The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was updating guidance on petitions to bring child brides into the country, emphasizing that marriages involving minors required special attention.
The move comes in response to an AP report that revealed that there were 5,000 cases of adults petitioning on behalf of minors and nearly 3,000 examples of minors seeking to bring in older spouses or fiancees, sparking concerns that some of these were cases of forced marriage.
Take Action: Join the Fight Against Forced Child Marriage
Petitions involving minors must now meet these requirements:
- The marriage was lawful where it was celebrated
- The marriage is legal in the state where they will live
- The marriage is bona fide and the minor consented freely to it
Voice of America reports:
The approval of the petitions is the first of a two-step visa process, and USCIS had already said it has taken steps to better flag and vet the petitions. Petitions are first considered by USCIS. If granted, they must be approved by the State Department. Overall, there were 3.5 million petitions received from budget years 2007 through 2017.
Marriage between adults and minors is not uncommon in the U.S., and most states allow children to marry with some restrictions.
But the data raise questions about whether the immigration system may be enabling forced marriage and about how U.S. laws may be compounding the problem despite efforts to limit child and forced marriage.
The USCIS changes will not stop child marriage — age limits must be set by Congress, and states — but officials hope it will help detect instances where a spouse is in the marriage against her will.
“USCIS is taking action to the maximum extent permitted under current immigration law to highlight special considerations in the adjudication of marriage-based immigrant petitions involving a minor,” said USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna.
“While these are steps in the right direction, ultimately it is up to Congress to bring more certainty and legal clarity to this process for both petitioners and USCIS officers.”
Fraidy Reiss from non-profit Unchained at Last reiterated the need to change age requirements in law.
“What we need is strong legislation that closes the dangerous immigration loophole that currently allows children of any age to petition for a foreign spouse or fiance(e) or to be the beneficiary of a spousal or fiance(e) visa,” she said.
Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.
America should have stepped up decades ago. These child brides are often raped to death. India is very bad. Child Brides is legal pedophilia for these disgusting men. Pregnant at 10 years old. These men are MONSTERS. Their traditions are slavery. they can traffic their bride if they want. It is sick and disgusting. just like the men who have always behaved this way. Men are not the boss of the world. Just look at what these MEN have done to our planet. The rich will be our demise. Climate Change
Let’s work toward “age 18 no exceptions” among both parties to the marriage for these petitions to be granted.
Children belong in school. Not the bedchamber of pedophiles.
Poverty in Africa as increased the highest rate of women and children been sold out for rituals, drugs, prostitution and slavery. This is common in Asian countries and part of Europe and Latin American in search for greener pastures, eg; Jobs, Dating site and advance slavery.
This can only be managed when there are much awareness of Education and Economic development in most of this Vulnerable countries.
What happens if the child bride later wants to escape the marriage? Can Child Protection step in?