Do law enforcement folks ever check people's greencards?

Question

All aliens in the U.S. already are required to carry a passport and visa, or their permanent resident alien card with them at all times. Aliens in the U.S. already have their own "national ID card," but it seems like no one in law enforcement bothers to check them . In light of greencards, forcing United States citizens to have a new "citizen ID" does not seem necessary. Every state in the union already issues their own ID in the form of a driver's license. Until the INS/ ICE or some other law enforcement agency starts actually checking aliens for proper documents systematically, there is no need for even a discussion about another form of ID for U.S. citizens, right?

Answer 1

Sometimes. Major cities have sanctuary laws that ban cops from doing so. They punt the problem saying it is the federal government's job.

Answer 2

People always talk about "big brother" with national IDs and such. But it is already here. Federal mandates are making sure that states are required to tighten up their standards for issueing ID. Plus more and more states are linking up databases so in effect..... national ID. Millions upon millions are being spent by each state to comply. Would it not be cheaper to have one federally mandated tamper proof ID across the board?

States would not like this at all. They would lose all sorts of revenue from charging people who move to their state. So politicians are at fault even at the state level. Doing anything to cut down immigration is going to cost somewhere.

The thing is that they don't check greencards is because even if they do (or have the power to) is because it takes so long to verify anything and even if they do have no power to keep the person...... or send them to someone who does have the power. There are not enough resources to go around. So the ICE people spend most of their time working in jails where someone has commited a major crime so are easily deported.

I live outside of DC. In one county the local officials who proposed a taxpayer paid building for illegal day laborers have been forced out of office. Local illegals have started to move elsewhere claiming "a discriminating environment". The next county over has passed a law allowing local police to ask for proof of citizenship and detain them if they can't. So now the other counties around it are passing a similar law knowing that their services will be taxed by people leaving that county.

So ponder this for arguements sake. When asking for ID would it not be easier to just have a standard one? No detaining someone while it is being verified and letting them go because local agencies can only hold someone for so long. No having to try contact another state even. Or employers not being able to verify if someone is legal because of the various IDs. Or employers who knowingly hiring an illegal but can say its not their job to sort out the various IDs.

Seems to me that the only way to even start to have one system is to have one ID and a mechanism to check things with just one big database. If you think I am wrong...... say so as I have an open mind.

But "big brother" is always levied. If you have a car, mortgage, rent, a bank account, a job, whatever and the government can find out what they wish. Shoot for the paranoid how many people realize that you can choose for ones cell phone to be GPS operational only if you dial 911. Theoretically a record could be kept of basically everywhere you go.... forever. My local grocery chain records what you buy w. the reward card. And if you go online you can put in your number to see what you have purchased in the past several months to "help you in making a grocery list". What, 20 years from now I have a heart attack, the insurance company finds out that I (for example) buy lots of bacon, eggs, sloppy Joes and wine twice a week. So they deny my claim?

Even if they had passed the last amnesty like bill. Would they not have to step up monitoring anyway? When it turns out we still have illegal aliens would not americans start demanding ID? So why just not get it over with and realize that nothing will be enforcable without one standard.

Answer 3

Since when is an ordinary person walking around minding his own business here in the US requires to produce identification just because John Law is bored and wants to see it? If they can go fishing for green cards that means they can fish for anything else as well. So, whatcha got in your pocket there, citizen? Care to live in NAZI Germany and show your papers every time you cross the street? No, thanks. None of that for me.

Answer 4

They should, yes. But liberals have tried (and sometimes succeeded) in placing bans on officers doing that.

Answer 5

they are not allowed to check those