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Limited Right

The institution of marriage seems embattled from all sides these days. The new Supreme Court decision is another strike. It will be interesting to see how this case will serve as precedent to deny spousal visas across the board for any number of reasons - since there is no fundamental right, then there is no basis for due process. It is possible that in the specific instance of this denial the reasoning was correct but by taking the steps that followed and removing the option for judicial review, this becomes about granting the consular officers unlimited power and no expectation of accountability.

Not all decisions will be fair or correct but on the basis of this ruling, that will be the final, irreversible decision anyway. It becomes possible that the visa can be granted or denied at whim - based on something not feeling right. It's not about a singular decision based on the details of the case but how it was extrapolated in the ruling to become bigger to the point of limitless. How things work out in practice is a different matter, there is a human element, officers who have empathy and are keen on doing what is right and fair. But the system has now been set up a particular kind of outcome becoming rampant without any remedy. If the spouse is not "guaranteed" entry then other relatives including parents probably can expect only worse extending the logic that was applied to rule on this case: 

Coney-Barrett surveyed the history of immigration law, stating Congress has “never made spousal immigration a matter of right.” Instead, according to the court, spousal immigration is a privilege that cannot trigger judicial review of an immigration decision

Likewise there is absolutely no right to parental immigration. If said parents are well past retirement age, they can only add burden to the American system by consuming goods and services, not producing anything in return. They are unlikely to assimilate and integrate into the mainstream and would stick out as aliens from a different culture until death. There is arguably no value for the state to bring such people in as immigrants. 

Marriage is already becoming the preserve of the rich and educated. The decision to have children is even more fraught - the cost of childcare makes it impossible sometimes for both parents to work. If one has to give up their career, that marriage best be rock-solid. These are the times we live and so it makes sense that having aging parents close by so you are not anxious about them is the most extreme form of privilege that America might not deem required for the average naturalized citizen - they were afforded plenty of privilege already (which is arguably true given where they came from)

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