Many immigrants might need new green cards

[peejay 327]

Many immigrants might need new green cards

Plan could force 750,000 to apply for replacements

By ANNA GORMAN

Los Angeles Times

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is considering a proposal to eliminate hundreds of thousands of green cards issued years ago without expiration dates, a move that would help the agency track down individuals who have committed crimes and might be eligible for deportation.

By requiring immigrants to reapply for new cards, the federal agency would be able to update their personal information, conduct background checks and electronically store their fingerprints and photographs.

Authorities estimate there are 750,000 such green cards in circulation — some of which are now nearly 30 years old. They were issued between 1979 and 1989.

Newer cards, which expire after 10 years, are equipped with technology that makes them less susceptible to fraud, immigration services spokeswoman Sharon Rummery said. For example, the new cards feature miniature images of all the U.S. presidents, she said.

"There is, of course, a security aspect to it," she said. "It's harder to counterfeit the newer green cards."

Groups that favor more controls on immigration said the change is necessary for national security. The new cards provide "at least a speed bump along the road" for counterfeiters, said Rick Oltman, spokesman for Californians for Population Stabilization.

But some immigration attorneys and advocates said the proposal is just another way to round up legal permanent residents with criminal records. Under the law, green card holders who have committed certain crimes can be deported.

Anti-illegal immigration activist Barbara Coe said requiring the cardholders to reapply would hold them accountable.

"There are plenty of violent criminals out there among these people," she said. "I think it would track these people."

The proposal was announced in the summer, but immigration services has not decided when it might adopt the rule. Under the proposal, legal permanent residents would have 120 days to apply for new cards. Attorneys said that might not be enough time to get the word out and for people to save money and apply.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5367181.html

[Carlawarla 1]

I heard about this, and read about it I believe on VJ several months ago! I didn't know at the time about the non-expiry date of their cards. Interesting but an overwhelming nightmare I'm thinking to changing these over!

Carla

[peejay 327]

This new policy would likely impact hardly anyone on VJ since these cards were issued between 1979 to 1989.

But some immigration attorneys and advocates said the proposal is just another way to round up legal permanent residents with criminal records. Under the law, green card holders who have committed certain crimes can be deported.

I find that quote from the article as being odd. Why would anyone be opposed to deporting criminal aliens?

[kerewin21 2]

This new policy would likely impact hardly anyone on VJ since these cards were issued between 1979 to 1989.

But some immigration attorneys and advocates said the proposal is just another way to round up legal permanent residents with criminal records. Under the law, green card holders who have committed certain crimes can be deported.

I find that quote from the article as being odd. Why would anyone be opposed to deporting criminal aliens?

Sounds like a good plan to me. We have enough citizens who are criminals, why keep other criminals around? And we should definitely be able to keep track of people who are here.

Of course, if crimes like jaywalking are included, that might be excessive

Edited to add: of course, this will make all of our processing times much longer argh

Edited December 11, 2007 by kerewin21

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Issuing cards with photos but no expiry dates was always a bad idea. Good thing they're finally getting around to fix it.

[peejay 327]

Issuing cards with photos but no expiry dates was always a bad idea. Good thing they're finally getting around to fix it.

I vaguely remember seeing my grandmother's old US Resident Alien Card from the early 1960's. I don't think it even had a picture.

During WW2 there was a big push by the US government to register all foreigners living in the USA (for obvious reasons). Even into the 1960's there were US government ads on TV explaining that it was the law for all foreigners to register and get cards. I remember the TV ad well.

Many people still alive in the 1960's (and later) came to America back when there was no requirement to register.

No Dorothy...I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. We left there long ago. Times change.

[Caladan 19]

This new policy would likely impact hardly anyone on VJ since these cards were issued between 1979 to 1989.

But some immigration attorneys and advocates said the proposal is just another way to round up legal permanent residents with criminal records. Under the law, green card holders who have committed certain crimes can be deported.

I find that quote from the article as being odd. Why would anyone be opposed to deporting criminal aliens?

I wonder why they weren't deported already, if they've served time for something deportable. That's how ICE catches most people anyway; wait for them to reapply or get caught for something criminal. Or if they're going to decide that some things that weren't deportable offenses when they were committed are now?

A card without an expiration date was never a good idea.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I vaguely remember seeing my grandmother's old US Resident Alien Card from the early 1960's. I don't think it even had a picture.

