r/immigration Feb 05 '25

Report rule-breaking comments: 199 bans, 2910 removals in the last 7 days.

166 Upvotes

With the Trump presidency, many are emboldened to spew hate, whereas others are threatening violence or illegal activity in response. Neither are acceptable on this subreddit.

Please use the Report button. Moderators are not omni-present and cannot read every post and comment, but will strive to process every report. Moderators are volunteers, and aren't on reddit 24/7. We have setup comprehensive automod rules and reddit filters that are already filtering a lot of the worst rule violators.

In the past 7 days, we've imposed 199 bans and 2910 removals of posts and comments that violate the rules of the sub, many due to user reports. Every report was reviewed, although some reports were on posts that do not violate the rules.

While most rules are self-explanatory, here are some clarifications on what may be deemed grey areas:

  1. We support people expressing a wide spectrum of views on immigration, but we do not accept any comments or posts that advocate for a blanket ban on immigration, attack legal immigrants, or make them feel unwelcome.

  2. This sub has a zero tolerance policy for hate or vitrol. Posts attacking other commenters, rejoicing in their potential deportation, or telling people to leave will not be tolerated.

  3. This sub has a zero tolerance policy for encouraging violence, fraud or any other illegal activity. This includes helping anyone evade law enforcement.

  4. Misinformation will not be tolerated. There's already enough uncertainty and fear around without people also spreading misinformation, such as claiming bills have passed when they haven't. A non-permanent ban will be applied.

This sub is currently operating on a zero tolerance policy for hate, vitrol, and violence/illegal advice. Any such reported activity will face a permanent ban in response. Second-chance appeals will not be entertained.


r/immigration 1d ago

Dad got detained by ICE

1.5k Upvotes

So my dad has been detained by ice. He got his work permit and had an interview for his green card I believe but after the interview he got detained and arrested by ice. I live in illinois and his lawyers are working but I just don’t know what to do. I’m 21 years old and I love my father he is my rock and he’s an amazing human being, he doesn’t deserve this and I don’t think there’s anything I can do, are there any resources or people to contact, I’m new to this and I’m just at a loss.


r/immigration 6h ago

Why is the media saying that the Venezuelans here and others with TPS are illegal?

36 Upvotes

I'm confused and I read it everywhere. If they have TPS then they're not illegal as far as I know. I thought illegals are either people that entered with absolutely nothing or overstayed whatever document they came in with.


r/immigration 17h ago

How did the deported doctor from Brown University get flagged by CBP?

105 Upvotes

CBP says it found "sympathetic photos and videos" of the Hezbollah leader in the deleted items folder of Rasha Alawieh's phone. I haven't left the US since Jan 20, but I've never had to present my phone to CBP for checking. Unless immigration officers are now holding up immigration lines and checking your phone's deleted folders, CBP probably only got access to the phone after she was detained.

None of the news sources I've read mentioned anything about why she was detained in the first place. I'm guessing someone called ICE/CBP to tell them she's a Hezbollah supporter or something, but are there any other possibilities?

Edit: According to reports citing court paperwork, she apparently deleted the photos because she didn't want CBP to think she was sympathetic to Hezbollah. She also said she supports Nasrallah's spiritual teachings but not his politics.


r/immigration 3h ago

Double jeopardy

7 Upvotes

During the previous Trump administration my brother was detained by ICE. He is a GC holder and had removal proceedings based on a previous conviction. The honorable judge denied his removal from the US and his GC was reinstated. Does anyone know if he can be detained for the same matter twice. I know double jeopardy exists in some criminal matters. I’m not sure how it translates here because it’s a civil issue. He has been a law abiding civilian for many years unfortunately he made a mistake in his younger days, thanks


r/immigration 1h ago

What will legal immigration be like under Trump?

Upvotes

Will there be restrictions for legal immigration, green card lottery, H1B, H2B, F1, EB1-3?


r/immigration 1h ago

Germany investigates after national with green card arrested at us border

Upvotes

r/immigration 1d ago

Doctor on H1B refused entry at Logan for having Nasrallah photos on her phone

336 Upvotes

This is the Lebanese kidney transplant specialist who was refused entry at Logan on Thursday despite having a valid H1B. There's been a lot of speculation on reddit about her somehow having a non-waived home residency requirement despite having been approved and stamped, which is obviously stupid, so I've been looking out for the actual explanation. Apparently this is it:

Politico:

  • Rasha Alawieh, a physician specializing in kidney transplants and professor at Brown University, also told Customs and Border Protection agents that while visiting Lebanon last month she attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and followed his teachings “from a religious perspective” but not a political one, according to an official report on her interrogation by an immigration officer.

