Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passport to expire next year. Should I send it out for a new one now instead of waiting? Minority, born in U.S., parents immigrated 50 yrs ago and are naturalized citizens.
Is it even safe to send in the passport?… part of me is afraid they won’t send a new one back and then I have no proof.
Anyone send theirs in recently for renewal?

You really think some consular officer is going to keep your passport because you're a minority? You do realize how progressive the State Department workforce is, right?

This level of hysteria is not relatable to most Americans. This is like when people were upset that people were running outside or playing tennis outdoors without a mask in 2021. It makes people think, "what kind of mental illness is this" vs "they have a great point and I should join them."

+1. I am not a Trump supporter and think that he’s doing a lot of damage, but come on. This level of paranoia is concerning and does not inspire confidence in people who are suggesting stuff like this is likely to happen.

So, not-a-Trump-supporter, please tell us exactly what is “likely to happen” and how you know this, so that the rest of us can prepare for it.

Also, please note if you’re not a member of a minority group — since that may impact your ability to accurately assess “paranoia” with respect to people whose individual and collective lived experiences might have been very different from your own. TIA

Anonymous wrote:I am Black American. I'm not carrying my "papers". This is not the fugitive slave act. Plus, this is one time I believe we are the model minority. Haven't heard of any American blacks being caught up in the immigration thing. What my black friends talk about is how the other races were so afraid of being "othered" and want to be white and assimilate so badly, they are SHOCKED that they are being targeted. It's as if black people didn't try to warn y'all it wouldn't go well.

Sounds good. Let us know how it goes for you.

Since when do “Black Americans “ have “black friends” (sic). Bonus points for CAPS and sneaking in “y’all”. You probably haven’t heard of any Black Americans getting pulled over for stop-and-frisk incidents or alleged broken tail lights either.
Clarence? Is this you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

“Please provide evidence that this is happening on a large/systemic scale - news stories from verified outlets are fine. I have not seen or read about this happening.

I think I’m the PP that you’re posing the hypothetical to and I’m a natural born US citizen from Bethesda. I am quite (I guess you can never be 100%) sure that ICE is not going to round me up randomly at a restaurant because I am “brown looking” and send me to a facility in Louisiana for deportation. Again, there is no evidence that this is happening on a systemic basis or that there are plans to do so. My parents are immigrants (naturalized citizens) with accents and I am not concerned for their safety either.”

Trump has expressed interest in denaturalizing people from 12 brown countries. It seems many will no longer face harassment in their native counties. Tell your parents to start packing. LOL. I’m not a Trumper but I do love Trump supporters getting FAFOed.

While there aren't large-scale numbers of these instances happening, the fact that legitimate citizens and people with legal status are being harrassed, arrested, detained at all (which IS happening) is still massively problematic.

And Trump revoking refugee status doesn't somehow magically erase the very bonafide direct threats that many of these asylees faced back home.

I’m the PP you’re responding to. I agree that it’s problematic and that these raids are not being executed well because Trump & Co. are not particularly smart or humane. I agree with others in this thread that the Obama administration was able to identify and deport unauthorized immigrants without this level of chaos and harassment of people with legal status.

But if the policy goal is to remove and deport as many undocumented immigrants as possible (even ones that are not criminals, which I am fine with, which means that they are looking beyond jails), given family and community ties that obviously have nothing to do with legal status or citizenship, there are going to be incidences of say, an American wife and kids being asked for proof of citizenship if ICE comes to deport the undocumented husband. This is different to me than random minorities being stopped on the street and demanded to turn over their passport. I do not think the latter is happening.

With respect to the second point, I have a pro bono immigration practice representing asylum applicants from Afghanistan. I am currently representing a client who literally had to flee the Taliban because he did something that pissed them off, resulting in them coming to arrest him in the middle of the night. In my view, there is a clear difference between someone like that and someone facing poverty and hardship and gang violence in Venezuela. It’s a very sad situation but should not entitle you to asylum, which is a narrowly tailored program for individuals who are being persecuted by their government. And I am fine with such claims being denied or classified as ineligible (and the logical consequence, which is deportation).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passport to expire next year. Should I send it out for a new one now instead of waiting? Minority, born in U.S., parents immigrated 50 yrs ago and are naturalized citizens.
Is it even safe to send in the passport?… part of me is afraid they won’t send a new one back and then I have no proof.
Anyone send theirs in recently for renewal?

You really think some consular officer is going to keep your passport because you're a minority? You do realize how progressive the State Department workforce is, right?

This level of hysteria is not relatable to most Americans. This is like when people were upset that people were running outside or playing tennis outdoors without a mask in 2021. It makes people think, "what kind of mental illness is this" vs "they have a great point and I should join them."

+1. I am not a Trump supporter and think that he’s doing a lot of damage, but come on. This level of paranoia is concerning and does not inspire confidence in people who are suggesting stuff like this is likely to happen.

No this rational thinking. Though having your “papers” really will not help you. If they stop you they are taking you with or without papers. They do nit check the papers.

Anonymous wrote:I am Black American. I'm not carrying my "papers". This is not the fugitive slave act. Plus, this is one time I believe we are the model minority. Haven't heard of any American blacks being caught up in the immigration thing. What my black friends talk about is how the other races were so afraid of being "othered" and want to be white and assimilate so badly, they are SHOCKED that they are being targeted. It's as if black people didn't try to warn y'all it wouldn't go well.

