Some Americans think that immigrants should just follow the rules. If they can’t do that, they’re “illegal” and don’t deserve citizenship. But most of those Americans don’t understand how difficult it is to follow the rules of the immigration system. Whether those rules are purposefully complicated or simply ignorant of the challenges of navigating a system, many people who want to immigrate and want to follow the rules can find the process mind-bogglingly difficult.

Here’s part of Cory Doctorow’s story. He is a writer, an affluent English-speaking immigrant who became a citizen in 2022. His full story is on his website, Pluralistic.

The typical path to US work visas and eventual immigration is through a corporate employer, who pays the law firm on your behalf (and also ties your residency to your employment, making it risky and expensive to quit your job). I found my own immigration lawyers through a friend’s husband who worked in a fancy investment bank. There were lots of times over the years when I had to remind my lawyers that I was paying them, not my employer, and that I didn’t have an administrative assistant, so when they gave me 48 hours’ notice to assemble 300 pages of documentation (this happened several times!), it meant that I had to drop everything (that is, the activities that let me pay their gigantic invoices) to fulfill their requests.

When you deal with US immigration authorities, everything is elevated to the highest possible stakes. Every step of every process – work visa, green card, citizenship – comes with forms that you sign, on penalty of perjury, attesting that you have made no mistakes or omissions. A single error constitutes a potential falsification of your paperwork, and can result in deportation – losing your job, your house, your kid’s schooling, everything.

This means that, at every stage, you have to be as comprehensive as possible. This is a photo of my second O-1 (“Alien of Extraordinary Ability”) visa application. It’s 800 pages long:

The next one was 1200 pages long.

Like I say, I became a citizen in 2022 (for some reason, my wife got her citizenship in 2021, even though we applied jointly). At that point, I thought I was done with the process. But then my kid applied to university and was told that she should sign up for FASFA, which is the federal student loan and grant process; she got pretty good grades and there was a chance she could get a couple grand knocked off her tuition. Seemed like a good idea to me.

So we filled in the FASFA paperwork, and partway through, it asks if you are a naturalized citizen, and, if you are, it asks you to upload a copy of your certificate of citizenship. My wife and I both have certificates, but the kid doesn’t – she was naturalized along with my wife in 2021, and while my wife’s certificate was sufficient to get our daughter a passport, it doesn’t actually have the kid’s name on it.

I checked in with our lawyers and was told that the kid couldn’t get her certificate of citizenship until she turned 18, which she did last Tuesday. My calendar reminded me that it was time to fill in her N-600, the form for applying for a certificate of citizenship.

So yesterday, I sat down at the computer, cleared a couple hours, and went to work. I am used to gnarly bureaucratic questions on this kind of paperwork, and I confess I get a small thrill of victory whenever I can bring up an obscure document demanded by the form. For example: I was able to pull up the number of the passport our daughter used to enter the country in 2015, along with the flight number and date. I was able to pull up all three of the numbers that the US immigration service assigned to both my wife and me.

And then, about two hours into this process, I got to this section of the form: “U.S. citizen mother or father’s physical presence.” This section requires me to list every border crossing I made into the USA from the day I was born until the date I became a citizen. That includes, for example, the time when I was two years old and my parents took me to Fort Lauderdale to visit my retired grandparents. This question comes after a screen where you attest that you will not make any omissions or errors, and that any such omission or error will be treated as an attempt to defraud the US immigration system, with the most severe penalties imaginable.

I tried to call the US immigration service’s info line. It is now staffed exclusively by an AI chatbot (thanks, Elon). I tried a dozen times to get the chatbot to put me on the phone with a human who could confirm what I should do about visits to the US that I took more than 50 years ago, when I was two years old. But the chatbot would only offerp to text me a link to the online form, which has no guidance on this subject.

Then I tried the online chat, which is also answered by a chatbot. This chatbot only allows you to ask questions that are less than 80 characters long. Eventually, I managed to piece together a complete conversation with the chatbot that conveyed my question, and it gave me a link to the same online form.

