Life trumps immigration law for Murrar

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Just like the rest of us, Elizabeth Murrar is counting down the days until the presidential election.

“This race isn’t just about who will be president,” Murrar said. “It’s also about electing a Congress that has the courage to fix the immigration system, and appointing Supreme Court justices brave enough to uphold a fair law.”

For Murrar, a Milwaukee immigration lawyer, the election is as personal as it is political.

On election night, Murrar, her husband, Rami, and their son, Jaime, will have a better understanding of their future. If Donald Trump is elected president it will be her “worst nightmare.” If it’s Hillary Clinton, a deeply flawed immigration system will likely remain in place. The status quo has never looked so appealing.

Murrar works with immigrants who have ended up in Wisconsin, often fighting to change their lives for the better. Her clients are often people who simply want to end years of hiding in plain sight and become documented.

“What people don’t understand,” said Murrar, “is that the immigration process is so incredibly broken that the process to apply for a child’s visa can take years to navigate. If you’re an adult child, you may wait decades for a decision.”

Many of Murrar’s cases involve immigrants who are the victims of crime or domestic abuse. The U-Visa is intended to protect them from deportation but doesn’t always.

“It’s one hurdle after another that takes years and sometimes they are deported because the clock runs out,” Murrar said. “Telling a client they have no more options is the worst feeling for both of us as you can imagine.”

Murrar is Jewish and her Palestinian husband and their son are both Muslims.

“I am terrified of what could happen to my family and my clients if Trump wins,” Murrar said.

Murrar hears stories everyday of clients dealing with anxiety, depression and sleeplessness.

“I don’t want our son to leave the country,” said Murrar. “If Trump bans Muslims, Jaime and Rami could end up stranded.”

Her hope is that with a Clinton victory and significant changes in Congress, there could still be a chance to mend the system. As “broken” as it is, Murrar says that the principles underlying immigration law are still good, although “we’ve lost sight of the true spirit.”