twocoach wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:55 pm
IllinoisJayhawk wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 3:43 pm
jfish26 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:10 pm
I don't think many doctors/lawyers/scientists try to get in via asylum.
To asylum-seekers, $50 is probably quite often a material sum; lower middle class average annual income in Guatemala is $1,619.
Sorry i tried to paragraph it off, but i was definitely speaking of naturalization when mentioning doctors lawyers scientists etc.
I do agree $50 is more relevant to asylum seekers....but i dont think it is a complete deterrent to seeking asylum.
It's not a deterrent for seeking asylum. People walk from Central America seeking asylum. But it is a deterrent for being able to officially apply for it once they complete that journey. I doubt many folks show up at the southern border with $50 in their pocket.
Playing devils advocate here a bit....so what do you expect them to do once they get let in the country if they dont have $50? Was food and water free on their walk from central america?
I think some probably do show up without $50, and it would be nice if there were some sort of charitable organization that was set up to help them pay to apply because i would certainly send $50 or whatever to sponsor an applicant....but i would guess many show up capable of paying $50 to get out of whatever country/bad situation they are leaving behind.
I actually worked with a person at a golf course in Myrtle Beach who came from Guatemala....he did not seek asylum, but rather entered illegally so that he could work and take money back to his family so that they could come legally and attempt to become citizens....he said it cost nearly $7,000 for him to be brought here by a "coyote" or whatever they are called. He was a great dude. We had a bit of a language barrier but i learned a lot from working with a bunch of those guys in my years in Myrtle Beach.
Personally, just to be clear, i think the $50 fee for first time asylum seekers is kind of dumb....i am assuming there are costs involved with processing and background research on applicants, so i get it...but hopefullly, from how it sounds, they only have to pay this 1 time with their first time applying for asylum, rather than each time they apply......
However i dont think the increase in naturalization cost is a huge deal to them in most instances....my mom took part in naturalization ceremony of my childhood pediatrician who saved my life (i had a heart issue that required open heart surgery when i was a few years old and she is the one who discovered the issue). It was such a cool thing to witness even though i was still school aged at the time that ceremony took place. As i have grown older i realize what a special ceremony that is for a large % of the people who become naturalized.