Carry your green card?

[lucyrich 20]

From INA 264:

(d) Every alien in the United States who has been registered and fingerprinted under the provisions of the Alien Registration Act, 1940, or under the provisions of this Act shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations issued by the Attorney General.

(e) Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

Ironically, while it's not a crime to be here without status, it IS a crime to be here with LPR status but without the original Green Card in your personal possession. The law makes no provision for copies to be used as a substitute.

Though I don't believe the letter of the law is often enforced.

Hmm, it brings to mind that N-400 question "Have you ever committed any crime for which you were not arrested?".

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

Just wait, soon even citizens will be required to prove they are citizens by local authorities. Next everyone will complain enough that the solution may be biometrics scan or chip implants. State and local authorities and being trained in federal immigration law and they will soon learn that it is required to carry the original greencard and will start charging people who do not. Why would a ploice officer even ask someone if they are a citizen unless their english isn't good? Then Canadians would get away with never being questioned and people would cry profiling and then they would start asking everyone for proof. So many people are complaining about immigration that state and local authorities are doing more and more to find illegal immigrants here.

[Lansbury 19]

Why would a ploice officer even ask someone if they are a citizen unless their english isn't good? Then Canadians would get away with never being questioned and people would cry profiling and then they would start asking everyone for proof. So many people are complaining about immigration that state and local authorities are doing more and more to find illegal immigrants here.

Perhaps the police might notice they speak very good English but not with an American accent. I have no problems with a police officer asking me my immigration status.

I also have no problems with the State and local authorities seeking out illegal immigrants. In fact the sooner all States pass a law requiring you to prove you are in the US legally before they issue a driving licence/State ID the better.

[Peggy 1]

I only carry a copy with me. My 19 year old son never carries his with him. We have been here almost 3 years

I was stopped at a road block once by the cops here. I still had my Canadian Lisence. When he looked at my lisence he just told me to go get a state lisence and I was on my way.

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

Why would a ploice officer even ask someone if they are a citizen unless their english isn't good? Then Canadians would get away with never being questioned and people would cry profiling and then they would start asking everyone for proof. So many people are complaining about immigration that state and local authorities are doing more and more to find illegal immigrants here.

Perhaps the police might notice they speak very good English but not with an American accent. I have no problems with a police officer asking me my immigration status.

I also have no problems with the State and local authorities seeking out illegal immigrants. In fact the sooner all States pass a law requiring you to prove you are in the US legally before they issue a driving licence/State ID the better.

What about illegal children that have no accent because all they have known is the US? What about children of parents who came here legally and have an accent from there parents, should police go into the schools and detain them until their parents can prove they are citizens?

All the states have to comply with drivers licenses or they will have federal funds taken away.

Why can they just enforce the work verification requirements and also not allow free medical benefits unless you are here legally? If you are arrested then require proof that you are here legally. This would enforce the law and not make everyone here legally and citizens have to deal with harrassment.

They need to go door to door across the US and get it over with once and for all or come up with a human solution.

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

Why would a ploice officer even ask someone if they are a citizen unless their english isn't good? Then Canadians would get away with never being questioned and people would cry profiling and then they would start asking everyone for proof. So many people are complaining about immigration that state and local authorities are doing more and more to find illegal immigrants here.

Perhaps the police might notice they speak very good English but not with an American accent. I have no problems with a police officer asking me my immigration status.

I also have no problems with the State and local authorities seeking out illegal immigrants. In fact the sooner all States pass a law requiring you to prove you are in the US legally before they issue a driving licence/State ID the better.

What about illegal children that have no accent because all they have known is the US? What about children of parents who came here legally and have an accent from there parents, should police go into the schools and detain them until their parents can prove they are citizens?

All the states have to comply with drivers licenses or they will have federal funds taken away.

Why can they just enforce the work verification requirements and also not allow free medical benefits unless you are here legally? If you are arrested then require proof that you are here legally. This would enforce the law and not make everyone here legally and citizens have to deal with harrassment.

They need to go door to door across the US and get it over with once and for all or come up with a human solution.

ere is an example of state laws hurting citizens

http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/medicare/citi...caid_rules.html

[Lansbury 19]

Why would a ploice officer even ask someone if they are a citizen unless their english isn't good? Then Canadians would get away with never being questioned and people would cry profiling and then they would start asking everyone for proof. So many people are complaining about immigration that state and local authorities are doing more and more to find illegal immigrants here.

Perhaps the police might notice they speak very good English but not with an American accent. I have no problems with a police officer asking me my immigration status.

I also have no problems with the State and local authorities seeking out illegal immigrants. In fact the sooner all States pass a law requiring you to prove you are in the US legally before they issue a driving licence/State ID the better.

What about illegal children that have no accent because all they have known is the US? What about children of parents who came here legally and have an accent from there parents, should police go into the schools and detain them until their parents can prove they are citizens?

All the states have to comply with drivers licenses or they will have federal funds taken away.

Why can they just enforce the work verification requirements and also not allow free medical benefits unless you are here legally? If you are arrested then require proof that you are here legally. This would enforce the law and not make everyone here legally and citizens have to deal with harrassment.

They need to go door to door across the US and get it over with once and for all or come up with a human solution.

I am really not sure what you are ranting on about or what point you are trying to make and I'll think I'll leave it that way.

