Thursday, December 30, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the Day- Diane Von Furstenberg



Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg was born December 31, 1946 in Belgium. She is a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg. Following their divorce in 1972, she has continued to use his family name, although she is no longer entitled to use the title princess following her divorce and subsequent remarriage in 2001.

She is also one my wife's favoite designers!

Immigration Reform is Dead?

Just days after Congress killed the DREAM Act, voices on all sides of the immigration reform debate say it’s unlikely there will be much movement on the issue during the next two years.

With Republicans poised to assume House control in January, immigrant-rights advocates see scant chance legislation to grant illegal immigrants any kind of foothold in the U.S. could move through the lower chamber.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Attorney General says DREAM ACT must be passed

POSTED IN: Office of the Attorney General | PERMALINK
Attorney General: The DREAM Act must be passed
December 17th, 2010 Posted by Tracy Russo
The following post is authored by the Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder
As the son of an immigrant, I grew up in New York City with a deep appreciation for the ideals that, since
America’s earliest days, have defined our nation. Like so many who have set out for America’s
shores, my father and both of my mother’s parents arrived here from Barbados in search of a better life and
greater opportunity – for themselves and their children.
Looking back, I can see that their dream was the American Dream. But looking around, I can see that, today,
this dream is fading for too many deserving young people who, through no fault of their own, lack
documentation – and, therefore, are being denied opportunity.
That is why the DREAM Act must be passed.
This critical legislation would provide new pathways for service and learning. And it would bring
extraordinary individuals out of the shadows, where – despite their efforts to contribute and their
determination to succeed – they have been relegated for far too long.
Like my father – who served as a Master Sergeant in the United States Army – many young and courageous
Americans want nothing more than to strengthen their nation and to improve their own futures. Why
should we say no? Why should someone who grew up in America, speaks English, holds degrees from one
or more of our schools, and shows – time and again – a commitment to citizenship have to forgo a
productive future?
There is no good reason.
The DREAM Act would do more than expand opportunities for learning and public service for young people
across the country. It would also benefit every American by helping establish a new generation of young
people grounded in our nation’s finest traditions and and its founding principles.
One of those principles is equal opportunity. Today, for so many, that opportunity now rests in the hands of
Congress. And so I urge our elected representatives to act. I urge them to do the right thing. Put simply, I
urge Congress to allow us to continue to tell a story about our country that makes us all proud – as my
father was – to be American.
Attorney General: The DREAM Act must be passed « USDOJ: Justice Blog http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/1119?print=1
1 of 1 12/17/2010 4:03 PM
AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 10121733. (Posted 12/17/10)

Local Immigrant, DREAM ACT candidate, will not be deported---for now

One month ago, Bernard Pastor was an anonymous 18-year-old trying to live his life productively as a church volunteer but in the shadows as an undocumented immigrant.

It's essentially a request that they put his case at the bottom of the pile," David Leopold, one of the nation's top immigration attorneys, said Saturday from his Cleveland area home. "This (case) should not be an enforcement priority."

Friday, December 10, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the Day- Jim Carrey

James Eugene "Jim" Carrey was born January 17, 1962) in Canada. He actor and comedian who has starred in some very funn films such as was cast as the title Ace Ventura: Pet Detective The Mask Dumb and Dumber (1994 The Cable Guy (1996), Liar Liar (1997),Truman Show and Man on the Moon

Visa Retrogression

RETROGRESSION OF FAMILY CUT-OFF DATES - As reported in the December Visa Bulletin (number 27), the cut-off dates for most Family preference categories advanced at a very rapid pace during the past two years. Those movements have resulted in a dramatic increase in the level of applicant demand received in recent months. This has required the retrogression of many Family preference cut-off dates for January in an effort to hold number use within the various numerical limits. Further retrogressions cannot be ruled out should demand continue at the current levels." Department of State Publication 9514 CA/VO: December 8, 2010.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the Day- Mikhail Baryshnikov



Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov was born January 28, 1948 in Russia. He is a American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century.

Monday, December 6, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the Day- John Muir


John Muir was born 4/21/1838 was born in Scotland. He was a naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to save the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is now one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States.

LPR of 50 years deported

Mike Burrows came to America when he was two years old, and has lived here for 50 years. Due to a technicality in harsh anti-immigration laws, he will likely be deported to his birthplace of Canada within weeks, a country that he has no current connection to and no memory of.

Mike was convicted of receipt of a stolen 8-track tape deck worth $50, a misdemeanor in 1978, when he was 18 years old. This conviction was expunged from his record in 1983. Although Mike is officially considered a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), the 1996 law was applied retroactively, and in 2001 Mike was found “removable.”

It has been a while, but things have been busy...



