cw: an image featuring trumps face
Existing as a queer and trans Pakistani immigrant under the Trump administration has been one of the most exhausting things I’ve gone through. I came to the US when I was only 10. Now, as a 27 year old, I still do not have citizenship and the rights and privileges that come with it. This has been directly due to the immigration policies made by USCIS under the command of the Trump Administration.
I came to the US with my mom and brothers as a H4 visa dependent. After 9 years of high immigration fees, multiple applications, lawyers, and endless determination on my mothers part – we finally received our green cards in 2013. This was a huge milestone for our family and for my sense of security. Just knowing that I did not have to worry about my immigration status for the next 10 years (usually the length for permanent resident/green card status) gave me the freedom to live my life more freely, especially as a trans and queer individual.
In 2015, due to a series of unfortunate events, I received a marijuana possession charge. It happened in Northern VA which, for folks unfamiliar with weed laws, is one of the worst states in terms of enforcement and punishment for marijuana possession in the US. At the time it happened, I didn’t know that even after the expungement of my charge, it was going to come back & haunt me in the future – in a big way.
Fast forward to 2017. Trump was already in office when I finally hit the 5 year minimum of being a permanent resident – the minimum needed to be eligible for naturalization. Unfortunately, this was the period in which Trump started voicing the extent of his islamophobia and promised anti-muslim policies. With another 5 years left on my green card, my parents advised me to hold off until things got a bit better.
By early last year, things continued to snowball and by April, the Trump Administration succeeded to make adjustments to a policy specifically targeting permanent residents/green card holders who had previous marijuana charges – even if the charges in question were expunged. According to the new policy, an applicants “moral character” could be judged through an investigation of the charge – providing grounds for rejecting a naturalization request.
At this time, I am still holding off on moving forward with an application. With the results of this election, the future does feel less grim. I remain hopeful that the new administration will overturn and revisit this policy, and have already exhausted time and resources in figuring out other ways to secure my future in the only country I can really call home.
Unruly Bodies 
Thank you for sharing this post, I have so much respect for your perseverance. Having your rights be a subject of debate must be incredibly draining. Also, the fact that your naturalization request could be denied because of your marijuana charge, that was EXPUNGED, is incomprehensible to me. Possessing/using marijuana has nothing to do with “moral character” and should absolutely not be grounds for blocking citizenship. Regarding Trump and his racist, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant rhetoric, I hope you and your family feel a little better now that he’s out of office (although of course there’s still so much work that needs to be done). I can’t imagine what it was like for you to exist as a queer and trans immigrant under such a president. Sending love and support!!
I applaud you and your perseverance as well as your ability to stay sane throughout this entire process. I so agree that possession or the usage of marijuana does not determine the type of person you are, and you should not be judged for it. Seems like a rough time and a long process but yes remaining hopeful is important, especially since this country now has a new administration in house.