Everyday Fears of Legal Immigrants with Undocumented Spouses : Under U.S. Immigration Policy

This book examines the adaptation experiences of legal immigrants with undocumented spouses, considering the structural limitations that they face in their private, social, and professional lives, as well as in regard to their finances and health. The first study to systematically analyze the ways in which legal immigrants are affected by federal and state policies that target their undocumented spouses, it reveals that, regardless of their immigration status, all members of mixed-status families are directly or indirectly subjected to the same intrusive and punitive laws. Based on an autoethnographic approach, __Everyday Fears of Legal Immigrants with Undocumented Spouses: Under U.S. Immigration Policy__also draws on additional qualitative research as well empirical evidence from existing studies and the latest quantitative data from various governmental agencies and think tanks. It thus integrates multiple approaches to ways of knowing and understanding the experiences of legal immigrants in mixed-status families and will therefore appeal to social scientists with interests in migration. This book examines the adaptation experiences of legal immigrants with undocumented spouses, considering the structural limitations that they face in their private, social, and professional lives, as well as in regard to their finances and health. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 List of Figures 9 Acknowledgments 11 Chapter 1 Introduction 12 Aim of the Book 14 Data and Methodology 17 Profiles of Respondents 21 Organization of the Book 23 References 25 Chapter 2 Personal Life 28 First Meeting 28 Family Response 29 Driving 30 Traveling 31 Postcards and Memories 36 Our Wedding 38 Fear 39 Differences and Clashes 40 Plan B 45 Knowledge of the Legal Process 46 Interviews with Immigrants about Their Personal Lives 47 Summary 54 References 56 Chapter 3 Social Life 58 Coming Out 58 Finding a Place to Live 60 It’s an Issue From a Social Standpoint 61 Leisure Activities 62 Going Out 65 My Social Life Since Our Forced Separation 66 Interviews with Immigrants about Their Social Lives 71 Summary 75 References 77 Chapter 4 Professional Life 79 Juan’s Professional Journey 79 Hard Worker, Not a Criminal 82 My Professional Journey 84 Unconditional Support and Encouragement 88 Professional Opportunities Outside the United States 91 Interviews with Immigrants about Their Professional Lives 93 Summary 98 References 99 Chapter 5 Finances 101 Stress-Free Times 101 Community College Student: No Social Security, No Credit, No Apartment 103 Graduate Student: I Don’t Know How We Did It 105 Full-Time Professor: My Income Increased but Juan Struggled 106 Separation and Lives On Hold 112 Interviews with Immigrants about Their Finances 118 Summary 123 References 124 Chapter 6 Health 127 Healthy Years 127 Before We Knew Anxiety 128 Altered Lives 128 Health Problems Escalate 132 Health and Separation Experiences 135 Health Status and Waiver Application Process 140 Differences in Health Care Based on Immigration Status 144 Cross-Country Differences in Access to Health Care 147 Interviews with Immigrants About Their Health 149 Summary 151 References 153 Chapter 7 Conclusion 155 Legal Immigrants in the Shadows 155 Diversity of Mixed-Status Families 157 Broken System 160 Time for Change 161 Note 165 References 165 Addendum 167 Index 172 Legal,immigrants,with,undocumented,spouses;,Limitations;,Personal,life;,Social,life;,Professional,life;,Finances;,Health Legal immigrants with undocumented spouses,Limitations,Personal life,Social life,Professional life,Finances,Health This book examines the adaptation experiences of legal immigrants with undocumented spouses, considering the structural limitations that they face in their private, social, and professional lives, as well as in regard to their finances and health. The first study to systematically analyze the ways in which legal immigrants are affected by federal and state policies that target their undocumented spouses, it reveals that, regardless of their immigration status, all members of mixed-status families are directly or indirectly subjected to the same intrusive and punitive laws. Based on an autoethnographic approach, Everyday Fears of Legal Immigrants with Undocumented Spouses: Under U.S. Immigration Policy also draws on additional qualitative research as well empirical evidence from existing studies and the latest quantitative data from various governmental agencies and think tanks. It thus integrates multiple approaches to ways of knowing and understanding the experiences of legal immigrants in mixed-status families and will therefore appeal to social scientists with interests in migration.