When you read articles like these or hear about places like Texas bussing migrants to other cities, what exactly do they mean by “migrants?”
Someone who enters the country illegally would be detained and deported, and someone who enters on a visa would be sponsored by a family member, employer, school, etc. As far as I know, refugees and asylum seekers make up a small number.
Our immigration system is broken and needlessly difficult, but it does clearly define a person who can live in the country legally. Who are all these people who enter the country and don’t run afoul of ICE but also don’t have a support system? It feels like there’s a legal “gray area” somewhere between illegal and legal immigration.
When people come in they use an app and get on a list for an appointment to hear their case months/years in the future. One of my school kids (with pretty severe physical disabilities) came into Texas with parents and grandparents. They found a house to rent and signed a lease, with no idea when or where they might get an appointment. The house burned down and they lost everything. People at school donated clothes and furniture and lots of things to help them get set up again. 6 months later they got notice that their appointment was scheduled in New York. They packed the kid’s wheelchair and everything else they could carry into 2 mini vans and moved to New York with no support. It’s a system that sets people up for failure.
How did they come into the country initially? Is this a case of they came in illegally but were able to apply for residency? I honestly didn’t know that was even a possibility.
I feel like if someone wants to come into the country, work, pay taxes, and generally be a contributing member of society, why make it so hard? That’s already more than half of the people born here are willing to do, and it’s an overall improvement to the American population. Half of the problems we have with immigration are because it’s so damned hard for the average person who just wants to make a better life for themselves. Unless you’re Native American, we are all descended from immigrants.
How did they come into the country initially?
They show up at the border and claim asylum. That’s it. Once they make that claim the US lets them in and places them in line to meet with a Judge who can either grant or deny their claim. The problem is that right now those Judges have a backlog of 6 or more years.
I had no idea that’s how an asylum claim worked; I think I always assumed it was a very rare process.
I would be in favor of a system where anyone who wants residency in the USA can apply, and as long as they pass a background check, be immediately granted temporary residency and a work permit; it should be a short process, and it should be free. As long as they can show proof over a period of time (maybe a year or so) that they are gainfully employed and have not committed a crime, give them permanent residency and a path to citizenship. Part of the problem we have with immigration is that it’s so inaccessible and it forces people into an environment where even if they want to contribute to society, they’re not allowed to work. I strongly believe that whether someone jumps the border, claims asylum or overstays a visitors visa, most of them aren’t looking for a handout. They’re looking for what they believe will be a better life than the one they came from.
Despite the problems we have as a country, I have always been patriotic and unashamed to admit it; I love it here. I also recognize that being an American has nothing to do with your ethnic background, political views, nation of origin, or any other demographic. If someone decides that they want to leave everything they know, move to a new country, contribute to our society, and be a part of our culture, let them! Those are exactly the kind of people that built our country, and those are exactly the kind of people we need today. The crusty old policy-makers who have forgotten that are the source of most of the issues we’re dealing with now.
And maybe schedule their hearings in the city or state where they live or virtually instead of dropping them in one city and scheduling them somewhere completely different?
I’m just wondering what kind of a hellhole you’d have to be coming from to choose the US as an asylum country.
The usual places like Latin America, China, and France.
someone who enters on a visa would be sponsored by a family member, employer, school, etc.
Not necessarily. They can enter on a tourist visa and overstay
When you enter the US on a visa you get an I-94 which tells you how much you can stay in the country. This is max 6 months for tourists if you have a clean record and you cannot apply for a SSN or get a job. Many people just overstay this period and find a way to work
While all people deserve to be treated with respect, I can’t help but wonder why they thought they would be? They’re probably getting longer shelter stays, better access to services, and more respect than the homeless population that isn’t made up of migrants. The barriers migrants are facing are meant to be a deterrent no matter how wrong that might be.
Shouldn’t the barriers that migrants are meant to be facing be on the border?
No, border walls don’t work unless you’re willing to kill those who try to cross.
I think they meant other types of barriers.
So wait until they get 1500 miles away and then make it difficult for them?
So long as they contribute I don’t particularly care if they’re here, so sure if you want intercept them but I wouldn’t waste the time. Stop criminals instead of worrying about immigration from our southern border that we by in large created by destabilizing southern nations for fun and profit.
