Iowa man to self-deport after running out of visa options

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Laurens Van Beek didn’t have a selection about shifting from the Netherlands to the U.S.—he was solely a child.

“I used to be seven after we moved to the US, and I used to be eight after I moved to Iowa and I’ve been right here ever since. I went to Mark Twain Elementary, to South East Junior Excessive, to Iowa Metropolis Excessive, after which to the College of Iowa for my diploma and caught round to work for IDT right here in Coralville.”

Van Beek’s dad and mom moved right here legally. Van Beek was authorized then, too, as a depending on one other’s visa. Nevertheless, after the age of 21, he was now not capable of be on a mother or father’s visa. He aged out of authorized standing after childhood within the U.S.

Van Beek is now 25. He has used a collection of short-term visa choices to stay within the nation after turning 21. “I got here right here initially underneath my dad and mom’ visa by way of the J visa, then to an F1, after which a dependent of my dad’s F1, after which he switched to the E2 visa to start out his enterprise…After I went to the College of Iowa for my Bachelor’s, I switched to an F1 standing myself.” Van Beek added on the finish of that visa, he utilized for one more standing, after which prolonged it.

He’s now out of choices. “July 5 is my flight in a foreign country.”

“It breaks my coronary heart. It offers me a giant lump in my throat,” stated Harold Van Beek, Laurens’ father. “It’s solely 5 weeks from now that he will likely be gone for I don’t know the way lengthy.”

Van Beek expressed frustration with the system that’s dictated his life, in addition to his son’s. “It doesn’t matter which nook or flip we take, we are going to at all times be thought-about like second-rank folks…I perceive that People don’t perceive something about immigration as a result of they don’t should cope with it.”

Wednesday, Harold Van Beek met with Senator Chuck Grassley to advocate for the CHILDREN Act, which might defend so-called “Documented Dreamers” from getting older out of the system after they flip 21. Dip Patel, founding father of Enhance the Dream, joined. “Most individuals don’t notice that it’s even doable for an immigrant baby to be introduced right here to the nation with authorized standing, develop up right here with authorized standing, be educated right here, after which pressured to go away the one nation you’ve identified.”

With out a legislation, although, Laurens Van Beek is sure for a brand new dwelling in Belgium. “I’m making an attempt to take a look at the intense facet of issues, you understand, take a look at having to maneuver over there as an journey, nevertheless it’s additionally leaving the place I grew up,” stated Van Beek.

Van Beek believes he’ll have the ability to come again to the usby getting a visa by way of his work, however he expects that course of to take not less than a yr. He additionally is aware of there isn’t a assure. “What am I going to do if it doesn’t work out? Am I going to search out one other job there or am I going to remain there?” He added, “I grew up right here and… I’m arguably extra American that Dutch at this level in my life.”

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