My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer • Hacker News Board

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#301

Post by crossroadsguy » Thu, May 12, 2022, 12:43 AM UTC

tablespoon wrote: post #264

ROTMetro wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was super upset after visiting China and returning to the USA. Our immigration people were so much more authoritarian scary than the Chinese had been. And the Chinese had this cool smiley computer interface where you rated the chinese immigration official for their interaction on the spot. So China was not only friendlier and more welcoming, but also more accountable. We really need to check ourselves in America. O…

> I was super upset after visiting China and returning to the USA. Our immigration people were so much more authoritarian scary than the Chinese had been. And the Chinese had this cool smiley computer interface where you rated the chinese immigration official for their interaction on the spot. So China was not only friendlier and more welcoming, but also more accountable. I've seen those machines at Ikea in the US, t…

But that’s specifically what OP mentioned - their own experience with front line officers and their conduct. So what else can be there if not “anecdotal”? Every commenter citing a separate research paper including surveys from millions (or thousands?) of people?

Or is it just fashionable on hn to drop a “ha, anecdotal!” comment?

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#302

Post by Bhilai » Thu, May 12, 2022, 12:43 AM UTC

twofornone wrote: post #271

Bhilai wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you are a native Indian I am going to assume if your grand parents immigrated to this country and become citizens here, yes?

And? Personal anecdote has no bearing on the question of whether or not foreigners are ethically or morally entitled to immigration and citizenship, or whether the process should be made easier.

Well, if your ancestors did not go through the immigration process then it was "easy" for them.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#303

Post by passivate » Thu, May 12, 2022, 12:45 AM UTC

twofornone wrote: post #163

random314 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were Europeans entitled to American land 500 years ago? What did Columbus' visa application look like?

So because this land was colonized 500 years ago (as it was before Europeans arrived as well by the way, native Americans were not pacifists), we shouldn't enforce borders? How much time must pass after a land is conquered before nations are morally justified in enforcing sovereignty over borders? Particularly when the border belongs to a welfare state with finite resources and a host of internal issues that require…

In this context of legal immigration, the point here isn't about sovereignty. It's simply documenting one persons experience - I don't see it as a call for open borders. Also, does the US recognize a country's sovereignty when it conducts its foreign affairs? It constantly meddles in the internal affairs of other countries, not to mention the countless military interventions over the years.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

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Post by [deleted] » Thu, May 12, 2022, 12:46 AM UTC

throwaway_1928 wrote: post #152

Bhilai wrote: post #120

Sigh, I tried to follow what US Government was doing about this and eventually gave up but here is a short history: S.386 was introduced in the Senate by Mike Lee in 2019 [1] There was a unanimous consent on it in 2021 [2] but the bill expired (?) because Dick Durbin, senator from IL wont table it (I dont clearly understand the process in the Senate but some people who follow this had expressed anger at Durbin for no…

The history of this bill goes back further. It passed the House in 2011 as HR 3012 [1]. Note that we are told that Trump is racist and his opponents are not, but a lot of lawmakers with an axe to grind against Indians with 150-year immigration wait times [2] are prominent democrats. [1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3012 [2] https://www.cato.org/blog/150-year-wait-indian-immigrants-ad...

[deleted]

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#305

Post by passivate » Thu, May 12, 2022, 12:53 AM UTC

car_analogy wrote: post #177

rajup wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those may be true, but I always assumed that the US of A aspires to do better, American exceptionalism, land of opportunity and all that jazz.

This is assuming that more immigration equals better. And even if one does think so, then the USA is doing "better" - by orders of magnitude. The Chinese and Indians are not set to become minorities in their own countries, are they? But thanks to immigration, white Americans practically already are [1], yet it is they that are called xenophobic. Double-standards doesn't begin to describe it. [1] https://www.brookings…

>But thanks to immigration, white Americans practically already are [1], yet it is they that are called xenophobic

Why does it matter if a particular race is the majority or minority of citizens? What concerns do you have about it?

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#306

Post by popularonion » Thu, May 12, 2022, 12:59 AM UTC

ROTMetro wrote: post #172

notch656a wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>a border guard who is having a bad day. This is not to be understated. I was born a US citizen. Last time I entered the country, officers faked that a dog had alerted "on my anus", forcibly strip searched me, and fabricated a story that plastic baggies that they suspected 'could be drugs' were coming out of my ass. I was shackled and cuffed and dragged around the state of Arizona for 16 hours while publicly paraded…

I was super upset after visiting China and returning to the USA. Our immigration people were so much more authoritarian scary than the Chinese had been. And the Chinese had this cool smiley computer interface where you rated the chinese immigration official for their interaction on the spot. So China was not only friendlier and more welcoming, but also more accountable. We really need to check ourselves in America. O…