Welcome Paxton Stanley Fleischer. I love you

Friday, November 12, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the Day- Anthony Hopkins

Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins was born 31 December 1937 in the United Kingdom. He is an Academy Award winning Welsh actor of film, stage and television. Considered to be one of the greatest living actors, he is best known for his portrayal of serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs

Thursday, November 4, 2010

PROPS TO DREW~~~


He Rules

New TV Series Featuring Illegal immigrant

EXCLUSIVE: It is a premise that would no doubt spark controversy. FX has put in development the first major series project centered on an illegal alien character, a drama from Changing Lanes writer Chap Taylor about an illegal Mexican immigrant working as a private investigator. TV and film director Rodrigo Garcia, born in Colombia, has come on board to direct and executive produce the project, described as "Traffic meets Chinatown." Also executive producing are Taylor, Dawn Parouse & Marti Noxon of Grady Twins and Garcia's frequent collaborator, producer Julie Lynn.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Can the Republicans deport all of the "Illegal Aliens"

What is it about the immigration debate that makes Republicans in Congress act like children?

In the latest stunt, all seven Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee - Charles Grassley, Jon Kyl, John Cornyn, Orrin Hatch, Lindsey Graham, Tom Coburn and Jeff Sessions - have signed a letter asking Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to "detail exactly how much funding" would be needed to "ensure that enforcement of the law occurs consistently for every illegal alien encountered and apprehended."

The answer: A lot.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/02/EDL11G5MD9.DTL#ixzz14FUSreh4

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

TPS extended for Somalia

"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Somalia from the current expiration of March 17, 2011, through the new expiration date of Sept. 17, 2012." USCIS, Nov. 1, 2010.

This Friday - Richard I. Fleischer is apprearing in Columbus, Ohio

For my loyal follower and potential clients, Richard I. Fleischer, an attorney from Cincinnati Ohio will be in Columbus , Ohio. Please contact him immediately for an appointment. 513-977-4209

Today is Election Day- Our most important right as a citizen!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Butler County Sheriff Jones at it again


He's billed the United States and Mexican governments to recoup money he's spent on housing illegal immigrants in his jail and investigating drugs coming into Butler County.

He wants to sue Mexico.


Check out what the Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting

Confronting Anchor Baby Issue

Political Insider: Russell Pearce begins work on a new immigration law

Oct. 17, 2010 12:00 AM

Together again . . . Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, is getting the old team back together for his next state immigration-law effort. Kansas attorney and Secretary of State candidate Kris Kobach this week confirmed that he is working with Pearce to write a bill that would develop a state law to change the way children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants are granted citizenship. Kobach helped Pearce write Senate Bill 1070.

Pearce has said he will propose the bill when the legislative session starts in January. Kobach would not say what that bill might look like.

"We aren't announcing anything yet, as the drafting is not complete," Kobach said via e-mail.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/10/17/20101017russell-pearce-immigration-law.html#ixzz12iMsZXYr

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

ICE fines Abercombie 1 Million Dollars


"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced today a $1,047,110 fine settlement reached with the clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch for violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act related to an employer's obligation to verify the employment eligibility of its workers. The settlement is the result of a November 2008 Form I-9 inspection of Abercrombie & Fitch's retail stores in Michigan. The audit uncovered numerous technology-related deficiencies in Abercrombie & Fitch's electronic I-9 verification system."

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- Arianna Huffington


Arianna Huffington (born Arianna Stassinopoulos on July 15, 1950in Athens, Greece ) is a Greek-American author and syndicated columnist. She is best known as co-founder of the progressive news website The Huffington Post. A popular conservative commentator in the mid-1990s, she is the ex-wife of former Republican congressman Michael Huffington.

Here isa link to her website

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

79 year old woman saved from deportation

Bridie Murphy, the 79-year-old Irish immigrant from West Roxbury who faced deportation after her green card was confiscated by federal border agents at Logan Airport, says she is "happy and relieved" to learn that US immigration officials agreed to drop proceedings against her.

Monday, September 27, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- Richard Little



Richard Caruthers "Rich" Little (born November 26, 1938 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian - American impressionist and voice actor. Little has long been known as a top impersonator of famous people throughout the world, which has resulted in him being referred to as "The Man of a Thousand Voices"

Friday, September 24, 2010

Colbert testifies on Ag Jobs

USCIS Immigraiton fees are going up in November, if you have been waiting, FILE NOW!!!

USCIS announced the posting of the final fee rule in the Federal Register today (the rule will be published Sept. 24). The adjusted fees are effective Nov. 23, 2010.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a final rule adjusting fees for immigration applications and petitions. The final rule follows a period of public comment on a proposed version of the rule, which USCIS published in the Federal Register on June 11, 2010. After encouraging stakeholders to share their input, USCIS considered all 225 comments received. The final rule will increase overall fees by a weighted average of about 10 percent but will not increase the fee for the naturalization application. The rule will also reduce fees for six individual applications and petitions and will expand the availability of fee waivers to new categories. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register September 24, and the adjusted fees will go into effect on November 23, 2010.

