Political rant justified:  ICE

"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006) 08/15/2018 at 13:31 • Filed to: None

3

36

I t certainly makes everyone nervous as the immigration rules change on the fly, with a clear bias to kicking anyone who wasn’t born here out.

I’m a Canadian citizen who got his green card 7 years ago based on my own merit (total cost $14k); I married an American 2.5 years ago and we live in Seattle. I applied for citizenship 11 months ago and still no word other than a monthly email saying “we’ve done nothing with your application”. I paid $750 (non-refundable) to be naturalized and have no idea if/when that will ever occur. To be clear I’m pursuing dual citizenship .

And in the meantime could I be deported? Who knows. I got laid off a few years ago and collected unemployment benefits for a period of time (I’ve been gainfully employed after that six month gap). Apparently Trump and Miller are considering use of social assistance as a valid reason to decline naturalization and ultimately lead to deportation.

P retty much every American I know thinks I’m crazy not to move back to Canada.. why should I have to? Because Trump hates me for not being American? And “following the rules” where it used to take six months to naturalize is turning into y ears. Another 2.5 years of this shitshow... America is a great country but the current government is an unmitigated disaster. 

His Stigness > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 13:52

0

Genuine question: why do you want to live here vs Canada? 

Berang > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 13:53

3

His approval rating has been trending downward again. TBH, most republicans won’t care how shitty anything he says or does is, and many of them are laughing as he does damage to the U.S. that will inevitably take decades to undo. Until it hits them in the wallet, and we’re seeing that happen now to certain demographics that voted for him - but cognitive dissonance is causing some of them to believe their loss of profits on certain materials, foods, etc. is just temporary, and in the looong run everything will be rosy. By the time he’s out of office, and full impact of his dipshittery is felt, they’ll just blame whoever the current president is for it.

Just Jeepin' > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 13:54

3

The irony that it’s quite possible, even probable, that our first lady is actually an illegal immigrant and hence her citizenship is invalid...

(But of course it’s ok for his supporters, because she’s the kind of immigrant they want: white, European . Actual paraphrase from a supporter.)

Milky > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 13:57

0

Well I just got into a facebook  debate about football kneeling. Ended on unarmed shootings of black people with “ when skewed numbers are your truth there is no truth.”

We suck, I’m sorry.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 14:02

1

I hear ya. I got my green card about 4 years ago. Actually as of today I am eligible to apply for citizenship (been married to my US born wife for 3 years as of today). I have an appointment to meet with lawyers to get that process started but have no clue how long it will take.

All this is an absolute disaster. Not only are they suggesting use of public benefits as a potential detriment against an immigration petition – they’ve also already issued directives aimed at fighting “abuse/fraud” giving authorities the right to immediately proceed with deportation any applications found to have inconsistencies. I get that there may be people trying to cheat the system – and there already is a process laid out to fight that without throwing everything out the window. I’ve been in this country since 2002 – first as an undergraduate student, then for grad school, and a decade working for various companies under various visas since then. Have I intentionally tried to mislead or falsify anything? Absolutely not. But am I 100% certain than the mountains of immigration papers I have don’t contain any errors or mistakes? Not one bit. Apparently that is now enough to just start deportation procedures.

They keep saying come here the legal way – but constantly keep making it harder to do so in the most unfair ways imaginable. To this day Trump as part of his “4 Pillars” plan wants to end what he has nicknamed “chain migration” – actually referred to as “family reuninfiaction” which I guess sounds so much less threatening. People in this country have used that program for decades to be able to keep their families together. Trump’s OWN in-laws used it just last week to become US citizens. But apparently it’s evil.

Nothing but disgusting pandering. The people being hurt by this stuff simply do n’t matter to them so no need to bother with any nuance whatsoever.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Berang 08/15/2018 at 14:06

2

Ding ding ding. This sums up the entire administration. Steal the country blind and appear as “pro-business” with horribly thought-out policies that at best MIGHT result in short term upticks. By the time it comes to bite us in the ass someone else will be in office, so we can just lay all the blame on them. Of course a majority of idiots will go along with it just as planned too.

ttyymmnn > Just Jeepin' 08/15/2018 at 14:08

6

And her parents were allowed to stay in the US through the very chain migration that Trump decries. Double standard anyone?

