According to records obtained by the Associated Press, there have been thousands of requests by men to bring child brides to the U.S. approved. The data covers requests made over the past decade which have been legally approved because the Immigration and Nationality Act doesn't set minimum age requirements.
One reported case involved a 49-year-old man who applied for admission for a 15-year-old girl.
The petitions are not illegal. However, they do raise concerns that current immigration policy may be making forced marriage more likely. Questions are also being asked about whether or not varying state marriage laws in the United State may be contributing to the the problem.
Marriage between adults and minors is not uncommon in the United States, and most states allow children to marry with some restrictions.