# Obama only deported 2500 Visa overstayers in 2015 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 14, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374 "2016-06-14T20:46:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/41 "2016-06-16T05:00:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If visas are just suggestions then why have a time limit on them? Just make them a blank check once you’ve passed your background check. > > The result of a policy that is unenforced is an extreme unfairness: the law abiding get screwed obeying a law they didn’t have to, while the cheaters get to benefit from their cheating. Are you being deliberately dense? Nobody is saying that overstaying a visa isn’t illegal. But if you’re a police commissioner who doesn’t have enough police officers to arrest every law breaker and you have to choose between catching murders and catching overtime parkers, you tell your officers to catch the murders. You’re not condoning overtime parking; you’re not saying it’s legal - but you’re recognizing that you go after major crimes before you go after minor crimes. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/42 "2016-06-16T05:06:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Bullshit. Any cheater who gets caught receives penalties, usually deportation. > > Are you suggesting we do away with visas altogether and not let anyone into the country? No, but countries that have that have the most visa violators should have further visas limited. Apparently, the consequences aren’t serious to stop people from overstaying. Perhaps, they should have to put up a bond and forfeit it if they overstay. We can finance all that free education Bernie talks about. Or perhaps, we should penalize them the same way their home country does? For some reason, liberals think our borders are meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pearl_Clutching_Provocateur)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/43 "2016-06-16T05:12:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But if you’re a police commissioner who doesn’t have enough police officers to arrest every law breaker and you have to choose between catching murders and catching overtime parkers, you tell your officers to catch the murders. You’re not condoning overtime parking; you’re not saying it’s legal - but you’re recognizing that you go after major crimes before you go after minor crimes. Ever hear of meter maids and parking enforcement? Police officers who deal with serious crimes don’t worry about parking. Likewise the people who issue visas need deal with visa overstayers any way they can including hunting them down. That’s their job. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/44 "2016-06-16T05:20:49Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > For some reason, liberals think our borders are meaningless. Yeah? I’m a liberal, and I don’t think borders are meaningless. My wife and I are doing everything by the law with her visa, same as other liberals of my acquaintance. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/45 "2016-06-16T05:23:13Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Or perhaps, we should penalize them the same way their home country does? The US already penalizes them more than their home country. If I overstay my visa in Thailand, I’m subject to a ban from reentering the country for 1-10 years. In the US, it would take a miracle for you ever to enter the country again. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/46 "2016-06-16T05:24:49Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Ever hear of meter maids and parking enforcement? Police officers who deal with serious crimes don’t worry about parking. Likewise the people who issue visas need deal with visa overstayers any way they can including hunting them down. That’s their job. How do you propose you track visa holders? Ticketing parked cars isn’t even close to the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/47 "2016-06-16T05:26:00Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > Ever hear of meter maids and parking enforcement? Police officers who deal with serious crimes don’t worry about parking. Likewise the people who issue visas need deal with visa overstayers any way they can including hunting them down. That’s their job. And what does this police chief do when the city council won’t give him enough money to hire the meter maids and parking enforcement? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/48 "2016-06-16T05:30:22Z")
**Pearl Clutching Provocateur** and **adaher** , not to mention the OP, know absolutely _nothing_ about this subject other than what Der Fuehrer Trump has ordered them to think. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/49 "2016-06-16T05:57:31Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Bullshit. Any cheater who gets caught receives penalties, usually deportation. > > Are you suggesting we do away with visas altogether and not let anyone into the country? Who gets caught? 2500 out of millions? And the penalty is that you go home where you were supposed to go in the first place? Actually, I’m just calling for fairness here. If visas are in effect a blank check to stay as long as you want, then just make visas like that in practice. You get a tourist visa, you can stay as long as you want. Who could object to that? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/50 "2016-06-16T06:13:28Z")
But Tourist Visas are NOT a blank check to stay as long as you want. That, to a large extent, is what Immigrant Visas are for, and the criteria for those are even stricter than for Tourist Visas. Believe me, I know. Blank check indeed. There has never been a case of an overstayer being caught and the authorities saying, “Well, let’s see. Your visa expired a long time ago. [Or you don’t have a visa.] Tell you what, we’re a bit busy, so we’re going to let you off with a warning as long as you promise to get this taken care of soon.” No, that does not happen. Anyone who _is_ caught is in trouble. They can kiss their chances of seeing America again goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/51 "2016-06-16T06:15:22Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Thats only 2500 persons out of an estimated 5 million **illegals** who fall into this category. [LINK](http://dailycaller.com/2016/06/14/deportations-of-visa-overstayers-have-fallen-80-percent-on-obamas-watch/) This is down 80% since 2009. > > So a person can just come to the US on say a tourist visa and just stay as long as they like. Oh. You’re one of THEM… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/52 "2016-06-16T06:33:22Z")
> [@Pearl\_Clutching\_Provocateur](#): > > No, but countries that have that have the most visa violators should have further visas limited. This has always been the case. Hence visa waivers for EU members, very strict requirements for Thais, Dominicans and Guatemalans. I am not sure you have any idea what you’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/53 "2016-06-16T06:34:47Z")
And for the record, many EU people also overstay and work in the US. I know a few. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/54 "2016-06-16T07:02:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > But Tourist Visas are NOT a blank check to stay as long as you want. That, to a large extent, is what Immigrant Visas are for, and the criteria for those are even stricter than for Tourist Visas. Believe me, I know. > > Blank check indeed. There has never been a case of an overstayer being caught and the authorities saying, “Well, let’s see. Your visa expired a long time ago. [Or you don’t have a visa.] Tell you what, we’re a bit busy, so we’re going to let you off with a warning as long as you promise to get this taken care of soon.” No, that does not happen. Anyone who _is_ caught is in trouble. They can kiss their chances of seeing America again goodbye. Yet so few get caught. Less than 1%. How is that fair to the law abiding? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/55 "2016-06-16T08:33:15Z")
How does it affect the law abiding one way or another? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/56 "2016-06-16T08:52:21Z")
The law abiding that do want to stay are stuck in their home countries, waiting in line the legal way, while those who cheated face a whopping 1% chance of getting deported. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/57 "2016-06-16T10:58:16Z")
Ever notice it’s the same people screaming for enforcement that refuse to fund it, in the name of cutting spending and smaller government? Funny that! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/58 "2016-06-16T11:20:49Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Yet so few get caught. Less than 1%. How is that fair to the law abiding? If you don’t think it’s fair, the solution is easy. Don’t vote for the party that cuts spending for law enforcement. Don’t send Republicans to Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/59 "2016-06-16T12:01:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If you don’t think it’s fair, the solution is easy. Don’t vote for the party that cuts spending for law enforcement. Don’t send Republicans to Congress. Indeed. You want better enforcement, it’s got to be paid for. Immigration issues are always a favorite of the conservative rabble-rousers, because they know the average American knows fuck-all about how the system even works. “Oh my god, illegal immigrants are storming the country left and right! The system is broken! It’s the Democrats fault and only we can fix it!” Pandering to the mouth-breathers who wouldn’t even have a clue about how to fix something like that even if it were broken, which quite honestly it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374/60 "2016-06-16T12:10:52Z")
What good does funding do if the President would simply rather not deport anyone but felons? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-only-deported-2500-visa-overstayers-in-2015/757374.md?page=4)