 2012-2014.
According to data compiled by the Center for Immigration Services, 4,209 “abused spousal aliens,” under protections guaranteed through the Violence Against Women Act, were issued green cards after reporting abuse. That number skyrocketed to 8,706 green cards issued in relation to the loophole for 2014.
Green card (Shutterstock)
While spousal abuse and domestic violence of any kind are certainly serious issues, the problem with the “abused spousal aliens” loophole — as outlined by CIS — stems from the Department of Homeland Security’s unwillingness to actually investigate any of the domestic assault allegations before fast-tracking immigrants for permanent status.
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When an immigrant, legal or otherwise, invokes ASA, the case is referred to one of DHS’ “isolated decision factories, in this case the Vermont Service Center,” CIS explains.
If the case is approved by the VCS, the accusing immigrant is allowed to immediately apply for a green card as an “immediate relative,” a category on which there are no numerical limitations for green card distribution.
In every case — according to testimonials gathered by CIS from accused spousal abusers — the accused is not asked for testimony by DHS prior to approving a case to be fast-tracked.
Additionally, the accused in many of the cases were never even notified they had been accused and were subsequently abandoned by their spouses after signing documentation paperwork.
CIS notes that the alarming rate at which this particular loophole is being invoked is “presumably fueled by two factors.”
- A growing sense in the illegal alien community that the “abused spouse” route is a plausible way to secure amnesty for the individuals using it, and
- A continuing pattern of the government’s unwillingness to take appropriate steps to sort out the genuine cases of abuse from the fraudulent ones.
Furthermore — according to CIS’ data — only 340 of the 8,706 ASA green cards issued in 2014 were awarded to immigrants who “were clearly not illegal aliens.”
Therefore, the center has “strong suspicions… that many, probably most, of the 8,367 remaining 2014 beneficiaries were in illegal status here in the States when they filed for status.”
“Divorce courts handle matters like this all the time,” the study’s conclusion reads. “Why can’t the federal government provide a similar even-handed treatment in cases where an alien can claim legal status because of abuse by his or her citizen (or green card) spouse? Should we be silencing the voices of our own citizens.”
You can read the entire study over at the CIS website.