Mid Engine > His Stigness 08/15/2018 at 14:09

0

I work in semiconductors that are used extensively in cloud computing, AWS and Azure are based in Seattle. There’s no opportunity for me elsewhere, also I need to work another two years in the U.S. to qualify for social security. 

Party-vi > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 14:14

9

SEE THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT YOU CANADIENS COMING DOWN HERE TAKING ALL THE GOOD SUPERCONDUCTOR JOBS AND LEAVING STICKY MAPLE SYRUP FINGERPRINTS EVERYWHERE NEXT THING YOU KNOW WE’LL ALL BE DRINKING MOLSON AND LIVING UNDER POUTINE LAW WELL I’M NOT HAVING IT I’M GONNA GET JOHN CANDY’S DECAYING CORPSE AND GO CANADIAN BACON 2 ON YOUR ASSES!!!

Ash78, voting early and often > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 14:16

0

Unfortunately, most early-draft policy is written for the 99%, while you are the 1% in the situation. I’m sure you’ll find a waiver of some kind, especially given that your situation is pretty unique (skilled worker, married, etc). Most countries with very restrictive immigration policies usually write their rules around people like you for good reason. Go check out Switzerland or New Zealand, for example.

Can you do any of your work remotely or do you have to be onsite?

LOREM IPSUM > Party-vi 08/15/2018 at 14:17

1

R to the OFL.

Take your star.

Mid Engine > Ash78, voting early and often 08/15/2018 at 14:18

0

I have to be onsite, I work in sales providing technical support. My wife is a program manager for a local bank and can work anywhere.. 

Mid Engine > Just Jeepin' 08/15/2018 at 14:20

2

She has very poor taste in men

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > ttyymmnn 08/15/2018 at 14:29

0

I love that their immigration attorney made a very public statement that he supports family-reunification based immigration policies like what they used, that it is a bedrock of American society, that he is a prominent and proud liberal democrat who has championed various other “leftist” immigration policies (including work that paved the way for DACA).

I respect the guy’s work (maybe a little bit less for agreeing to take their case) , but the hypocrisy of that family of all people going to someone like that to utilize a program that their own relative is actively working to shut down – man I’d be too ashamed to walk down the street.

MonkeePuzzle > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 14:32

1

i really dont enjoy that monthly “we aint don nuffin since april” email :S

someassemblyrequired > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 14:33

0

Y ou can actually use your CPP credits to qualify for SSA and vice-versa.

https://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement_Pamphlets/canada.html

Still doesn’t change the stupid of the situation, but if you get a good opportunity elsewhere you don’t need to worry about that . You are eligible to collect SSA as a Canadian whether you are in the U.S. or Canada, even if you’re not a citizen.

Nom De Plume > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 14:33

0

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

So which was it; Merit or money?  I just need to be sure you don’t consider merit a commodity before examining beyond the second full sentence.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Ash78, voting early and often 08/15/2018 at 14:35

5

You’re peddling some serious BS if you’re suggesting that someone who’s here legitimately living a decent life is the exception to the rule. That is exactly what Trump and his goons are trying to make it sound like with their rhetoric, which is absolute garbage. You can agree or disagree with immigration policies – for example H1-B. That’s how I was able to stay here after college and grad school. It is one of the very few legal ways available for highly skilled workers to actually come/stay here to work. But it’s made in to a boogey man due to certain bad actors (who absolutey I agree should be stopped, without killing the entire program).

Your post reads as if a majority of the people who are legal immigrants here – and utilized public services that were made available to them – did something wrong. It’s a fault in the logic of this country’s laws, or the implementation of those programs themselves if people who are ineligible for them are being offered such services. On one hand you can’t say someone can legally use something, and on the other say (at a later date no less) that having done so makes you a target for having abused this country’s resources.

I’m an immigrant and know literally hundreds. They are all good people living a decent life, having done everything by the book . And I can guarantee you a good portion of us are currently scared shitless or at risk of being affected by this administration’s bullshit broad stroke attempts at pandering of one form or another . You’re very wrong in thinking that this will only affect bad actors, and maybe an unfortunate few who aren’t.

Ash78, voting early and often > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 08/15/2018 at 14:42

1

All I’m saying is that Trump/Sessions continue to read as saber-rattlers to me. Their actual willingness to follow through by kicking out skilled, established workers (legal, of course) would be political and economic suicide, IMO. About half of my coworkers are immigrants, and about a quarter are on work visas of some kind. Our nation’s infrastructure couldn’t handle it.

