Church tries to help immigrant families fight separation

Published: 2005-08-01

CHICAGO (CNS) -- When it comes to immigration law, Carmen Estacio a naturalized U.S. citizen who is from the Philippines, did everything by the book, including applying for a visa for her then-18-year-old son to join her in the United States. She filed the application in 1991. Her son, now 33, arrived from the Philippines this June. "I waited and I waited and I waited," said Estacio. "I requested help from congressmen. I thought about getting a lawyer, but I knew it was very expensive." Estacio's experience illustrates one problem with U.S. immigration law, that families end up separated for years, say advocates for immigration reform. Those advocates include the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which launched its Justice for Immigrants campaign in May. The 14-year wait for Estacio's son is actually shorter than the current 22-year backlog for siblings of Filipino immigrants to immigrate to the United States, according to Fred Tsao, policy director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

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