"A News 8 investigation found that hundreds of aircraft mechanics have been brought into the United States to work at aircraft repair facilities. Insiders say the companies that are importing the mechanics are so eager to save money, they’re overstating their qualifications. The result may be a threat to safety, abetted by lax enforcement of immigrati […]
"Immigration authorities have postponed for one year the deportation of Walter Lara, an immigrant from Argentina who said he had come to the United States illegally with his parents when he was 3, officials said. Mr. Lara, an honors graduate of high school and community college in Miami, was the focus of a campaign by supporters of proposed legislation […]
"Foreign nationals caught using fraudulent documents to enter the country through the San Luis port of entry are now being prosecuted for identity theft. Since January, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has initiated a zero-tolerance policy targeting those who use false identification to cross the border." Yuma Sun, July 1, 2009.
"Republican voters ... overwhelmingly support comprehensive immigration reform, reject enforcement-only approaches and believe that comprehensive reform will help the economy." America's Voice, July 2, 2009.
"[L]andscaping businesses, a construction company, and a retail company - were given three business days to turn over the employment-eligibility forms, known as I-9s, for all present and past employees, Pace said. The businesses were also told to turn over other employment records." Arizona Republic, July 2, 2009.
"In its ruling, the 9th Circuit expressed concern about blaming a petitioner for delays caused by administrative agencies. Similar issues were raised in recent rulings by the 2d and 7th circuits, both of which sided with petitioners. "Here, the [judge] abused her discretion by failing to provide any explanation for her decision, and failing to take […]
Ann Allott of Allott Immigration Firm, author of the first employer guide on the new Form I-9 published this year by LexisNexis Matthew Bender, said the increased focus on employers is proof that the Obama administration is delivering on the president’s promise to hold businesses accountable for their hiring practices.
"Citizens delivered by midwives along the U.S.-Mexico border will get to reapply for passports for free under a tentative settlement with the State Department over stalled applications. U.S. District Judge Randy Crane gave preliminary agreement Wednesday to the settlement. He also gave the lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and an imm […]
"A new national survey confirms our most recent polls that the majority of Americans support comprehensive immigration reform. But what's most interesting about this polling data from the Benenson Strategy Group is that 62 percent of Republicans polled say that illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship." Houston Ch […]
"A telephone survey of Arizona high school students by the conservative Goldwater Institute found that appallingly few could pass the U.S. citizenship test that immigrants must take to become naturalized citizens." Arizona Daily Star, July 2, 2009.
ICE is cracking down. LexisNexis Matthew Bender has a resource, the Immigration Enforcement: I-9 Compliance Handbook, by Ann Allott, Dan Kowalski and Camille Griffin.
"Seeking to inject their views into the revived debate over immigration overhaul, several big-city police chiefs urged Congress on Wednesday to draft a new policy that improves public safety by bringing illegal immigrants out of the shadows." New York Times, July 1, 2009.
"Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and the blogosphere have been buzzing over the past 48 hours, as thousands of grassroots activists and Congressional leaders contacted the Department of Homeland Security to stop the deportation of Walter Lara, a 23 year-old honor student facing deportation this Independence Day weekend. Today, Walter Lara was granted a one y […]
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing to revise the Part 34 regulation to remove ‘‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection’’ from the definition of ‘‘communicable disease of public health significance.’’" Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. […]
"The Department of Homeland Security delivered good news just in time for the Fourth of July weekend to a Central Florida man who was facing deportation because he had been brought illegally to the U.S. as a child. Walter Lara found out Thursday that he was getting a one-year deferral on his order to leave the country, buying him, his advocates and supp […]
"The Obama administration announced a crackdown Wednesday on hundreds of companies suspected of employing illegal immigrants, signaling a shift in strategy: going after employers instead of workers." WSJ, July 2, 2009.
"Federal officials Wednesday notified more than 650 businesses around the country, including nearly 50 in Los Angeles, that their records will be audited as part of a widening effort to find companies that hire illegal immigrants." Los Angeles Times, July 2, 2009.
"Five immigrant rights organizations have filed a petition asking the Department of Justice to begin an official rulemaking to permit immigration judges to appoint counsel in certain cases." BLT, July 2, 2009.
As America celebrates its 233rd birthday, we are reminded of the many contributions immigrants have made to America throughout our great history. Nowhere will this be more celebrated than in the 50 naturalization ceremonies taking place around the nation this weekend where 6,000 immigrants will become Americans at venues like Disneyworld and George Washing […]
Tired of spending scant time and resources on immigration enforcement, major city police chiefs called on Congress, Wednesday, to move on comprehensive immigration reform. Like most law enforcement officers across the country, chasing down undocumented immigrants proves to be too much of a strain when faced with real priorities like keeping violent crimina […]
Photo by daylife. BY JON BLAZER, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER Representative Lamar Smith, the top ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, has been making the rounds again with astounding claims regarding immigrants and Social Security. Based on what he has described as “hard data” released by the Social Security Administration (SSA), Rep […]
Photo by ambimb. There is a lot of confusion surrounding Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)—what they are, who has them, and the purposes for which they are used. Immigration restrictionists take advantage of this confusion and often bring up ITINs in an effort to make it seem as if undocumented immigrants are receiving special benefits or […]
Photo by atwatervillagenewbie As state and local governments grapple with growing budget deficits brought on by the current economic recession, some pundits and policymakers are attempting to blame immigrants—particularly undocumented immigrants. According to this flawed line of reasoning, which was on display in a June 21st Sacramento Bee editorial by Da […]
Photo by respres. Earlier this week, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released a new housing report which provides a rather grim analysis of the current housing crisis. Real home prices continue to fall and foreclosures continue to mount despite recent federal interventions. Because of job losses, decreased home prices, and tou […]
Embedded video from CNN Video Today the President, Vice President, and key cabinet members met with a bipartisan group of Senate and House leaders on immigration reform in a closed-door meeting at the White House. The White House characterized the meeting as the “launch” of a policy conversation and “an honest discussion about the issues. […]
Video by DreamActivistdotOrg. On Tuesday, more than 500 students from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, to take part in the National DREAM Act Graduation Ceremony. Although only a symbolic ceremony, students from different countries and backgrounds stood as one in an effort to push Congress to pass the Development, Relief, and Education for Al […]
Photo by ChrisB in SEA. Tomorrow, President Obama and a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders are expected to convene at the White House to draft a roadmap for moving forward with Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009. Despite Press Secretary Robert Gibbs’ dismal legislative voter forecast for moving forward this year, President Obama has continual […]
Photo by gwen. BY JOAN FRIEDLAND, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER Introduced by Sen. Akaka (D-HI) last week with 5 co-sponsors, the “Providing for Additional Security in States’ Identification Act” (PASS ID) (S. 1261) would give states a breather from the costs and restrictions imposed by the REAL ID Act, which became law in 2005 without Congressional […]