Let’s play a game. Below are a series of quotations. The speaker is either Donald Trump or Adolph Hitler. Your goal is to guess which leader made each statement.
As you know, Adolph Hitler was known primarily for hating Jews (though he hated plenty of other people as well), while Donald Trump mostly targets immigrants. So in order to make things a bit more challenging, where Trump refers to Mexicans or immigrants, or where Hitler talks about Jews, we will substitute the word “foreigners.” Otherwise, the quotes are unchanged.
The answer key is below. See how many you can get right, and then see how you rate on our Hitler-Trump-o-Meter (a/k/a the Hump-o-Meter). Here we go:
1 – The ultimate goal must definitely be the removal of the foreigners altogether.
2 – You wouldn’t believe how bad these foreigners are. These aren’t people. These are animals.
3 – If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole. That’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country.
4 – We must care for the purity of [our] own blood by eliminating foreigners.
5 – Foreigners are poisoning the blood of our country.
6 – I don’t know if you call foreigners people… In some cases they’re not people.
7 – I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: By defending myself against the foreigner, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.
8 – With satanic joy in his face, the black-haired foreigner lurks in wait for the unsuspecting girl whom he defiles with his blood, thus stealing her from her people.
9 – These foreigners are rapists and criminals.
10 – Humanitarianism is the expression of stupidity and cowardice.
OK, are you all done? Let’s see how you did. The Hitler quotes are numbers 1, 4, 7, 8, and 10. The Trump quotes are numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9. Now, take a look at the Hump-o-Meter to see what your score means:
1-5 correct = Oy vey! You better start studying history or you will be doomed to repeat it.
6-8 correct = Not bad, but you’ll need to do better to earn your MAGA hat.
9 correct = Nice! This is even more impressive than the ability to repeat, “person, woman, man, camera, TV” several times without a mistake.
All 10 correct = You really know your stuff! If Mr. Trump wins the upcoming election, you are a shoe-in for a job in the White House. Or you might want to move to Canada. I am not sure.
Well, that’s all folks. I hope you enjoyed “Trump or Hitler.” Tune in next time, when we play another new game called “What’s Trump Selling Now?” See you there!
Hi Jason. thanks for all you do here.
i have 3 questions.
1. Can i file a writ of mandamus to force USCIS to look into my case just after a year and 4 months?
2. I am already getting so depressed especially as i got into a small issue as i scratched someone’s car though very minimally and the police treated it as a hit and run case. will this now affect my immigration journey?
3. If i want to give up everything and move to a third safe country will i get a bar to come back to the US? I am here with my kids and i just want to leave. How will this affect us if we ever want to come back to the US. One of them was born here. will she still be able to file for me when she turns 21?
I will appreciate your responses.
Thank you.
1 – Yes, but whether it will be successful or not, I do not know, as that varies by office and judge. You should talk to a lawyer who does such cases in your location and have the lawyer evaluate your chances and whether a mandamus is worthwhile. 2 – If you have a criminal conviction, it could have an effect, and so you should try to avoid that. I doubt it would block you from asylum or other relief, but it would depend on the conviction. So if there is a criminal case against you, you need to be sure the lawyer is aware of your immigration status and is knowledgeable about the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. 3 – Assuming you have an asylum case, you can leave and then withdraw the asylum case (I wrote about withdrawing on December 7, 2022). That should make it easier to return, but it would depend on whether you have any immigration violations (or criminal convictions). The US citizen child will keep her citizenship and she can file for you when she is 21. I do not think there are restrictions on that if she is living outside the US, but I think that will work. Take care, Jason
@Jamie, you will not be able to change other people opinions… @Jason, neither will you…
I am just a little sad that you are not the kind of immigration advocates that I thought/hoped to be…but that’s okay…
Dear Jason,
Hope you’re doing well. I have se t my GC application few months ago and there is a question about marriage like how many times you got married. I forgot to write 1 in that box. What could happen to my application when they process? Will they send me back and I have to sent the whole application again or they may call for interview and correct the mistake there?
Should I just send the explanation letter now with updated information for that page only?
Please advise.