USCIS is a primarily fee-based organization with about 90 percent of its budget coming from fees paid by applicants and petitioners for immigration benefits. The law requires USCIS to conduct fee reviews every two years to determine whether it is recovering its costs to administer the nation’s immigration laws, process applications, and provide the infrastructure needed to support those activities. Remaining funds come from appropriations provided annually by Congress. The final fee rule concludes a comprehensive fee review begun in 2009.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

EOIR 800# reverts back to old system

The Immigration Court hot line will remain the same as in the past where one only needs a "A" number or "alien number" to check if a case has been filed with the Immigration Court. This is essential for practitioners who meet with clients who do not have knowledge of their case.

Call Fleischer Law Firm for more details

US naturalized citizen of the day- Jennifer Granholm


Jennifer Ganholm was born February 5, 1959 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Granholm became Michigan's first female governor on January 1, 2003, when she succeeded Governor John Engler. Granholm was re-elected on November 7, 2006, and was sworn in for her second and, due to term limits, final term on January 1, 2007. She has been mentioned as a potential Supreme Court justice for President Barack Obama

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Why hire an Immigration Attorney???

An immigration lawyer can help you in the following ways:

Analyze the facts of your case thoroughly.
Explain all the benefits for which you may be eligible.
Recommend the best ways for you to obtain legal status.
Complete and submit your applications properly.
Stay current on the new laws that affect you.
Avoid delays and problems with your case whenever possible.
Discuss the status of your case with you.
Speak for you in discussions with the Department of Homeland Security or represent you in court.
File necessary appeals and waivers.
Utilize the system to your advantage because he or she has the experience to do so.

US naturalized citizen of the day- Peter Frampton



Mr. Frampton, now a resident of Cincinnati Ohio, was born in England in 1950. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies in the United States alone and spawned several hits

General Colin Powell on Immigration


Colin Powell Gets it right on Immigration reform
“[Republicans] have got to take a hard look at some of the positions they’ve been taking,” Powell said. “We can’t be anti-immigration, for example. Because immigrants are fueling this country. Without immigrants [the U.S.] would be like Europe or Japan, with an aging population and no young people coming in to take care of it. We have to educate our immigrants.”

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Vote for the Dream Act!!

DREAM Act Coming to the Senate Floor
Senator Reid to Attach Act to Defense Authorization Bill

September 15, 2010

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would attach the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act to the Department of Defense authorization bill expected to come before the Senate as early as next week. The vote will be an important test of whether Congress can transcend partisan politics and work together on crafting solutions to the broken immigration system that both Democrats and Republicans acknowledge is in desperate need of reform. That the proposal will be considered as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill is appropriate, given the Department of Defense's support for DREAM Act as a way to improve military readiness.

First introduced in 2001, the DREAM Act would address the plight of young immigrants who have been raised in the U.S. and managed to succeed despite the challenges of being brought to the U.S. without proper documentation. The proposal would offer a path to legal status to those who have graduated from high-school, have stayed out of trouble and plan to attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years.

Each year, approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school, many at the top of their classes, but cannot go to college, join the military, work, or otherwise pursue their dreams. They belong to the 1.5 generation - any (first generation) immigrants brought to the United States at a young age who were largely raised in this country and therefore share much in common with second generation Americans. These students are culturally American, growing up here and often having little attachment to their country of birth. They tend to be bicultural and fluent in English.

Research has shown that providing a legal status for young people who have a proven record of success in the United States would be a boon to the economy and the U.S. workforce. University presidents and educational associations, as well as military recruiters, business and religious leaders have added their voice to those calling for passage of the bill. Foreign-born students represent a significant and growing percentage of the current student population. Unfortunately, immigration status and the associated barriers to higher education contribute to a higher-than-average high dropout rate, which costs taxpayers and the economy billions of dollars each year.

The DREAM Act would eliminate these barriers for many students, and the DREAM Act's high school graduation requirement would provide a powerful incentive for students who might otherwise drop out to stay in school and graduate. This will help boost the number of high skilled American-raised workers. As they take their place in the workplace as hard working, taxpaying Americans, they will contribute a lifetime of revenues at the local, state and federal level.

Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, Bill Carr, supports the DREAM Act and stated that the law would be "good for readiness" and would help to recruit "cream of the crop" students. The DREAM Act is part of the Department of Defense's 2010-2012 Strategic Plan to assist the military in it's recruiting efforts.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Immigration Law is hard to understand

A Lack Of Understanding"
CUNY Prof. Ruthann Robson gives us a key quote from Lozano v. Hazleton: "Merely because an immigrant may have a present status does not mean that this status is correct, unchangeable, or may cause the federal government to exercise its discretion to remove the immigrant. Stitched into the fabric of Hazleton’s housing provisions, then, is either a lack of understanding or a refusal to recognize the complexities of federal immigration law. Hazleton would effectively remove from its City an alien college student the federal government has purposefully declined to initiate removal proceedings against. So too would Hazleton remove an alien battered spouse, currently unlawfully present, but eligible for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident under the special protections Congress has afforded to battered spouses and children."

