Family reunification is generally considered a right, not a privilege, at least in the "civilized world".

The US switched to acting stingy, mean, xenophobic, etc. a few decades ago. I'm not sure why, as it has about 1/9th the population density of an India.

One could wax philosophical about "the end of the west" and how the influx of immigrants was needed to colonize the land up to the Pacific Ocean and feed the factories of our vast manufacturing sector, and clearly those motives both dried up.

I'm not sure where the whole "punish immigrants and treat them like garbage" concept came from.

I may sound extreme to some folks, but having some experience as an immigrant FROM the USA moving TO Europe after significant time lived abroad (50+ countries in a decade) I can honestly say that no country on earth is currently more xenophobic and snobby.

Someone will probably flag me for promulgating such views but it's the inexorable conclusion I've come to given my experiences.