How the U.S. Immigration System Encourages Child Marriages

Publication

How the U.S. Immigration System Encourages Child Marriages

Abstract

The Majority Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, led by Senator Ron Johnson issued a report regarding loopholes in the Immigration and Nationality Act that encourage child marriages. Under INA, a U.S. child may petition for a visa for a spouse or fiancé living in another country, and a U.S. adult may petition for a visa for a minor spouse or fiancé living abroad. The report found that between 2007 and 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved over 8,000 petitions for spousal entry to the United States that involved a minor.