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I'm Peter Roberts, immigration attorney who does work for YC and startups. AMA

183 points proberts | 7 comments | 17 Oct 24 16:01 UTC | HN request time: 0.406s | source | bottom

I'll be here for the few hours and then again at around 1 pm PST for another few hours. As usual, there are countless possible topics and I'll be guided by whatever you're concerned with. Please remember that I can't provide legal advice on specific cases for obvious liability reasons because I won't have access to all the facts. Please stick to a factual discussion in your questions and comments and I'll try to do the same in my answers. Thanks!

Previous threads we've done: https://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=proberts.

1. deadeye ◴[17 Oct 24 18:38 UTC] No.41872426[source]▶
Serious question...

If it's true people are crossing our borders, claiming asylum, and being let go with work permits, why should anyone do wait to do it the legal way and wait or get denied?

What is the advantage to doing it the normal way?

replies(4): >>41872468 #>>41872527 #>>41872535 #>>41873063 #
2. fooker ◴[17 Oct 24 18:40 UTC] No.41872468[source]▶
If you can cheat without consequences, what is the advantage of not cheating.
replies(1): >>41872560 #
3. alephnerd ◴[17 Oct 24 18:44 UTC] No.41872527[source]▶
Crossing illegally is an option of last resort.

If you have the ability to immigrate on a visa, it's much safer and easier than relying on "coyotes" or having to cross multiple borders illegally just to take a shot at entering the US.

There's a reason you don't see Mexicans cross the border illegally anymore.

4. waveBidder ◴[17 Oct 24 18:45 UTC] No.41872535[source]▶
not getting ICE knocking on your door and deporting you after living here for decades (happened to a friend's brother in law).
replies(1): >>41872621 #
5. proberts ◴[17 Oct 24 18:48 UTC] No.41872560[source]▶
The solution of course is to fix the asylum process so that applications get reviewed faster not to restrict asylum (that's my view at last) but until that happens, for those who get work authorization based on an asylum application, this is just a temporary fix because at some point, their application will be reviewed and if not valid denied.
6. deadeye ◴[17 Oct 24 18:52 UTC] No.41872621[source]▶
Yeah, I guess I was thinking of a more temporary working situation.
7. bubblethink ◴[17 Oct 24 19:44 UTC] No.41873063[source]▶
If your goal is time bound (say a few years), the asylum path may work. It will eventually run out though when you get your hearing in court. Asylum applications are overwhelmingly rejected. The legal path, at least theoretically, has a higher probability* of leading to permanent residence.

*Except for Indians.