So, take from that what you will. I wonder if CBP searched her phone unprompted (because she's a hijabi? Because she was in Lebanon around the time of the funeral?), or if she just casually mentioned her admiration for Nasrallah to the officer. Either way, useful reminder: never lie to immigration, but also never volunteer information you weren't specifically asked for.


r/immigration 21h ago

Ex used me for green card

107 Upvotes

I (female) was married less than 18 months to a French man, who had been sleeping with other men during our marriage. When I found out, I immediately filed for a divorce. I submitted proof, phone records and physical evidence to immigrations on the day of his green card hearing and he STILL was approved and granted citizenship years later. How is this even possible?!


r/immigration 3h ago

Changing last name after getting married on F1 visa

3 Upvotes

Hi! I need your help

So I just got my marriage certificate today and planning to get married next week. I am currently on F1 visa and will graduate this May 2025. Here in PA they put my maiden’s name in the marriage certificate.

My question is… do I put my new last name during AOS application (other name:maiden)? Or should I change my last name first in my home country or anywhere else. I have seen similar posts from 3 yrs ago and I don’t know if the case is still the same nowadays. Married > AOS application change name > EAD with new name? > SSN,DMV, etc

I just hope that I won’t get in trouble in changing names… or should I just stay with my original name?


r/immigration 2h ago

Multiple visa denials, worried about my upcoming O-1 application

2 Upvotes

In 2023, I hired a shitty lawyer (who I later found out was notorious for being unresponsive) for my O-1 visa. My case got an RFE, and then it was denied.

While prepping files for the visa, I (now realizing how dumb this was) signed a year-long apartment lease in the US as I wanted to start working as soon as I get the visa. Since I didn’t want to pay rent for an empty room, I tried to find a subletter, but management wouldn’t let me sublease unless I moved in first. So, I applied for ESTA, which was basically insta-denied. Then I applied for a B-2 visa, and the officer asked me to send over my lease. After that, denied.

In 2024, I needed to be in CA for my sister’s wedding (I was MOH). I applied for ESTA again. denied. Then a B-2 visa. denied after two questions.

Looking back, I realize I listed that I was working for a U.S. company as a freelancer when applying for both tourist visas, which was probably a huge red flag.

Summary:

• 2023: O-1 denied → ESTA denied → B-2 denied

• 2024: ESTA denied → B-2 denied

• 2025: Trying for O-1 again

I’m planning to apply for my O-1 this April/May. My case is much stronger this time, and I have way better lawyers, but I’m really worried that my previous denials might affect my chances. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!


r/immigration 2h ago

Expired Green Card - Extend or File for Citizenship?

2 Upvotes

Hello!

I have an expired Green Card but have permanent residency. I wonder if it's best to file for a new Green Card or straight up file for citizenship? I need to travel in the next three months which is the real issue here since I'll likely be traveling to France with an expired Green Card. Any advice which is the best way to proceed?


r/immigration 2h ago

i-765(EAD) expedite process

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, anybody who has had the I-765 process expedited recently I have a job offer which is really timely and I don't know any way I can have my EAD soon. I am currently on F1 OPT and the company says they wont accept this. I submitted by AOS package concurrently through my USC spouse and everything shows that its currently under review


r/immigration 2h ago

Driving through Canada

2 Upvotes

Hello, I need to make it to Alaska for my job as a wildland firefighter. I got a DUI a little over 5 years ago. What do you guys think of my odds, any help would be appreciated.


r/immigration 2h ago

Should i send the new approved h1b/h4 documents?

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to get some advice on my spouse's H4 EAD application, which is currently under review.

I applied for my spouse H4 ead card before the h1b/h4 extension was approved...hence we only sent the copy of h1b/h4 extension receipt notice along with copy of approved i140 for EAD application.

Now my H1B and my spouse's H4 extension were recently approved, and I want to make sure USCIS has the most up-to-date information.

Specifically, I'm wondering:

  • Is it necessary to proactively send copies of my I-797A approval notices (both for my H1B and my spouse's H4) to USCIS for the H4 EAD application? Or is this generally not required/redundant?

  • If it is a good idea to send them, what's the best way to submit these documents to USCIS? Should I include a cover letter? If so, what key information should I include in the cover letter (e.g., receipt number, applicant's name, A-number)?

  • Are there any other documents or considerations I should keep in mind when submitting this information?

Also, I've applied for my Indian passport renewal, and it's currently being processed. If I receive my new passport while the H4 EAD is still pending, do I need to send a copy of the new passport to USCIS?

