Live data from Hacker News

Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

petitions.whitehouse.gov

391–400 of 401 posts

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#391
post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Proud to be a permanent resident of Canada now. I left US (H1B visa) some months back.

You don't need a visa (H1B or otherwise), the Canadian border is just like the US border with Mexico: open. Anyone can migrate to Canada from the US, just walk across (or drive on up). If "caught", they won't send you back to the US (or wherever). You can get a job, get (free) healthcare, a driver's license, the works—you don't need documentation at all (or can fake it, just like in the US). Why people migrating from…

Canada has immigration and laws and will deport people. They aren't particularly fast or efficient about it, but don't spread false rumors that you don't need a Visa to live here. Further for off-continent arrivals the information is shared with the US in exchange for lesser restrictions at the US/Canada land border.

Undocumented workers specifically are a problem not because we don't want immigration - but because they are at risk of abuse by their employer.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#392
From what I hear, Iranian schools and universities are excellent.[1]

I work at a company where we have several Iranian researchers working as interns, and they are doing excellent work.

If the US doesn't want Iranian engineers and scientists, then I'm sure Canada will be glad to have them.

[1] When I was in high school Iranian students of 9th grade age who immigrated to Canada would immediately be placed in our 12th grade math classes-and they would still get top marks.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm talking to people, like yourself, who are normaly sober and rational on HN (and presumably, other places—I like your Objective-C articles, for instance). It's weird, Trump really has a lot of people "off their game" as it were, and it saddens me because the guy's kind of an idiot. I'd like to see people I respect get their shit together and mount and effective opposition. Short of talking to them (like I'm doing…

Could you explain how I'm not being sober and rational here, preferably without using the word "lie" (I'm not intending to deceive, so I am at worst mistaken) or the phrase "virtue signaling" (which is basically a slightly more polite way to say "fuck you" and is not productive)? What else would I expect you to do? I'd expect you to stop complaining about imaginary slights and insulting people for talking about thing…

Sorry, my timeout kicked in and I couldn't reply quickly.

I apologize if my comments seem overly directed at you personally; that was not my intent and I should have made a top-level comment. You're a good guy and perhaps I've misunderstood how effective your approach will be over time.

Best, Erich

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't need a visa (H1B or otherwise), the Canadian border is just like the US border with Mexico: open. Anyone can migrate to Canada from the US, just walk across (or drive on up). If "caught", they won't send you back to the US (or wherever). You can get a job, get (free) healthcare, a driver's license, the works—you don't need documentation at all (or can fake it, just like in the US). Why people migrating from…

Canada has immigration and laws and will deport people. They aren't particularly fast or efficient about it, but don't spread false rumors that you don't need a Visa to live here. Further for off-continent arrivals the information is shared with the US in exchange for lesser restrictions at the US/Canada land border. Undocumented workers specifically are a problem not because we don't want immigration - but because t…

> Canada has immigration and laws and will deport people.

Eh, technically, yes. But like anti-sodomy laws in many states in the US, they are rarely applied. Canada does not have a problem with immigration, "legal" or otherwise, no matter what the "laws" say.

Open borders is a human rights issue and Canada is on the right side of history. They do not preference their own citizens over other people, just because of where they were born or what nationality they are. Canada is compassionate to all people and a model for the United States.

> Undocumented workers specifically are a problem not because we don't want immigration - but because they are at risk of abuse by their employer.

Agreed, that's why I suggested undocumented immigrants just forge their papers; that's how it's done in the US and at least in California, works pretty well and tends to keep employers more honest.

Ideally Canada should just automatically give any undocumented worker (and their family) whatever papers/status necessary to make their de facto immigration to Canada legal, so they can stop being abused by their employer (and anyone else). Perhaps by setting up a center or something that undocumented workers can go to to get legal sanction. (California does something similar—anyone can get a valid drivers license here without any gov't papers.)

