What if you were brought to the US illegally as a child?

Question

let's say someone was brought here when they were 6 or 7 by their parents in search of a better life. Of course, the child has no say in anything. He's just following whatever his parents told him to do. Over the course of twenty years, the child is still here illegally and is stuck. What can the child do (now an adult) at this point to legalize his status without having to go back to his country of birth or get in trouble from the law. Do you think his parents are to blame??

Answer 1

I know there certain laws that can help you "became" legal.

And that's also what one of the new laws that Bush is trying to pass for illegal students.

Answer 2

in your scenario that "child" was 26 or 27 years old after the math is done...to me they had at least 8 or 9 years to straighten themselves out... and that "child" is not "stuck" unless there is a tree on his or her leg.

he or she can easily go to the country of origin and start the legal process to come back.

Answer 3

Yes, they should go home.  However, I do think this hypothetical person should qualify for expedited citizenship.

Answer 4

There is sort of a way to get the person legalized since it was their parents mistake and not theirs.  I've worked in immigration law for 2 years and have come across a similar case once before.  This illegal person needs to speak with an attorney who specializes in immigration.  I believe if the person has been here for so many years, they should be able to apply for adjustment of status, as they were brought here as a minor.  They unknowingly broke the law, since their minor age.  You can definietly argue it to uscis.

Answer 5

The person is here illegally and has their parents to thank for that, they should go to the INS and see what if anything can be done to rectify the matter and become a legal citizen if that is what they want. What has happened to the law breaking parents? Are they still here if so they could be sent back, but then again they may be able to get amnesty we seem to be real big on allowing people that broke the law to get here to remain here.  Good Luck on whatever this person decides to do..

Answer 6

You are naturalized if you are here for a certain amount of time, but you have to get your naturalization papers to have official citizenship.

Answer 7

there are some advocate groups now , they may be able to help you , i just have to find them , somewhat hard and my Internet connection is not working well this evening , i will research again tomorrow , (i am not located in the US ), as far as who is to blame ? i am not here to judge you or anyone else , just to  try to find  you an answer ,

see you tomorrow back on this ,it is late here 11.23pm

ps:

has he tried an Attorney that is:  Member of American Immigration Association ? it will be costly ,

i have no other answer for you

as far as calling the US  immigration? he will be deported for he is in an illegal status in the US .

Answer 8

Yak Rider and SB are correct:  Whoever is responsible for bringing a child to the US illegally, once the child turns 18 the penalties specified under the Immigration and Nationality Act apply, including the 10-year bar for staying for over a year without status.

Sure, the parents are to blame for the original illegal entry, but on reaching age 18 the child was considered a reasoning adult, and is now responsible for continuing to violate the INA.

Answer 9

Believe it or not I just was talking to somebody who had this problem. Since you were not born in the US or to US citizens , at the time of your birth you are a citizen of the country you were born in you must go the embassy or consulate of that country to get papers and then you must go to the department of Immigration and Naturalization to start the process of becoming a citizen of the US. Unless you don't want to then you must get a green card but as of right now you are illegal and subject to deportation.

Answer 10

Regardless of how a person enters illegally, that doesn’t change the whole illegal part.  Once that person reaches adulthood, it would be on them as a moral, ethical person to follow the legal course if they wish to stay.  They can apply and work through the system, or remain a criminal in footsteps of the parents.

Answer 11

If the child wants to stay here, then they need to contact INS and start the paperwork....

Answer 12

It's a rather ambiguous question believe it or not. The "right" thing to do would be to contact ICE and figure out what the options are. If they've been law abiding, there is a good posibility they could apply for amnesty or to become a resident alien...

Answer 13

You are certainly NAIVE. Many people come JUST to give birth to their child here.

Answer 14

Yes. This is a very common scenario. She likely has no avenue to legalize herself (contrary to the willful ignorance on this issue apparent throughout the board).

1. If she leaves, she is subject to a 10 year bar and will likely NEVER receive a visitor or student  visa because she can't establish temporary intent.  She is also likely ineligible to process for a green card because she has no degree and no citizen or permanent resident family member to sponsor her.

2. If she remains, she is removable (deportable).  If removed, she is also subject to a bar to reentering.

Answer 15

A person brought here illegally as a child is still an illegal alien.  There's nothing he can do.  He's just as deportable as the rest of them.  He has his parents to thank.

Answer 16

I've seen it.  I know a girl who came within inches of being deported (they won their case) but she had been brought here at a year old.  She was 3rd in her graduating class and received a full scholarship to one of the nations top institutions.  We almost lost someone who really will contribute to America in a positive manner.

Answer 17

If you are an adult, why haven't you ever done anything to legalize yourself?   How are you working?  Do you have a legal social security number?  Or have you perpetuated the crime by stealing someones ID.  

Sorry, when you became the adult you were responsible for your own actions.   Can't blame the parents but perhaps you will all share the same bus back to where you came from.

Answer 18

the child has a BIG problem, and has the parents to blame.

What if they were only a year old?  They may be sent back to a country they never knew!

But that's the parents' fault, not the American people's.

It would be difficult if not impossible to draft a law addressing only these cases without inviting widespread fraud.

If my parents commit a crime, and give me the proceeds of that crime, I should be mad at my parents if those proceeds are later taken away.

This child's parents are cruel, and selfish, and hurt their child.

It's not a question of "judging someone."  It's a question of dealing with someone who has disrespected the laws of the country, and their own children to boot.