If you’re a foreigner in China, they have no problem tracking exactly where you go and who you talk to after you enter the country. They don’t have much to lose by putting a happy face on their customs process.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#307

Post by DragonStrength » Thu, May 12, 2022, 1:00 AM UTC

quantumwannabe wrote: post #38

Note that India requires prospective citizens to live in the country for 12 years before applying for naturalization, and China doesn't allow non-ethnic Chinese immigration at all (only ~1500 naturalized citizens/10,000 permanent residents in the whole country of over a billion people). Something to keep in mind when people from those countries complain about the American immigration system (doesn't apply to the Sing…

And for those commenting "why does country of origin matter," certainly there is something which made one system of governance preferable for outcomes and perhaps too quickly importing from a single culture brings along things which are out of place in the new country.

To wit: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cisco-lawsuit/california-...

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#308

Post by yowlingcat » Thu, May 12, 2022, 1:02 AM UTC

tablespoon wrote: post #285

notch656a wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1) I never directed a felon to manufacture a FGC-9, although I would be pleased to find out they had. At various times I have praised the idea of felons and prohibited possessors carrying, which by the way can be done completely legally for example by carrying a black powder six shooter that will work as good as any other revolver. 2) Felons can in fact legally own and manufacture modern firearms after having their r…

> Ergo illegal detention and causeless strip searches (which even at border require PC) are justified? I take it Ms. Cervantes was also an HN poster? No. I'll repeat the situation: I don't trust your account of what happened. That is all.

What "situation" -- the one where you constantly doubt the story of someone you have never met, based on their "evidence of attitude" which is really just your opinion?

Are you employed?

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#309

Post by austinl » Thu, May 12, 2022, 1:02 AM UTC

notch656a wrote: post #115

itissid wrote: post #88

One of the constant dichotomies that i(and maybe other immigrants) live with are these: The privilege of being a model minority [1] [2] yet being on the edge of having to lose it all if the immigration system shits itself. One might be a senior software engineer paying 100K + in taxes and probably drive EVs and own a home, your largest infraction are parking tickets, yet the risks are asymmetric; the whims of bureauc…

>a border guard who is having a bad day. This is not to be understated. I was born a US citizen. Last time I entered the country, officers faked that a dog had alerted "on my anus", forcibly strip searched me, and fabricated a story that plastic baggies that they suspected 'could be drugs' were coming out of my ass. I was shackled and cuffed and dragged around the state of Arizona for 16 hours while publicly paraded…

Also born a US citizen. My experience was fortunately not as bad as yours, but it still gives me a bit of anxiety every time I return to the US. I can't imagine what it'd be like as non-white foreigner.

I was flying back from Peru through LAX and held by security for about two hours with no explanation. Eventually, a pair of officers came and after a bit of questioning, dumped the entirety of my 65L bag onto the floor. I had a few pill bottles—all labeled—just Advil, Ibuprofen, some other OTC thing for altitude sickness. They emptied them all out onto the table in front of me.

They took a few tablets of Advil with them for testing. About 20 minutes later, they returned and told me I was free to go (with everything still on the floor, the pills all over the table, no apology, etc).

The icing on the cake—as I re-entered the LAX domestic terminal, my hiking poles that I had just flown with were confiscated.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#310

Post by passivate » Thu, May 12, 2022, 1:04 AM UTC

rayiner wrote: post #252

quantumwannabe wrote: post #38

Note that India requires prospective citizens to live in the country for 12 years before applying for naturalization, and China doesn't allow non-ethnic Chinese immigration at all (only ~1500 naturalized citizens/10,000 permanent residents in the whole country of over a billion people). Something to keep in mind when people from those countries complain about the American immigration system (doesn't apply to the Sing…

As an immigrant to the US, I hate the double standards applied to Americans. Oh, you think Americans are racist for wanting to restrict immigration? How would people in India react to massive immigration from Africa?

The US is hypocritical (most countries are) and meddles with the internal affairs of other countries. Expecting the world to care about US sovereignty is only going to get a few chuckles, nothing more. Certainly no country is in the position to go to war with the US, so we can be thankful for that.

>Oh, you think Americans are racist for wanting to restrict immigration? How would people in India react to massive immigration from Africa?

It's my view that people, in any country, should seize political power to fight for and implement changes they wish to in a legal, peaceful and non-violent manner. Whether it's about healthcare/internal policies/laws/immigration/foreign policy or whatever. If legal immigrants wish to fight for changes to the immigration system, then they should use all the legal rights they are afforded to under the current law. The previous arcs of history are all irrelevant, people should use the power they have in the here and now.