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What’s happening is that there is no central database of all US citizens, but there is information on every lawful immigrant. I think you’re trying to say: “th
by diebeforei485 8y ago
What’s happening is that there is no central database of all US citizens, but there is information on every lawful immigrant.
I think you’re trying to say: “they have no qualms deporting x, and x has a stronger claim to being here than y, so clearly they’d have no qualms deporting y”.
The reality is completely different. If you’re a lawful immigrant, they have your fingerprints, photograph, travel history, address, and a whole lot of other information already, and you can use that to prove your identity. Of course, you may then be subject to a fine for not carrying your documents, as all aliens are required to pursuant to INA 264(e) and other provisions.
- mikeash 8y agoThere have been cases where the citizen held by ICE had easy proof of citizenship but ICE just refused to consider it. And you might remember green card holders getting refused entry and deported by the hundreds during the weekend of Trump’s abortive “travel ban,” although strictly speaking that’s not ICE.
- diebeforei485 8y agoI would assume that’s because they hear the “I’m totally a US Citizen” claim all the time. I see you haven’t attempted to address my point of fingerprints showing a match. As for the travel ban affecting green card holders, that was stupid but irrelevant to the point at hand. That part was reversed very quickly, I might add.
- mikeash 8y agoIn one case, the guy had somebody bring his US passport. They wouldn’t look at it. What makes you think they’re certain to dig into their files based on the word of someone who says “I’m totally a green card holder” if they won’t even look at a passport that’s brought to them?
- diebeforei485 8y agoI’m not saying they’d “dig into their files based on the word of someone”. Here’s what I am saying: ICE runs the fingerprints of everyone they arrest, and the system will show a match for anyone who went through the legal immigration process.
- mikeash 8y agoMust be a great system if it never makes mistakes and the operators always believe it. And once they do, as long as you didn’t make a typo on a form, or accidentally make a misstatement to an officer, or the president decides people from your country aren’t welcome here anymore, you’ll be free to go!