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

Description

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. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Figures Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Introduction Aim of the Book Data and Methodology Profiles of Respondents Organization of the Book References Chapter 2 Personal Life First Meeting Family Response Driving Traveling Postcards and Memories Our Wedding Fear Differences and Clashes Plan B Knowledge of the Legal Process Interviews with Immigrants about Their Personal Lives Summary References Chapter 3 Social Life Coming Out Finding a Place to Live It’s an Issue From a Social Standpoint Leisure Activities Going Out My Social Life Since Our Forced Separation Interviews with Immigrants about Their Social Lives Summary References Chapter 4 Professional Life Juan’s Professional Journey Hard Worker, Not a Criminal My Professional Journey Unconditional Support and Encouragement Professional Opportunities Outside the United States Interviews with Immigrants about Their Professional Lives Summary References Chapter 5 Finances Stress-Free Times Community College Student: No Social Security, No Credit, No Apartment Graduate Student: I Don’t Know How We Did It Full-Time Professor: My Income Increased but Juan Struggled Separation and Lives On Hold Interviews with Immigrants about Their Finances Summary References Chapter 6 Health Healthy Years Before We Knew Anxiety Altered Lives Health Problems Escalate Health and Separation Experiences Health Status and Waiver Application Process Differences in Health Care Based on Immigration Status Cross-Country Differences in Access to Health Care Interviews with Immigrants About Their Health Summary References Chapter 7 Conclusion Legal Immigrants in the Shadows Diversity of Mixed-Status Families Broken System Time for Change Note References Addendum Index