This H-1B worker has lived in the US for nearly 20 years and built a family here. His mom was dying in India. To visit her, he would need to wait months to book a consular appointment--with the soonest one available likely being scheduled one year out. He made the difficult choice of not visiting his dying mom because leaving without an appointment would mean separation from his children, job, and his other obligations. Much of the commentary around immigration focuses on how such bureaucratic burdens undermine immigrants’ ability to contribute and innovate. But we must remember that this red tape also prevents these people from being fully engaged with their own lives and meaningfully present in the lives of others. This matters too, and these seemingly non-economic problems will eventually translate into economic costs. If America is no longer a place where people feel empowered to be the best versions of themselves as they celebrate, struggle, and grieve, it ceases not just being the land of opportunity, but also the land of dignity and purpose. linkedin.com/posts/gautam-d…
