Hair salon owner in New Jersey finds Biden's policies deeply personal
If the husband, an immigrant from Brazil without papers, desires to obtain US citizenship, he would need to abandon the country for a full decade.
More than eleven years have passed since a legal advisor delivered the disheartening news, yet the pain still lingers.
"I can still recall the conversation like someone had sucked the air out of my lungs. It took me off guard, as did my husband. We weren't prepared for that revelation," DeAzevedo recalls.
On a Tuesday, DeAzevedo, the owner of a hair salon in New Jersey, found herself beginning to regain her breath. Settled in the second row at an event at the White House, she applauded as President Biden declared a new policy intended to aid her family and approximately 500,000 others in similar situations. This policy enables certain undocumented spouses and children of US citizens to apply for long-term residency without leaving their homeland.
"This is truly substantial," noted Julia Gelatt, the associate director of the US program at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. "It's eradicating a barrier that had prevented hundreds of thousands of unauthorized immigrants from acquiring the permanent residence they're entitled to."
The announcement made during the election year draws appreciative comments from Democrats and bitter criticism from Republicans.
DeAzevedo, the president of American Families United, an organization advocating for mixed-status families, insists it should not be a political matter, but a question of doing the right thing. She shared her experiences with CNN this week, both before and after Biden's announcement, explaining how living as an outsider has affected her, her husband, and their 11-year-old son, and the potential implications of the new policy for them and many others. Excerpts from these conversations have been edited for brevity and clarity.
How have you been feeling?
I am still trying to wrap my head around this. It was an extraordinary day, to go to the White House for the first time and witness such a historic announcement. I’m not usually an emotional person. I don't cry easily. However, it was incredibly challenging for me to keep my emotions in check during the president's speech. It was emotional learning that he was talking about my family and all the people I care about.
Many assume that when an undocumented immigrant marries a US citizen, they can easily obtain legal status.
You would be mistaken.
When did you realize this fact?
We were newlyweds, and I was pregnant at the time. I knew my husband didn't have US status. I thought I would simply find a lawyer. So we consulted with one. She delivered the bad news: "I’m sorry, but I can’t do anything to help you guys. Your husband would have to leave the country for 10 years."
(Following the meeting with the attorney), we were at a loss for what to do. I couldn't move to Brazil. I had built my business, family, and life here. We didn't want to leave our young child without his father. So we decided to stay in the shadows, hoping for change. Living that way is not for the weak-hearted.
What impact has this situation had on your daily lives?
It's frustrating since my husband can't utilize his full potential at work. He can only secure informal jobs or anything available. We were unable to reach our full potential as a family. I had to secure a mortgage alone because he couldn't be on it with me. He can't get life or health insurance.
There are so many trivial, ridiculous things he's excluded from. It feels like being a second-class citizen. It's as if you reside here and pay taxes but can't be treated like a human being like everyone else around you. It's cruel.
He hasn't visited his parents in 18 years. His father passed away, and he was never able to return to pay his last respects. I think people tend to forget the emotional toll. You will never get back those moments. He missed the chance to give his father a final embrace.
Had you ever considered this reality before meeting your husband?
Not really. I had friends from the Brazilian community, so I had an idea, but I wasn't fully aware. For me, it wasn't important because I had a lineage on one side stretching back to the Revolutionary War, and on the other, my mother's family had been in the US for three generations, with ancestors who arrived on Ellis Island. The immigrant narrative has always been a significant part of my family. I never imagined there would be such a senseless hurdle for someone if they were married to an American.
Do you find yourself often meeting people who are unaware of this reality for so many families? What do you tell them?
I don't usually share my situation openly. It's not like I walk around with a sign saying "my husband's undocumented." However, if I hear people criticizing immigrants, I can't help but argue, "you don't know the whole truth. Don't judge me for being an "Illegal immigrant." My husband, whom you enjoy spending time with and view as a great human, falls into this group of people." When I inform people about it, they are usually stunned.
Here's the paraphrased version of the text:
So, how does this latest policy change affect you and your family?
I guess the crucial thing is the finer points of the execution.
What was declared today was the basic structure, like the aim, the instruction, and the initial blueprint, but no substantial details about the practical application.
For my hubby, it could possibly be the key that unleashes his chance to obtain a green card, which he's eligible for only after spending ten years outside the country. If it comes to that, he could then advance towards getting his green card and eventually becoming a citizen.
That would mean he could see his mom again after 18 years of separation. My kid would be able to travel with his dad and finally meet his grandmother. He hasn't met her yet. It would bring a lot of things — peace of mind, no more worrying if my husband gets stopped by the cops. It's just terrifying when he's late or doesn't answer his phone. You immediately think the worst.
And it sounds like having a work permit would make a huge difference?
Definitely a massive game-changer.
You got more politically active during the Trump administration's family separations. Are you worried that, as significant as this policy is, it could be undone by a future administration?
I'm kind of at odds with that because there are always concerns. But during the pandemic, when the initial CARES Act funding left mixed-status families out, Republican senators like Marco Rubio and John Cornyn helped us out and made sure that funding covered our families as well, not just our spouses but also ensured US citizens and their kids could receive those funds when the next round came out.
So, knowing that Republicans fought for this before and Donald Trump himself agreed and signed it into law gives me hope that maybe the "family values" party might see that this isn't fair. Plus, Donald Trump's wife is an immigrant who benefited from the spousal green card pathway. He should understand better than anyone that our families should be treated the same as everyone else.
What's your response to Republican leadership calling this new policy a "mass amnesty scheme"?
It's disheartening. I hope they'll reconsider their stance on that. Not only because their candidate for president is married to an immigrant who benefited from the spousal green card pathway, but also, they should have some compassion and recognize that we're American families. My family has roots that go back to the Revolutionary War, and the thought that my husband wouldn't be welcome in this country is outrageous.
Do you have any questions about what's next? What's on your mind as you look towards the months ahead?
We have a lot of discussions coming up with our partners and those we've been working with inside government. I want to ensure my members are covered — not only those here in the US. I think it's important to shed light on the Americans who went through the process, left the country for an interview, and were barred from returning due to bad legal advice or similar issues. There are families suffering right now, and we need to provide relief for them as well. Today was a step in the right direction, like a down payment on a promise, and there's a lot of work still to be done.
Did your husband and your son attend the White House with you?
My son and my mom accompanied me. My husband, due to policy, wasn't able to go to the White House. He's in DC, though, and he was able to celebrate.
He watched it live. For him, it was the first time he felt like there was a glimmer of hope for some sense of normalcy for him. You see, he hasn't seen his mom for 18 years, and since his dad passed away since he left Brazil, if he ever gets to return, his dad won't be there. So today provided him with a glimmer of hope for some sense of normalcy.
CNN’s Michael Williams contributed to this report.
Read also:
- DeAzevedo, the president of American Families United, shared her experiences with CNN, discussing how living as an outsider has affected her, her husband, and their 11-year-old son, and the potential implications of the new policy for them and many others in the US.
- DeAzevedo explained that living as an undocumented family in the US is challenging, as her husband can't utilize his full potential at work, they were unable to reach their full potential as a family, and he cannot access benefits like life or health insurance due to his status.
