Since they arrived in the United States. they have pursued and. to a degree. achieved the American Dream. Mr. and Mrs. Liangs quest to legalize their immigration status began in 1993 when they filed for relief from deportation before an immigration judge. The Immigration and Naturalization Service. INS. however. did not act on their application until nearly 5 years later. in 1997. after which time the immigration laws had significantly changed. According to the immigration judge. had the INS acted on their application for relief from deportation in a timely manner. they would have qualified for suspension of deportation. given that they were longterm residents of this country with U.S. citizen children and other positive factors. By the time INS processed their application. however. Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. which changed the requirements for relief from removal to the Liangs disadvantage. I supported the changes of the 1996 law. but I believe sometimes there are exceptions which merit special consideration. The Liangs are such a couple and family.
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Naturalization Illegal Immigration Immigrant deportation immigration Immigration