US Law: permanent residents required to have green card in possession at all times

US Sitizenship & Immigration Services ^ | USCIS

[goods]

A green card is issued to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid green card in your possession at all times.

[RC one]

I guess we must be a racist country then.

[DrC]

I don’t really understand how this works. Legal non-citizen residents carry green cards. Illegals obviously don’t have them. But how does law enforcement distinguish between the latter and law-abiding citizens who neither have green cards nor are breaking the law? And if they can’t make such a distinction, then what’s the point of green cards?

[DallasDeb]

If they have a green card, then they are here legally. It is as simple as that. No green card, no photo ID (driver’s license), then they must be illegal.

[VU4G10]

[poobear]

Let’s see here, I’ve lived in this country all my life, born here, paid taxes since age 15 and I have to prove my citizenship with birth certificates (originals) all proofs of recent addresses, prove legally born children, tax returns and who knows what else. Can’t I just run for President instead? I mean, what an inconvenience!

[Ajnin]

I don’t really understand how this works. Legal non-citizen residents carry green cards. Illegals obviously don’t have them. But how does law enforcement distinguish between the latter and law-abiding citizens who neither have green cards nor are breaking the law? And if they can’t make such a distinction, then what’s the point of green cards

It's really easy. When you see a person illegally crossing the border you ask them if they are in the country illegally. When they say yes, then you arrest them and send them back to Mexico or which ever country they came from. Very easy.

[massgopguy]

Ihre papiere sind im Auftrag!

[353FMG]

This law is not a new law — I had a green card for 3 months back in the 50’s until I entered military service, after which I had a military ID. (No, I do not have a BC from Hawaii.)

[MrEdd]

But how does law enforcement distinguish between the latter and law-abiding citizens who neither have green cards nor are breaking the law?

They run a computer check on your driver's licence or state ID which you must have to write checs or get a bank account. Or on your social security card.

All of that information is in their data base.

[Oldpuppymax]

Yeah. EXCEPT when you go to VOTE!!!

[DrC]

“They run a computer check on your driver’s licence or state ID which you must have to write checs or get a bank account. Or on your social security card.”

Thanks, this is helpful. But what if I’m a legal citizen walking down the street without any of these documents? Can they run the check on my self-declared SSN? If so, what’s to prevent an illegal from reporting a stolen SSN and matching name? If not, does that mean any American who fails to carry identification is subject to arrest at any time?

[struggle]

While I was living in Japan, I was pulled over twice for “driving while white,” and was stopped several times by the railroad police and the regular police so they could see my Alien Identification Card. If you don’t have that info on you or can make it quickly available, YOU GO TO JAIL. THEN THEY DEPORT YOU.

People in America need to realize that this is the reason California is completely bankrupt. 60% of LA are illegal and still attend school, go to the hospital, and collect food stamps WHILE NOT PAYING TAXES.

[MrEdd]

If you provide your social security number, your picture will be in the file that pops up on the dashboard computer.

An illegal alien with a fake ID can not insert his picture into the state database very easily.

That said, if law enforcement in your local is crooked, they already can invent a pretext to arrest you without this.

[calex59]

You have a drivers license don't you? Most states require you to be here legally in order to get one. Illegals buy fake green cards and SS numbers in order to get licenses, many drive without a license at all. Every state should have the requirement that you be a US citizen or legal resident in order to get a license to drive. Show your ID, viola, you are free and clear(which is true in most states now).

Note: You only have to show your drivers license if you are stopped for something.

[pabianice]

[calex59]

If you are walking down the street, dumb ass, you are not going to be stopped and asked for ID. You must break a law first. That is the way it has always been in the USA, Arizona has made sure their law follows that procedure, otherwise it would be unconstitutional.

[stylin19a]

STOP !!!!!!! No free thinking or logic allowed.

[Old Seadog]

Back in the 50s, when I turned eighteen years old, it was a requirement for all males above the age of eighteen to have their draft card in their possesion at all times.

[DrC]

“If you are walking down the street, dumb ass, you are not going to be stopped and asked for ID. You must break a law first.”

But anyone walking down the street who police believe is an illegal immigrant actually CAN be stopped by AZ police, dumb ass. That’s exactly what is causing the controversy.
“The law makes it a crime to be present in the state without legal immigration status, and authorizes local and state law enforcement authorities — including the campus police, Ms. Fuller notes — to question those they suspect to be illegal immigrants and ask that they produce verification of their status.”
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/arizona/