Just as silly as the non-photo drivers license the state of New Jersey used to issue until recently. If a card is supposed to entitle you to a privilege, how much sense does it make for the card to not have some means of identifying its holder?

I am glad to see they are fixing this. Actually, part of me feels that no one should be allowed to stay here on a green card indefinitely. Maybe 20 years at the most and if you're still not "sold" on the concept of being American (naturalizing) by then, leave.

[Marc and Olga 0]

other then the casual mention of needing time to save for the fees, I'm surprised no one in the article said "just a way for the USCIS to make a buck"

other then that I don't have much to add on this...I agree...no photo on the Green Card = not a good idea.

Marc

[Sister Fracas 5]

Actually, part of me feels that no one should be allowed to stay here on a green card indefinitely. Maybe 20 years at the most and if you're still not "sold" on the concept of being American (naturalizing) by then, leave.

Hmmm, I'm surprised no one is jumping on this... lot's of people on VJ have said they wouldn't become a citizen. Hey, I think as long as they want to keep going through immigration ####### every 10 years or so as their green cards expire...well, so be it. Some people don't want to give up citizenship to their home country for whatever reason.

[Sister Fracas 5]

This new policy would likely impact hardly anyone on VJ since these cards were issued between 1979 to 1989.

Not directly, but manpower to do this has to come from somewhere in USCIS....are you telling me they will hire new reps to do this paperwork? I doubt it and that could mean longer wait times all across the board.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Actually, part of me feels that no one should be allowed to stay here on a green card indefinitely. Maybe 20 years at the most and if you're still not "sold" on the concept of being American (naturalizing) by then, leave.

Hmmm, I'm surprised no one is jumping on this... lot's of people on VJ have said they wouldn't become a citizen. Hey, I think as long as they want to keep going through immigration ####### every 10 years or so as their green cards expire...well, so be it. Some people don't want to give up citizenship to their home country for whatever reason.

My personal opinion is that shouldn't be allowed after a long period of time is up. They need to make up their minds.

But that's just my opinion.

[C and J 1]

This new policy would likely impact hardly anyone on VJ since these cards were issued between 1979 to 1989.

I disagree, I think this will create backlogs for anyone who is in the immigration process when they implement this. Those 750,000 green cards will need someone to process them and they'll have to take resources from elsewhere.

We've already seen how USCIS fail at coping with increased workloads... seems like another fiasco waiting to happen

[peejay 327]

This new policy would likely impact hardly anyone on VJ since these cards were issued between 1979 to 1989.

I disagree, I think this will create backlogs for anyone who is in the immigration process when they implement this. Those 750,000 green cards will need someone to process them and they'll have to take resources from elsewhere.

We've already seen how USCIS fail at coping with increased workloads... seems like another fiasco waiting to happen

Of course it will add to the already horrible backlog at USCIS. What I meant was that there was slim chance that anyone here on VJ would be one of the 750,000 that needed a new card because it had no expiration date.

[peejay 327]

Actually, part of me feels that no one should be allowed to stay here on a green card indefinitely. Maybe 20 years at the most and if you're still not "sold" on the concept of being American (naturalizing) by then, leave.

Hmmm, I'm surprised no one is jumping on this... lot's of people on VJ have said they wouldn't become a citizen. Hey, I think as long as they want to keep going through immigration ####### every 10 years or so as their green cards expire...well, so be it. Some people don't want to give up citizenship to their home country for whatever reason.

My grandfather arrived in the USA in 1911 through POE Galveston, TX. He became a US citizen in 1943. My mother told me he had to be a US citizen to work in certain areas inside the Port of Houston where he was a longshoreman during WW2.

My grandmother arrived in the USA in 1913 through POE Baltimore, MD and took the train to Texas. She lived in the USA 54 years without becoming a US citizen. She was a housewife and probably had no compelling reason to go through the process to naturalize.

Neither of them ever had the desire to return to their country of origin which became the USSR after they left. Neither ever had the desire to pursue establishing Soviet citizenship either. Neither ever had a modern passport or ever wanted to travel outside the USA after arriving here.

I think in my grandmother's case becoming a US citizen would have had zero impact on her life, so she had no compelling reason to do it unless it was required. And it isn't required. So she didn't do it.