YES! since you are black don't use a passport to enter the US good idea!!!!!

I'm an Asian American. If things went really south with China/N.Korea, I'd carry my US passport with me.

Anonymous wrote:I am Black American. I'm not carrying my "papers". This is not the fugitive slave act. Plus, this is one time I believe we are the model minority. Haven't heard of any American blacks being caught up in the immigration thing. What my black friends talk about is how the other races were so afraid of being "othered" and want to be white and assimilate so badly, they are SHOCKED that they are being targeted. It's as if black people didn't try to warn y'all it wouldn't go well.

A Black person with a Nigerian/Haitian/etc.. accent should absolutely carry their US passport card.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passport to expire next year. Should I send it out for a new one now instead of waiting? Minority, born in U.S., parents immigrated 50 yrs ago and are naturalized citizens.
Is it even safe to send in the passport?… part of me is afraid they won’t send a new one back and then I have no proof.
Anyone send theirs in recently for renewal?

You really think some consular officer is going to keep your passport because you're a minority? You do realize how progressive the State Department workforce is, right?

This level of hysteria is not relatable to most Americans. This is like when people were upset that people were running outside or playing tennis outdoors without a mask in 2021. It makes people think, "what kind of mental illness is this" vs "they have a great point and I should join them."

+1. I am not a Trump supporter and think that he’s doing a lot of damage, but come on. This level of paranoia is concerning and does not inspire confidence in people who are suggesting stuff like this is likely to happen.

Yes he is Black

Anonymous wrote:I am Black American. I'm not carrying my "papers". This is not the fugitive slave act. Plus, this is one time I believe we are the model minority. Haven't heard of any American blacks being caught up in the immigration thing. What my black friends talk about is how the other races were so afraid of being "othered" and want to be white and assimilate so badly, they are SHOCKED that they are being targeted. It's as if black people didn't try to warn y'all it wouldn't go well.

Search Democracy Now on YouTube for Police Chief being detained at the airport by immigration authorities.

I am Black American. I'm not carrying my "papers". This is not the fugitive slave act. Plus, this is one time I believe we are the model minority. Haven't heard of any American blacks being caught up in the immigration thing. What my black friends talk about is how the other races were so afraid of being "othered" and want to be white and assimilate so badly, they are SHOCKED that they are being targeted. It's as if black people didn't try to warn y'all it wouldn't go well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Passport to expire next year. Should I send it out for a new one now instead of waiting? Minority, born in U.S., parents immigrated 50 yrs ago and are naturalized citizens.
Is it even safe to send in the passport?… part of me is afraid they won’t send a new one back and then I have no proof.
Anyone send theirs in recently for renewal?

You really think some consular officer is going to keep your passport because you're a minority? You do realize how progressive the State Department workforce is, right?

This level of hysteria is not relatable to most Americans. This is like when people were upset that people were running outside or playing tennis outdoors without a mask in 2021. It makes people think, "what kind of mental illness is this" vs "they have a great point and I should join them."

You do realize that massive layoffs will impact the State Department, which will impact the number and competence of the people available to process passport applications and renewals, right?

PP, I renewed my passport after the election— but before the inauguration. Everything went smoothly. I paid for expedited service.
I did not do online renewal— which would have been even faster, because I wasn’t sure I could do the digital photo properly to meet their specifications.

Anonymous wrote:If you carry your passport everywhere you go, are any of you more concerned about it getting lost or stolen than you actually needing it? I’m asking as a serious question. That would be my concern with having my passport on me everywhere, but I’ve lost my license more than once.

Carry your passport card in your wallet, and you still have passport book as back up if lost/stolen.

Anonymous wrote:Passport to expire next year. Should I send it out for a new one now instead of waiting? Minority, born in U.S., parents immigrated 50 yrs ago and are naturalized citizens.
Is it even safe to send in the passport?… part of me is afraid they won’t send a new one back and then I have no proof.
Anyone send theirs in recently for renewal?

You really think some consular officer is going to keep your passport because you're a minority? You do realize how progressive the State Department workforce is, right?

This level of hysteria is not relatable to most Americans. This is like when people were upset that people were running outside or playing tennis outdoors without a mask in 2021. It makes people think, "what kind of mental illness is this" vs "they have a great point and I should join them."

Anonymous wrote:

“Please provide evidence that this is happening on a large/systemic scale - news stories from verified outlets are fine. I have not seen or read about this happening.

I think I’m the PP that you’re posing the hypothetical to and I’m a natural born US citizen from Bethesda. I am quite (I guess you can never be 100%) sure that ICE is not going to round me up randomly at a restaurant because I am “brown looking” and send me to a facility in Louisiana for deportation. Again, there is no evidence that this is happening on a systemic basis or that there are plans to do so. My parents are immigrants (naturalized citizens) with accents and I am not concerned for their safety either.”

Trump has expressed interest in denaturalizing people from 12 brown countries. It seems many will no longer face harassment in their native counties. Tell your parents to start packing. LOL. I’m not a Trumper but I do love Trump supporters getting FAFOed.

While there aren't large-scale numbers of these instances happening, the fact that legitimate citizens and people with legal status are being harrassed, arrested, detained at all (which IS happening) is still massively problematic.

And Trump revoking refugee status doesn't somehow magically erase the very bonafide direct threats that many of these asylees faced back home.