| The U.S. government reacted to the terrorist attacks | | | | that allow for the indefinite detention of any alien |
| of 9/11 with several policy and law changes. Those | | | | whom the Attorney General believes may cause a |
| changes have had an enormous and direct impact | | | | terrorist act. The Act has been challenged on several |
| upon U.S. citizenship and immigration. | | | | legal grounds but remains largely intact. |
| The most sweeping change after 9/11 was the U.S. | | | | The U.S. government continues to fight terrorism by |
| Patriot Act, signed into law on September 26, 2001. | | | | tightening its policies on foreigners in our country. |
| While this Act was designed to protect against | | | | Obtaining visas and green cards now involve a |
| terrorism, it also has had a negative impact on | | | | complicated process, with more detailed background |
| immigrants. The Act allows law enforcement agencies | | | | checks being required. For example, the U.S. |
| more power to search telephone communications, | | | | government will quickly deport individuals for visa or |
| e-mails, medical, financial, and other records. The Act | | | | green card violations. |
| limits restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within | | | | The Patriot Act and other post 9/11 policies still have a |
| the United States, and it gave more discretion to law | | | | negative impact on the immigrant population. Since 9/11, |
| enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining | | | | immigration laws have become more complicated. |
| and deporting immigrants suspected of | | | | Obtaining a fiance visa, for example, has become |
| terrorism-related acts. The Act called for Special | | | | harder, simply due to increased regulation and tighter |
| Registrations, deportations, fingerprinting and | | | | immigration requirements. Thus, the need for an |
| questioning of certain non-citizens, particularly males in | | | | experienced immigration attorney is greater now than |
| certain age groups. The Act was was reauthorized by | | | | ever. |
| Congress in 2005. | | | | If you or someone you know needs an immigration |
| The U.S. Patriot Act contains immigration provisions | | | | attorney, contact the Law Offices of Tiffany Vivo. |