But there is an option to escalate the online chat from a bot to a human. So I tried that, and, after repeatedly being prompted to provide my full name and address (home address and mailing address), date of birth, phone number – and disconnected for not typing all this quickly enough – the human eventually pasted in boilerplate telling me to consult an immigration attorney and terminated the chat before I could reply.

Just to be clear here: this is immigration on the easiest setting. I am an affluent native English speaker with access to immigration counsel at a fancy firm.

Imagine instead that you are not as lucky as I am. Imagine that your parents brought you to the USA 60 years ago, and that you’ve been a citizen for more than half a century, but you’re being told that you should carry your certificate of citizenship if you don’t want to be shot in the face or kidnapped to a slave labor camp. Your parents – long dead – never got you that certificate, so you create an online ID with the immigration service and try to complete form N-600. Do you know the date and flight number for the plane you flew to America on when you were three? Do you know your passport number from back then? Do you have all three of each of your dead parents’ numeric immigration identifiers? Can you recover the dates of every border crossing your parents made into the USA from the day they were born until the day they became citizens?

Anyone who says that “immigrants should just follow the rules” has missed the fact that the rules are impossible to follow. I get to do luxury Kafka, the business class version of US immigration Kafka, where you get to board first and nibble from a dish of warm nuts while everyone else shuffles past you, and I’ve given up on getting my daughter’s certificate of citizenship. The alternative – omitting a single American vacation between 1971 and 2022 – could constitute an attempt to defraud the US immigration system, after all.

The post Immigration Hoops: Just Follow the Rules appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Over the past week, Voting Access for All Coalition (VAAC) has been on the ground helping people across Michigan exercise their right to vote — from clearing warrants to celebrating early voting and sharing clear, accurate information about how to cast a ballot.

Fresh Starts at the Warrant Clinic

At last Saturday’s Detroit Warrant Clinic, nearly 1,000 misdemeanor and traffic arrest warrants were resolved, giving hundreds of people a second chance and a fresh start. VAAC was proud to be part of this life-changing event, reminding everyone that in Michigan:

• You can vote even if you have a felony or misdemeanor.
• You can vote while on probation, parole, or tether.
• You can vote without a Michigan ID or stable housing.
• You can vote if you have a disability or are a naturalized citizen.

This work is about more than clearing warrants — it’s about restoring freedom, dignity, and the power to participate in democracy fully.

Party at the Polls

VAAC also joined the City of Detroit’s Party at the Polls to celebrate the start of early voting (Oct. 25 – Nov. 2). With music, community, and information, we reminded voters that early voting is open now — no need to wait until Election Day.

Visit votingaccessforall.org or your local clerk’s website to find early voting locations and hours.

Where and How to Vote

Still need to register? There’s time.
You can visit your local clerk’s office this weekend to register and vote the same day.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, but early voting continues through Nov. 2 — and your voice matters now.

The post Out in the Community: Clearing Barriers, Celebrating Early Voting, and Making Every Voice Count appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Across Michigan, dangerous petition drives are threatening our freedom to vote. Disguised as efforts to promote “election integrity,” proposals like proof of citizenship would require voters to show hard-to-obtain documents just to register, update their information, or cast a ballot.

That’s why we’ve joined Voters Not Politicians in organizing a Story Share Workshop — and we’re inviting you to join us.
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: East Lansing (address shared after registration)
Lunch provided

These initiatives create serious barriers for:

• Returning citizens and justice-impacted people
• Unhoused individuals and low-income families
• Seniors, students, naturalized citizens, and people with disabilities
• Anyone whose documents don’t match their lived identity

We know these efforts aren’t about protecting elections — they’re about silencing voices.

The post Join Our Urgent Storytelling Workshop: Fight Back Against Voter Suppression appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Yesterday, VAAC and partners launched our very first ID clinic — Pull Up and Plug In: Claim Your ID, Claim Your Vote, Claim Your Power. Hosted at the Ypsilanti District Library with support from the Michigan Department of State, the day was about more than IDs. It was about removing barriers, affirming dignity, and ensuring every neighbor has what they need to thrive and be heard.

