Stop tearing immigrant mothers apart from their children

[AlphaCentauri]

This Mother’s Day is a painful one for many immigrant mothers. It reminds them of the harsh separation from their children that they are forced to endure while their visa petitions languish at U.S. consulates.

Under U.S. law, people seeking asylum, refugees and victims of human trafficking and other crimes are entitled to file visa petitions for their children to immigrate to the United States.

Petitioners must provide proof of the biological relationship. A birth certificate is considered primary evidence of such a relationship; a church, school or hospital record, or any other document attesting to the birth, can also be submitted as secondary evidence.

If the consulate finds that the evidence provided is inconclusive or unavailable, it may suggest — but cannot require — that DNA testing results be submitted. This policy recognizes that DNA testing — typically $700 per application — is cost prohibitive for many immigrants.

This procedure sounds fair in principle. In practice, it is anything but.

more: http://www.progressive.org/mpkhand050909.html

May next Mother’s Day be a happier one for immigrant moms separated from their children.