Melania parents become US citizens using 'chain migration' Trump denounces

President Donald Trump's Slovenian in-laws became US citizens yesterday through "chain migration", a programme he has repeatedly denounced, in which adult American citizens can obtain citizenship for their relatives.

First Lady Melania Trump's parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, became US citizens at a private ceremony here. She had sponsored her parents for their green cards, their lawyer Michael Wildes said in a report in The New York Times.

"Once they had the green card, they then applied for citizenship when they were eligible," he said.

When asked if the Knavses had obtained citizenship through "chain migration", Wildes, said, "I suppose." "It's a dirty a dirtier word," he said, but added that "it stands for a bedrock of our immigration process when it comes to family reunification."
In November, he had tweeted, "CHAIN MIGRATION must end now! Some people come in, and they bring their whole family with them, who can be truly evil. NOT ACCEPTABLE!
Standing alongside the Knavses, their lawyer said the couple has "travailed a wonderful journey, like most have, millions have in getting citizenship and waiting the requisite period of time."
According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, it takes about 1-2 years to process an application for naturalization in New York City. The report quoted their lawyer as saying that the couple had met the five-year requirement, but added, "I can't give further comment."