I doubt they would send the form back for that omission. If you have the receipt, it should instruct you how to create an online account. You can do that and upload a letter explaining the mistake and maybe a corrected page from the I-485 form. You can also do this by mail, but it would be more effective if you can create an online account. For that to happen, you need to wait for the receipt; otherwise, I do not see how you can make the correction. Take care, Jason
Hey jason,
Would you mind if you let me know how much your office charge for taking a case after being referred to the court from the asylum office? I know it depends on the case but what’s the average amount if you don’t mind so i can see what are my options.
It really does vary depending on the case. For a normal case, we probably charge around $8500 (with a payment plan), but some cases are less and others are more, depending on the circumstances. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I have a question. In June 2023, we submit or green card application with civil surgeon’s paperwork. It was 4 of us, my husband was tge main applicant for the asylum. My husband and my one kid got tge GC recently but USCIS send me and my other kid’s a letter stating that the civil surgeon is no longer in their list. I talked the civil surgeon office and the told us, they had the license until July. Now they don’t have the license. However, we submitted the paperwork at same time. USCIS is asking us to do it again. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you one more time,
A
You have a choice – either you can send them a letter and (if you can get it) proof that the doctor had the license at the time he completed the exam, or you can get get a new exam (and pay again) and send that. If money is not a major issue, I would probably just get the new exam. Although I think there is a decent chance that they will accept the exam if you try option # 1, I fear that they do not accept it, they will deny the entire application, and you will have do everything again (and pay for the form and exam again). It really is unfair, but I think the safer bet is to do a new exam with a new doctor. Take care, Jason
Thank you, Jason.
Hello Alisha,
Just a question of curiosity. Were your green card applications asylum-based? It looks like they were processed in 10 months. You guys are so lucky. Hope your case get resolved soon.
Jason, thank you for your assistance.
I read online https://www.uscis.gov/eadautoextend that for the individuals with pending EAD applications, who filed after October 2023 for a renewal, their EADs are extended 540 days. My question is if my EAD is expiring soon, can I use this as an evidence to extend my current US driver’s license? If yes, what kind of evidence do I need to submit to the Department of Motor Vehicles? Or do I need to wait for the actual EAD to arrive? Our appreciation for your endless dedication and effort.
I think the automatic extension was changed to 180 days, but in any case, to get the extension, you must file the I-765 form to renew the EAD before the old card expires. Once you have the receipt, you are eligible to work legally for the period of the extension (540 or 180 days or whatever the receipt tells you) and you should also be eligible to extend your driver’s license for that period as well. The new card should be valid for 5 years, so that will make life easier. Take care, Jason
I have a green card with asylum status. I want to travel somewhere but I am afraid of being deported back to my country- because of my bad experiences which resulted in my PTSD. My question is how safe it is to travel with refugee travel documents ?
In terms of returning to the US, as long as the RTD is valid, you should be fine – I have never heard about anyone being denied re-entry if they have a valid RTD. Whether the country you want to visit accepts the RTD, I do not know. You might want to check their embassy website or contact the embassy. Some countries accept it and others do not. Take care, Jason
Excellent point, Jason. Also, kindly allow me to add that, while Loveandpeasce’s concerns are legitimate, perhaps because there are understandably so many misconceptions out there about these statuses, s/he must understand that, ordinarily, a CBP officer can’t deny entry, or deport, someone with LPR status. There are very, very limited scenarios in which a green card holder seeking entry to the U.S. can be denied entry by an immigration officer. More than likely, if there is a reason to suspect that your green card should not have been given to you in the first place, you committed a crime after acquiring your green card, you failed to pay taxes, or it appears that you abandoned your LPR status, the most the officer can do is confiscate your green card and have the EOIR send you a notice to appear.
Hi, I had a USCIS asylum case that was finished and closed two years ago (approved). Last year, I applied for GC, and it is in progress. Two days ago, my asylum case was updated and showed the “decision mailed” status again. What does it mean? Has anyone reopened the case and reviewed it for my GC case?
That is a little unusual, but it may just relate to the pending I-485. You will have to wait to see if you get any correspondence about the case. The online messages are not always trustworthy or accurate, and so I doubt the case is re-opened and I would wait to see how the I-485 case goes. If you want to take action, I guess you could email the asylum office to ask about this. You can find their email if you follow the link under Resources called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Got 10 out of 10. Trump’s and Hitler’s sentiments are similar, but their speaking styles are different enough that I can tell them apart.
