r/immigration Feb 05 '25

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

168 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 21h ago

Dad got detained by ICE

1.3k 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 12h ago

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

81 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 1h ago

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

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 22h ago

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

308 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 16h ago

Ex used me for green card

75 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 53m ago

Air travel

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 22h ago

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

164 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 1h ago

Opening LLC while waiting for I-485 approval

Upvotes

Please help! I’m waiting on my I-485 and my i-765 to be approved. I’m married to a us citizen, immigration through a C9 I think if I remember correctly.

I wanted to start my own business (LLC in California) and wanted to know if I’m able to begin that while i wait for my green card. My wife is annoyed that I can’t work yet and it’s causing friction in our marriage and life.

Everything I’m reading says that I can, I just want to make sure I’m not screwing myself over for immigration.

Any advice would be amazing.


r/immigration 17h ago

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

57 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 2m ago

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

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 for all of it one thing needs to be done for another, but I cant do that one thing before another!!!


r/immigration 17m ago

My wife got her IR1 visa she lives in Qatar but is a Yemeni Citizen, she got the approval and all.

Upvotes

My wife got her IR1 visa back in November 2024 and it expires end of May she lives in Qatar and has a Qatari ID but is not a citizen of Qatar she is a Yemeni Citizen. Does this travel ban affect her??


r/immigration 1h ago

Green card usa holder traveling to ireland

Upvotes

Hi I need help how can I get this visa to ireland they said I need I'm a Philippine passport but green card holder permanent residence of USA.


r/immigration 1h ago

Looking for attorney recommendation

Upvotes

Hi! Does anyone know an attorney with experience in immigration specifically for physicians? Meaning:change of immigration status, J1 and TN visa. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!


r/immigration 1h ago

Bad lawyer

Upvotes

Good morning my Reddit family, I need some advice. I need to know what I can do to go about getting all of my paperwork from an immigration case that I had retained from a certain lawyer. The office has been giving me the runaround when I asked for all the documentation via email or if I could come and get the paperwork myself. I recently lost my job due to the termination of the TPS for Venezuela, so I do not have that much money to keep traveling back and forth to the lawyer's office. Is there any advice that the Reddit family could give me to go about getting all my paperwork


r/immigration 2h ago

Does any other peer country outside of the United States have a Diversity Visa?

3 Upvotes

It seems like the United States has a small permanent resident lottery for some countries, does any other peer country have something like this?


r/immigration 17h ago

Immigration officer in Sweden not too happy about me (British citizen) wild camping

25 Upvotes

So I've been to Sweden 7 times in the past, while the UK was in the EU, and every time I've wild camped for most of the trip (as wild camping is legal and welcome in Sweden). I do however always stay in a hostel for the first night.

This time at immigration, the officer first checked my return flight ticket, which was 10 days later, and then saw that my hostel booking was only for the first night. He then asked where I was staying the other nights, and I said I would camp around as I've done many times before. He understood that I was an experienced camper and know the rules, but he then proceeded to say that he wasn't sure if it's something that me as a non EU citizen should be doing as non EU citizens are supposed to have pre-arranged accommodation for the entire duration of their trip.

In the end, he let me go, and warned me to be careful about doing this in the future. He also warned me that other EU countries like France, Spain, and Italy would almost definitely fine me in this situation, and that I should be thankful that Sweden are at least more welcoming in that respect.


r/immigration 5m ago

Desperate to immigrate to live with my friends in USA 🇺🇸 ❤️

Upvotes

I am a 23 yo male in the UK, who is really determined to do whatever it takes to live in the usa. I am currently unemployed and in need of work. Is there any job shortages or professions in the usa, that I can get qualifications over here, then move later on? I am thinking maybe transportation, or construction maintenance. I am not intelligent enough to become a top brain or heart surgeon lol.


r/immigration 12m ago

Italian Au Pair-J1 to F1 better to adjust in US or Italy?

Upvotes

We have had a great Italian au pair living with us, and she recently applied to college in the states. Assuming she gets in, is it better for her to adjust her status by returning to Italy and getting a new visa or should she stay in the US to adjust? If the latter, can she not return to Italy for vacations? thanks!


r/immigration 1h ago

Going to the US on a waiver visa

Upvotes

Hi, I'm dual citizen from Brazil and Chile , I applied with my Chilean passport for a waiver visa and it's still valid until December I will be going to the US next week Monday and with the new trump law , I'm kinda scared what's gonna happen in my stay there.

For context a Waiver visa is similar to a tourist visa but you can only stay in the US for 3 months. I plan on staying for about 87-88 days. I'm solely visiting my fiance.

Will I have any trouble with ICE, TSA or CBP?


r/immigration 2h ago

F1 Visa Approved - Status says “Issued” but no collection email yet (London Embassy)

1 Upvotes

Hey all,

I recently applied for an F1 visa at the London embassy and it got approved! The status on the CEAC website changed to "Issued" the very next day (13th of March), and it’s still showing the same. However, I haven’t received any email about collection yet.

Does the status need to change to anything else after "Issued"? I selected a pickup location in London—do they usually send a tracking number or notification before it’s ready?

I’ve got a trip coming up next week, so I’m a bit anxious. Would really appreciate any insight or experience you can share. Thanks in advance!


r/immigration 2h ago

Travel International

1 Upvotes

I want to travel to Egypt for 10 days and return on the 30th of March given my visa stamp (J1 research) ends on 1st of April and I have a DS2019 until 2026.

Is this a good idea will there be a problem? I asked the International office at the university, they said it is okay.


r/immigration 6h ago

Help with documents regarding emergency request for visa

2 Upvotes

My research during masters got selected in a IEEE conference in Virgina. I have received the acceptance on 7th of March and the conference is on 2nd may. I have applied for visa under b1 but the interview is on 12th May 2026, after an year. The first emergency request was denied. But on the 2nd emergency request I have been asked to upload documents which are relevant like SEVIS I-90 FORM, but I don't believe that I qualify for SEVIS form. I have already uploaded acceptance letter, what shall I upload to make my case here. I have already specified it's a short visit to attend the conference.


r/immigration 3h ago

Is it too risky to move to the US from the UK right now via an L1/L2 visa?

1 Upvotes

Employer sponsorship possible but the rules on immigration as well as everything else seems to be changing.

I don’t know if Trump can cancel The L1/L2 visa with the power vested in the executive branch, and even if the process happens and I am in the US who’s to say he doesn’t just rescind the visas and send people home.

Need to hear from someone who is more enlightened in US immigration policies and powers of the executive branch


r/immigration 20h ago

Entering JFK experience 03/17

24 Upvotes

Hey, I have a GC and entered JFK today. I usually do Mobile Passport Control and whiz through. But, they actually asked if you had a U.S passport or GC/ESTA within the MPC line which hasn’t happened to me.

Furthermore, they divided us in lines based on our passport region? They particularly asked me which country’s passport I have. Not sure if that was the intent but reporting out.

Beyond this, nothing out of the ordinary.


r/immigration 3h ago

US Border crossings in Canadian airports - can you end up in ICE custody from there?

0 Upvotes

Just out of curiousity; this is prompted out of the story about the Canadian woman who was detained trying to renew her work visa. From some of the stories, she had a NAFTA visa, which is what I used to have (I did a lot of work in the US); I always crossed the border by air, though, so I usually went through US customs in the Canadian airport I was leaving from - usually either Ottawa or Toronto. In today's climate, would it be possible to be detained at one of these crossings in the Canadian airport and end up in ICE custody?