In fact, Canada not already just giving undocumented workers full rights and legal papers could reasonably be considered to be a human rights violation, since by not doing so, they are enabling inevitable abuse by Canadian employers. Same with visa grants, Canada IMO should just abolish visas entirely and let anyone who can get to Canada in, with full papers on arrival. It's probably some shit arrangement with the US gov't that's preventing them from doing so, now that I think about it.

I'm sure that over time, Canada will repeal all laws preventing foreigners from immigrating to Canada, establishing quotas, wait-lists, or anything else that takes away anyone's right to immigrate to Canada if they want to. Maybe even faster now that Trump is pissing everyone off in the US.

Like ending slavery, fully unrestricted open borders can't come soon enough. Future generations will judge us accordingly that we did not do so sooner, and at least Canada is on the right side of history, even if their laws have to catch up a bit to their hearts.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why?

You can be a loyal citizen to only one country. Maintaining two passports is an open declaration of disloyalty and lack of solidarity. And immigrants shouldn't get special privileges that natural citizens cannot, especially special privileges conferred by foreign princes and potentates.

Choose who to love; Your father ... or your mother. Your father's uncle, but not your mum's brother

Nah, I don't buy the idea, Is plain BS.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#396

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People with green cards/existing visas need to be re-approved, they're not "banned". A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, and it sounds like the administration is backpedaling as well, but it's important to note that in the mean time some people with a (previously) legal right to enter the US were turned away because of Trump's recent executive order. https://www.propublica.org/article/cleveland-cl…

> but it's important to note that in the mean time some people with a (previously) legal right to enter the US were turned away because of Trump's recent executive order. This is false. U.S. visas (regardless of type) are different from those issued by other nations. A US visa does not give someone the right to enter the United States, it gives them the right to go to a port of entry (like an airport) and ask for per…

Thank God we cleared that up.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#397

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People with green cards/existing visas need to be re-approved, they're not "banned". A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, and it sounds like the administration is backpedaling as well, but it's important to note that in the mean time some people with a (previously) legal right to enter the US were turned away because of Trump's recent executive order. https://www.propublica.org/article/cleveland-cl…

> This is a deeply stupid comment. The only opposition yesterday worth anything was the ACLU lawsuit, and it was the only thing that actually made any concrete difference in the lives of the people affected. The rest was just people engaging in fantasy politics in the streets, who got what they wanted by appearing to care in front of their peers—without actually changing, literally, anything at all but their own perc…

I was in an airport yesterday on business and encountered protesters who had organized via the internet and came out during a snowstorm. I don't know if that's what you meant by "hashtag protests," but the protests made the national news, and if enough people protest, maybe it moves the needle a little bit.

It is certainly a heck of a lot more effective than making pointlessly cynical comments like yours from behind a computer monitor.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#398

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're one the best and brightest abroad, why would you trust staking a future in this country anymore? Even if what we're seeing now recedes and fades. Huge damage to our future of this country, beyond just the "temporary"-so-far order.

I agree, and that's what I have to say to my former (I graduated) coworker. I'm very much inclined to pack bags, ship my possessions, and leave this country myself. If this is how this government behaves one week in , violating human rights and the Constitution already , what can I expect as a minority who was born here? And what about the people I know without second passports? Should a certain friend refuse to visi…

Given that Steve Bannon actively wants us in a shooting war with China, I'd say your friend should make up Plans B,C,D and E immediately.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#399
post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an easy position for you to take, since you have already gained admission to MIT and you know these people. Consider a US citizen who would like to get admitted to MIT. Trump's action will what, double the chances of getting in? Consider the parents of that kid, already paying taxes that provide for the research grants that MIT lives off of.

You need to be better at math if you want to go to MIT.

And if your gambit for getting in is this kind of cynical move, MIT will spit you right back out in short order.

Re: Iranian MIT student goes home over break, denied return for spring semester

#400
post #72

Trump is creating a bargaining chip for america. This is a ploy, not s long term plan. I wonder what he ll ask in return for lifting the ban

MIT alum here. The orange clownstick better think twice if he thinks he can use our school as a bargaining chip.

Not yours, Trump.

Post reply on HN