Quick question; do you happen to know if moving for a change of venue in Immigration Court is still considered applicant-caused delay that stops the EAD clock? I noticed that the list of adjournment codes now says that if codes 8A or 8B are used to grant a change of venue, the clock runs.
I was thinking that – Hitler is more articulate than Trump. I do not have specific info about the change of venue, and even if it is not supposed to stop the clock (which I had not heard before), I do not trust that the court will use the correct code. For this reason, I either move the case first and then file for asylum, or file for asylum, wait for the person to have 180+ days on the clock, and then file to change venue (or better yet, wait for the person to have the EAD and then move the case). Take care, Jason
Thank you for your response. What happened is i entered to usa via d1 and i can’tmy status via marriage and I’m on pending asylum. Once i get travel document i tried to Enter Canada and they told me i can’t get in to Canada since i don’t have a visa. So i returned back to usa. Once i gave figure print he stumped the visa and after some time he came back and said since you didnt enter into Canada i will cancel it and he put x on my Visa but still my i94 show the new entry. So can i use the new entry to adjust my visa?
I doubt there is any type of new entry that helps you. Also, there are a lot of limits on D-1 visa holders. I am not sure whether a person with a D-1 can get asylum at the asylum office – you may need to go to court, but I don’t remember as I have not seen such a case in a few years. It may be worthwhile to consult with a lawyer to go over your options, so you will have a better idea about that. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason, i tried to enter Canada without visa and they told me to go back to America, when i returned the officer stump on my passport and i94 updated with new visa type. After sometime before he gave me my passport he checked something and said since you didn’t go to Canada you don’t need the visa and put x with pen on my visa. Still i94 shows the new entrance. Can i use the new entrance status for adjustment of status? Even if he canceled it it’s showing on i94 online
I do not know how you would use the new entry date to adjust status. If you are applying for some type of immigration benefit, you do need to list your entry date, and I think you will have to use your best judgement about that, as I am not sure from your question which date is best to use. Probably, you would want to provide an explanation and copies of both I-94 documents, if you have them. If not, you can explain about the attempted entry to Canada and what happened. I think as long as you provide a full explanation on your application, you should be fine. Take care, Jason
Good afternoon Jason,
What kind of documents should one expect from USCIS after being admitted to the US as an asylee and how soon should they expect them? I saw on his passport that he was employment authorized and he submitted his EAD application at the Embassy. Again, thank you for all you do for this community of people called animals.
You should get an I-94 at entry that indicates asylum status, and then you should get the EAD in the mail within a few months. If not, you can apply for the EAD from the US, but if the form was already submitted, that should not be necessary. Also, you arrive in the US with asylum, you can apply for a green card in about 6 months. I wrote about that on February 8, 2023 explaining more about the green card process. Take care, Jason
Thank you for your response as always. Yes, my son received his I 94 and the passport states that he was employment authorized. Do you think once he receives his social security card he can already apply for jobs, and will the DMV let him have an ID with his I 94?
He is eligible to work and get a license. However, in many cases, employers and DMV workers do not recognize this without the EAD card, and so he may need to educate them, which is not always easy. Anyway, he is legally eligible and should be able to do those things, but once he has the EAD, it will make life easier. Take care, Jason
Thank you Jason,
Will the social security office send him his social security card as he applied for it at the Embassy and how soon do they send it?
If he filled the I-765 and requested an SS card, they should send it. I think it usually comes around the same time as the EAD. If he does not get the SS card, he can go to the Social Security Office to apply for it once he has the EAD. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,You are such an amazing soul and have been continuously helping the asylum community through thick and thin. My case was recently approved by the IJ, and I want to know if I can include my wife in the adjustment process since she is currently on an H-1B visa.Thank you.
If she was not in court with you, you would have to file an I-730 form for her (available at http://www.uscis.gov). That takes one or two years, but once that is approved, she will have asylum. One important point: You can get your green card, but if you get your citizenship before your wife gets her green card, it will cause a very long delay for her to get her green card. For that reason, it is best for the principal applicant not to file for citizenship until the dependent has her green card. I wrote about when you can apply for a green card on February 8, 2023 and maybe that would be of interest. Take care, Jason
Yayyyyy !
