by advent » Wed Nov 30, 2011 3:12 pm
It is not racist to ask for a Green Card. It's plain illegal, unless the person asking is a federal agent (CIA, FBI, ICE) and is doing this in the line of his duty.
Somebody who is not a federal agent is not authorized to inquire about a person's citizenship or immigration status. Even employers who have to keep an I-9 form on file are not allowed to ask for a Green Card, as it's within the employee's discretion which documents to provide. For employment purposes this would be a state-issued driver's license and an unrestricted SS card. This rule is in place to prevent discrimination against foreigners based on their immigration status or lack thereof. Keep in mind that somebody who's in the U.S. with a work visa, i.e., an H1-B, is neither an immigrant nor does he have a Green Card.
Police is not allowed to ask for a Green Card either, as immigration is a federal, not a state issue.