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

Why would a ploice officer even ask someone if they are a citizen unless their english isn't good? Then Canadians would get away with never being questioned and people would cry profiling and then they would start asking everyone for proof. So many people are complaining about immigration that state and local authorities are doing more and more to find illegal immigrants here.

Perhaps the police might notice they speak very good English but not with an American accent. I have no problems with a police officer asking me my immigration status.

I also have no problems with the State and local authorities seeking out illegal immigrants. In fact the sooner all States pass a law requiring you to prove you are in the US legally before they issue a driving licence/State ID the better.

What about illegal children that have no accent because all they have known is the US? What about children of parents who came here legally and have an accent from there parents, should police go into the schools and detain them until their parents can prove they are citizens?

All the states have to comply with drivers licenses or they will have federal funds taken away.

Why can they just enforce the work verification requirements and also not allow free medical benefits unless you are here legally? If you are arrested then require proof that you are here legally. This would enforce the law and not make everyone here legally and citizens have to deal with harrassment.

They need to go door to door across the US and get it over with once and for all or come up with a human solution.

I am really not sure what you are ranting on about or what point you are trying to make and I'll think I'll leave it that way.

Only that you stated that you wanted laws passed to get rid of all the illegal aliens. It you look into the laws they want to pass they are also asking to limit the family based immigration which everyone on VJ used and give the numbers to highly skilled people.

[Chris Parker 11]

Ironically, while it's not a crime to be here without status, it IS a crime to be here with LPR status but without the original Green Card in your personal possession. The law makes no provision for copies to be used as a substitute.

The law is silent about the status of copies. Maybe a local police officer could certify a copy for you if you are concerned about its acceptance?

The irony is true. Being without status is not a crime, but it renders you deportable, but without immigration documents, how are the police/USCIS supposed to know you are a non-citizen? Seems they must depend on the testimony of others and your own oral statements and/or other documents like photocopies to prove it? (BTW - and in civil proceedings, you can be required to testify against yourself and burden of proof can be placed on you, while in criminal proceedings, you may only offer testimony against yourself voluntarily and the burden of proof is to the standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt" and this bruden is always on the government to prove).

Edited March 13, 2008 by Chris Parker

[Lansbury 19]

Only that you stated that you wanted laws passed to get rid of all the illegal aliens. It you look into the laws they want to pass they are also asking to limit the family based immigration which everyone on VJ used and give the numbers to highly skilled people.

Well how you twisted my words around to mean that I'll never know.

[Chris Parker 11]

From INA 264:

(d) Every alien in the United States who has been registered and fingerprinted under the provisions of the Alien Registration Act, 1940, or under the provisions of this Act shall be issued a certificate of alien registration or an alien registration receipt card in such form and manner and at such time as shall be prescribed under regulations issued by the Attorney General.

(e) Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

Ironically, while it's not a crime to be here without status, it IS a crime to be here with LPR status but without the original Green Card in your personal possession.

The law is not just for LPR's, it is for all non-citizens! (and it is probably more important for nonimmigrants to carry original proof of status at all times than permanent residents) Nonimmigrants are initially issued Form I-94 as proof of their alien registration. EAD's can also be used as evidence of alien registration. The full list of documents for all permanent and non-permanent residents that are proof of alien registration under the act is covered in 8 CFR 264.1( b ).

Edited March 13, 2008 by Chris Parker

[athena_ny 1]

Oh please. US citizens who don't look or speak like a foreigner are never going to be asked for their status when they step out the door; so many of these illegal immigrant initiatives are gravely founded in racism. How else will we explain the Puerto Rican who was denied a driver's license in TN because "Puerto Rico isn't part of the US" or the Nicaraguan who was legal and had her green card, passport, and driver's license confiscated because "those documents are fakes" and had to get a lawyer involved and only got ONE of the documents back (I think she only got the passport back).

Like I said, the day that it becomes like Nazi Germany with stars on our chests to identify those who are citizens and those who are not, I will go to my husband's country. I know this isn't popular opinion, but oh well. There are people from certain parts of the world that a large portion of society/government doesn't want here, legal or otherwise. And I'm personally not going to feed into this, considering how hard it is for a legal immigrant already.

Edited March 13, 2008 by athena_ny

[bora bora 1]

My husband carries his GC with him, and he's stubborn so although I told him he'd be better off leaving it home - the decision is his.

[Reba 2]

Here in Oregon the police are not allowed to check your immigration status if they stop you so they can't ask for it anyway. So I doubt there is much point in carrying it but I always do.

However in some states, and some counties or cities within states, have authorized their local police to confirm immigrant status of anyone they stop if they feel the need to check.

I am Canadian, and I live in the South. As soon as I open mymouth and say one word, they know I'm not from here. While I've never been asked by a police officer to show my green card yet, there are cities around me that are authorized to do so, so I believe it is only a matter of time.

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

It is only a matter of time before local authorities start hassling citizens and legal immigrants more and more because of racism. Our children that have one parent that is a legal immigrant are at risk of having to prove their citizenship only because they look hispanic or asian or whatever. One of the best things about the US is that we don't have checkpoints all over that you have to stop and show ID. Those days may be over soon if states start passing thier own immigration laws. They may start setting up checkpoints that require proof of legal status or citizenship. We are getting closer and closer to seeing laws like this start to be introduced by states if things continue the way they are going.

I am all for securing our borders and verifying employment but why do we have to enable witch huts by passing laws in states that allow people to do these types of things. It will have to get worse before anything will be done to make it better.