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

226 points proberts | 8 comments | 05 Dec 25 16:04 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source | bottom

As usual, there are countless immigration 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 do the same in my answers!

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

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miotintherain ◴[05 Dec 25 16:44 UTC] No.46163747[source]▶
Hi Peter, thanks for the AMA!

I work for an American company and I am based in Europe. I visit the US for work every now and then. I heard a lot of horror stories regarding border entries. If I am ever in a situation where the border police asks for access to my personal phone and pin code, what are my options? Can I refuse and what happens then?

replies(6): >>46164511 #>>46164632 #>>46165193 #>>46165959 #>>46168483 #>>46173015 #
proberts ◴[05 Dec 25 18:26 UTC] No.46165193[source]▶
You are within your rights to say no but if you say no, almost certainly CBP will assume that you are hiding something and deny you admission.
replies(3): >>46165239 #>>46166254 #>>46169694 #
ToucanLoucan[dead post] ◴[05 Dec 25 18:29 UTC] No.46165239[source]▶
[flagged]
1. tcdent ◴[05 Dec 25 19:47 UTC] No.46166347[source]▶
There is a solution to this. You can become a US citizen.
replies(5): >>46166475 #>>46166581 #>>46166662 #>>46166963 #>>46167771 #
2. jameshart ◴[05 Dec 25 19:58 UTC] No.46166475[source]▶
* terms and conditions may apply
3. LastTrain ◴[05 Dec 25 20:07 UTC] No.46166581[source]▶
Another option is that we can treat our guests better.
4. Izikiel43 ◴[05 Dec 25 20:14 UTC] No.46166662[source]▶
Very hard process though.
5. immibis ◴[05 Dec 25 20:40 UTC] No.46166963[source]▶
Didn't realise it was that easy. Why don't all the illegal immigrants just do that?
replies(1): >>46169663 #
6. hn_acc1 ◴[05 Dec 25 21:42 UTC] No.46167771[source]▶
And then wonder if they'll try to take your citizenship away anyway - the exact boat I'm in. Naturalized after almost 20 years of holding a GC, because I expected trouble with this administration - and now wondering they'll try to take away my citizenship because I did it recently.

I actually expected to leave and have my right to come back not dependent on GC status (which expires after 6 months), but due to family have stayed so far. by the by - I'm a citizen of that dangerous country bordering the US - Canada.

7. filleduchaos ◴[06 Dec 25 01:28 UTC] No.46169663[source]▶
It doesn't have to be easy to be factual. You simply are not owed entry into any country if you are not a citizen of that country, that is a fundamental part of what things like "citizenship" and "sovereign state" mean in the modern world.
replies(1): >>46172268 #
8. immibis ◴[06 Dec 25 10:45 UTC] No.46172268{3}[source]▶
Ah so this is basically a meaningless platitude?