20 Years, 3 Jobs, No Papers: Why It’s So Hard to Get Legal Status in America

 Imagine living in the same neighborhood for 20 years.

You work three jobs. You pay taxes. You raise your kids here. You go to church here. You celebrate holidays here.

This country is your home and yet, you still don’t have papers.

Millions of immigrants are living this exact reality in the United States. And contrary to what some people say, it’s not because they’re lazy, or didn’t “get in line” it’s because the system is broken.

There Is No Simple Line

Let’s clear up one of the biggest myths:

“Why don’t they just apply and get legal status?”

The truth? There is no easy way to apply.

The U.S. immigration system is extremely complex and outdated. In fact, most undocumented immigrants have no legal path to citizenship, no matter how long they’ve been here.

    •    The average wait time for many legal immigration categories is 10–20+ years, especially if you’re from countries like Mexico, India, or the Philippines (U.S. Department of State, 2023).

    •    Some people have been “in line” since the 1990s and are still waiting for a green card.

They’re Too Busy Working to Navigate the System

Many undocumented immigrants work two or three jobs, just to survive. They clean your houses. Build your homes. Deliver your food. Care for your children. Pick your fruit.

They don’t have the luxury of taking time off to attend costly legal appointments, gather documents, or pay thousands of dollars in legal and filing fees.

According to Pew Research, over 7 million undocumented immigrants are part of the U.S. labor force.

These aren’t people “living off the system.” These are the people keeping it running.

Legal Help Is Expensive — and Rare

Immigration law is one of the most complex areas of U.S. law.

Even if someone does qualify for a visa or residency, the legal process is expensive:

    •    Immigration lawyers cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000+

    •    Many immigrants are exploited by scammers promising fake legal help

    •    There’s a shortage of nonprofit immigration lawyers or free legal aid, especially in rural areas

Living in Fear, Yet Still Contributing

Undocumented immigrants live in fear every day — of being deported, losing their family, or having ICE show up at work.

And yet, despite all of this, they:

    •    Pay over $11 billion in taxes every year

    •    Spend billions in local economies

    •    Raise U.S.-born children who grow up to become teachers, doctors, soldiers, and leaders

“Why Haven’t They Fixed Their Status?” Because America Hasn’t Fixed Its Laws.

Most undocumented immigrants want to get right with the law.

But if there’s no pathway to apply, no protections in place, and no reform in decades, how can we blame them for being stuck?

The last time Congress passed major immigration reform was in 1986, nearly 40 years ago.

That’s why people have lived here for 10, 20, even 30 years without being able to fix their status. They aren’t hiding. They’re stuck in a system that refuses to change.

Let’s Be Honest, America Needs Them

We need to stop asking why they haven’t fixed their status — and start asking why the system is designed to keep them in limbo.

Because without them:

    •    Fields don’t get harvested

    •    Restaurants don’t run

    •    Elderly folks don’t get care

    •    Construction slows

    •    America breaks

They have done their part.

They’ve worked. Paid taxes. Raised families. Lived in the shadows.

Now it’s time we do our part and fight for a system that lets them come out of the shadows and finally feel at home in the place they’ve built.

Final Thought:

If you know someone who has lived here for 20 years without papers, don’t ask them “why they haven’t gotten their papers.”

Ask them how you can help.

Because the real question isn’t about them.

It’s about us and whether we’ll choose compassion, or continue ignoring the truth.