What’s the disadvantage to being an illegal immigrant in Ca?

[Holeshot]

I had a conversation with a friend who lives in Nevada and suggested there is only upside for keeping your existing wealth/ job, etc and claim you’re an illegal immigrant. Hypothetically speaking and assuming your wealth and job do not change, what is the downside in CA?

 

[Mike95060]

The constant fear and worry ICE might show up and deport you? Yes it happens even in hippy dippy towns like Santa Cruz.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06...ore-than-50-immigrants-in-central-california/

is that enough of a reason for you?

 

[SFSV650]

I couldn't keep my job as an illegal immigrant. Might be a different story if I was a minimum wage or cash industry employee.

Could you?

 

[ABC]

I dont understand this at all? why would one want to claim to be undocumented?


Is this the new hype?

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

I had a conversation with a friend who lives in Nevada and suggested there is only upside for keeping your existing wealth/ job, etc and claim you’re an illegal immigrant. Hypothetically speaking and assuming your wealth and job do not change, what is the downside in CA?

This doesn't make sense... so, to "keep" your job AND claim you're an illegal immigrant???? :wtf

I dont understand this at all? why would one want to claim to be undocumented?


Is this the new hype?

Yeah, it's a hype--to assign blame, that is

 

[mlm]

Not sure I understand the question. My guess is you're commenting that consequences of being an illegal immigrant aren't what you think are appropriate. I wouldn't really call this an "upside".

We're where we are because politicians pander to populist dogma instead of addressing the real issues.


And for downside, it depends. One might be the inability to collect from social security and medicare that you've probably been contributing to

 

[JesasaurusRex]

I'm sure i don't understand the question

*edit, i think i get it. You're saying there's no downside to having this information be public? I wouldn't know, i'd say at the least there's a stigma attached and now you have to deal with people who will treat you shittier

 

[Agent Orange]

Guess you didn't hear the story of the nurse who was deported and had to be separated from her kids: https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/15/oakland-couple-wait-pray-for-deportation-delay/

 

[Mike95060]

Lol Poor Berto. Let me sum up the entire reaction to this thread:

 

[byke]

Wouldn't have had my last three or more jobs if I were illegal, and those were key. I'd probably be turning a wrench at a lawnmower shop in Woodland living in a $550/mo hotel apartment and looking for things to steal in my spare time. Seems like an odd convo to pretend to keep everything the same in your life and then blink and pretend you're illegal from this point forward, as if there are any real life parallels. But, if the constraints must be the way they are, which intentionally excludes the biggest problems(work and travel), you can still get loans and whatnot, so I think that aside from all of the intentionally excluded downsides, then there aren't many downsides. Maybe some social issues since you'd hypothetically be claiming you're undocumented and there are no constraints on that, so we'll just assume you tell everyone you meet. Might get your ass kicked a few times.

 

[mlm]

Just saw this on FB.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-jennings-legal-illegal-immigration-20180114-story.html

For the first century of the country’s existence, anyone could land here and walk right off the boat with no papers of any kind, just as Gumpertz did. Coming here “illegally” did not even exist as a concept.

Interesting commentary on how there was no such thing as illegal immigration until the early 20th century, and the restrictions we have now were largely the same xenophobia we have today.

 

[TylerW]

In addition to the family of being deported, you pay taxes into a system that you cannot extract all of the value from.

 

[bojangle]

Just saw this on FB.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-jennings-legal-illegal-immigration-20180114-story.html


Interesting commentary on how there was no such thing as illegal immigration until the early 20th century, and the restrictions we have now were largely the same xenophobia we have today.

Different circumstances. Land homesteads also used to be given out for free too. At the time, we needed seed population for our newer vast expanding country. Once manifest destiny was accomplished there was a need for immigration controls.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

 

[msethhunter]

The constant fear and worry ICE might show up and deport you? Yes it happens even in hippy dippy towns like Santa Cruz.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06...ore-than-50-immigrants-in-central-california/

is that enough of a reason for you?

Well.....if you weren't here illegally, breaking the law in the first place, would you have that to worry about? Illegal immigration isn't a crime of ignorance. It's very deliberate.

 

[byke]

Practicality first, text on paper second. If the main reason is text on paper, then you can't be a pass-on-the-dy kinda guy.

 

[Junkie]

Just saw this on FB.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-jennings-legal-illegal-immigration-20180114-story.html


Interesting commentary on how there was no such thing as illegal immigration until the early 20th century, and the restrictions we have now were largely the same xenophobia we have today.

It would be more interesting if it was true. The Chinese Exclusion Act passed in 1882 and basically prohibited Chinese immigration. while they acknowledge it, they then go on to say:

The concept of being an “illegal” immigrant pretty much dates back to 1924 — less than a century ago.


because apparently excluding Chinese doesn't matter

 

[UDRider]

I couldn't have my current, or previous job, or any of my internships if I was illegal immigrant. So there is that.

 

[Holeshot]

Further information; his contention is that anyone in CA can now claim they are "illegal" and "undocumented" when questioned on identity. His point was: why not enjoy the benefits of anonymity with fake Mexican documents and undocumented license? His belief is there is an open hole in CA for legal residents to "hide" in this manner.

I have no clue if it's do-able.

 

[UDRider]

I have no clue what "your friend" is talking about.
How does he envision this works and what exactly are the benefits?