Lillie Williams and you will Jonatan Palacios stand away from offices away from You.S. Citizenship and you will Immigration Services in the West Philadelphia once completing a job interview to select the authenticity of their relationship. (Laura Benshoff / WHYY)

Position additional a grey government building within the Western Philadelphia, they revealed its interviews having U.S. Citizenship and you will Immigration Properties, hence safeguarded from the new date it elizabeth of the pet.

“Even though I know everything you, somehow I got on the interview and you may would not consider all dates,” told you Williams, chuckling. “Always I have frustrated during the your having not remembering this new schedules.”

Williams, that is petite and you will bubbly, and you will Palacios, who’s tall and you may talks carefully, was to one another getting 7 decades and partnered for two. they are what immigration attorney reference as good “blended status” couple. Williams is of Tennessee; Palacios left Honduras when he was sixteen and you will registered the country illegally.

Later this past year, they first started the whole process of getting him outside of the shadows, submitting what is called good “petition having a keen alien cousin” or We-130.

erican citizen is one of the only suggests an enthusiastic immigrant way of life regarding U.S. versus standing could possibly get legal permanent residency. Before this 12 months, immigration officials do generally get off people on that road to a beneficial green cards – as long as they didn’t have a criminal background. Now, certain that happen to be appearing out of brand new shadows because partners out of You.S. people try winding up for the prison.

The fresh early morning out-of May eleven, immigration officers arrived outside the couple’s household inside the Haverford, within the date Palacios visits manage a restaurant. (more…)