EDITORIAL: Vague rules tearing families apartThe COVID-19 pandemic has challenged democracies worldwide with legal and ethical dilemmas, pitting public health against other core values such as privacy and freedom of movement. Since last year, foreign spouses have been calling for senseless spousal visa rules to be eased, but their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. Unaware of the policy and what constitutes a “humanitarian” reason, few immigration officials are recommending this route, inadvertently separating an estimated 1,000-plus spouses and children from their families. The vast majority of people would agree that the “humanitarian” thing to do would be to keep immediate families together, especially while weathering a global pandemic. Yet ambiguous rules — however well-intentioned — are adding undue stress to people already anxious about being separated from their partners, as well as to immigration officials who are unsure of the rules and reluctant to pass judgement on a case.

Source: Taipei Times August 30, 2021 16:07 UTC