US naturalized citizen of the day- Mother Cabrini


Mother Cabrini, was the first American citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.
She was born 7/15/1850 in Italy. The Pope sent Cabrini to New York City on March 31, 1889, to help the Italian Immigrants there "Not to the East but to the West". There, she obtained the permission of Archbishop Michael Corrigan to found an orphanage, which is located in West Park, Ulster County, New York, today and is known as Saint Cabrini Home, the first of 67 institutions she founded in New York, Chicago, Des Plaines, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, Golden, Los Angeles, Philadelphia,[1] and in countries throughout South America and Europe. Long after her death, the Missionary Sisters would achieve Mother Cabrini's goal of being a missionary to China. After much social and religious upheaval and only a short time, the sisters left China, and subsequently a Siberian placement.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

kitchen Confidential

Restaurants are not the only businesses to fall under the searchlight. But until recently, immigration enforcement had been notoriously lax, with a kind of universal wink at kitchens filled with employees working either off the books or with false documents, government officials and industry experts say. But that is quickly changing, based on the rising number of investigations and the penalties being sought against restaurateurs. This article is from the NY Times

Friday, September 3, 2010

More from Barbour

Haley Barbour makes sense


Haley Barbour makes some sense in the heated immigration debate. Maybe because "undocumented workers" helped to quickly rebuild his state after Hurricane Katrina.

BARBOUR: I’ve had a different experience then perhaps some other governors. I don’t know where we would have been in Mississippi after Katrina if it hadn’t been with the Spanish speakers that came in to help rebuild. And there’s no doubt in my mind some of them were here illegally. Some of them were, some of them weren’t. But they came in, they looked for the work. If they hadn’t been there — if they hadn’t come and stayed for a few months or a couple years — we would be way, way, way behind where we are now. [...]

Asylum rate hits all time low

Very timely Justice Department data show that Immigration Judges are declining substantially fewer requests for asylum. Denial rates have reached the lowest level in the last quarter of a century according to a new analysis by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC

US naturalized citizen of the day- Guy Lombardo


Gaetano Alberto "Guy" Lombardowas born June 19, 1902 in Ontario Canada. He was a bandleader and violinist.

Forming "The Royal Canadians" in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert, and Victor and other musicians from his hometown, Lombardo led the group to international success, billing themselves as creating "The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven." The Lombardos are believed to have sold between 100 and 300 million phonograph records during their lifetimes.

Are Illegal Immigrants leaving US?

For several years, and certainly since the recession began, the number of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally has been dropping sharply.

NPR reports

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- John Malchase David Shalikashvili


General John Malchase David Shalikashvili was born June 27, 1936 in Poland He is a retired officer of the United States Army who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 to 1997. He was born in Warsaw, Poland to Georgian refugee parents.

Is illegal immigration a problem in OHio?

Is illegal immigration a major problem for Ohio? A look at the numbers suggests not. Nevertheless, some politicians plan to ask voters to enact changes similar to Arizona's controversial legislation.

Monday, August 23, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- I.M. Pei




Ieoh Ming Pei was born 26 April 1917 in Guangzhou (Canton), China commonly known by his initials I. M. Pei, is a Chinese American architect, often called a master of modern architecture. His first major recognition came with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado; his new stature led to his selection as chief architect for the John F. Kennedy Library in Massachusetts. He went on to design Dallas City Hall and the East Building of the National Gallery of Art.

Boston tell ICE they will not detain immigrants

"The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department has ordered US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove all immigrant detainees from a Boston jail by Oct. 12, accusing the agency of a “staggering lack of communication and respect,’’ in a letter sent last week." Boston Globe, Aug. 20, 2010.

Friday, August 20, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- Elaine Chao


Elaine L. Chao is a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, where she concentrates on jobs, employment, trade, federal spending and workforce issues.

An immigrant from Taiwan who arrived in America at age 8, not speaking a word of English, Chao rose to become the nation's 24th Secretary of Labor, a post she held from 2001 to 2009. She is the first woman of Asian descent ever to serve in the Cabinet of an American president, and the longest-serving labor secretary since World War II.

PERM Fraud charges brought against man

Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting Charges
WASHINGTON – Andrew Cole pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy and fraud in foreign labor contracting charges arising from his role in a
criminal enterprise that engaged in numerous criminal activities, including forced labor, fraud in foreign labor contracting, v isa fraud, mail fraud, identity
theft, tax evasion and money laundering, the Justice Department announced today.

According to court documents, Cole recruited various foreign nationals from the Dominican Republic by falsely representing the terms, conditions and
nature of their employment as hotel workers in the Kansas City area. At the time Cole recruited these foreign nationals, he knew that they would not be paid
the wages promised, that many would be sent to work in factory positions in Alabama and that threats of deportation and other adverse immigration
consequences would be made to the foreign nationals by members of the criminal enterprise in order to maintain the foreign nationals’ labor.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- Enrico Fermi


Enrico Fermi was born in Rome on 29th September, 1901. In 1926, Fermi discovered the statistical laws, nowadays known as the «Fermi statistics», governing the particles subject to Pauli's exclusion principle (now referred to as «fermions», in contrast with «bosons» which obey the Bose-Einstein statistics).


