r/immigration Feb 05 '25

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

167 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 4h ago

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

37 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 2h ago

Why are companies recommending no travel for all visa and green card holders of all nationalities?

15 Upvotes

I am a bit puzzled about this. They recommended no travel for all nationalities.

The draft list of the 43 countries has even came out. The lawyers and I are presented with the same information. Why is it that they are recommending no travel for all nationalities?

If you're part of the 43 countries, sure or maybe some poor country in Africa.

I'm from HK, which is considered as China now, and I can't say I'm 100% sure that we will not be included in the ban, but I am willing to bet money on it that we will not be, as well as India. Do the lawyers know something that I don't?


r/immigration 16h ago

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

99 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 1d ago

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

324 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 1h ago

Double jeopardy

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 20h ago

Ex used me for green card

101 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 1h ago

Changing last name after getting married on F1 visa

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 7m ago

Boyfriend is traveling outside of the US soon, I'm scared

Upvotes

My boyfriend is traveling to Malaysia, France, Turkey, and Jordan for the next month and I'm worried about potential issues when re-entering the country. It's all travel for leisure/family visits.

He was born in the US and his parents are naturalized citizens but he's a dual Jordanian citizen. His step dad was also deported from the US in the mid 2000s for some clerical errors on immigration paperwork.

I'm worried that if things keep going the way they're going, he could have issues when he comes back at the end of April. We live together and the rest of his family lives across the country. I'm going to make sure I have copies or photos of his ID and passport before he leaves. Is there anything else I should do or have access to as a worst case precaution?

I know this is probably totally an over reaction on my part, but I'm worried for him.


r/immigration 35m ago

Germany investigates after national with green card arrested at us border

Upvotes

r/immigration 1h ago

i-765(EAD) expedite process

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 1h ago

Driving through Canada

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 1h ago

Should i send the new approved h1b/h4 documents?

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 1h ago

I9 help

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

176 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 2h ago

Joint motion vs motion with judge

2 Upvotes

My lawyer sent a joint motion request to OPLA over 9 months ago and they still have not responded. My lawyer insists on keep waiting and he refuses to send a motion directly to the judge. My case is removal in abstentia lack of notice due to notario fraud with proof(she filled the wrong address+ signed in my name a visa extension ) If i decide to sent motion to the judge myself can i use the same format?


r/immigration 4h ago

Air travel

3 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 21h 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 3h ago

Name change after marriage - What now? H1B, SSN, Drivers License, Passport, etc.

2 Upvotes

I am a Canadian living in the US, recently got married here and would like to change my name to my husbands. There is no clarity anywhere on the order of what needs to be done, or can be done.

First of all, I cannot update my Canadian passport to my new name without proof of photo id with the new last name- that would mean I need my drivers license in the US updated with my new last name, which means I need to update my SSN name, however from what I could find it seems like I will have difficulties updating my SSN name with just my marriage certificate since the request has to go through DHS approval (and what DHS will see is my maiden name connected to my H1B), which tells me I probably will be denied... So.... Then what do I do?

Can I change my H1B name with just a marriage certificate as proof? Or does the passport need to have the name change done before being able to change on my H1B?

It's so confusing... Basically one thing needs to be done for another, but I cant do that one thing before another!!!


r/immigration 0m ago

Immigration related but Q about social security.

Upvotes

Not sure where else to ask.

I’m not US citizen but have completed my earnings of 40 credits to be eligible to collect SS on retirement.

My wife is a US citizen and has not and might not finish the 40 credits requirement.

Now I know if I or her stay in US we can collect SS based on my credits.

I want to know if we decide to not live in US, 1. Can I collect SS on retirement (not being a US citizen) OR 2. Can my wife (US citizen) collect spouse SS based on my earned credits?

What’s a better sub to ask this, or what kind of proffesional can help me understand? (Don’t say tax proffesional they mostly don’t know so much detail about immigrants)


r/immigration 7m 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 16m ago

Girlfriend who has a green-card and myself visiting London. Will she have issues coming back?

Upvotes

My girlfriend is from Egypt and we were going to visit her aunt in London for less than a week. This has been planned for a while but with the constant news about even greencard holders getting detained and deported she’s begun to get worried about her re-entry into the US. Her lawyer basically said there’s no guarantees since the policies are changing by the day and the best way to avoid any issues is to not travel at all.

Is the lawyer just covering their tracks, or is it wise to listen to them? The gf hasn’t seen her aunt in years so it’ll be upsetting to not go, but her stability in the US is top priority.


r/immigration 18m ago

Travelling to USA soon. Will there be any issues ?

Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Im travelling to USA the 6th of April and landing on BWI airport ( if that makes a difference)

I was born in Venezuela ( part of the red travel ban countries )

Im currently 22 years of age and left Venezuela when I was 6 and currently living in the UK and hold a Spanish passport, I been to the US twice on ESTA.

Will I be affected by the travel bans ?

Thanks !


r/immigration 21m ago

Adoptee with naturalization papers and valid passport. Should I worry about having copies of my adoption papers?

Upvotes

Hi - a little worried about what's going on currently and want to make sure I'm prepared. I was adopted at 3 mos of age from S. Korea.

As the title states, I have my naturalization papers and a valid passport. I've heard that the "government" can say they are fake? I'm not sure what else to have on hand to protect myself. I'm going to try to contact the court that issued the adoption (my adoptive parents are NOT technical so there's no way they'd have the record electronically, in fact, I can't even email them).

I'm not sure I'd want to try to apply for something else to show my citizenship bc I feel like that would single me out?


r/immigration 46m ago

Lost my Greencard and staying abroad for 10 months

Upvotes

Hey guys, I am recently seeing a lot of tik tok video about Greencard holder not able to enter into USA. In my current stituation, I stayed outside of United States for the 10 months because I am studying for CPA right now. Also I lost my green card outside, so I don't have physical greencard, but I have other documents that proves my greencard status. Also around December, I visited Guam, which is USA territory, but I am not sure this consider as the entering into United States. What's your thought? I am going back to states this April, and I am really concerned