“You were serious about that?”
[/Joe Pesci as Vinny Gambino]
My wife is a permanent resident, and she carries her card every day, everywhere she goes.
Because, you see, she heard that’s what the law required her to do.
Good luck to her if she loses it. It’s $280 or $370 to replace a lost or stolen one.
But they should be expected to.
Quite possibly- but you’re talking about 30 years’ worth of habit for some people, and it’s not as though USCIS is sending out letters saying, “hey, start carrying your green cards”. Hell, I didn’t even know it was a requirement until somebody mentioned it in an Arizona thread.
I guess we can thank all the not-racists who are totally OK with everything except illegality for all the fine “goddamn Mexicans corrupting the white race” posts on the last two pages.
But they have Mexican flags on their cars! Aren’t you a-scared!?
Yeah! At least the French use God’s color scheme.
Yes.
And?
Surely you don’t mean to suggest that the cost of a replacement is some sort of defense for not obeying the law concerning carrying it?
A legal defense, no. Considering that many people don’t even carry their original Social Security cards, which are free, it’s certainly a reasonable position to take, however.
A much better defense is the fact that nobody is ever going to make an unanticipated request to see it, unless your wife has the poor fortune of visiting Arizona.
Of course they do. By now, everyone ought to expect the Hispanic inquistion.
And while it’s a cute pun, it’s not purely there for the yaks. Because other than in Monty Python sketches, tell me what your first reaction to the Inquisition is – favorable or unfavorable.
So far as I know, there is no legal requirement to carry your original Social Security card.
How is that a defense?
PROSECUTOR: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence in this trial will show that the accused did not possess his green card, even though the law requires that he carry it with him.
DEFENSE COUNSEL: The prosecution will tell you, ladies and gentlemen, that my client did not possess his green card, even though the law requires that he carry it with him. But what they won’t tell you, what they don’t want you to know, what will absolutely excuse my client from any wrongdoing, is simply this fact: he didn’t think he’d be asked for it!
Thank you.
DEFENDANT: Um… is it too late to get another lawyer?
Under what circumstances was the defendant charged with failing to carry his green card?
There was an immigration raid of a construction site. The defendant, who worked next door as an accounting supervisor, was on his lunch break, and yelled at the federal officers to go enforce real law. The immigration officer responded that the defendant didn’t know what he was talking about. The defendant then volunteered the information the he himself was an immigrant, a permanent resident, and was thus well aware of the perils of immigration policy. The immigration officer then asked the defendant if he was carrying his green card, and the defendant replied that he was not, because no one ever asks for it.
At that point, the defendant was placed under arrest and subsequently charged with violation of 8 USC § 1304(e).
Now, what do you think the chances of your wife or I getting in a screaming match with ICE officials is?
That doesn’t matter. You are a criminal alien and all patriotic Americans should demand your deportation upon completion of your sentence.
Shhh. I’ve almost got them trusting me.
before I was naturalized I stopped carrying mine after losing it twice. (once really my girlfriend took my wallet to go pick up some breakfast and left my wallet somewhere the second time) . Of all the resident aliens I know which is a buttload, I only know two that carry it all the time. We got a lot of lawbreakers it seems.
Don’t say “criminal alien”; that’s so cold. Say “Future Democrat”.
I guess I’m the only person, then, who’s carried her driver’s license around in her wallet at all times for nearly 40 years? During that time, I’ve had my wallet stolen twice, and yes, it was a PITA to get everything taken care of. I’m sure it’s even more of a pain in the ass to get a green card replaced…but getting a military ID card replaced is no picnic, either.
In Texas, it’s currently taking nearly 7 months to get a green card replaced, plus it costs $290, and possibly requires time off work to have photos and prints taken.
And in the meantime, if you’re lucky and take more time off work to go to USCIS in person, they’ll take mercy on you and put a temporary stamp in your passport indicating that you are, in fact, a permanent resident. (Provided you actually have a valid passport. If not, you either have to wait until the receipt notice shows up in the mail, which can take a month or longer, or just cross your fingers that nobody asks for proof of your immigration status.)