Chicago Immigration Lawyer - Free Consultation

US Immigration News & Commentary
News, information, and opinion.

H1B Update: H1B visas still available. by justin
Posted on 22 Apr 2009 at 10:51am WASHINGTON?U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced an updated number of filings for H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2010 program. USCIS has received approximately 44,000 H-1B petitions counting toward the Congressionally-mandated 65,000 cap. The agency continues to accept petitions subject to the general cap. Additionally, the agency has received approximately 20,000 petitions for [...]

Quick note: Senator Durbin has reintroduced the Dream Act by justin
Posted on 9 Apr 2009 at 6:30am Contact your local representative to show your support for the Dream Act so we can get it passed this year!

H1B cap not reached in first 5 business days after April 1. by justin
Posted on 9 Apr 2009 at 6:29am In a trend that tracks the economic realities of the moment the USCIS has announced that they have only received about 1/2 of the number of petitions that would count towards the cap. There will be no lottery for any petition unless it is filed on the day that the USCIS receives enough to meet [...]

Sheriff Arpaio being investigated for civil rights violations stemming from a... by justin
Posted on 11 Mar 2009 at 8:51am The Department of Justice is investigating Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for parading immigrants in chains to his “tent city”, for racial profiling. The DOJ is investigating whether or not deputies are engaged in “patterns or practices of discriminatory police practices and unconstitutional searches and seizures.” (how could they not be if pretty much the [...]

USCIS Press Release: Premium Processing for I-140 forms (reprinted in full) by justin
Posted on 24 Feb 2009 at 5:20pm Office of Communications Fact Sheet Feb. 24, 2009 PREMIUM PROCESSING SERVICE FOR CERTAIN FORM I-140 PETITIONS BEGINS MARCH 2, 2009 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will expand Premium Processing Service for designated Forms I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker to include alien beneficiaries who have reached or are reaching their limitation of stay in H-1B nonimmigrant status. Currently, [...]

Citizenship for non-residents through military service. by justin
Posted on 22 Feb 2009 at 5:25pm On 11/25/2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed a memorandum allowing the Army, Navy, Air Force, to recruit non-citizens and non-residents. Titled ?Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest? (MAVNI), the program allows some non-citizens who are legally present in the United States to join the military. Based on joining the military the individuals can [...]

ICE clearly racial profiling to fill quotas. by justin
Posted on 18 Feb 2009 at 1:06pm A story in the Washington Post exposes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement National Fugitive Operations Program - a program that received over $600 million from congress - as a federally funded racial profiling operation. The program which, as it is named, is intended to be used to round up fugitives, is an abject failure [...]

Napolitano: All enforcement all the time. by justin
Posted on 17 Feb 2009 at 6:44am Newly appointed Secretary of the DHS, Janet Napolitano (on NPR), shows that there will be little change between the Bush Administration and the Obama Administration with regards to immigration policy. She’s for a border fence - in places where physically appropriate - but thinks the border needs to be more militarized (more boots on the [...]

Tom Friedman: Expand immigration to keep the US afloat by justin
Posted on 12 Feb 2009 at 8:32am Tom Friedman has an op-ed that may seem counterintuitive to some. Referencing a statement by Shekhar Gupta of the Indian Express.. “All you need to do is grant visas to two million Indians, Chinese and Koreans. We will buy up all the subprime homes. We will work 18 hours a day to pay for them. We [...]

Second thoughts on local enforcement of federal immigration laws. by justin
Posted on 12 Feb 2009 at 6:58am Some state & local governments are having second thoughts about trying to control immigration through the use of local laws as the cost has proven to be prohibitive and the measures a PR nightmare. An example of some of the thinking that should have been done beforehand: “Republican state Rep. Stephen Clark, author of one [...]
Justin Randolph - Chicago Immigration Attorney

*not responsible for accuracy of content

Bender's Immigration Bulletin
Bender's Immigration Bulletin -- Immigration Law News

Aircraft repair jobs sold to foreign workers, resumes not important "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 immigration law." WFAA, July 1, 2009.

As American as apple pie "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 known as the Dream Act, which would grant legal status to young illegal immigrants who have lived for years in the United States." New York Times, July 2, 2009.

Border agency cracking down on fake documents at crossings "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.

Defying Conventional Wisdom in DC, GOP Voters Support Comprehensive Immigrati... "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.

ICE audits 32 Arizona companies over hiring "[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.

Immigration docket all tied up in knots "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 into account any of the facts and circumstances of Ahmed's case that were relevant to the grant or denial of a continuance," Judge David R. Thompson wrote for the 9th Circuit panel." NLJ, July 6, 2009.

New ICE Audit Targets 652 Businesses 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.

Passport fix near for US border midwife deliveries "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 immigration attorney preliminary class action status." AP, July 1, 2009.

Poll: Majority of Republicans support 'amnesty' "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 Chronicle, July 3, 2009.

The addictive, improbable rush of hope "It is a milestone in any nation’s life when leaving becomes a choice, not a necessity." Anand Giridharadas, July 2, 2009.
Justin Randolph - Chicago Immigration Attorney

*not responsible for accuracy of content

Immigration Impact

In Order to Form a More Perfect Union by Wendy Sefsaf
Posted on 2 Jul 2009 at 12:11pm 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 Washington’s Mount [...]

Major City Police Chiefs Just Say No To Immigration Enforcement by Seth Hoy
Posted on 2 Jul 2009 at 9:54am 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 criminals off the [...]

Here He Goes Again: Lamar Smith Rehashes Distorted Claims on Immigrants and S... by Guest
Posted on 1 Jul 2009 at 1:28pm 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. Smith?s analysis is inaccurate [...]

Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) NOT an Immigration Benefit by Michele Waslin
Posted on 30 Jun 2009 at 3:32pm 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 [...]

Blaming Immigrants for State Budget Deficits Doesn?t Make Sense by Walter Ewing
Posted on 29 Jun 2009 at 12:48pm 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 Daniel Weintraub entitled ?The cost of [...]

Immigrant Homebuyers Play Crucial Role in Housing Market Revival by Michele Waslin
Posted on 26 Jun 2009 at 10:08am 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 tougher credit [...]

President Obama Lights Torch for Common Sense Immigration Reform by Seth Hoy
Posted on 25 Jun 2009 at 8:01pm 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.? True to [...]

Students Storm Capitol Hill for National DREAM Act Graduation Day by Samya Behary
Posted on 25 Jun 2009 at 4:52pm 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 Alien [...]

President Obama to Chart Course for Comprehensive Immigration Reform by Seth Hoy
Posted on 24 Jun 2009 at 4:31pm 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 continually reaffirmed his commitment [...]

PASS ID Act Not An Immigration Solution by Guest
Posted on 23 Jun 2009 at 3:35pm 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 hearings [...]
Justin Randolph - Chicago Immigration Attorney