Hello,
Can i give my i94 asylum status as one the list C and my state id as list B to my employer for filling i-9?, also i have been granted by IJ two months ago can i start i-693 and then filling i-485 and send them together in four month later which is going to be 6 months after granting?, i really appreciate for your response.
If you did not do so, you should Google “post order instructions in immigration court.” Once you follow those, you will get a new work permit, which is free. That said, the I-94 for asylum, the state ID, and Social Security card should be enough to work. This website might help: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-resources/handbook-for-employers-m-274/70-evidence-of-employment-authorization-for-certain-categories/73-refugees-and-asylees. In terms of the I-485, just be careful about getting the medical exam done too soon. You should have it dated shortly before you submit it with I-485; otherwise, it could expire. You can also file the I-485 without the medical and then submit it when requested. I think that most lawyers (including me) recommend waiting 6 months after asylum is granted before filing the I-485, and so your plan sounds good to me. I wrote more about the logic behind waiting 6 months in a post on February 8, 2023. Take care, Jason
Thank you so much, quit question do you how much takes time to get recipe when yiu file i-131 RTD, i did send the package last week and it shows that has been delivered last Friday.
Usually it is a few weeks or a month or two maximum, so you should have it soon. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason ,
I had a second interview at the asylum office ,it was short and the officer told me that it’s just a follow up ,they verified the dates of the incidents and what happened ,and that’s it ,the officer told me that now we I’ll run security check and if I want to travel outside the country to get a travel permit or advance parole .do u think that the case will be approved? Thank you .
It sounds positive, but there is no way to know until you get the decision. Also, there is no way to predict the time frame. You could apply for Advance Parole to travel and return, but it often takes 1+ years to get the document, and if you get approved (or denied) before you get AP, then USCIS might deny the AP since that is dependent on having a pending asylum case. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
Happy Friday! Asking for a friend. He filed his case three years ago and is interested in filing a lawsuit. I wonder if you have any recommendations or if your law firm can assist him with doing that.
He has some family issues, and the process is extremely slow for him. He has not heard anything, despite sending out several requests to expedite his interview.
If you think that you could help him, I will give him your information. His current attorney is filing a lawsuit for cases that have been pending for longer than five years.
His attorney may know more about the local situation, and so waiting 5 years may make sense. I am not doing these types of cases, but if he needs a recommendation, he can email me and I will send him a name (JDzubow@DzubowLaw.com). Take care, Jason
@jason
80% of the immigration attorneys who are specialized in mandamus cases say the same!! 5 years are the minimum to sue the USCIS for asylum interview and if lt’s less that 3 years the USCIS usually fight back in the court that’s what i heard on their live streams on the YouTube.
I have not heard that from the lawyers I know, and it may vary from one location to the next around the US. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I have applied for asylum I-589 in Dec 2017. Now finally received interview letter, schedule for next month.
I had filed my case through an attorney in North Carolina. Now I have been living in Texas for 3 years. My questions are:
1) Is it mandatory to go to interview along with the attorney?
2) Can I transfer my case to a local attorney to represent? I have less 30 days left in the interview.
The attorney is asking for hefty sum to come to Texas (rightly so), What is your recommendation?
Thanks so much in advance.
1 – No. 2 – Yes, but it will not be easy to find an attorney on such short notice. I did a post on September 8, 2016 that might help. Also, many officers allow the attorney to attend by phone or video, but you probably have to arrange that in advance. Email the asylum office to ask. You can find their email if you follow the link under Resources called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Congratulations! I filed in Jan 2016. I wonder why I am yet to be invited to an interview. Did you expedite your case? Please share your experience if you can.
Hi Jason, I’m going to send my i485 application, needed to ask how many pics do you include in the package and there is g1450 form and it doesn’t ask three digit code for debit card. Which is what I have only debit and not credit.
Any idea how to take care that matter to pay the fee through debit card?
Many thanks.
We send two photos for the I-485 and if you are filing other forms (I-131 or I-765), two additional photos per form. I am not sure about the credit card form, but if you can answer all the questions on the form, it should work. We have used it before without any problems. If you are not able to answer all the questions, you can always pay by check or money order. Take care, Jason
Hi jason
I would like to say thank you for what you are doing for the asylum community.for the last seven years, whenever i need information or encouragement or support your blog is the first come to my mind. Thanks God almighty After 7 years i granted asylum at court.
