Greyhound buses and Immigration Saga

[Weldonboy 45]

Hi Everyone ,

 

So I got a call from a county jail in New York, surprisingly it was from a relative who decided to quit the hide and seek life here in the USA to find a meaningful life out in Canada. Unfortunately, the Greyhound bus she was in got caught up in the immigration check Saga. She has been arrested and detained. Her is no longer in a legal presence status here in the US. Does anyone here have an idea what steps to take to avoid deportation. She is only 18 years old

[Going through 5,668]

16 minutes ago, Weldonboy said:

Hi Everyone ,

 

So I got a call from a county jail in New York, surprisingly it was from a relative who decided to quit the hide and seek life here in the USA to find a meaningful life out in Canada. Unfortunately, the Greyhound bus she was in got caught up in the immigration check Saga. She has been arrested and detained. Her is no longer in a legal presence status here in the US. Does anyone here have an idea what steps to take to avoid deportation. She is only 18 years old

When she crossed into the US originally, what type of visa did she have?  Did she cross into the US originally without inspection (ie. brought over by parents crossing illegally)?  

 

More info is needed to give adequate advice.

 

Edited April 23, 2018 by Going through

[Boiler 43,630]

On what basis was she seeking entry to Canada?

[Unlockable 7,306]

It depends on how she entered the US.

 

Also, what is her country of origin? If it is not Canada, she may not have a legal path there either. 

[Weldonboy 45]

1 hour ago, Going through said:

When she crossed into the US originally, what type of visa did she have?  Did she cross into the US originally without inspection (ie. brought over by parents crossing illegally)?  

 

More info is needed to give adequate advice.

 

Thanks for your swift response. She came in through an F1 visa. However she maintained her status for just a semester on the account that she had no more support financially as her parents were mysteriously killed over property issues. Scared of returning home she’s been sleeping at friends places and on several occasions molested by relatives of her friends. In her devastating situation, she struggled through and ultimately couldn’t take it no more so she said someone advised her to cross to Canada to seek asylum. While in the bus enroute to Canada, their bus was stopped by Immigration officials who scrutinized the passengers in the said bus and unfortunately fished her and several others out on the note that they have overstayed and apparently out of status. She’s currently held up at a county jail in New York pending deportation proceedings 

[Weldonboy 45]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

On what basis was she seeking entry to Canada?

She was going to cross the US border to Canada to seek asylum over there 

48 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

It depends on how she entered the US.

 

Also, what is her country of origin? If it is not Canada, she may not have a legal path there either. 

She’s a Nigerian 

[Unlockable 7,306]

16 minutes ago, Weldonboy said:

She was going to cross the US border to Canada to seek asylum over there 

She’s a Nigerian 

You stated that she has been living in the US. How did she get to the US in the first place? That is the bigger question. 

 

What grounds does she have to seek asylum? Asylum is very hard to get.

 

ETA: Also, now that she has been detained, her entry into Canada will be even more difficult. 

Edited April 23, 2018 by NuestraUnion

[Going through 5,668]

24 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

You stated that she has been living in the US. How did she get to the US in the first place? That is the bigger question.

OP stated relative came over on a F1 visa originally.

 

43 minutes ago, Weldonboy said:

In her devastating situation, she struggled through and ultimately couldn’t take it no more so she said someone advised her to cross to Canada to seek asylum.

Curious why she didn't try to seek asylum in the US, since she was already here instead of travelling to a different country--- but suppose irrelevant now that she's been detained.

 

First step is to get her legal counsel as she will be fighting an uphill battle.

 

 

[Boiler 43,630]

I know we joke that Canada is a soft spot for Asylum but you still need some sort of basis.

[ConOfficer 167]

Maybe Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Needs a lawyer with knowledge of state family law.

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

Not so much a "saga" as it is immigrations/ICE doing their jobs as they are allowed to by law. Nothing in the law has changed, they just now have the actual power/authority to do what they are supposed to and aren't "hundcuffed" anymore.

Edited April 23, 2018 by Ben&Zian

[JFH 12,189]

All bus passengers are checked and it always has been that way - at least as long as I have known my husband. We are in Washington state and before I moved here I would take the bus from Vancouver in Canada to visit if I couldn't get a flight to Seattle but could get one to Vancouver. So this is nothing new. 

 

But, OP, if she has no legal basis to stay here there's a strong chance she will be deported. Why not put her in touch with the same lawyer you used for your VAWA case? Your family has had a run of bad luck since coming here. 

Edited April 23, 2018 by JFH

[randomstairs 270]

If she has been a victim of sexual violence, as you state, she may qualify for U visa.

[Boiler 43,630]

Has she been assisting the authorities with these crimes?

[Going through 5,668]

OP hopefully comes back to this thread to clarify a few things...