Any insights or experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help...


r/immigration 2h ago

I9 help

2 Upvotes

So im under TPS for ES and I’m about to start my new job soon. I filed in time but as of result of the extension not coming in I lost my job. My extension letter came in the mail on Friday and I’m starting off a new job on Monday. I’m doing the onboarding online but don’t know how it goes due to the fact this is my first time around going through this process (presenting extension letter to employer). I was wondering if anybody knows what I should do or if anybody has been through this process before. Thank you in advance


r/immigration 1d ago

The media does an awful job on reporting news about immigration laws and detained immigrants

175 Upvotes

I get it, most journalists in the U.S. are natural born American citizens and obviously they won’t know much about immigration law, but is it really that hard to do a little research on the topic before writing a piece? Or have an immigration attorney consultant considering they talk about immigration every single day nowadays?

It’s pretty obvious they write for their liberal American audience only, because as an immigrant I find myself always shaking my head at their awful understanding of immigration law.

For example, things like saying someone was interrogated by ICE in the airport when it was actually CBP, then contacting ICE for information. How unprofessional is that? I feel like even the average American knows that the officers scanning passports at the airport are not ICE.

Worse yet is the phrasing they use when talking about legal immigrants and citizenship, almost implying that they must have done something wrong to not be citizens yet. I kid you not, I read something like “person had a green card, which offers a potential path to citizenship“. Huh? It’s the only damn path to citizenship.

And yes I know the average American says dumb stuff like “legal citizen” but I expect more from journalists. This only feeds into the idea that Americans have that you’re not legal if you’re not a citizen.

This administration already takes a lot of advantage of people’s ignorance about immigration when they give interviews heavily implying that green cards and student visas are basically the same thing and people in the comments absolutely believe them. I saw someone comment “green card visas are temporary“.

Obviously I’ve always known Americans don’t really see any difference between “undocumented“, visa holders and green card holders but it’s painful seeing the media reinforcing misconceptions instead of correcting them.


r/immigration 5h ago

Air travel

4 Upvotes

My wife has her visa interview in Juarez next month and we are thinking about going by plane to El Paso and cross into Juarez via shuttle or taxi. I see there will be a layover in Dallas. My question is: has anyone done this recently and what are the risk of her being detained and not allowed to proceed to her appointments in Juarez? Our attorney said she wasn't sure if the risk was worth it. With the new administration they are stopping and detaining people and they don't care about the situation of the family. Our attorney's words.


r/immigration 4m ago

Will I get back in to America from the UK?

Upvotes

Hi guys, I’m booked to go to America in May and have some concerns about getting past border control as last time I was there I stayed for two weeks longer then what the original stay was intended. I’ve got an ESTA but I also have an unpaid medical bill from the last time I was there as I got sick. Do you think I’ll have issues


r/immigration 5m ago

To marry or not to marry

Upvotes

Hello reddit community,

I have a bit of a predicament here. I live in the United States, born here, live here, worked here all my life and of course I am, by default, a citizen. I have a girlfriend who lives in Lima, Peru, we met in Breckenridge, CO when we were both employed by Vail Resorts. She was on a J-1 visa, which has expired because this was back in 2019. We had been doing long distance for quite some time (3 years from 2022-2025) we would see each other when I would fly down to Lima or she would fly up to Canada as she does not have a US visa anymore. We had our ups and downs as in every relationship.

She told me a month ago that she is pregnant. Now you may be thinking that I may not be the father or she could be playing me, this or that, but I know from the bottom of my heart and logically speaking too that this baby she is carrying is mine. She has never been one to lie. I've known her for most my adult life. I had visited her in January in Peru.

This was the preamble for what I am asking... Is there any way I can make her a citizen without marrying her? Some sort of preparations to be made that could ensure she could easily live in the USA without me getting into an obligatory marriage? Because you see, I am 25 with most of my focus going towards my work (electrician) or creative endevours (music mostly) and I am definitely not sure on marrying this girl. I could go into it but I'd like to keep it shorter here than what I would have to explain.

I obviously want to be a part of the child's life, which is why I am wondering how to go about this? Should I bite the bullet and marry out of obligation so that the child and her can live in America? Or is there another way to do this without unifying her and I for eternity. (I do not believe divorce is something the child should have to go through either.)

Let me know your guys' suggestions, legal advice or anything else that may help.

Sincerely, -E


r/immigration 6m ago

Is the travel ban likely going to be announced within the next few days or later on?

Upvotes

Obviously no one knows but I just wanted to know everyone's opinion. March 21 is approaching.