Congratulations! That is great news and thank you for sharing. We have blog posts on May 16, 2018 and December 15, 2021 about what happens when asylum is granted, if you are interested. Take care, Jason
Thanks, Jason, for educating some uninformed people about the law!!! Regardless of whether it’s Trump’s arrival or if Biden stay which I doubt but the border crisis needs to be solved!!!
Most of the people who cross the border have an extremely difficult interviews at the court. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not but yesterday I watched a live stream for a California immigration attorney. He admitted that he received three different rejections for different clients last week by Sant Ana court and Los Angeles court for three of his clients who crossed the boarders in the last year. People need to know that the courts will not be lenient on them, and you need to have a very strong case to be approved in court especially if you entered here illegally cause a lot of people who are in control are against Biden’s opening border style, so they won’t approve any case unless they feel it’s really strong one.
It really does vary by case, but most asylum seekers from Central America and Mexico (who have traditionally made up the majority of asylum seekers at the border) do not have “traditional” asylum cases and do not fall easily into a protected category. As a result, their denial rates have historically been very high. The problem is that it often takes years to deport people, and so getting a deportation order years after you entered does not serve as a deterrent to others who might follow you. Take care, Jason
@illegal
i never lied to anyone and the officer never ever asked me when are you going back and before i apply for asylum i came to the US 4-5 times and never stayed one day illegal!!! so before you accuse someone you don’t know about him of things like that you better stop running your mouth! something suddenly happened in my case at my home country and i had to apply for asylum but never had the attention to apply for it before as i came a lot here before being a green card holder plus the officer never asked me ever when are you leaving! credible fear is for the lawbreakers who came jumping in this country without any visa or inspections and they have no right to be here!! for god’s sake i wish nothing but to trump come back and clean the asylum system for the folks who really deserve it not people coming only for a better financial life!!! the asylum system is abused as hell from these invaders who came illegally here
Yeah, but you have to maintain that nonimmigrant intent throughout the duration of your entry and your stay…it doesn’t have to be voiced out. It’s what’s on your mind matters…If in your state of mind, you intended to apply for asylum while entering as a nonimmigrant visa holder, then you engaged in fraud. It doesn’t matter whether the cbp questioned you that or not. You clearly have the intent to abuse the nonimmigrant visa for something that’s not authorized by it…so you should accordingly be removed and have your green card revoked for engaging in fraud.
Are you trying to troll or have a problem on your mind? I told them I had a return ticket and never intended to stay there but something happened that made me apply for asylum which was approved within 3 days of the interview!!! besides are you kidding me? do you want to compare people who were screened at the airport and had a valid visa no matter what visa they got to some gangs and criminals like the ones you get at the border crossing? Latinos are the most illegal people in this country!! people who come with a visa are known to the US government and all their information is known, while people like us who cross the border, we don’t know anything about them! You can’t even compare decent people with valid US visas to border crossers who come here jumping and unchecked, so there is no country but a zoo to let foreigners in unchecked, while US visa holders Regardless of whether they intend to stay in the United States or not, the U.S. law never condones or criminalizes to adjust your status if you was inspected (90 days rule), but it does criminalize crossing the border illegally, and if you enter illegally, you cannot change your status inside the United States unless it is through approved asylum. The U.S. visa holder can change his status in many ways once he enters the United States, even if it is a nonimmigrant visa. So what you are saying is absolutely false, and bs, that the U.S law itself states that you can change your status after being inspected in the United States, regardless of your nonimmigrant visa status. so what you are saying is complete nonsense and bs that under US law you can do anything to change your status after being screened in the country no matter what even if it’s a nonimmigrant visa! look at the 90-day rule.
hahahaha people like you are so silly that they make up lies and no rational thinking in their heads to deny the truth.
Legal Asylee, let us just say you are a “white-collar Illegal” and think the “blue-collar Illegals” should be deported?
While I don’t agree with Legal Asylee about Trump, who I think is a threat to all non-citizens and all citizens, it is pretty clear that he got asylum legitimately. He said he came here, something changed, and he had to file for asylum. It is a classic asylum situation and I do not see anything that resembles fraud. Take care, Jason
Did they voluntarily surrender their nonimmigrant visa status after filing I-589 ? I vaguely remember that to maintain a nonimmigrant status…one has to have a nonimmigrant intent…
That is not correct. Intent only matters at the time of entrance. If your intent changes (because your situation changes, for example), that is not a violation of status, at least not in any way that has a practical effect. Take care, Jason
I guess I don’t know it only matters in entry…
@LEGAL ASYLEE’s example appears to be legal then based on what you said.
