One of my students is from Guatemala. He has been here 12 years. When he arrived here, he immediately began the process of documenting his presence here. As long as you are in the process, you can stay and you can work. HOWEVER, you cannot leave. So he has not been able to go back to Guatemala and see his parents and family FOR TWELVE YEARS. He runs a little drywall company, pays taxes, including payroll and social security taxes. About a month ago (TWELVE YEARS LATER) he received his "green card".

Just a little story.

"I believe very deeply that compassion is the route not only for the evolution of the full human being, but for the very survival of the human race." —The Dalai Lama