Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/immigration-attorney-highlights-legal-problems Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript The last conversation in a series on immigration in the United States features the perspective of Priscilla Labovitz, an attorney who works with legal immigrants. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: Priscilla Labovitz has spent 33 years as an immigration attorney, helping immigrants navigate a wide range of legal hurdles. Those include getting green cards and temporary visas, earnings naturalization and seeking asylum here in the U.S.Priscilla Labovitz, welcome.PRISCILLA LABOVITZ, Attorney for Legal Immigrants: Thank you. RAY SUAREZ: Is it difficult to come live in the United States legally? PRISCILLA LABOVITZ: Oh, it is very, very difficult. It is not a question of showing up or putting your name on a list. The law requires either that you are sponsored by an employer who cannot fill a position that you are qualified for and there's no American in the area to fill; or you have to be of extraordinary ability, whether it's in the arts or business or science; or you can have a close family member petition for you, but that would have to be a legal permanent resident or U.S. citizen, spouse, parent or adult child, in some cases a brother or sister, but that takes 20, 30 years. RAY SUAREZ: Well, let's talk about somebody who is trying to stay in the country legally when there's no complicating factors like political problems or criminal record. They've done their paperwork. It seems to be in order. What are some of the bottle necks in the system? PRISCILLA LABOVITZ: Let's take as an example an American citizen wants to bring his sister to the United States. And let's say the sister was born in the Philippines.He would file a petition for his sister, and it would be approved in some months by the immigration service. And then she would languish on a waiting list until they reached the date when her case was filed. They are currently doing cases that were filed in 1994.So that means, if she's here, she's illegal all that time. If she's not here, she's remaining in the Philippines unable even to visit — because after all, she might stay — until her number is reached.