Zach Ahlstrom, Senior Associate at Berardi Immigration Law, was recently featured on Spectrum News. He spoke about the realities facing long-term residents and their families as immigration enforcement increases across New York State.
The segment covered a Mount Morris community rallying behind a local restaurant owner and longtime neighbor who was recently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Zach explained the larger issues that cases like this bring to light. These include visa backlogs that can stretch past a decade for certain nationalities, closer scrutiny of every petition, and processing times that keep getting longer.
He also stressed how often people underestimate how long the U.S. immigration process really takes:
“because of visa backlogs, you know, you can wait upwards of 10, 15 years to get a green card. Everything is slow and more difficult. […] And everything is taking forever. The processing times continue to increase. And if you’ve never experienced U.S. immigration, you might hear people say, well, it’s a long process, so everything takes a while. We’re talking years, not months or weeks.”
Zach described the current climate as part of a broader shift in focus and resources toward enforcement, not a change in the immigration system itself. He also pointed to a sharp drop in naturalization interviews compared with a year ago. Those delays fall hardest on people who have followed every step correctly and are waiting for an answer.
Above all, Zach reminded viewers that there is a human side to immigration that is easy to forget. Families face real stress, real expense, and sometimes the very real possibility of separation. His advice for anyone unsure of where they stand was simple: talk with experienced immigration counsel to understand your situation and explore whether you have viable options to remain in the United States.
Read the full story and watch Zach’s interview here: Mount Morris rallies behind restaurant owner detained by ICE
Immigration processing delays and increased enforcement are creating uncertainty for individuals, families, and employers alike. Berardi Immigration Law is monitoring these developments closely and is here to help you understand your options. Nobody should navigate immigration alone. If you have questions about your U.S. immigration journey, click here to contact us today.
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