Cheese in a mouse-trap

An excellent personal account I found today details the emotional journey of an ambitious young engineer through his 10 year stint in the USA. Reading it has inspired me to write the following:

Early 1990s were the days when the American dream was becoming more of a reality for many brilliant engineers from India. These were the type of guys who could re-invent electricity if needed. A poor nation with scarce natural resources, corrupt bureaucracy, abundant poverty and an embarassing caste-system had finally found a niche - intelligent, educated, english-speaking and motivated youth.

The cheese
America seemed the place where the best of everything was. Indian youth were getting exposed to the world of opportunities outside its poor motherland. Indians are extremely patrioitic, yet these young men and women wanted to embrace a different land. May be they had given up hope on their own country. May be they wanted a short-cut to a more materialistic life. American companies valued their skills and talent and were willing to hire people from countries half way around the globe.

The mouse-trap
Many came to the U.S. on work-permits that would allow them to work in the U.S.A for a few years. Once here, companies would sponsor them for permanent residency ("green" card) which would allow them to stay in the U.S. permanently. While all this sounded good, little did they know that the decades old immigration laws were going to trap them in a state of limbo soon. October 12 2005 was the D-day for most green card applicants when their applications were further delayed back by 5 or more years after having waited 3 years or more. This came as a rude shock for most people who were just going about their lives until then. This had completely destroyed all their future plans. From marriage, to buying a house, to changing jobs.

Freedom
When things go as expected people feel a sense of freedom to plan their lives. When everything you do is constrained by an unknown date of attaining permanent residency, you loose the freedom to plan your life. When the U.S. law makers willingly ignore the pain and agony of living every day waiting for the next visa bulletin, you know you are not wanted here. When America is not the dream you thought it was, it is time to break free.