Law Commons^™

At first glance, the U.S. immigration system seems very family-friendly. The majority of lawful immigration occurs through family petitions,1 reflecting family reunification as one of the core principles of immigration policy. However, a closer look at the immigration system calls into question the idea that immigration law is family-friendly. Immigration law’s definition of who fits within family relationships and thus deserves sponsorship to join a relative in the U.S. does not include relationships that, in many other parts of the world, are valued (such as grandparents, cousins, and, in some cases, siblings). More importantly, the immigration system’s heavy-handed enforcement mechanisms …