The chart illustrates the effect of Congress’ decision since 1957 to prioritize the admission of non-nuclear, extended family members in U.S. immigration policy. By allowing each immigrant admitted to subsequently petition for the admission of parents, siblings and their families, and adult children and their families, Congress has put in place an immigration system that results in virtually unlimited chain migration.
Chain Migration refers to the endless chains of foreign nationals who are allowed to immigrate to the United States because citizens and lawful permanent residents are allowed to sponsor their non-nuclear family members.
Categories of Migrants Recognized Under U.S. Law (February 2018)
Chain Migration under current law
The American people have elected someone who has made repeated promises to revolutionize immigration policies so they first serve the interests of American workers and the quality-of-life desires of regular American citizens of all ethnicities.
Between 1776-1965, annual immigration averaged 250,000 people per year. Congress changed the law in 1965 and sent the numbers skyrocketing.
The result of chain migration is tens of millions of people in the world who tend to think they are in line. Instead of waiting, they come illegally.
Chain migration is responsible for almost all long-term population growth since 1972 (when native-born Americans started having children at replacement levels).
Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga., has introduced H.R. 604, a bill that would eliminate the extended family visa categories (e.g., married sons and daughters of citizens, etc.), thus ending “chain migration” as recommended by the bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission in 1997. Current immigration law allows U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor non-nuclear, adult family members, creating an endless chain of mass legal immigration.
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) has introduced H.R. 477 that would would eliminate the extended family visa categories (e.g., married sons and daughters of citizens, etc.), thus ending “chain migration” as recommended by the bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission in 1995. Current immigration law allows U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor non-nuclear, adult family members, creating an endless chain of mass legal immigration.
