A rich foreigner willing to invest $500,000 in a new business can buy an immigrant visa for self, spouse and minor children that becomes a permanent green card after two years. One would think the law would extend similar consideration to an alien who has actually built a business and paid taxes here.
Last week, Oscar and Humberta Campos, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, were deported to Mexico after 30 years of law-abiding but unlawful residence in the United States. They leave behind them the three U.S. citizen children they bore and raised here, ages 24, 21 and 16, and whatever remains of their landscaping business. Despite the efforts of Sen. Booker and the Bishop of Camden, the federal authorities refused to stay deportation.
It is ironic that under the EB-5 program, a rich foreigner willing to invest $500,000 in a new business can buy an immigrant visa for self, spouse and minor children that becomes a permanent green card after two years. One would think the law would extend similar consideration to an alien who has actually built a business and paid taxes here, but that would only reward people for contributing to their chosen country with hard work and good behavior. Congress should provide for those who entered illegally after they have remained here constructively for 10 years or more.