Convicted Felon gets 42% of vote against Obama & delegates to Democratic Convention - Page 2

Originally Posted by jamesp

There are Statute of Limitations for most crimes. Although Immigration Violations are civil offenses (except repeated EWI), there is no Statute of Limitations available. It's unfair if you ask me. There are far more severe offenses (both criminal and civil) that are pardoned if a pre-defined number of years have passed without prosecution.

The only avenue for immigrants is the registry provision. If you have been here continuously since January 1, 1971, you get a Green Card and all violations are pardoned. Unlike Statute of Limitations for other Criminal and Civil offenses, this relief is not based on the number of years have passed; rather, it's based on a fixed date - which is logically flawed IMO. None of us were even born anywhere close to the current registry date of Jan 1, 1971. This registry provision was originally intended to be updated in every 25 years or so. So that the newer generations can take advantage of the original intent of provision.

Roxana Bacon in her 2010 memo mentioned that USCIS can exercise a "discretionary option" to move forward the registry date from January 1, 1972. This should NOT require congressional approval. She knows the law and those were her words!

The registry provision in the Immigration Law is what comes the closest to Statute Of Limitation.