Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
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CAPAC Praises Obama Administration Rule Change
Prioritizing Family Unity
January 3, 2013, Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that effective
March 4, 2013, certain visa applicants will be able to file for family unity waivers, reducing immigration wait time
and making it easier for families to stay together. Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Chair of the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Immigration Taskforce
Chair, released the following statement:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), CAPAC Chair: “Today, the Obama Administration took a critical step forward
in fixing our broken immigration system. There is no good reason to force families apart for seeking better lives in
America. Asian immigrants have been disproportionately impacted by this process, sometimes waiting as long
as 11 ½ years to join their loved ones here. That’s why several Congressional leaders, myself included, have
urged the President to make this change in support of family unity. I am thrilled to see it come to pass, and I thank
President Obama for his leadership in helping families stay together.
Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15), CAPAC Immigration Taskforce Chair: “The final rule to allow certain visa
applicants to file for family unity waivers within the U.S. is a positive step forward for our families. The Reuniting
Families Act, legislation that I introduced, follows suit with DHS’s final rule by reuniting families despite bars to
reentry. This bill reduces the backlog of families trying to reunite with their loved ones, by classifying lawful
permanent resident spouses, including same-sex partners, and children as ‘immediate relatives’. It also exempts
them from numerical caps on family immigration.
“While the family unity waiver will benefit many, current immigration laws continue to tear families apart and
separate American citizens from their loved ones. No family should be left out of the immigration system, and no
person should be forced to choose between their spouse and their country. That is why we need a
comprehensive approach to fix our broken immigration system and keep families intact.
“As CAPAC Immigration Taskforce Chair, I have worked closely with President Obama and the Department of
Homeland Security. I advocated for fair, effective, and humane implementation of immigration policy, including
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and the exercise of prosecutorial discretion with respect to same-sex, bi-
national partners. I will continue to fight for family unity and inclusion as I work with my colleagues to draft
comprehensive immigration reform legislation in the 113th Congress.”
Asian Americans are the most likely group to have family members impacted by the visa backlogs. While only
comprising six percent of the U.S. population, Asian Americans sponsor more than one third of all family-based
immigrants. Under current law, U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (LPRs) can apply for a green card for
their spouse or child. However, many families are forced to live apart for years, even decades, while waiting for the
green card. The Obama Administration’s new rule enables certain eligible family members to apply for a
provisional unlawful presence waiver (also called the family unity waiver) before leaving the United States for their
visa interview, which must take place in their home country. An approved waiver will allow these family members
to complete their travel and visa appointment in a short time and avoid additional wait times in home countries
that separate them from loved ones in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security’s press release can be found here.
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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and
Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian
American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has
been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.