But their example is def not in the majority…more commonly, people come here using a B1/B2 visa, and right before their visas expire…they apply for asylum…Most of this group clearly engaged in fraud…I would say…I doubt anything happens to happen that necessitates an asylum application during this six months in more than 5% cases … Most of them intended to apply for asylum when applying for admission (as a nonimmigrant visa holder) at CBP…and for visa at US consulate
I am not sure how you know any of this or what your sources are for this information. This is a big problem in immigration, there is not enough data and the void it filled with guesses based on anecdotal information. I think it is important to be careful of speculating when there is not enough information to know. Take care, Jason
As an immigrant who got my GC through approved asylum, I wish for nothing more than for Trump to return and deport all of those illegals!!! We entered the country legally and were checked at the airport. Trump said a million times that he is not against legal immigrants but against the illegal ones!!! Yes, he delayed our process and documents, but that is what it is all about.
Closing the boarders and deporting all of those boarder jumpers will allow people to enter legally again. I know it can be difficult for many people to obtain a visa to enter, but whatever!!! There are hundreds of developed countries in the world, not just America. If you are denied a visa from the US, you will probably see another country. The boarders cannot be as open as us, and illegals who jump the boarders cannot be treated like legal entered immigrants like us. For God’s sake, I wish nothing more as an immigrant than to see Trump deporting all those illegals who are breaking the law!
I have to disagree with you. One of the condition of nonimmigrant visa and nonimmigrant admission is that you intend to return…But instead , you later applied for asylum, trying to stay indefinitely…
So you lied to visa officer and cbp in order to gain admission…that’s willful misrepresentation and fraud…
That’s not better than illegal crossers…what you and many other did are also illegal…there is no legal entry to apply for asylum…the only legal entry for asylum is credible fear interview
What Legal Asylee did is also legal. A person can come here to escape persecution, and even if they have lied to get a visa (and we do not know whether this person did or not), they have a legal right to seek asylum and in almost all cases, the lie would not block a person from asylum. Take care, Jason
I disagree in part and concur in part…obviously sucu lies and fraud doesn’t and shouldn’t bar people from asylum…but…
The law clearly says that to maintain nonimmigrant status, they need to satisfy the conditions of those visas…by applying for asylum…they broke that condition AND it appears that they continued to hold that visa…that’s a problem … You say it’s legal. I feel it’s technically in violation of the law..I don’t have a problem with that…I just don’t think that this person should think themselves as higher or more legal than other bona fide border crossing asylum seekers…they are not…
That something happens that they need to seek asylum doesnt change the fact that they broke the condition of that visa and still hold that visa. That in itself is illegal. I just hope somebody can do some self-check before they judge others who come in a different method.
If a person comes here as a student, meets a US citizen, and marries, that is perfectly legal. They can then file to get a GC. Did they at some point lose their non-immigrant intent? Yes, but they filed a new application based on a new intent. Things change and there is no penalty for that, and even in a theoretic sense, intent is fuzzy and as a long as a person complies with the law, the person’s actions are legal. Take care, Jason
Actually, they are not breaking the law. The law is very clear that people can ask for asylum at the border, at a point of entry or even in between points of entry. Personally, I think we need to make some changes to the law, but the people at the border have just as much right to seek asylum here as someone who arrives with a visa. I did an article about this on May 30, 2019. Maybe that would be of interest. Take care, Jason
Thank you
“Legal Asylee”, I cannot stand people like you! I really CAN’T! What you are failing to understand is that Trump is using immigration, the border, and fear to win the election (this is nothing new. He did the same thing in 2016). He’s and opportunist that would do ANYTHING- I mean anything- to win (especially if it will keep him out of prison). He does NOT care about the border (NOT BOARDER) or “illegal” entry. For instance, Trump had MANY undocumented people working for him at Mar-a-Lago. And from all accounts, he used these people because they were efficient and would not complain about working for less than minimum wage or a livable wage.
