Martin Batalla Vidal is a man who wears many hats. The 26-year-old New Yorker and…
The election is mercifully over. We have seen and heard all the endless political commercials and campaign promises from various candidates. But when the dust cleared, Donald Trump will be moving into the White House in January. Throughout the presidential campaign trail, we have all heard about Trump’s promise to build a wall and to limit immigration for Muslims entering the country. But how many of these campaign promises are reality and what can we really expect? When it comes to the subject of immigration, Miami has many residents that will be affected. Whether it is policies affecting Cuba and Haiti or possible changes in laws affecting people entering the country to live and work, South Florida is paying attention.
There is no gray area on how the public is reacting to Trump’s victory. Depending on your political affiliation, you are either really happy and optimistic of a bright future or outraged and frightened. But there is plenty of gray area on how Trump can affect immigration policy. First, it is important to understand how the U.S. Constitution and the Federal Government functions. Due to its complex nature, changes to any laws or foreign policy is a complicated process.
One of the basic principles of the U.S. Constitution is the separation of powers. All laws, including immigration laws, are written and drafted by Congress. Although Republicans make up the majority of the House of Representatives and the Senate, it has yet to be seen how Trump’s policies blend with those of Congress. While Trump can influence what Congress will draft, the function of the President is to execute laws created by members of the House and Senate. Trump can either sign the bill or veto. The Supreme Court will determine how the laws will be applied to the public.
If history is any indication, major changes in immigration law will be minimal. During 8 years of the Obama Administration, virtual no significant changes in immigration policies were passed by Congress. Although Trump will have fewer obstacles with a Republican-dominated House and Senate, there are no guarantees the promises he made during the campaign trail will come to fruition. During Trump’s run for the White House, he often clashed with House Speaker Paul Ryan and several prominent Republican members of Congress.
Two of the hot-button topics of Trump’s campaign concerned refugees and undocumented immigrants. Although the President cannot make laws, he can appoint key cabinet members that can significantly influence immigration policy–including the Department of Homeland Security. During the Obama Administration, approximately 85,000 refugees were allowed to enter the United States. Nearly 34,000 came from the Middle East. Trump can make his biggest impact changing that number. But there are some significant obstacles. Any kind of religious test used to deny a person a visa is unconstitutional. There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States. About 8 million are currently part of the American workforce. For all the talk about building a wall on the Mexican border, there are already laws in place that deal with deporting undocumented immigrants. Each of these laws are extremely complicated and require significant amounts of time to be enforced.
Whether you are an employer looking to help a prospective employee gain an H1 visa or need to help a family member enter the country, it is important to have an experienced Miami immigration lawyer with a significant track record of getting results. To learn more, contact the law offices of S.G. Morrow & Associates, PA. and schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
people who come to the United States from all areas of the world who seek to gain employment or secure citizenship and start their new lives. Whatever your reason for visiting us, we can help. For client convenience, our law office is located near the Aventura Mall.
Our associates are experienced in practicing several different areas of immigration law including family immigration, employment-based immigration, visas, and citizenship proceedings. Attorney Stephanie Morrow has represented clients from around the world, including:
Every country has their own laws and circumstances which must be navigated in order to get a successful outcome, and not every family law attorney has this type of international experience. No matter where a client travels from to find us, we look forward to discussing their case and helping them plan for a new beginning.
Family law sometimes goes hand in hand with immigration law, especially in such an international hotspot. Bilingual in Spanish and English, the Law Offices of S.G. Morrow & Associates are up to the challenge. We are able to translate the law into a language that you can understand so you can make the best legal decisions for you and your family. We believe that you know best when it comes to your situation.