In 1938, Fermi was without doubt the greatest expert on neutrons, and he continued his work on this topic on his arrival in the United States, where he was soon appointed Professor of Physics at Columbia University, N.Y. (1939-1942).

Upon the discovery of fission, by Hahn and Strassmann early in 1939, he immediately saw the possibility of emission of secondary neutrons and of a chain reaction. He proceeded to work with tremendous enthusiasm, and directed a classical series of experiments which ultimately led to the atomic pile and the first controlled nuclear chain reaction. This took place in Chicago on December 2, 1942 - on a squash court situated beneath Chicago's stadium. He subsequently played an important part in solving the problems connected with the development of the first atomic bomb (He was one of the leaders of the team of physicists on the Manhattan Project for the development of nuclear energy and the atomic bomb.)

In 1944, Fermi became American citizen, and at the end of the war (1946)

EOIR Announces More Secure Toll-Free Number

FALLS Church, Va. – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced today thelaunch of a new, upgraded automated case information system, which is designed to assist respondents
and their representatives and families in learning the current status of their proceedings. The toll-free
number, 1-800-898-7180, has not changed, but a new local number, 240-314-1500, is in service. The system becomes effective August 23, 2010, and callers will need to be prepared to enter both the alien registration number and the date of the respondent’s charging document.
The new technology and comprehensive features establish a higher level of security for the respondent. The system will now require callers to enter the date of the relevant charging document before accessing information specific to a case. For ease of use, EOIR has posted on its website a document called “How to Find Charging Document Dates.” This document displays samples of the most
commonly used charging documents and indicates to visitors where to locate the necessary date.

“EOIR is constantly evaluating its programs to improve the way we serve the public,” said EOIR Acting Director Thomas Snow. “This new valuable voice response tool will provide the public with what it has requested – more specific information in a more reliable system with enhanced security measures to
protect respondents’ privacy.” To access this more secure case information system, please call 1-800-898-7180 or 240-314-1500
and have the alien registration number and relevant charging document date ready. During the system change, the telephone numbers may be inaccessible from Friday August 20, 2010, at 10:00 p.m. until Monday August 23, 2010, at 6:00 a.m.

Monday, August 9, 2010

US naturalized Citizen of the Day - Misha Barton




Mischa Anne Marsden Barton was born Jan 26 1986 in Hammersmith, London, England. She is best known for her role in the Fox television show the OC.

Students Spared Deportation

"The Obama administration, while deporting a record number of immigrants convicted of crimes, is sparing one group of illegal immigrants from expulsion: students who came to the United States without papers when they were children." Julia Preston, NYT, Aug. 9, 2010.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Anchor Baby debate

"Conservative, self-declared patriots insist that carrying a pregnancy to term is a woman's God-given obligation, but then attempt to defile an entire population of innocent newborns as tools of trickery. Deport these newborns! they say. Banish these babies! What God are these people praying to? What version of Jesus have they conjured up to demonize innocent children? No one chooses to be born in America. But everyone who is has the constitutional right to call this country home." Connie Schultz, Aug. 4, 2010.

US naturalized citizen of the day - Isabel Allende from Chile


Isabel Allende was born 2 August 1942 in Chile . Allende, whose works sometimes contain aspects of the "magic realist" tradition, is one of the best-known female novelists in Latin America. She is amous for novels such as The House of the Spirits (La casa de los espíritus) (1982) and City of the Beasts (La ciudad de las bestias) (2002), which have been commercially successful. Allende has been called "the world’s most widely read Spanish-language author".

Friday, July 30, 2010

Here is the leaked USCIS memo

What does this leaked Memo mean for CIR? I do not know , but The Tea Party is going to have a field day with this

Backdoor CIR?

The online publication Pro Publica reported that USCIS may be considering ways to act without Congressional approval to achieve many of the objectives of a Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation. The article is worth reading and further reports that Sen Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa yesterday leaked an internal memorandum drafted by Alejandro Mayorkas outlining these measures. Sen Grassley who with six other senators apparently had written to President Obama more than a month ago, asking for his assurance that rumors regarding some sort of reprieve was in the works for millions of illegal immigrants weren't true.

http://www.propublica.org/article/obama-administration-considers-bypassing-congress-on-immigration-reform

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- Madeleine Albright


Madeleine Korbel Albright was born May 15, 1937 in the Czech Republic. She is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996.

Albright now serves as a Professor of International Relations at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service.

One of the Best Quotes I have heard from a Court in a long time, maybe ever

While our adversarial system may permit such advocacy by private parties, when the United States appears before us, it is duty-bound to 'cut square corners' and seek justice rather than victory.

ICE launches onlines detainee locator system

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is pleased to share some important news from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE has announced the launch of the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) – a public, Internet-based tool designed to assist family members, attorneys and other interested parties in locating detained aliens in ICE custody. Please find attached an ICE News Release and an informational brochure in English and Spanish. The ODLS is located on ICE’s public website at www.ice.gov.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Arizona Cop is against the Arizona Immigration Law

There hadn’t been much public indication as to how actual police officers felt, though, until Phoenix, AZ-based Officer Paul Dobson did a Skype interview two months ago with Brave New Foundation’s Cuéntame project about how the new law made him feel. The answer? Like “a Nazi.”

