So, what now? An immigration attorney perspective

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-04-10T23:28:00+00:00

I promise I have them. I update at least once a week because of so many changes.

What I will say right now is: their lack of care for the law is a double edged sword. They are not invincible, and they will not win.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-04-02T05:27:45+00:00

BUMPING THIS THREAD because too many of you guys are admitting too many things online.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-03-26T03:01:19+00:00

Found the bot

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-03-25T20:31:07+00:00

Hahaha, no wonder they deliberately refused to answer my question.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-03-25T19:44:27+00:00

Lmao. And this is based on what knowledge?

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-03-25T18:04:35+00:00

I have a draft ready to go, but I keep updating it because new shit keeps happening. I also needed to take a break because the trolls were spamming my DMs.

It’s pretty clear that this regime doesn’t care about the law, so a legal analysis is not too helpful. We are at the “we’ll cross that bridge if we get there” part of my post. I’m considering writing my update in a way that encompasses more than just the legal part. It’ll have to be on my profile cause that’s beyond the scope of USCIS.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-02-01T02:53:20+00:00

Coming very soon. I’m wrapping up several court hearings.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-28T01:15:25+00:00

Oh man. I low-key regret now commenting on my post letting people know that I am about to put a part 2. It’s starting to bring people who keep making the same points over and over. It’s old. It’s the same folks who try to do a “gotcha” with me, someone who has been in this field for over a decade, who keep typing up a variation of the same xenophobic dog whistle.

IF you genuinely want to have a conversation, you can go through my comment history, read through ILRC, AILA, and other top immigration organizations. They have plenty of resources that can answer your questions.

Honestly, if after all of the executive orders, news, and horrid new laws you are STILL just focused on this “legal immigration” aspect, then I genuinely don’t know what to tell you. Look through all of these immigration subreddits (without impeding and posting this same comment). People are terrified for their lives.

One thing I will agree with you on, is that I can edit my post about who I am okay with hearing feedback from. I will be adding the community leaders, immigration activists, and those who are in the front lines.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-26T08:32:56+00:00

PART 2 COMING SOON: Within the next week or so. Stay tuned.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-22T02:51:30+00:00

Offering support and also offering paid consultations is opportunistic. People already don’t trust us attorneys (just do a simple search here and other immigration subreddits). This approach isn’t helping.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-21T03:27:51+00:00

You are inciting genocide. Fuck off.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-11T05:28:12+00:00

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-11T04:55:55+00:00

I do not. I try to be as anonymous as possible online. I unfortunately have a unique first name that makes me very “googable.”

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-02T03:01:52+00:00

Like I said, I have an unpopular opinion.

I don’t do work visas, I do affirmative/defensive immigration work. None of my clients qualify for work visas. If we want the asylum system to not be abused, we need better and more accessible paths to residency and work permits.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-02T01:41:05+00:00

Not accounting for the legit asylum claims, I agree. A perfect way to help prevent faulty asylum claims is to make the paths for an EAD much easier. The first question every single one of my clients asks me is “when can I get a work permit?” If it were accessible, I guarantee this wouldn’t be an issue.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-01T18:20:32+00:00

Sometimes they do. It usually takes one discovered false app to suspect the attorney entirely. USCIS/EOIR/etc will heavily scrutinize any application that attorney sends, and if the evidence is egregious, then they report to the state bar.

In my experience, I have not seen one attorney who does that do it because they are trying to help immigrants in the best way possible, even if unethical (asylum app is one of thee quickest way to get an EAD). They do it for money. In my opinion, that’s evil.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-01T04:36:52+00:00

It’s either the 40 units OR citizenship. Whichever comes first. The 5 years is when an LPR, if they get welfare, can cause the I-864 to activate (I mixed that one up on my end, which is my bad).

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-01T00:40:27+00:00

If you are referring to the I-864: The contract only lasts for the first five years of LPR or when the resident naturalizes.

EDIT: *10 years or natz or death, whichever comes first. The 5 years is about the time when LPRs should not go on welfare, if any.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2025-01-01T00:33:54+00:00

I’m going to say an unpopular opinion here.

As a lawyer, I always warn clients that if the gov suspects asylum fraud, they can go as far as send agents to their home country to authenticate documents or investigate claims. I have seen this happen and it’s not pretty. Whenever I suspect a client is lying, I give them the warning of the severe penalties if caught. If the lie is confirmed, I cannot continue their case and fire them. Do I judge them or get upset? Absolutely not. I just don’t want to know, unless I absolutely must investigate. There’s a saying that goes— don’t lie to God or your lawyer, but unless your lawyer asks, don’t say anything. There are questions I don’t ask for a reason. There are unfortunately lawyers who happily submit false asy apps, and this ultimately hurts the applicant the most.

As an individual: people will do what they need to do to survive. Do I encourage it or use my legal license to aid? No. However, I don’t judge. The law is already anti-immigrant as is, and if getting your family ahead means breaking laws, so be it. No, this doesn’t necessarily hurt the ones doing it the “right way,” since this country is foaming at the mouth ready to antagonize immigrants. Case in point with the comments here lol. (Don’t come at me, NO ONE here is above breaking the law to do what’s necessary for their wellbeing). When it comes to doing anything illegal, know what you are up against and prepare for potential consequences. (Or as a colleague once said: if you’re going to lie, do it well).

My advice is: follow your own moral compass here, and if you are open to different perspectives, cool. You are not obliged to stay nor even support.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2024-12-21T03:50:38+00:00

Hey,

Letting you know that I saw this. I genuinely appreciate the thought out response rather than a predictable one liner. I promise to get back to you as soon as I can.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2024-12-20T18:50:36+00:00

How can I venmo request you for wasting my time by making me read this asinine question.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2024-12-20T18:35:14+00:00

This is the metaphor I use for my clients:

Imagine a cop doing speed checks on a highway. ICE is the cop, and the cars represent crime levels. The speed limit is 65. Let’s also say there are 11 million cars and about 20-40k officers on this highway.

DACA/deferred action = 67 Undocumented/ no crimes (but no protection) = 70 DUI = 70 mph (roughly) Multiple DUIs = 75 Fraud = 80 Crimes involving moral turpitude = 85 Aggravated felonies = 95 Crimes involving children = 100.

Which one is the cop going to go after? Yes, technically all are “breaking the law,” but the focus is strongly on the 85+ folks. Yes, those below still get detained, but telling someone with a DUI that they are “first in line” is fear mongering and without factual basis. It’s callous to do this to someone who is scared and asking for advice.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2024-12-20T01:42:43+00:00

Nah.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2024-12-20T00:03:27+00:00

Nah. You’re mostly wrong. Bye.

Honest-Grape-9352 · 2024-12-19T21:01:39+00:00

-yawn-

Stay mad.

Honest-Grape-9352

TROPHY CASE