[ Golden Gater Online - October 2, 1997 ]
Andreas Tzortzis
Staff writer
The SF State legal resource center estimates that about 10 student-clients have come in seeking lawyer referrals this month regarding a strict new law that is cracking down on illegal immigrants applying for residency.
The ethnicity of the people have ranged from Latino to Asian and Pacific Islanders, said Bethany Cirlin, co-director of the center.
"I know a few people facing this," said Fadi Stephan, an employee at the legal resources center. "They don't know what to do. Their life is in shambles. They spend all their money on lawyers."
Immigration agencies and organizations around the Bay Area have been bombarded with phone calls and visits from couples worried about the expiration of a federal provision that will mean deportation for their spouses.
The provision, 245-I, was set to expire Tuesday at midnight but got an 11th hour reprieve from the government which extended the deadline until October 23. The provision enables illegal immigrants who are married to U.S. citizens or who have children who are citizens to remain in the country until their paperwork is processed as long as they pay a $1,000 fine to the Immigration Naturalization Services. The fine's intention is to punish immigrants for entering the country illegally, immigrant advocates say.
A new law which took effect April 1, 1997 imposed stricter regulations on illegal immigrants who are in the United States for at least six months. The six-month grace period for people to apply for legal residency ended Tuesday night. All those who aren't married to U.S. citizens or have children that are, risk deportation.
The new law says those deported before April 1, 1998 are barred from entering the country for three years. After that date, they can not legally return to the United States for 10 years.
"It's a very harsh law, and it's keeping families separated," said Susana Razo, an immigrant paralegal at La Raza Centro Legal.
Razo said the new law would ruin families because U.S. citizens married to illegal immigrants could see their spouses deported if all their paper work -- such as marriage certificates and birth certificates -- is not processed by the new Oct. 23 deadline.
"That's the biggest effect of all," said Johanna Silva, a member of La Raza. Silva also sits on a committee that is planning an immigrant pride day on campus. "A lot of people have already established foundations here."
La Raza Centro Legal held an orientation meeting on the new immigrant law last Thursday which was attended by 100 people, nearly seven times the usual amount, according to Razo. Calls have also flooded the agency.
"We're telling people that if they're here, they should stay here, because the deadline (Tuesday) has already passed," said Razo.
The resource center mainly refers students on campus to lawyers who might be able to help them, but also has an on-staff attorney who dispenses advice. The center handles everything from immigration cases to tenant rights, according to Stephan.
[ Golden Gater - October 02, 1997 ]