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

My Home County , Hamilton County Ohio partners with ICE

Hamilton County to benefit from ICE strategy to enhance the
identification, removal of criminal aliens
Uses biometrics to prioritize immigration enforcement actions against convicted criminal aliens


CINCINNATI- On Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began using a new biometric information sharing capability in Hamilton County that helps federal immigration officials identify aliens, both lawfully and unlawfully present in the United States, who are booked into local law enforcement's custody for a crime. This capability is part of Secure Communities-ICE's comprehensive strategy to improve
and modernize the identification and removal of criminal aliens from the United States.

Previously, fingerprint-based biometric records were taken of individuals charged with a crime and booked into custody and checked for criminal history information against the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). Now, through enhanced information sharing between DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), fingerprint information submitted through the state to the FBI will be automatically checked against both the FBI criminal history records in IAFIS and the biometrics-based immigration records in DHS's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).

If fingerprints match those of someone in DHS's biometric system, the new automated process notifies ICE.
ICE evaluates each case to determine the individual's immigration status and takes appropriate enforcementaction. This includes aliens who are in lawful status and those who are present without lawful authority. Once identified through fingerprint matching, ICE will respond with a priority placed on aliens convicted of the most serious offenses first-such as those with convictions for major drug offenses, murder, rape and kidnapping.

"The Secure Communities strategy provides ICE with an effective tool to identify criminal aliens in localcustody," said Secure Communities Executive Director David Venturella. "Enhancing public safety is at the core of ICE's mission. Our goal is to use biometric information sharing to remove criminal aliens, preventingthem from being released back into the community, with little or no additional burden on our law enforcement.

With the expansion of the biometric information sharing capability to Hamilton, ICE is now using it in five Ohio jurisdictions, including Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin and Montgomery counties. Across the country, ICE is using this capability in 467 jurisdictions in 26 states. ICE expects to make it available in jurisdictions
nationwide by 2013.
"
The ability for local law enforcement to run fingerprints against the ICE database is a critical tool in protecting our streets and neighborhoods," Hamilton County Sheriff Simon L. Leis, Jr., said. "Aliens illegally
in our country committing crimes in our communities is unacceptable. We are happy to work with ICE to identify those illegal aliens in a streamlined fashion and expedite their removal."

Since ICE began using this enhanced information sharing capability in October 2008, immigration officers have removed from the United States more than 9,800 criminal aliens convicted of Level 1 crimes, such as murder, rape and kidnapping. Additionally, ICE has removed more than 24,800 criminal aliens convicted of level 2 and 3 crimes, including burglary and serious property crimes, which account for the majority of crimes committed by aliens. ICE does not regard aliens charged with, but not yet convicted of crimes, as "criminal aliens." Instead, a "criminal alien" is an alien convicted of a crime. In accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, ICE continues to take action on aliens subject to removal as resources permit.

The IDENT system is maintained by DHS's US-VISIT program and IAFIS is maintained by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).
"US VISIT is proud to support ICE, helping provide decision makers with comprehensive, reliable information when and where they need it," said US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny. "By enhancing the interoperability of DHS's and the FBI's biometric systems, we are able to give federal, state and local decision makers information that helps them better protect our communities and our nation.""Under this plan, ICE will be utilizing FBI system enhancements that allow improved information sharing at the state and local law enforcement level based on positive identification of incarcerated criminal aliens," said Daniel D. Roberts, assistant director of the FBI's CJIS Division. "Additionally, ICE and the FBI are working together to take advantage of the strong relationships already forged between the FBI and state and local law enforcement necessary to assist ICE in achieving its goals." For more information, visit

www.ice.gov/secure_communities (http://www.ice.gov/secure_communities/

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

US Naturalized Citizen of the Day- Ingacia Moya

Normally this blog post features a "famous" naturalized citizen. However , this naturalized citizen of the day is special as she became a US citizen at the age of 106 years old.

"She's frail, blind and has trouble with her hearing, but at 106 years old, Moya proved that you're never too old to become an American citizen."

Click the title to read the story. Amazing.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Obama Deploys Troops to the Boarder

Department of Homeland Security and DOD announced that National Guard deployments to the Southwest border will begin on 8/1/10 as part of the administration's efforts to combat the transnational criminal organizations that smuggle weapons, cash and people across the Southwest border.

The Illegal Alien Debate

Written by: Crystal Williams, AILA

Yesterday, I looked down at my speedometer to see that I was driving at 55 mph in a 40 mph zone. I clearly was in violation of traffic laws.

I came home to notice my neighbor firing up a barbeque grill on his balcony–a definite violation of the city fire code.

I then read about how a list of supposed “illegal immigrants” was assembled and circulated in Utah, a probable violation of a host of laws, particularly if, as accused, it was state government employees behind the list.