You are like those group of people in South Florida (who shall remain nameless) who came here as refugees/asylees and then decide that the people who come after you should not be given a chance or should not find refuge here in the U.S. You should be ashamed of yourself! To keep this forum sanitized and decorous, I am going to reserve what I REALLY want to tell you! You probably think that because you have asylum status, or whatever it is you have, you are safe from Trump’s political expediencies.
@Jamie
Jamie, what would you like me to say about the people who enter this country illegally and cross the border illegally?
Well done? y’all did a great job.
As a green card holder, does this mean that I have to support illegal immigrants?
You and Jason know that 75% of those who enter this country on borders don’t deserve asylum and don’t belong in the asylum system!!! they are here only for a better financial life! nothing less nothing more!
I entered this country legally and never overstayed for a day.
I got my asylum approval within a few days of the interview, which is one of the quickest approvals in the last decade.
As an immigrant, I don’t need to support illegal immigrants.
When President Donald Trump returns to the white house, we can expect him to deport thousands, if not millions, of the undocumented immigrants and border crossers in this country!!! hopefully
god bless America! if you wanna come here and stay here do it the legit way or not.
“Legal Asylee”, you seem to be missing the glaringly obvious: It’s not the “border crossers” that Trump cares about (or “illegal” migration)! It’ is his ascendency to the presidency, to avoid being thrown in jail, he’s concerned about. Here is factoid you should know, for example- a bipartisan bill, which would have had some of the toughest immigration laws in recent times, was making its way through Congress until Trump requested that- because he wants to campaign on the issue- Republicans should throw a wrench in the progress of the bill. And, at the behest of Trump, Republicans decided to not vote on the bill.
You seem to also not understand that, per the INA, anyone could show up at a port of entry an ask for asylum. It is for the U.S. government to adjudicate their claim for asylum- not you! You also seem to lack compassion for those who are unable to secure a U.S. visa so they can claim asylum affirmatively. That is why we have what is called defensive asylum!
Furthermore, as an LPR of this country, unfortunately, you do NOT get to say who should stay in this country and who shouldn’t. That is because you are unable to vote on issues that are federal in nature. As a U.S. citizen, I think the people who are trying to come into the U.S. at the Southern border should, at minimum, get their claim for asylum heard by an immigration officer or by the EOIR.
If Trump returns, it will be in part because those on the Left failed to better control the border. However, if he does return, it will do tremendous damage to our country and to everyone here. The quotes in the article above are a good indicator of who he is, and if he attempts to deport as many people as he wants to deport, it will tear the country apart and greatly weaken us as a nation. As Lincoln would say, A house divided against itself cannot stand. Take care, Jason
Jason, I respectfully disagree that if Trump returns it’s because the “Left” failed to secure the border. The border has never been secured since the arrival of the Europeans to the U.S. During Trump’s presidency, for instance, the border was never secured- and no, the physical wall erected by Trump did not secure the border. Instead, a series of inhumane treatments- like separating parents from their children and caging people- were meted out against asylum seekers. Additionally, their approach to the issue was rife with chaos, confusion and disorganization. Furthermore, Dems and Repubs agreed on a tough immigration bill, which would have effectively shut down the border, and, because of Trump’s behest, the Repubs cowardly backtracked or reversed position.
Though we, as the voters, forget social and political issues rather quickly- perhaps because there are so many of them making it hard to keep up- the public is fully cognizant of what’s going on. And even though we are bombarded with dis- and misinformation, we are quite capable of winnowing the information we receive (and make sense of the information) as we live in an era where information can be received by the press of a few keys on our electronic devices. Thus, if America votes for Trump to be their next president, it is NOT because of the border, I am convinced, as the border issue has plagued every modern president and those with presidential ambitions.
If Trump is elected POTUS, it’s probably because of voter apathy (on Dems’ part) and Repubs cheating/suppressing votes, which history can confirm. A Republican can’t win, given their unpopular messages and what they stand for, unless they suppress votes and or Dems and Independents who lean liberal decide to stay home (and most Dems aren’t staying home because of what’s going on at the border: we are more concerned about those social issues that directly impact us- economic, social equity, and human rights issues, for example).
I firmly believe that most Americans, regardless of their political alignment, want a humane immigration system- not the one that Trump and Stephen Miller envision.
