how families are affected

Family separation is a serious issue.  It causes signficant emotional turmoil and can have long-lasting and devastating effects.

Lawful Permanent Residents are denied playing an active role in raising their own children.  For no fault of their own, children and parents miss priceless moments that are witnessed in normal family environments every day.  Even worse, for those families who cannot afford frequent travel, a child grows up not knowing one of his/her parents.  Five years is an incredibly long time during childhood. 

LPRs must live separated from their husband or wife, being forced into a predicament that is widely recognized as unpleasant and challenging — a long-distance relationship.  This can cause breakups of what would otherwise be normal happy families.

Single LPRs are also affected.  Those who are ready to marry and start a family often have difficulty in finding an acceptable life partner.  Their immigrant status, in essence, prevents them from marrying a loved one from their own country and living in the U.S.  The senseless part is that if they had married prior to becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident, they would have avoided family separation altogether. 

the american dream

With the persistent ill effects of family separation, LPRs often land into the dilemma of choosing between country and family.  Years of hardwork pursuing the "American Dream" turn into a lost effort.