Yet no one calls me or the millions like me an illegal driver. No one would think to call my neighbor an illegal griller. And has anyone called the Utah culprits illegal list-makers? Not to mention, would anyone dream of converting the adjective into a noun and calling us all “illegals”? Yet, we are all just as “illegal” as the people who are in the U.S. in violation of the immigration laws. (And, yes, the grilling and, in the jurisdiction it happened, the speeding are civil, not criminal, violations. But so is being unlawfully present in the U.S.)

Every time I speak publicly about immigration, I get the predictable crop of sloganeering and hate emails, with the former usually saying “what part of illegal don’t you understand?”

So, let me answer. People who have come to the U.S. to pick our crops, clean our tables, maintain our yards and take care of our children or grandparents are referred to as “illegals,” as though they are somehow heinous people, and yet those of us who put ourselves and others at risk of potentially fatal car wrecks or fires, or those who have put others at risk of identity theft, vengeful violence, and sheer privacy invasion, are not heatedly condemned.

That is the part of illegal that I don’t understand.

Immigrant student protest

Immigration Court Backlog

Immigration caseload is growing

by: GINNIE GRAHAM World Staff Writer
Sunday, July 18, 2010
7/18/2010 7:43:14 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY — At a Monday immigration court session, Judge Richard R. Ozmun set hearings after presiding over arguments in two cases originating in Tulsa County.

The next available hearing dates are in 2011.

In one case, a single man with American children and grandchildren was arrested after a therapist contacted police when his 16-year-old daughter said he allegedly hit her during an argument about her behavior, his attorney said. He entered the country illegally in 1980.

The other case is a Tulsa resident who came to the country illegally in 1997, married a U.S. citizen and fathered four American-born children. He was stopped by Tulsa police for speeding and detained for immigration, his attorney said.

Both immigrants want a hearing to argue legal reasons for relief from the U.S. Homeland Security's orders to leave. Dates for those hearings are in April 2011 and May 2011.

"This crazy calendar makes it so far out," Ozmun said from the bench while looking at the schedule.

Oklahoma's immigration court, which is part of the regional Dallas office, is experiencing a decade-high number of cases and an increasing backlog.

Immigrants will wait at least nine months to a year between the initial appearance and a hearing date. In some larger cities, the wait can be up to three years.

In most cases, they will be free on bond while awaiting a resolution of their case.

Criminal prosecutions referred by the two largest immigration investigative divisions within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are also rising, according to a recent report from a University of Syracuse-based data tracking organization.

This leap in prosecutions has reached comparable levels last experienced during the Bush Administration, according to the report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a non-profit organization.

While the U.S. Department of Homeland Security handles enforcement of immigration laws, the U.S. Department of Justice oversees administrative hearings immigrants may seek to protest removal orders.

Two major parts of the administrative process are the initial appearance, called a master calendar, and following that, a hearing on the merits.

"It used to be within six months, now it's pushing close to a year," said Tulsa attorney David Sobel, who has specialized in immigration law for more than a decade.

"For a lot people, time is their ally. The laws may change or something else can happen in their favor."

The Dallas immigration court, which has jurisdiction over Oklahoma cases, have experienced a growth of about 12 percent since 2000, according to the Justice Department.

Nationally, cases received by the courts compared with 2008 levels vary, with the largest increase in Tucson, Ariz., a 279 percent increase.

Cases reached an all-time high of nearly 243,000 at the end of March, an increase of 6 percent from November and about 30 percent higher than October 2008, according to TRAC.

The Justice Department has 230 judges across the nation hearing cases, which are guided by U.S. law and past legal precedents.

Tulsa attorney Ian Brattlie, who handles immigration cases for Catholic Charities, said the time lag impacts private attorneys more than those in the nonprofit sector or providing representation pro bono.

Typically, it is more difficult for a private attorney to take on cases that may have a long wait based on the fees collected for rendering services.

"Aliens, obviously, have a different stress when being in removal proceedings to over a year," Brattlie said. "But as a general rule, I prefer longer dockets to short ones."

The wait for a resolution has grown to a national average of about 443 days, with California topping the list at an average wait of 619 days.

Oklahoma's wait time is just under a year, according to TRAC.

"Most of the time this is beneficial to the client as it gives them the time to gather all the documentation the court needs to be able to properly evaluate their cases," said Oklahoma City immigration attorney Larry Davis.

"Oklahoma City it doing pretty good compared to other parts of the country. I understand that Atlanta is two years out and that Los Angeles and San Francisco are almost three years out."

A TRAC report released in May states that caseloads vary based on factors such as changing enforcement in different states and municipalities.

"The backlogs of pending cases are driven by numerous factors. Chief among them is the number of available judges in a particular locality relative to the caseload demand," the report states.

"Also important is the number of available judges. One court may have added more judges, while another may have recently lost a judge whether through retirement, promotion, transfer or death. Adding to this mix of forces is the different composition of cases that each hearing location handles."

Nearly all Oklahoma hearings are held at the Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office located in Oklahoma City.

