Immigrants to US come with hope
By: Rita Sowell
Contributing Writer
Issue date: 11/28/06 Section: The Game of Life
For the 1.1 million immigrants who entered the United States legally in 2005, there is the promise of a new life.
Their reasons for immigrating - a needed job skill, joining family or having refugee status - doesn't really matter. What matters most is that they have permission to be here.
Mateo Fasanella arrived in the United States from Italy eight years ago on an immigrant visa. His green card granted him permanent residency and authorization to work in America. Fasanella began as an employee in his brother-in-law's pizza shop in the Raleigh Springs Mall. Today he owns a pizza shop in Cordova.
But for the 11.1 million immigrants who have entered the country illegally, the road to a new life is much more difficult.
"Coming to the United States without any status is a hindrance to receiving any future benefits," said Chris Bentley, with the United States Citizen and Immigration Services, referring to an immigrant's possible future legal status.
Currently there isn't a law that allows an illegal immigrant to stay in America and apply for legal status. The illegal immigrant would have to return to his or her home country and then apply for legal status. But the fact that the person was an illegal immigrant could bar him or her from legal status for five to 10 years, Bentley said.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research group, estimates that of the 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants, 78 percent originate from Mexico, Central America and Latin America, with 100,000 to 150,000 living in Tennessee.
Between 2000 and 2005, Shelby County saw a 31 percent increase in the Latino population.
"The number has just exploded," said Jodi Elliot, bilingual service coordinator with Tennessee's Early Intervention System.
TEIS is a program funded by a federal grant for children between birth and age 3 who are developmentally delayed. TEIS works with the parents to coordinate treatment with health care professionals. However, if a child does not have a social security number, TEIS cannot help them.
Their reasons for immigrating - a needed job skill, joining family or having refugee status - doesn't really matter. What matters most is that they have permission to be here.
Mateo Fasanella arrived in the United States from Italy eight years ago on an immigrant visa. His green card granted him permanent residency and authorization to work in America. Fasanella began as an employee in his brother-in-law's pizza shop in the Raleigh Springs Mall. Today he owns a pizza shop in Cordova.
But for the 11.1 million immigrants who have entered the country illegally, the road to a new life is much more difficult.
"Coming to the United States without any status is a hindrance to receiving any future benefits," said Chris Bentley, with the United States Citizen and Immigration Services, referring to an immigrant's possible future legal status.
Currently there isn't a law that allows an illegal immigrant to stay in America and apply for legal status. The illegal immigrant would have to return to his or her home country and then apply for legal status. But the fact that the person was an illegal immigrant could bar him or her from legal status for five to 10 years, Bentley said.
The Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research group, estimates that of the 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants, 78 percent originate from Mexico, Central America and Latin America, with 100,000 to 150,000 living in Tennessee.
Between 2000 and 2005, Shelby County saw a 31 percent increase in the Latino population.
"The number has just exploded," said Jodi Elliot, bilingual service coordinator with Tennessee's Early Intervention System.
TEIS is a program funded by a federal grant for children between birth and age 3 who are developmentally delayed. TEIS works with the parents to coordinate treatment with health care professionals. However, if a child does not have a social security number, TEIS cannot help them.