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

199 points proberts | 3 comments | 16 May 25 15:05 UTC | HN request time: 0.769s | source

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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pctTCRZ52y ◴[16 May 25 15:21 UTC] No.44006562[source]▶
Are the current policies in the US making it noticeably more difficult for you to secure work visas for your clients?
replies(1): >>44006618 #
proberts ◴[16 May 25 15:25 UTC] No.44006618[source]▶
Not yet. The main changes that we're seeing are with CBP at the ports of entry. CBP is being much more aggressive in questioning those seeking admission, including searching electronic devices and even detaining applicants. But nearly all our filings are still getting approved.
replies(1): >>44007829 #
gopher_space ◴[16 May 25 17:19 UTC] No.44007829[source]▶
I've been through customs all over the world for the past forty years, and US customs are some of the worst human beings I've ever encountered. Why is that function such a shit show?

Very familiar with the need for LEO dumping grounds, especially at the federal level, so that's been my working assumption but I've never asked.

replies(2): >>44007938 #>>44008194 #
1. lazide ◴[16 May 25 17:30 UTC] No.44007938[source]▶
Because it can be, and nearly every administration has a ‘tough on illegal immigration’ stance - because the US is so desirable to go to.

A good Great Depression economic reset + insane facist government will reset that a little - but it will still be better than a huge number of places on the globe. Even if the gov’t targets immigrants.

A huge number of places with massive populations of people who would love to come over.

replies(1): >>44008184 #
2. gopher_space ◴[16 May 25 17:57 UTC] No.44008184[source]▶
Are you saying the volume they handle precludes competence?
replies(1): >>44008292 #
3. lazide ◴[16 May 25 18:09 UTC] No.44008292[source]▶
No, that the market demand (relative to supply) favors shittiness and extractive brutality over positivity.

They are quite competent at their actual jobs, which aren’t the jobs you think they are.

Think DMV. Or your favorite shitty cable company ISP.