First lady Melania Trump’s parents obtained U.S. citizenship through “chain migration,” their lawyer said Thursday, a process that has been slammed by President Trump.
Viktor and Amalija Knavs took their oath of citizenship in New York City after living in the U.S. as permanent residents.
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The Knavs’ lawyer Michael Wildes told the New York Times that the couple had been “sponsored by their daughter and then once they had the green card, they then applied for citizenship when they were eligible.”
When asked if the first lady’s parents obtained citizenship through “chain migration,” Wildes said, “I suppose. It’s a dirty — a dirtier word.”
“It stands for a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification,” he continued.
Wildes’ explanation shines a light on the couple’s immigration status, which had been questioned in recent months as the president targeted “chain migration,” in which adult U.S. citizens can request residency for their immediate family.
The president has said the program allows terrorists to enter the country. In November, he tweeted that the process “must end now.”
“Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!” the tweet continued.
CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE! pic.twitter.com/PQGeTTdRtX
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
In order to obtain citizenship, legal permanent residents are required to live in the U.S. continuously and hold their green cards for at least five years. Wildes said the couple had met the five year requirement.
“The application, the process, the interview, was no different than anybody else’s, other than security arrangements to facilitate today,” Wildes said outside the courthouse.
The first lady’s spokeswoman declined to comment on the news, saying the Knavs deserve to have privacy because they are not part of the Trump administration.
The first lady became a U.S. citizen in 2006.
