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Comment by refurb | Hacker News Reader

Actually the United States stands out not from the moralism, that’s very common in other countries.

What amazed me is how many Americans think immigration laws are optional. That entering and working illegally is no biggie.

Every other country I’ve lived in has much more strict immigration laws. Even the 3rd world countries that can’t seem to deliver potable tap water.

Deportations are standard, quick and supported by the population. Actually “supported” is wrong, it was more “yeah and…?”. No anger, self-riteousbess, just “thats how it’s supposed to work”

Most countries consider immigration enforcement is as standard as enforcing laws against bank robbery or littering. “Why wouldn’t you do it?” is the most typical take.

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I don't think it's a very common opinion in the US that immigration laws should not be enforced. There is a small contingent on the left that wants that on humanitarian grounds and another small contingent on the right that wants very loose immigration laws for the business benefits of immigrant labor.

There were an enormous number of deportations under previous administrations without much pushback.

What distinguishes this situation is that the deportations are proceeding with a complete disregard for US law and human rights. People are being deported without getting a chance to fight it in court, a violation of the constitutional right to due process. People are being rounded up as suspected illegal immigrants solely based on their skin color or the language they are speaking, a violation of the constitutional right to be secure from unreasonable search and seizure. People are being deported while it is still being determined whether they are eligible for asylum or refugee status, a violation of US statute.

The US is supposed to be a nation of laws where everyone can be certain that their legal rights will be respected. That is being grossly violated with the current deportation push.

Opinion polls are around 60-70% supporting enforcement of immigration laws.

That’s means a quarter to a third don’t believe they should be enforced. I’d call that significant.

And the US “disregard for human rights”? You mean the right to contest your deportations multiple times? That’s far more than other countries provide. It’s more typical for an officer to not find proof of legal entry being the sole decision maker. You’ll be on a plane the same day leaving the country.

There are people in the US who have been here for years awaiting a decision on their case. You feel that’s an abuse of their human rights?

People are literally being deported despite having a court order ordering that they not be deported.

People are being searched without a reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally.

Both of those things are illegal under US law. What other countries do is not relevant since US law does not apply there.

These clearly aren’t happening on a broad scale, and exceptions don’t disprove the rule.

Aliens in the US get far more due process than most countries give. That’s the measure.

That is not the measure. The US must follow its own laws; not those of other countries.

Until the 1920's it was not a crime to enter and work inside the US without prior authorization.

Staying and working beyond the initial authorization of a visa is a civil violation, not a criminal one in the US.

Laws are created by men with a specific intent not handed down as truth from god. In the case of the US, immigration law has largely been shaped by a racist quota system formed as a reaction of previous immigrants towards the next flight of immigrants. A "fuck you, I've got mine" mentality.

I mean it wasn’t illegal to send your 10 year old to work in a mine either, but that doesn’t mean we should allow it.

If you don’t like immigration laws then change them. Otherwise they should be enforced.

>that’s very common in other countries

That is how successful the Overton windows has been shifted same in europe.

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