Christmas and New Year They contain an unusual warning for thousands of immigrants in the United States: Avoid international traveleven if they have regular immigration status. Lawyers and universities are warning against a more restrictive federal framework and increased controls at airports and borders.
The recommendation has broad implications for communities Migrants who live there Puerto Rico and among international students studying at universities in the south of the country. The biggest fear is leaving the country and not being able to return despite having valid visas or ongoing procedures.
Why they recommend immigrants not to leave the United States on Christmas and New Year’s
The central warning is clear: Do not leave the United States. As reported The new dayDue to the tightening of federal policies and the expansion of lists of countries with restrictions, immigration lawyers began to advise their clients to avoid international travel.
Immigration lawyer Jean Paul Castro Lamberty claimed: “The best recommendation would be not to travel internationally” and emphasized that every immigrant should exercise extreme caution at this time.
He also warned that the federal government was evaluating Expansion of restricted nationalities from 19 to 30which increases the risk for people from countries such as Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba.
Castro Lamberty explained that after an attack that occurred near the White House in late November, the response of the Donald Trump administration was “to a certain extent disproportionate”.
In this context, he explained that the government had threatened to extend travel bans, suspend asylum applications and freeze immigration procedures. “The government explicitly says it will do it Already approved cases of people on the list of these 19 countries will also be resumed“, he warned.
Along the same lines, immigration lawyer Julie Cruz pointed out that she had made the same recommendation to her clients in Puerto Rico. “I recommend everyone from the 19 countries not to travel“, he explained.
He also urged those who are outside the country to immediately return to the United States or Puerto Rico and consult with lawyers before making a decision, as “risks cannot be taken” in a context.
The recommendation of don’t travel It also reached international students. Accordingly The El Paso DiaryUniversities such as the University of Texas at El Paso and New Mexico State University asked their students on student visas not to leave the United States during winter break.
From NMSU, a Mexican student named María expressed concern about the dilemma: “It’s a terrible feeling to have to choose between seeing my family again and keeping what I’ve built here.“.
Javier, a Colombian master’s student at UTEP, said he decided to spend Christmas away from his family for fear of losing his visa. “My mother cried when I told her I wouldn’t travel. But I’m scared,” he said.
The universities said constant changes in travel restrictions and recent cases of visa cancellations without prior notice prompted these warnings.
In April, at least 16 UTEP and NMSU students lost their visas, a situation repeated in more than 100 countries 400 cases at national level.
Immigration lawyer David Haro warned that current policies are particularly harsh and that even an arrest without conviction could automatically result in visa revocation. “The mere fact that they have been arrested may result in their visa being canceled,” he explained.
About The Author