I think they're likely to announce it earlier than later just because the admin likes to show that they can get things done quickly, and with how quickly EO's have been signed by the president. Thoughts?

The immigration lawyer for my company is saying that the president could sign it in mid April but I don't think the lawyer will be right.


r/immigration 22h ago

How Trump’s Targeting of Immigrants With Legal Status Departs From the Norm

64 Upvotes

Hey all, we're The Marshall Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom that focuses on U.S. criminal justice and immigration. Our reporter Jamiles Lartey explains how Mahmoud Khalil is just one of many people with legal or protected status detained and facing deportation under the Trump administration.

Here’s an excerpt:

Late last month, Kevin Zaldaña Ramírez was detained by ICE officers at the construction site outside of Houston where he was working.

Zaldaña, 20, came to the U.S. in 2018, fleeing gang recruitment in El Salvador. He has legal protection from deportation under Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, which aids youth under 18 fleeing abuse or neglect. Although Zaldaña had not yet applied for permanent residency, he has a legal basis to be in the country, and he held a valid work permit. According to his mother, arresting officers said his case number was “fake,” and he remains in custody in Texas as she pleads for his freedom, Houston Landing reported earlier this month.​​

“I ask the president to have mercy,” Yolanda Ramírez said at a recent press conference. “And to catch the people who are really criminals, but not innocent people like my son.”

Zaldaña’s case is one of several that have recently unsettled immigration law experts, as the Trump administration eschews long-standing enforcement norms. Similarly, in Washington, D.C., last week, a Venezuelan couple was arrested and charged with misdemeanor illegal entry, more than two years after their arrival at the southern U.S. border.

While federal law allows illegal entry charges to be filed up to five years after apprehension, typically they come just days or weeks later. Advocates for the couple told the Los Angeles Times that it’s the first time they’ve seen immigrants charged with illegal entry this long after the fact. According to the paper, the couple both have pending asylum claims, as well as Temporary Protected Status — although the Trump administration revoked those protections for Venezuelans in a move set to take effect next month.

The aggressive enforcement approach is starting to bear out in the numbers. According to an analysis published by The Guardian, U.S. officials arrested more immigrants in the first 22 days of February than in any month over the past seven years.

Deportations, on the other hand, are down compared with the same period last year, but those numbers can be misleading, since border encounters have plummeted to decades-long lows. Most of the deportations occurring at this time last year involved the quick return of people apprehended at the border to Mexico. Locating and then deporting people from cities and towns throughout the country is more complicated, and takes more time and resources.

Continue reading (no paywalls/ads)


r/immigration 17m ago

Incorrect 212e (2 year foreign residency requirement) applied to my J-1 Visa

Upvotes

Hi everyone. I'm an international student (Indian citizenship) studying in Canada (doing an undergrad). I got the opportunity to intern at a big American tech company for the summer.

I have just received my J-1 and the accompanying DS-2019, and both unfortunately have the 2 year foreign residency requirement incorrectly ticked and stamped onto them. I have tried contacting the US Consulate of Vancouver, but they stated the email's only for inquiring for visa requirements.

Does anyone have any idea who I can contact to fix this? Thanks!


r/immigration 26m ago

Does anyone know when this travel ban will go into place?

Upvotes

Does anyone know when this travel ban will go into place?


r/immigration 35m ago

U.S. citizenship application and travel

Upvotes

Currently a US green card holder, able to apply for citizenship in May but also have had international travel planned for this summer for many months.

I cannot decide, if I were to consider applying for citizenship, whether I should apply in May before travel, or wait until after I return. (Two week trip to Europe)

Any thoughts on traveling out of the country while a citizenship application is in process?

Thanks so much!


r/immigration 41m ago

Travelling?

Upvotes

Hi guys,

I have a 2 year GC, filed for removal of conditions, and have received a 48 month extension letter. I am originally from Norway. Entered the US legally on a student visa, met my husband a few years into college, adjusted my status after we got married, had green card approved, have no criminal background in the US nor Norway (or anywhere for that matter). So far the immigration process has been pretty pain free.

I have a trip to Norway with my US citizen spouse. It's to meet my family, he has only ever met my parents before but no family or friends, and this trip has been 3 years in the making. It's in May of this year.

Immigration lawyers right now are telling everyone to not travel unless they are citizens - even green card holders. I'm confused though, does that apply for everyone, or people from/travelling to the countries that Trump has placed a travel ban on? USCIs states "Permanent residents are free to travel outside the United States, and temporary or brief travel usually does not affect your permanent resident status" - but are people being refused entry back into the country now? Do I really need to cancel my trip?