With the strength of our partners — FedUp Ministries, League of Women Voters Washtenaw County, A Brighter Way, LEAF, and MDOS — we created a space filled with care and connection. Together, we:

• Helped 30 people secure IDs
• Provided meals, clothing, and voter registration for over 100 community members
• Shared Know Your Rights information, Narcan, and other life-saving resources

Many who joined us were formerly incarcerated or unhoused — people too often left out of access. Yesterday, we showed what’s possible when the community shows up for one another.

This is just the beginning. We are grateful to everyone who partnered, volunteered, and trusted us with this moment. Together, we are building power — one action, one ID, one voice at a time.

The post Pull Up and Plug In: Breaking Barriers, Building Power appeared first on Voting Access For All.

• What they really propose
• Who’s sponsoring and funding them
• How they could create new barriers for our communities

This is a chance to get the facts, ask questions, and prepare to educate and protect our neighbors from harmful disinformation.

Join us via zoom at: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85166367346?pwd=rOgR4lGRTvRDjeEQMI3IpvotOgqxlj.1

The post VAAC Friday Community Meeting appeared first on Voting Access For All.

Why It Matters
Section 2 has historically been used to challenge gerrymandered maps, at-large elections that dilute minority voting power, and other voter suppression practices. In many cases, private lawsuits—not the Department of Justice—are the reason unfair systems got struck down.

If the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the 8th Circuit’s ruling, only the federal government could bring these cases. That means most discriminatory voting practices would go unchallenged.

Michigan Is Not Immune
While the ruling started in North Dakota, it could be adopted by other courts across the country. That includes Michigan. If this legal change spreads, it will directly impact VAAC’s and the community’s ability to defend voting rights here at home.

Why This Matters to VAAC’s Work
VAAC’s mission includes ensuring that formerly incarcerated folks, system impacted individuals, low-income voters, and communities of color have a voice in elections. That includes fighting back when unjust systems block them from the ballot. Section 2 is one of the few tools that makes that possible.

What’s Next
The Supreme Court may act before July  17, 2025. We’ll be watching closely—and we’ll continue fighting for the right of every Michigander to vote freely and equally.

Follow VAAC on social media and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Want to support this work? Visit our volunteer page and sign up!

Update: Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Ruling on Voting Rights Act

On July 16, 2025, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh put a temporary hold on a lower court decision that would have stopped private citizens and groups from suing under the Voting Rights Act in seven states. Without this pause, voters in North Dakota lose a key tool for fighting discrimination at the ballot box. The Supreme Court will decide what happens next after July 22.

While Michigan isn’t directly affected right now, the ruling could set a national precedent. If the Court allows this change to stand, it could eventually weaken the ability of groups like VAAC to defend voting rights in Michigan.

We’ll be watching closely.

The post Why the Right to Sue for Voting Rights Is at Risk, and Why Michigan Should Care appeared first on Voting Access For All.

This week’s VAAC Community Meeting is packed with information you need to know.

We’ll be joined by a representative from the Michigan Department of State to break down how Real ID requirements affect people who are unhoused or justice-impacted, and what options are available. We’ll also dig into the ballot initiative petitions hitting the streets now that aim to restrict voting rights in Michigan. These efforts are real, they’re happening now, and we need your help to fight them.

Friday, June 6
12:30–1:30 PM EST
Zoom: bit.ly/VAACFridays

Bring your questions. Bring a friend. Get grounded in what’s happening on the ground across the state.

SAVE THE DATE for our Next Meeting on June 20: Jail Voting in Focus

We’re excited to welcome Genesee County Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson to our June 20th Community Meeting. Sheriff Swanson will join us for a conversation on expanding jail voting access and how the I.G.N.I.T.E. program is using education and job training to reduce recidivism, disrupt generational incarceration, and build pathways to reentry.

