As an immigration attorney for over 20 years, Sue Ann Balch has seen a lot. She has assisted clients through several presidential administrations and has witnessed how policy changes impact them.
With former President Joe Biden's open border policy, Balch said the slew of illegal immigrants crossing the southern border trickled into Alabama, making things much more difficult for immigrants who attempted to come to the United States legally.
Balch said issues began with the second Obama administration. It became challenging to get paperwork completed for legitimate immigration purposes.
"The Obama administration and the Biden administration processed the illegal people's paperwork before they would process the legal people's paperwork," Balch remembered.
"I would see legal people who legally came here did not illegally overstay their tourist visas, and I would see people have to wait forever to get their paperwork," she said.
Balch said illegal immigrants were given more attention and received temporary work permits before her legal clients received theirs. Over time, Balch noted the perception that a temporary work visa made the immigrants legal when it did not.
"There was nothing in the code of federal regulations that provided for that to happen," she explained. "It was just a Biden-era policy, and a policy is not as important as law."
Meanwhile, Balch's clients were placed at the back of the line to get their right to work and live in the United States.
"I mean, that was a shame," said Balch. "I know I've told many legal immigrants that they're the ones who ought to be upset about all the illegal people because, you know, it was delaying them getting their green cards."
Balch said illegal immigrants were given childcare, housing, Medicare and Medicaid above legal immigrants and American citizens.
"We have American citizens that are not getting enough, you know?" she said. "And I mean, there's something about that that's just not right."
Making matters worse, the illegals are taking jobs, Balch said. Immigrants historically started in lower-end jobs, such as those in the construction and hospitality industries, and Balch said those jobs are filling up quickly.
With the Trump administration making moves to get violent illegal immigrants off the streets, Balch said there will be improvements. However, she said it will take continued support of those efforts to be successful.
"It's just, it's a mess," Balch said. "… We need law and order because if you don't have law and order, you just have chaos, which is what we've got right now."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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