A group of key organizations that ranged from Latinos, law-based and faith-based groups have written to President Obama stating that the coalition was requesting him to bring a close to immigrant-based family detention.
To quote the letter, which begins like this, “In light of recent developments and ongoing negotiations in litigation on the detention of immigrant families, we, the undersigned 188 immigrants’ rights, faith-based, civil rights, human rights, survivors’ rights, and criminal justice reform organizations, international educators, and legal service providers, urge your administration to end the practice of family detention”.
The family detention centers currently present in the country and which were built last year have been acknowledged by the organizations in the letter; the fact was also given due emphasis that though protection was being sought by these detained families in the US they were being made to go through “traumatic situations”, and this was largely applicable to the children, it was stated.
The letter also mentioned the effect on mental health that the detention was having on families, especially when the detention was for a long stretch of time. The letter appealed to the President to stop the family – based detention centers immediately to mitigate the problems arising out of such “inhuman” detention.
It is the practice for all applicants applying for a visa or for those applying for a Green Card and for legal permanent residence to submit what is called as the I-693 form.
The I-693 form has to be completed by a Civil Surgeon, who is appointed by USCIS, or the United States Citizenship and immigration Services. The USCIS Civil Surgeon reports all the outcomes of the tests and the medical examination which he conducts and submits this report for onward processing. The Immigration Medical is a necessity as it establishes the fact that an applicant can be admitted to the United States of America on grounds of medical health.
Once the medical examination is conducted the USCIS Civil Surgeon hands over the I-694 form which should be completed in all respects. The form is then placed and sealed in an envelope and is forwarded by the applicant to the USCIS authorities. Care should be taken by the applicant to see that the form is in a sealed condition only. USCIS will return the form to the applicant if the form is in a tampered condition or the seal has been broken.
HOW TO SUBMIT THE I-693 FORM
Some ways to submit the completed I-693 form:
- Through mail, along with form I-485. The form I-485 is the Application to Register for Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to the location specified for the applicant’s Form I-485.
- The applicant can submit the Form I-693 in person, along with an interview in a USCIS office.
According to a recent study by an institute of Economic Policy in the United States and released in the month of April it was observed that unlawful immigrants who are residing in the country are paying high taxes and their contributions to the Treasury is high. This debunks the popular belief that unlawful immigrants do not pay any taxes, and do not make any contributions to the economy in the country.
There are around 11.4 million unauthorized immigrants who reside in the United States and pay billions of dollars in various taxes. The study said that the contributions that come from taxes of these unlawful immigrants would enhance the immigration reform.
Research and the study found that unlawful immigrants paid almost the same level of taxes – payroll, sales, gas and property taxes. What’s more, these immigrants also paid money for the Social Security system even though they almost never got any benefits out of it.
The findings of the report stated that unlawful immigrants gave considerably to the state and local taxes, and together paid an estimated 11.84 dollars in the year 2012. Therefore it is justified that granting illegal immigrants permanent and lawful residence while allowing them to be employed in the country lawfully; this would increase state and local tax revenues significantly. It is estimated that the reforms would raise the tax contributions by around 850 million dollars every year.
In order to negate the possibilities of inadmissibility on the grounds of health an applicant for an immigration-based visa to the United States of America has to go in for what is called the Green Card Medical. This exam is conducted by a U S Consulate under the USCIS – the U S Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Green Card Medical has to be mandatorilytaken by both adult and children who are applying for visas to the country.
CANNOT BE CONDUCTED BY PERSONAL MEDIC
The Examination cannot be completed by the person’s personal physician, unless the doctor happens to be on the USCIS-approved Civil Surgeon list. The applicant will have to bear the fees for the tests, which will consist of the Surgeon’s physical examination, blood work and X-rays of the chest. No fasting is required to be done for the blood work.
WHAT THE EXAM CONSISTS OF
The Medical is carried out to rule out any health problems – mental and physical problems, communicable diseases, drug problems etc. Any or all of these anomalies would render the individual inadmissible to the United States. The Civil Surgeon would also ensure that depending upon the applicant’s age; all the necessary vaccinations are taken. Only the tests, vaccinations and blood work falling within the purview of the USCIS Immigration Exam requirements will be taken into consideration.
