New Immigration Policy & Its Impact on Hawaii

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

The Trump administration released new guidelines today outlining procedures for detention and deportation of undocumented residents and visitors. These federal guidelines may affect up to 21,000 people in Hawaii. Over the years I have met a number of foreign nationals in passing, who arrived in Puna legally as visitors, but never left. It's a reasonable assumption that not everyone now living in Puna is a documented citizen. A Trump spokesman said the rules are meant to target those committing criminal offenses, but some in Hawaii think otherwise. Click the link below for U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa's view.

It may be some weeks or months before we start hearing about the effects of this ruling in Puna, but if you know of any immediate consequences to local residents, please let us know.

Hawaii immigration attorney Clare Hanusz said the orders are broad enough to include the deportation of undocumented immigrants who've simply overstayed their visas.

"These people are our neighbors. They're people who run local businesses. Their kids go to our kids schools," Hanusz said. "They're living in extreme fear right now."

The Migration Policy Institute estimates that there are 21,000 illegal immigrants in Hawaii. Nearly two-thirds of them are listed as being from the Philippines or Japan.

"One of the questions is, if someone is stopped for driving with an expired license, or driving without a license, can that person be deported? And the answer very clearly given is yes.
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/34563...tion-rules

You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless bananas after death in monkey heaven.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Local... local... local

Please remember, this topic concerns the effects of new immigration policies on people here in Puna, or elsewhere in Hawaii.
It should not include broader comments about the new administration, or opinions regarding national politics.

Local... local... local

You could never convince a monkey to give you a banana by promising him limitless bananas after death in monkey heaven.

[Chunkster]

"They're living in extreme fear right now." Well, in most places that would be a typical experience for chronic lawbreakers, but it's immigration and this is Hawaii. So something tells me the DHS guys will be busier removing illegal aliens from areas where the numbers are higher than here. If they do choose to do heavy enforcement in Hawaii, all I can say is these laws have been on the books for decades, and people who are in the country illegally have been lulled into falsely believing that the lax enforcement would go on forever. It didn't.

[Obie]

Rob must be on vacation !

[Slow Walker]

quote:

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Originally posted by Obie

Rob must be on vacation !

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Best not to touch this with a 10ft Pole.

[Rob Tucker]

Keep the topic related to Hawaii and Puna and you can discuss anything you want for the most part. Immigration issues seem like a weak topic in Hawaii but there might be aspects that I don't yet appreciate.

Assume the best and ask questions.

Punaweb moderator

[leilanidude]

There are a number of illegals in Puna - the key work being illegal. They knew it when they came here that a possibility existed to be sent back. Look how Ellis Island operated. Why is this such a shock? Do it the legal way as tens of millions have over the years and you don't have issues.

[Eric1600]

quote:

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Originally posted by leilanidude
Do it the legal way as tens of millions have over the years and you don't have issues.

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Having lived in a variety of foreign countries and seen the process of immigration to the US, I know first hand that legal immigration is not possible for many average people. The process can be expensive, time consuming and often you are rejected with no reasons given. Once you are rejected, the re-application is much more difficult, and almost always results in rejection. I know because I've written letters of support for friends and watched them spend 5-6 years getting told no. Often the only recourse is to go on a tourist visa, and re-apply once inside the US. Then when they get rejected again, they stay and work anyway.

Even the rules while waiting for a green card is difficult. You're not allowed to work or travel during that time and it's often impossible for those with little money. If their I-131 (costs $575) gets rejected they can't go home and if their I-765 (costs $410) is rejected they can't work either.

[kalakoa]

21,000 illegal immigrants in Hawaii. Nearly two-thirds ... from the Philippines or Japan.

They're not Muslim or Mexican, so their deportation is only a theoretical technicality.

[randomq]

I know one fella here illegally from Europe that says he's a citizen of the Hawaiian Kingdom, and does not need US citizenship.

I assume Native Americans could give asylum on their sovereign lands, but I don't think HHL has such a distinction. Here it's all USA, just with different owners(HHL)/leaseholders, right?