Amanda, a U.S. citizen, has been separated from her husband for two years because of the immigration bars. After Amanda and her husband got married and had two U.S. citizen children, she tried to sponsor him for a green card. He left the United States in hopes of re-entering legally; however, even though he had already been approved for a legal status, he was denied entry back into the U.S. for at least ten years.

This is the situation facing millions of families across the U.S., like Amanda’s, who are subject to the immigration bars. The bars make it difficult, often impossible, for someone who is undocumented to leave the U.S. and re-enter legally; many who try to do so are subsequently denied and separated from their families for many years, sometimes permanently.

We need to change these laws so American families can access the legal immigration system and adjust their status without being separated for many years.