Why does this keep happening?

This is an example of the stuff that drives me so insane about the immigration question. Why is the INS/ICE wasting time trying to deport the spouse of someone who is serving our country in the Iraq war?

This is the second example I have seen of this here in Massachusetts so it's hard to tell how many examples of this occur all over the country.

Last year, it came to light the wife of a soldier who had been captured by al Qaeda was under threat of deportation. What I couldn't understand then, and I still have not found an adequate explanation for, is why marrying an American citizen doesn't still automatically make you a citzen yourself. What has changed?

Comments

[Kellyology]

My Mother has been married to an American citizen for over 40 years. However, marrying a citizen does not grant you citizenship in the U.S. It never has. It grants you residency. A few years ago my Mother got her citizenship, but she had to do it like everyone else...application, interview, test, swearing in.

With that being said I'm willing to bet that her entering the country illegally is the problem. If she had entered legally and married a citizen, that wife wouldn't be dealing with deportation right now.

(This isn't a comment about whether or now the process is good. It's just a little explanation about how it works.)

[Lisse]

It looks like you are right, Kelly.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/22/teachers_fight_ends_in_deportation/