Why Some Immigrants Choose to Stay Undocumented
Over the years, I’ve worked with countless individuals who have faced the difficult reality of being undocumented in the U.S. Many people assume that immigrants who lack legal status simply refuse to follow the law or “get in line,” but the truth is far more complicated. The immigration system is restrictive, confusing, and often fails to provide realistic options for many who come here seeking work, safety, or family reunification. I’ve seen skilled workers struggle to find an employer willing to sponsor them, families wait decades for a visa, and asylum seekers face impossible legal hurdles. Others arrive legally but overstay visas, unable to adjust their status because the system gives them no way to do so. Fear of deportation, economic necessity, and legal roadblocks keep millions of immigrants undocumented—not because they want to be, but because they have no other choice. Limited Legal Pathways to Permanent Status One of the biggest obstacles for immigrants is that the U.S. immig...