Immigration laws on marriage?

[shadrach]

I know a person who just went to jail. (cops caught him high off of marijuana) and is in the process of maybe getting deported back to mexico since they found out he has no papers. However, his girlfriend got in contact with a lawyer and the lawyer suggested that if they get married he can stay in this country. Is this true? She is only 17, and he is 19...

[darrell]

Ha. Hahahahaha.

No. I'd ask to see the diploma of this "lawyer", too. Even if they got married, he would still be an illegal immigrant. He'd have to go back to Mexico and start the process of becoming a legal resident, and that takes several years and several thousand dollars. Marrying a US citizen does not automatically confer citizenship, or even legal residency.

Edit: No, marrying someone who's in the country illegally does NOT make him a legal resident. Period. He still has to apply for a visa, then apply for residency, and then (if he wants) apply for citizenship. NONE of these statuses are given automatically.