As always, our meetings are open to all. Join us on Zoom at bit.ly/VAACFridays from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.

The post VAAC Friday Community Meetings in June: 6/6/ & 6/20 – Stay Plugged In! appeared first on Voting Access For All.

They’re framed as protecting elections, but what they really do is tie voters up in red tape and create new, permanent barriers to voting, especially for:

• Black and brown voters
• Justice-impacted citizens
• People who are unhoused or low-income
• Trans and gender-diverse individuals
• People who’ve changed their names
• Infrequent or first-time voters

They require voters to present specific documents, like a certified birth certificate or a valid passport, just to register or update their voter information. These documents are often expensive, difficult to obtain, and out of reach for many people. That is the point. Requiring voters to produce these documents amounts to a modern-day poll tax, charging people for access to their rights.

These proposals are designed to undo the voting rights Michiganders fought for and roll back the protections Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed in 2018 and 2022. Our state Constitution would be rewritten with permanent restrictions that cannot be easily undone.

They would hit our communities hard, and they would impose criminal penalties on election workers for honest mistakes made under unclear new rules.

Ask Before You Sign: Know the Red Flags

• Does it say “proof of citizenship” or “voter roll review”?
• Could it purge eligible voters who haven’t voted recently or don’t have the right documents?
• Does it make it harder to register or help others vote?
• Could it criminalize election officials for doing their job?
• Does the petition name sound protective but include new voting restrictions?

You have the right to pause. Take a photo. Look it up later. No one can pressure you to sign. Walk away if you’re unsure.

What You Can Do Right Now

VAAC is mobilizing people to fight back against these petitions. We need you:

• Talk to your neighbors.
  
• Distribute flyers and share facts at events.
  
• Get trained to engage and answer questions confidently and push back against misinformation
  
• Track and report where petitioners are operating and help keep your community informed by showing up with facts.

Want to volunteer or get involved?
Visit: www.votingaccessforall.org
Email: contact@votingaccessforall.org

Learn more at https://votingaccessforall.org/protect-voting/

The post Your Rights Are on the Line: Before You Sign, Know the Facts 📜❓✍🏿❌ appeared first on Voting Access For All.

From the youth town hall to the community meal to the power rally, each part of the tour created space for connection, political education, and collective energy rooted in Black power and joy. These gatherings affirmed the importance of showing up together, listening deeply, and continuing to build the relationships that sustain our movements. Being in community with others doing the work, sharing a meal, hearing truth spoken, and moving together with purpose. That’s the kind of energy we carry forward.

Much love and appreciation to Black Voters Matter Fund and Force Detroit for organizing this incredible stop and including VAAC in it. We’re honored to stand with you.

The post On the Ground: State of the People Power Tour Comes to Detroit appeared first on Voting Access For All.

THIS FRIDAY: A Powerful Night of Truth and Transformation

Redemption Road: The Story of Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur

Come to a special screening in Lansing of Redemption Road, the powerful story of Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur, followed by a panel discussion with directly impacted leaders and advocates creating real change in Michigan.

Tonight – Friday, June 6
5:00 PM – 8:45 PM
Lansing Central United Methodist Church
215 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Featuring:
Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur | Michael Taylor (Mike X) | Adam Grant | Michael McKissic
Moderator: Tony Gant, Advocate

Free tickets available for those impacted by the criminal legal system
Light refreshments provided
Register: miroundtable.kindful.com/e/redemption-road-lansing
Hosted by Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities with A Brighter Way and the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration.

Our Own Wall Street 2025 Juneteenth Gala
Hosted by Detroit’s Queen, the Legendary Coco the Comic!

June 22nd, 2025
5 PM – 10 PM
Detroit Food Commons – Mama Imani Humphrey Banquet Hall
8324 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48204

Attire: All white with a touch of Kente
Tickets & Tables: bit.ly/42zlZSB

Come dressed to impress and celebrate Black excellence, legacy, and joy. Don’t miss it!

The post 📣 Upcoming in Our Community appeared first on Voting Access For All.