The Waiting is the Hardest Part

THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART We've all pulled a number to wait in line at the DMV. But even on the worst of days, that wait is measured in minutes or hours. For people waiting to legally immigrate to America, the line is about 5.5 million people long and can last as many as 24 years. These decades-long waits are one of the key ways our broken system encourages illegal immigration. Passing tough, fair, and practical immigration reform (like the Senate-passed bill) will fix the problem once and for all-so the choice isn't between standing in line for two decades or breaking the law. DEPAR TOMELAND HECTOR son of U.S. citizen sister of U.S. citizen from Mexico FELIX NUELA SHAKIB YING skilled worker from India Ph.D. holder from China brother of U.S. citizen from the Philippines from Mexico 24 20 17 10 05 YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS YEARS 1989 1993 1996 2003 2008 YEAR APPLIED LUVE QUACK 1 ON THE RADIO 1 ON TV 1 IN THEATERS 1 IN THE NEWS Featured immigrants are fictional, representative amalgams based on actual immigration wait time data. Immigration wait time data from U.S. Department of State (http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin 5953.html). Total number of pending applications from USA Today, 6/23/13 (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/23/millions-of-immigrants-waiting-for-green-cards/2450461/). ) third way © 2013 Third Way. Free for re-use with attribution/link. Infographic by Bill Rapp, Sarah Trumble, and Clare Jackson. http://www.thirdway.org fresh thinking U. S.