Should Family Play a Part in Immigration Policy?

Should Family Play a Part in Immigration Policy?

Every weekday, Xan-Xia Hong and her husband Ru-Liang Zhang visit the Chinese Community Center near their home in New York City. The two are retired and in their seventies.

They moved to the United States 28 years ago. They entered the country through the family-immigrant visa system. They still remember how hard it was to get to the U.S.

Hong said, “For the journey, for our whole family, it cost us over 10,000 Chinese yuan.” That amounts to about $2,000 dollars in 1990.

But that money did not guarantee much.

“What were we to do if we couldn’t get the visa? We would lose everything,” Hong said.

The two did not have dependable employment. A family member helped with financial support. They saved their money to pay for the nine-year visa application process for travel to the U.S.

During the following 10 years, Hong worked seven days a week in a clothing factory. Zhang worked similar hours in a restaurant for several years. Then, he inherited a small store. Their work ethic helped them put their three children through college.

But, the two say they wonder if similar success might go unnoticed today because of President Donald Trump’s position on immigration.

Their experience would be considered an example of so-called chain immigration. That is a term used by opponents of what is officially known as citizen-sponsored immigrant visas for family members. The administration says the system brings into the country people who do not add to the U.S. economy.

Disagreement over immigration policy

Trump used the term on Twitter last September, “Chain migration cannot be allowed to be part of any legislation on Immigration!” The president has offered support for several pieces of legislation that would limit legal immigration.

Some measures in the bills would cut family-based visas and replace them with what has been described as a “merit-based system. The bills’ stated aim is to reduce the amount of “low-skilled immigrant labor.”

A merit-based system would rate immigrants based on their English-language ability, education level, employment offers and other things.

Supporters say such action would lead to higher pay for American workers. Critics say the U.S. economy depends on low-skilled labor.

Recent public opinion studies suggest that Americans do not agree on what to do to improve the immigration system.

Justin Yu is a former reporter on immigration issues. He now runs the New York Chinese Community Center. He said family-based immigration is not a problem and is very important to U.S.-based families.

“The problem in the American immigration system is not the legal immigrant – it’s not the family-based immigrant, it’s not the merit-based immigrant. The problem…is our border has not been controlled.”

'They didn't ask for handouts'

Many Chinese immigrants share Yu’s opinions. They say that social programs and hard-earned rights are hurt by illegal immigration.

Hong said, “We worked and worked and worked, all the way until we both retired.”

Wellington Chen runs a local development company in New York called Chinatown Partnership. He said immigrants in his neighborhood mostly lead small businesses.

“These people came here, didn’t take away any jobs; if anything, they hired helpers, they put their kids through college, they work long hours, they work the jobs that no one wants to do. And, they didn’t ask for handouts.”

Nicholas Louie is the 23-year-old grandson of Thomas Louie, an immigrant who was sponsored by his own grandfather 60 years ago. The extended family now includes a doctor, a college professor and a math teacher.

Nicolas said he has a difficult time imagining what his life would be like had family immigration been restricted.

“What’s that say about the next generation, when like there’s children asking ‘where’s their grandfather’ … or ‘where’s their uncle?’ Why do they have no family, but everyone else seems to have this wide, extended family?”

Nicolas Louie said his own family is living the American dream.

His relatives, he said, “Just wanted all of us to be good, to make our own money, be satisfied with what we have and retain the family…That’s really important.”

I’m Mario Ritter.

Ramon Taylor and Yuan Ye reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in This Story

inherit –v. to receive (money, property, etc.) from someone when that person dies

ethic –n. rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad

sponsored –adj. supported, given help from a sponsor

merit –n. having good qualities and, therefore, deserving of a reward

retain –v. to keep, to continue to have

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