Merit Based Immigration??

Dr. med.vet. Edith E. M. Breburda Ph.D.

published in Oremus Press, July 2019, see also: The Wanderer, 8. 8. 2019

Listening to the bishops’ conference I realized that there might be a confusion of what legal immigrants are. I hear so very often that they are associated with green card holders, who wait to receive citizenship.  

Whereas, a legal immigrant is somebody, who entered the United States for a professional or private reason, with all the necessary documents. Nevertheless, skilled immigrants who have studied or worked in the US and are the backbone of many high technology institutions, become more and more victims of bureaucracy as the processing of applications for residential and work permits is taking decades. To give you a time frame - I entered the United States on Feb. 21, 2001.
I have to admit, I never wanted to come to the US. My first job offer was as a post-doc at Harvard Medical School. I declined. But, some years later, I decided to follow the “request” to work for a world-renowned biochemist at one of the top ten Universities in the US. I left a secure job at the best trauma surgery in Germany behind. 

I was well equipped. I studied Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and did undergraduate studies in Agriculture and Psychology in Germany and hold a DVM, and successfully completed my Ph.D. in Trauma Orthopedics with highest distinctions in 1996. 

My methods on the treatment of juvenile bone fractures were utilized in humans in 2008 and are now the state of the art. The technique resulted in ongoing bone growth, whereas before such fractures left the child with a shorter limb. 

By the time I received an invitation to come to the US I conducted research at Trauma Surgery at the Medical Center of my University and thought 210 Veterinary Students in Histology and Embryology. 
The head of the Department of the most prominent Trauma Surgery in Germany did not want me to leave his team. He was upset and called my new "US-employer" to complain, that he was taking his best scientist away from him.

My research in the United States yielded new insights for embryonic development, HIV treatment, transplantations, and cancer research, as I discovered a new cell line responsible for immune tolerance.
In October 2007, I decided that I wanted to immigrate and applied for an outstanding scientist Visa with recommendations from over 20 University professors, eight months prior to the expiration of my H1B visa.

For some years I heard nothing. And then I suddenly found myself before the immigration court in a sanctuary city in 2009. Even so, it is against immigration law that, as long as an application is processed, you can’t be under removal procedures. The judge was puzzled and asked me every time what I was doing there because America wants scientists and did not want to deport them. He finally dismissed the case in 2012. However, the avenue to immigrate as an alien with extraordinary abilities was closed.

As I struggle with this time consuming, extremely difficult immigration-project, I receive comments like these from people.
“Just, trust in God. He will take care of you. And by the way, don’t bother me.”
“What part of No you don’t understand.”
“If the representative helps you, he would risk going to jail. That’s not really your intention, is it?”
“You don’t need health insurance. You have Jesus.”
“You are privileged. You have a Ph.D. and you are legal in the country. We have to help the poor illegal migrants. Just get a lawyer. He is really cheap. $300 first appointment and tell him I sent you.” 
“A lawyer can't change immigration laws, just don't waste your money.“ 
“Pray to St. John Vianney. We have his relic here.”
“Be happy, that you don’t have to wait in a refugee camp.”
“You are not supposed to be here. You really need to go back to Germany.”

Lucky me! I have a sibling who is a US-Citizen. And there was the Lottery. I tried frantically every year. I learned that family-based immigration is even beyond the worst expectations. And now I am standing in line in this visa category and wait for almost a decade and nothing is moving. I wrote to Senators, Bishops.. you name it. Nobody could help make Merit-based Immigration possible for a highly trained woman.

Meanwhile, I find myself stuck in the whole process and cannot even go back to Germany where I left everything behind.
I need my green card to have work authorization, health insurance or to renew my driver license. The processing time for legal immigrants is getting longer and longer. I speak about years. Since 2018 I am eligible to adjust for the status of permanent residency. But this is not changing the chances to receive my actual green card anytime soon. Since numerous month USCIS is telling me that they are reviewing the case and work to schedule an interview. This is still better as the first suggestion of USCIS to go back to Germany, to start all over again there. It isn’t only the cost or waiting time, but I couldn’t reenter the US for numerous years (a lawyer told me it would not be under 20 years). Summa summarum, I can’t go anywhere.

Years ago, an old priest told me that nothing was in vain. So I have taken advantage of my unique scientific knowledge and become the author of numerous scholarly articles on science and contemporary bioethical issues. In addition, I have published six monographs and four Children books. One of these, “Felix the Shrine Cat” received an Award from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada in 20017. 

I find some consolation in that a priest relative is a classmate of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Thus I have at least the Pope as one of my cherished readers of all of my books written in German.

In the foreword of my book “Promises of New Biotechnologies," the renowned bioethics expert, Prof. Dr. William E. May, wrote:
“Breburda’s excellent study differs because the literature that she examines, and on which she is an authority, is at the forefront of the ‘new biotechnologies.’ A scientist herself, Breburda offers profound insights into and weighty ‘caveats’ regarding the utopias ‘promised’ by the developing biotechnologies.”

In my books, I provide a review, at a layman's level, of many aspects of the "biotech revolution" covering topics from the agrarian to human. I take a "holistic" approach to the topics, dealing not only with scientifically derived facts but also with the ethical and practical implications. 
Because of my background and insightful approach to each of these projects, my books are innovative and unique. They give a new perspective on biotechnological methods to the public and give the layperson the opportunity to understand and participate in the discussion.

My dreams to have the opportunity to continue in the area of my expertise in this country never ceased.  And I hope it might still be possible to receive my green card in the near future - when USCIS finally has time to work on the applications of legal immigrants. I hope you agree with me in this regard.