US immigration crack-down to split San Francisco family
March 02 2010 by Liam Clifford
A father may be forced to wave his family off as they are deported back to Australia, as the result of a US immigration crack-down in San Francisco.
Charles
Washington married his Australian wife almost a year ago, but her application
for a US visa for herself and her children has been rejected as a result of a
fight her son got into at school.
"I feel like they've taken my right to
have a family," stated Washington at a press conference held by immigration
advocates who want to illustrate the damaging effects of the policies. They
rules ensure such crimes, however minor, are reported to US
immigration.
Tracy Washington and her son from a previous marriage have
been ordered to return to Australia. Their legal status expired in May and the
wife and mother has been told she will not be granted legal residency on the
grounds of her marriage to Mr Washington. This is due to a school playground
fight her 13-year-old son was involved with, where he stole 46 cents.
The
other boy’s parents contacted police and the juvenile courts got involved. They
then contacted immigration and the rest is history. Mr Washington now faces
having to say goodbye his family this Friday. The US immigration authorities
claim the family should not be allowed to return to the US within three to ten
years.
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