My lucky day.

May 21st 2011. It was beautiful sunny day in California.
I just finished my first year in community college and always wanted to visit New York. But as undocumented student, I wasn't able to receive driver's license or SSN. Only government issued ID was my Korean passport.

So, I searched on the internet if I can fly domestic with my college ID, answer was NO.
And I decided to take Amtrak, so I could see hidden side of America and Chicago. My Amtrak route was Southwest Chief which runs from LA to Chicago and Lake Shore Limited which runs from Chicago to New York. So I boarded and enjoyed my first train to Chicago without any problem. And after 6 hours, I boarded on my next train,Lake Shore Limited, and I was searching on my iPhone about this route and I noticed there were several articles about Border Patrol. And I started worry about myself. I searched a lot of articles and I asked myself If I just say them I am a American citizen OR I just show my passport? OR Remain silent?

I couldn't sleep a minute, and I kept looking at my watch, and kept searching for other related articles about Border Patrol.

By the time the train arrived in Buffalo, NY, I saw a interview and in that interview one woman said "They always check in Buffalo" and I saw my right hand side of window and there they were. Border Patrol.

I actually didn't think I could get nervous If I see them, but I almost had a heart-attack. About a dozen of Border Patrol board on the train and ask every single passenger if they are a US Citizen. And It looked like somebody who looks like White, they just asked moved on. A passenger sat behind me was asked to show them valid passport and one agent called their office and verified if that passenger was legal or not. So, one guy approaches me and asked me If I am US Citizen. I didn't say Yes or No, I just said I am a student. And he asked me If I have a passport and I said No, but I did have it in my backpack. He asked me If I have any other document or asked me If I am international student. I showed him my college ID, which had sticker of Fall 2010, I should have get a new sticker of Spring 2011. And then he asked me If I am enrolled in this college and which state is this college in.

He gave me back my college ID and moved to next car, I was thinking he probably was going to ask his supervisor or something. But, they left and I was able to continue my trip.

Pray works.

this was probably because of the new ice memo to be lenient on dream act kids. He knew you were enrolled in college so even if you were legal or not you would be dream act eligible.

Maybe but wow!!! What a story... I feel for you it most of been a rush!!

May 21st?

you truly got lucky.

Just when I was thinking of doing an Amtrak trip just for fun..

I had the same issue when I took the Lakeshore Limited in 2007, but I got stopped in Rochester instead of Buffalo. Good for you for showing your college ID. I don't know if the rules have changed, but at the time, Amtrak's policy was that college IDs are sufficient for boarding. That was the argument I used with my ICE officer anyway. Also sadly, the color of your skin helps. I believe I was let go because the ICE officer couldn't wrap his head around the idea of an illegal Asian girl who spoke perfect English.
FWIW, I told my officer, "No I am not a US citizen" and proceeded to give him both my college id and (hesitantly) my visa-less passport.

I really don't know why Dreamers continue to take the Lakeshore Limited route- guys, seriously, please stop. There are other routes. It's been proven time and time again that the ICE agents make a stop on that train. My ICE officer said that they board trains that are within 120 miles of the border.

lol be careful...I wouldn't be too confident getting on Amtrak on a suspect route even with ICE's new "lenient" policy. If you're skin is brown, there's a very good chance they will pull your ass out no matter what...reality.

ICE is not CBP though !

The Buffalo route....and the numerous inspection points close to US borders are internal CBP checkpoints !!!!

Thanks for your comments guys. I just want to help DREAMER not to get deported in this way.

Yes, I think it's 100 miles within any border and Buffalo, NY was like 3~4 miles away from Canadian border.

A while ago, I got pulled over once while driving and the cop ask me if I were a citizen. I just told him that I go to school here and show him my student ID. He let me go without a ticket. He probably mistake me for exchange student. I didn't lie, just not answering his question directly lol. I doubt if the cop will let me go if I am brown.