I want this investigated. Melania's parents moved to front of immigration lines

[Miigwech]

So my question is: are Melania's parents getting Social Security benefits for which they never worked or payed into since they never payed taxes nor any Social Security deductions from a pay check that they never had here in the USA? One would think trump supporters would be happy to know about? Freeloaders.

Road to citizenship for Melania Trump's parents came through program Trump wants to change

The attorney for first lady Melania Trump’s parents confirmed on Thursday that the couple became U.S. citizens with help from their daughter, in a process sometimes called “chain migration” or family-based migration that has been previously lambasted by President Trump.

Michael Wildes, the attorney for the first lady’s parents Viktor and Amalija Knavs, told The New York Times on Thursday that their daughter had sponsored them for a green card, and that they applied for citizenship once they were eligible.

When asked if the couple became citizens through chain migration, Wildes replied, “I suppose. It’s a dirty — a dirtier word.”

Wildes told ABC News "they applied on their own."

“It stands for a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification,” he told the Times.

The Times noted that the couple would have to have their green cards for five years to become eligible for citizenship. Wildes told the newspaper that the Knavs fulfilled the five-year requirement, but declined to give further comment.

The Knavs were sworn in as U.S. citizens earlier Thursday, during a ceremony in New York. The couple is from Slovenia, where Melania Trump was born and raised.
President Trump and other conservative lawmakers have described the immigration process as “chain migration,” and have called for it to be replaced with a merit-based system that would prioritize immigrants with certain skills for green cards.

Democrats and immigration advocates who back the program refer to it as “family migration” and “family reunification visas,” saying the term “chain migration” is offensive and that the policies help reunite communities that are otherwise separated.[/blockquote

]


https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/401160-melanias-parents-lawyer-says-they-obtained-citizenship-through-chain

[Wawannabe]

1. Hypocrites

Yep.

If a person who is not a natural born citizen can’t be president, then the president’s wife should also be natural born. For the exact same reasons that have been put forth for the office of the president.

On edit: And Melania was/is a birther!

[Miigwech]

3. True. Also, her parents were in the Communist Party!

Spread this around like liquid manure.

[pecosbob]

2. My understanding is that your social security payment is based on your last ten quarters of work

So, nothing in, nothing out...

...and if you owe the government any money, it's coming out first.

[Lochloosa]

4. Not exactly

In certain cases, some individuals who immigrate to the United States when they're 65 or older may be entitled to draw Social Security benefits, just like any natural born American citizen. In other cases, immigrants may only draw on their home country’s retirement programs. And some immigrants qualify for benefits from both countries. Here’s an overview of how the rules work

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/030816/immigrants-over-65-and-social-security-benefits.asp

[pecosbob]

5. Thnx

[Ms. Toad]

9. As relevant here:

* Those who immigrate to the United States at age 65 or older may be entitled to Social Security benefits.
* Immigrants to the U.S. must accumulate 40 U.S. work credits to qualify for Social Security, unless there is a totalization agreement between the U.S. and their countries of origin.
* Totalization agreements allow immigrants to combine their work credits from both the U.S. and their home country, in order to receive Social Security benefits.
* The U.S. has totalization agreements with 26 countries

Slovenia is NOT one of the countries, so they would not be eligible for Social Security in the US unless they accumulated 40 quarters of work.

[Miigwech]

6. Fuzzy math

Main Benefits to Becoming a U.S. Citizen

The top ten advantages of becoming a U.S. citizen over a permanent resident are:

1. No need to renew your green card. As a United States citizen, you will not need to renew the card proving your status as a lawful permanent resident every ten years. What's more, you will no longer be required to carry your green card or proof of status with you on an everyday basis (although you will need a federal U.S. ID when traveling).

2. Reduced risk of removal (deportation). Green card holders may be removed for committing certain crimes or doing other acts that match the grounds of deportability found in U.S. immigration law. A U.S. citizen who cannot be deported.

However, be aware that U.S. citizenship may be taken away from you if USCIS finds that you lied to obtain either lawful permanent residence or your U.S. citizenship.

3. Easier travel and reentry into the United States. You will no longer have to deal with the lines of green card holders awaiting entry at U.S. airports, borders, or other entry points. U.S. citizens enter separate lines, and the scrutiny is much less. In addition, as a U.S. citizen you often enjoy easy entry into other countries around the world. In many instances, you can visit foreign countries without a visa.

4. No loss of status after long trips outside the United States. If you spend months or even years outside of the United States, you will not, as a U.S. citizen, risk losing your right to return.

By contrast, a permanent resident who leaves the United States for more than 180 days can lose the right to the green card upon reentry into the United States. The immigration officer can deem the person to have abandoned the green card. (If you currently know you are leaving the United States for more than six months, speak to an immigration attorney. You might be able to obtain a reentry permit prior to leaving.)

5. Ability to petition for more family members to immigration. U.S. citizens can petition more types of family members into the United States than green card holders. Only U.S. citizens may petition parents, siblings, and married children. In addition, in the cases where both U.S. citizens and green card holders may do a petition (such as for spouses), the wait time tends to significantly shorter for U.S. citizens' relations (with some exceptions; consult an attorney for details).

6. Ability to pass U.S. citizenship to children who have green cards. When you become a U.S. citizen, your unmarried children under 18 will automatically become U.S. citizens, too. However, they must be lawful permanent residents; they must be residing in the United States; and they must be in the legal and physical custody of the naturalizing parent.

7. Ability to vote and run for public office. Only United States citizens may vote. Naturalized U.S. citizens can run for most (but not all) elected public offices.

8. Ability to obtain government jobs, grants, other benefits. Certain government jobs require U.S. citizenship. These include many local, state, and federal government positions. Many federal grants and scholarships are available only to U.S. citizens.

9. Tax and estate planning benefits. United States citizens and permanent residents are not always treated the same for tax and estate purposes. Speak to a Certified Public Accountant about these issues.

10. Ability to obtain a U.S. Passport. U.S. citizens have the right to obtain a passport and the ability to obtain assistance from U.S. Embassies and Consulates when traveling in other countries.
Learn More About Becoming a U.S. Citizen

If you meet the legal requirements, and don’t have any complications, becoming a U.S. citizen is a fairly straightforward process. You start by filing the N-400 application and paying the fee.

You’ll then be scheduled an appointment for fingerprinting and background check. If all goes well, you’ll interview with a USCIS official and take an English and civics test.

The final step is the Oath Ceremony where you will receive your certificate of naturalization.

https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/advantages-becoming-naturalized-citizen.html

[abqtommy]

7. It's true that "rank has its priveleges"* and tRUMP is as rank as they come.

*https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/462326/origin-of-rank-hath-its-privileges

From Thomas Gisborne, An Enquiry Into the Duties of the Female Sex (1806). Another visionary who knew tRUMP was coming.

[UTUSN]

8. K&R