Click on the circles to read the stories of U.S. citizens married or engaged to undocumented immigrants from Mexico.In each case, the undocumented spouse or fiancé is ineligible for legalization. This is due to provisions in section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Section 245 (i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allowed qualified undocumented migrants to apply for legalization in the US. When it expired on April 30, 2001, people who crossed the border without inspection and remained unlawfully present for more than one year were forced to return to their country of origin and remain there for ten years before becoming eligible for any immigration benefits. People who have crossed illegally more than once are permanently ineligible for legalization, even if they are married to U.S. citizens and have children who are US citizens.