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

199 points proberts | 6 comments | 16 May 25 15:05 UTC | HN request time: 1.549s | source | bottom

I'll be here for the next 5-6 hours. As usual, there are countless topics given the rapidly changing immigration landscape and I'll be guided by whatever you're concerned with. Please remember that I can't provide legal advice on specific cases because I won't have access to all the facts. Please stick to a factual discussion in your questions and I'll try to do the same in my answers.

Edit: I am taking a break now and will return later this afternoon/evening to respond to any comments and answer any questions. Thank you everyone for a great and engaged AMA so far.

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miotintherain ◴[16 May 25 15:40 UTC] No.44006758[source]▶
Hi Peter, thanks for doing this AMA.

I am traveling to the US soon for work from Europe. I have been reading a lot of articles about detentions at US airports and phone checks. My mindset has always been to never give my personal phone for an inspection, but times has changed now and it has been happening a lot more frequently. I am wondering what is the best course of action, prior to travel and if asked to give your phone and password. Also, what happens if you refuse to do so? Is the worst case scenario that they will send you back to where you came from?

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1. ty6853 ◴[16 May 25 15:44 UTC] No.44006813[source]▶
Not legal advice but I'm a US citizen and when I've refused to answer their intrusive questions the worst that has happened to me is they imprisoned me, stripped me naked and searched me, got a fraudulent warrant for an internal body search, and then sent me the bill after dumping me at the border when they found nothing.

Enjoy.

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2. Exoristos ◴[16 May 25 15:51 UTC] No.44006884[source]▶
Can you explain what fraud was used to obtain the warrant?
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3. ty6853 ◴[16 May 25 17:07 UTC] No.44007709[source]▶
Yes.

They claimed a dog alerted on me. An anonymous dog, handled by an unnamed officer in the affidavit, which was used as 3rd party inter-species hearsay via a HSI officer to the assistant attorney and judge.

A dog did not alert on me. In fact it is against CBP policy to use dogs on a person, they are to be used on your articles.

4. smcin ◴[16 May 25 22:59 UTC] No.44010554[source]▶
Which entry point was that at, and did you enter by air or land?

In particular if it was entering the southern border by land, I heard CBP behavior is much more aggressive.

5. footy ◴[17 May 25 01:46 UTC] No.44011423[source]▶
> and then sent me the bill

wow, what a horrible way to add insult to injury

6. Nappes ◴[17 May 25 05:18 UTC] No.44012211[source]▶
Bill for what exactly