I mostly agree with you (which is good because you are usually right!). However, I think immigration advocates have expanded who is eligible for asylum, and that has helped lead to more people coming to the border. Surveys show that the border is a motivating issue for right-leaning voters, and I do think it will bring them to the polls. Whether reducing the number of people coming here would actually make any difference in the face of Republican lies about the border and asylum seekers, I do not know. But I do think advocates have helped create the problem at the border and one unintended consequence is that it will benefit Republican candidates. Take care, Jason
@Jason, I think your idea has some point.
Of course expansion of asylum and border crisis is correlated, but correlation is not causation.
I feel that the blame is misplaced upon border crossers…it’s a human right for people to seek safety…If they are in danger or will suffer harm, it’s their right (and not a privilege) to come to the U.S. to request protection. It’s sad that our asylum law is restrictive.
What should really be blamed are foreign persecutors, their actions caused the asylum/border crisis, but I rarely see it mentioned. For as long as I remember, immigration advocates have criticized us asylum system nonstop, are they not realizing that their criticism’s target is wrong ?
It seems most criticism I see centers on how Biden administration is mishandling the immigration. In my opinion, he has done an at least above average, if not excellent job in immigration. The difficulty of his task is also very high, so I don’t think he is getting the credit he deserves. Asylum advocates should spend more percentage of contents denouncing foreign persecutors and Trump. Trump is not only a threat to immigrants but also a threat to democracy. I have examined the past contents. Yes, there are a lot of contents criticizing the trump administration, and you did agree that Trump is far worse than Biden in immigration, but I feel that from a cursory impression…It seems Biden administration is getting more criticism…is it because the expectation of Biden is simply higher ??? I am just worried that since Biden is criticized so much, it may create an impression that Biden is the worst…anything else (including Trump and foreign persecutors) is better…that to me, is inaccurate…and I sincerely wish that, immigration advocates can change course and acknowledge Biden administration’s positive impact more, particularly in this critical election season. Maybe it can be said that…Biden DHS did a fantastic job in increasing automatic extension ! it is fantastic…and I wish I could see more good stories about Biden’s immigration handling, he deserves some praise. The action of praising Biden administration from immigration advocates can help them and democrats gain support to defeat those republicans. This, I hope, could alleviate some of your concerns regarding the unintended consequence.
I did a post on November 22, 2023 listing a number of positive developments during Mr. Biden’s term. However, I think the management of the Immigration Court expansion has been pretty awful. The asylum office is even worse, and the border is a mess (even though I think much of the issue with the border is Republicans exaggerating the problem and lying about asylum seekers). So for me, it is a mixed bag. The problem with immigration advocates is that they have not offered any realistic solutions to improve the situation, and we should be doing a better job of that. Finally, I do agree that another Trump term would be a terrible thing for our country and the world (and especially immigrants), and so advocates do need to be working to help Biden get re-elected. Otherwise, the situation will be much worse. Take care, Jason
Thank you for your response, Jason.
I do not believe that what’s going on at the border, which is something that seems to be an issue every election, even in the state and local elections, will not change voters’ minds. The people who are going to vote for Trump were already energized, or were already going to vote for Trump, because of his loss in 2020 to Joe Biden and their perception that Trump is being persecuted. Some of them- not all- can reasonably be described as revengeful. It’s not like these people get up one day and are like, “OMG!! Our country is being invaded… let me go vote for Trump to control the border…” The people who hold these xenophobic/anti-immigrant/anti-asylum views usually vote Trump or Republican, and these voters are perennially energized, especially when their preferred candidate is not the incumbent. I think the Republicans’ issue is that they are not trying to expand this voting bloc. The Dems’ real problem is trying to keep their base energized and convinced that they should go out and vote. Personally, I think there are more Dems and Independents that lean liberal than Repubs, and while they see immigration, or the border, as an important issue, they can separate fact from fearmongering.
I am not sure – only voters in a few places really count (OH, PA, WI, etc.), and the question is whether better control of the border would peel off enough of them to help Democrats. You may be right that it would not much matter, but I am not convinced. I think immigration advocates have overstepped, and there should be more of a consensus position on the border. That said, getting a consensus bill about the border to pass is probably impossible, exhibit A being the bi-partisan bill that Trump tanked. Take care, Jason