I saw an interesting post a few weeks ago that said:
“Do any Americans really think they could sneak into another country, hide for years under the radar, and NOT get kicked out when the country finds them?”

I’m certain the author wrote this as a rhetorical question and chose the words carefully to drive an anti-immigrant sentiment. However, I feel I have a unique perspective, and this question is worthy of an answer.

Let’s start with my qualification to address this post: I am a U.S. citizen, and I am also an illegal immigrant—an immigrato irregolare—in Italy.

“Sneak Into the Country”
Let me be clear: most immigrants do not “sneak.” The word sneak is used to paint an ugly picture of someone hiding in the back of a truck and being smuggled across the border. That image is great for a far-right narrative and for the movies, but it is not the norm.
The most common way for an immigrant to enter a country illegally is to apply for a visa, arrive legally, and then overstay.
In my case, I came to Italy in 2022 with a Mission Visa and received a sojourner permit (permesso di soggiorno), which functioned as my “green card.” That permit allowed me, as a U.S. citizen, to live and work in Italy. In November 2025, my permit expired. Italy provides a 60-day grace period to complete renewal paperwork, but I missed the deadline. In January, I became an illegal immigrant living in Italy. - No sneaking required -
The same can be said for a large number of undocumented immigrants in the United States. If you are in doubt, I encourage you to look at the data comparing visa overstays to illegal border crossings in the U.S.
[Note: From 2000–2020, visa overstays far outnumbered illegal border crossings. There were a couple of years between 2020 and 2024 when border crossings exceeded visa overstays. More recently, border crossings have declined again.]

“Hide Under the Radar”
The phrase “hide under the radar” is also misleading.
Although I am in immigrato irregolare status in Italy, I am not hiding. As part of my visa and residency paperwork, I provided copies of my lease and details about my employer. Italian immigration authorities would not need to search for me — I have not changed jobs or moved.
When I became undocumented in January, officers could have knocked on my office door or shown up at my apartment. That did not happen. The Carabinieri have conducted random traffic stops, but only to check my registration and car insurance — not my visa or residency status. Officers were not standing at the door of the immigration office waiting to arrest me while I worked to renew my documents.
Bottom line: Italy — unlike the U.S.— appears to follow a “worst of the worst” enforcement approach. I can continue to “hide” in plain sight so long as I do not commit a serious crime. In contrast, hiding may feel more necessary in the U.S. when enforcement includes quota-driven policies and workplace or housing sweeps.
[Note: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has attempted to tighten Italian immigration laws, similar in some respects to policies advanced under President Donald Trump in the U.S. She created a detention center in Albania capable of holding up to 36,000 immigrants per year, but only a couple hundred have been transferred so far. In my opinion, public support has been limited for several reasons: Italy’s strong Catholic identity (hard to sing about Jesus Loving the Children as you send a parent to a camp), the influence and proximity of the Pope, and Europe’s historical experience with detention camps since World War II.]

“Get Kicked Out When the Country Finds Them”
In Italy, if authorities determine that deportation is necessary, the first step is the issuance of an expulsion order. Expulsion orders are not issued to certain vulnerable individuals, including:
•	Minors under 18
•	Pregnant women or women who have given birth within the past six months
•	Asylum applicants
•	Individuals holding a valid permesso di soggiorno (except in extraordinary cases)
•	Foreign nationals living with a close relative who is an Italian citizen
•	Individuals with serious medical or psychological conditions certified by the Italian National Health Service

After receiving an expulsion order, immigrants have 20 days to hire a lawyer and appeal. If the appeal fails, a removal order allows 7 to 30 days to depart Italy voluntarily. If unable to depart voluntarily, Italy could detain — with rules governing dignity and humane treatment — while arranging a flight back to the country of origin. 

Why Didn’t I Stay Legal? Why didn’t I remain legal and enter through the door instead of climbing through the window?
I tried.
Obtaining or renewing an Italian residence permit has been one of the most complicated processes I have ever experienced. It required hours of phone calls, completing extensive forms, contacting multiple offices in the U.S., Germany, and Italy, and meeting with lawyers and immigration officials.
The process was explained clearly on multiple websites, and everyone agreed it would take about five months. The guidelines were clear, with few surprises. I simply could not complete five months’ worth of bureaucratic requirements within a two-month grace period.
Here is another perspective: If I had been a skilled Mexican worker applying for a green card to enter and work legally in the United States, that legal process could take years — not months.
President Trump’s Gold Card program provides expedited processing, but requires substantial financial investment ($1 million) and extensive background checks. I consider myself fortunate that Italy did not require a seven-figure payment to expedite my residency paperwork.
It would be helpful if there were fewer complaints about people entering through the window when, in many cases, the nails blocking the door make it nearly impossible to open it.

Good News - I became legal today (Great way to start April).