Please forgive me that I don’t watch any cable news and only read sporadic web stories, so I’m not coming at this with any preconceived notions — just that I believe their true goal is to find the abusers of the system, and that’s far more complex than a couple of basic questions/criteria.

ttyymmnn > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 08/15/2018 at 14:42

1

Good luck finding a big name  lawyer who is ashamed of anything they do.

imadick > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 15:03

0

Ya, don’t worry there bud, I’m sure you’re fine. You have your green card, you won’t be kicked out anytime soon.

KevlarRx7 > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 15:08

1

On the bright side you can become a legal slave so long as you’re willing to leave after.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-2a-temporary-agricultural-workers

BigBlock440 > ttyymmnn 08/15/2018 at 15:31

0

Why wouldn’t they be allowed to stay? It hasn’t been ended yet, you can’t just kick them out for no reason. I suppose you could probably find one though, just due to the sheer size of net our laws cast.

and 100 more > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 15:39

1

Are you white? I think that plays a larger role in your future and continued citizenship than anything else at this point.

(I was only asking rhetorically , btw)

Mid Engine > KevlarRx7 08/15/2018 at 15:39

0

LOL before I landed my current gig I started a handy man service, it’s still al iv e if I need to do that kinda work again. Licensed/bonded/insured, all le git

Mid Engine > someassemblyrequired 08/15/2018 at 15:43

0

I had no idea that existed, thanks!

and 100 more > Party-vi 08/15/2018 at 15:44

1

P outine law, that's fuckin hilarious. 

Mid Engine > and 100 more 08/15/2018 at 15:45

0

Yes, I’m white, college educated and have no criminal strikes against me. Just a normal dude, not sure what ethnicity has to do with anything though?

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Ash78, voting early and often 08/15/2018 at 15:46

1

Agreed with you that this country cannot survive without immigrants. Baby boomers are retiring at an estimated 10,000 per DAY. On top of that this country simply doesn’t create enough skilled workers in fields like STEM, and won’t for the foreseeable future given how badly underfunded/expensive our education system is. It doesn’t matter how many unemployed coal miners there are - there simply aren’t enough people with the skills that are actually in demand today. As a result immigrants are the only solution available today – stop immigration and you’ll see the country’s GDP take a nose dive.

You have way more faith in this administration than is due in thinking their goal is to find the abusers of the system. At best, if that is the case they’re doing a piss poor job of it given how haphazard and broad they’re being with their policies (rattle more peoples lives, get a lot more push back). At worst they’re trying to create an image that us immigrants are ALL (or most) abusers of the system and as the enemy to blame for many peoples’ problems.

Mid Engine > Nom De Plume 08/15/2018 at 15:47

0

B oth actually. I received my green card in four months as my cybersecurity background was of interest. It cost my company $14k in legal and filing fees.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Party-vi 08/15/2018 at 16:02

0

I laughed, but I know there are people actually out there who seriously think like this.

and 100 more > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 16:02

1

There is an obvious racial bent to the statements coming from this administration and their policy decisions. H e is making statements and   decisions, for and about our country, that favor wealthy people first, then his Caucasian voter base, and continues to disenfranchise people of color.

KevlarRx7 > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 16:10

0

Do whatever you've got to, you've got as much right as any other 'american' to be there, a country built on all races and creeds, good luck with it all, it's been the one thing that's always put me off of moving there. 

gettingoldercarguy > Party-vi 08/15/2018 at 16:29

0

Have a star

Monkey B > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 16:37

0

if you weren’t married would you stay here? Curious as it would seem that , other than climate, we don’t offer much and are certainly on the wrong side of doing what I consider well.

Nom De Plume > Mid Engine 08/15/2018 at 16:40

0

The juxtaposition of opposing ideas still confuses me despite the emotional response engendered in your rant. That aside I don’t feel rash behavior is warranted in the absence of an outright decree enforced by soldiers going house to house. That is unless you fear the response from your mother country, Canada, will show equal discourtesy to your wife. Focusing on stability may ultimately be more healthy in barring existence of solid decisions made against your citizenship or working status in this country.

I wish you and your wife the best navigating this.