For inmates convicted of crimes and serving sentences in prisons, hearings may be held at the detention center.

The hearings in detention centers generally have shorter wait times because the Justice Department usually assigns a higher priority to prevent backlogs at the facilities, according to the report.

"The Court does schedule detained alien cases much quicker, usually within six weeks," Davis said. "This is probably good because most of those types of cases involve more serious offenses."
Criminal Prosecutions
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Customs and Border Protection agencies referred 9,135 new cases for prosecution, according to TRAC, which uses the federal Freedom of Information Act to retrieve the data.

These prosecutions are handled by U.S. attorneys in federal courts.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement set a record number of prosecution referrals since the agency's creation in 2005.

In March and April, the agency referred 4,145 cases, which surpasses the previous high of 3,777 in July and August 2008 and 3,787 in July and August 2009.

The most common charge is for "re-entry of a deported alien," with 2,285 filings in U.S. district courts in April. The second-highest offense is "bringing in and harboring certain aliens," with 329 charges filed in April.

The U.S. magistrate courts handle less serious misdemeanor cases, with the most frequent filing (63 percent) involves "entry of alien at improper time or place."

In Tulsa's U.S. Northern District Court, the prosecutions have more than tripled — from six cases last year to 21 cases so far this year. All are for immigrants illegally living in the country after a previous deportation.

Local federal officials cite new Homeland Security programs for the increase. These programs allow for a person's citizenship status to be detected by jail or prison officials after coming into custody.

If convicted of immigration violations prosecuted by a U.S. attorney, a defendant could face up to 20 years in a U.S. prison before facing deportation.

During March and April, 14,912 new cases were referred by Customs and Border Protection. That total is the highest two-month amount since September and October 2008, when the figure was 16,127, according to TRAC.

About 98 percent of customs and border referrals went to judicial districts in border states — Texas, Arizona, California and New Mexico.

"In contrast, ICE activity was spread through the U.S. with the southwest border districts accounting for less than half of prosecutions referred by that agency," the TRAC report states. "While the southwest border districts showed a jump of one third, the rest of the nation showed an even larger increase (51%) from the levels seen two months earlier."

Friday, July 16, 2010

US naturalized citizen of the day- Ayn Rand


Ayn Rand was born February 2, 1905 in Russia. She was a novelist, philosopher,[2] playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism. . She first achieved fame in 1943 with her novel The Fountainhead, which in 1957 was followed by her best-known work, the philosophical novel Atlas Shrugged.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

H-1b FY2010 Cap update

As of July 9, 2010, approximately 24,800 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. Additionally, USCIS has receipted 10,600 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.

Please call The Fleischer Immigration Group of Cohen , Todd Kite & Stanford in Cincinnati , Ohio to process your H-1b visa. (513) 421-4020

US naturalized Citizen of the Day- Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski


Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski was born March 28, 1928 in Warsaw, Poland. He is an American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman who served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981.

August 2010 Visa Bulletin

EB-1 – all current
EB-2 – all current, except China (01 MAR 06) and India (01 MAR 06)
EB-3 – all 01 JUN 04, except China (22 SEP 03), India (01 JAN 02), and Mexico (U)

Interesting facts about the backlogs
China: China EB2 improved nearly four months since the last Visa Bulletin. China EB3 is now separate from the EB3 All Chargeability.

India: India has made significant strides in the last few months. India EB2, which has now progressed 13 months. India EB3 is now in Jan 2002.

Dream Act Makes Sense

Besides AgJobs, the Dream Act which would allow for a path to citizenship for children of undocumented aliens is a law that makes sense. Why hurt innocent children because of the acts of their parents?

Click the clink to read more about the Dream Act

Colbert on AgJobsand Immigration

CLick here for Colbert's hilarious clip supporting AgJobs.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/340925/july-08-2010/arturo-rodriguez

Monday, July 12, 2010

Columbia Jounalist denied US Visa

Morris sought a U.S. student visa so he could take a fellowship for journalists at Harvard University, his application was denied. He was ineligible, U.S. officials told him, under the "terrorist activities" section of the USA Patriot Act. The denial has incensed human rights advocates in Washington, who have raised concerns that the Obama administration has been influenced by Colombian President Álvaro Uribe's government, a frequent target of Morris's critical reports.

US Naturalized Citizen of the Day - Hannah Arendt


Hannah Arendt was born in 1906 in Germany. She was an influential German Jewish political theorist. She has often been described as a philosopher, although she refused that label on the grounds that philosophy is concerned with "man in the singular." She described herself instead as a political theorist because her work centers on the fact that "men, not Man, live on the earth and inhabit the world."

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Changes in appointments for NIV in China

Effective immediately, non-immigrant visa applicants may book interview appointments at any U.S. Consular Section in China, regardless of the province or city where they live. Consular Sections are located at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and U.S. Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang."

Arizona Sheriff under investigation

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio calls himself "America's toughest sheriff." He is famous for creating a tent city jail in the Arizona desert; for providing pink underwear for inmates; for bragging that he spends more to feed his dog than a prisoner in his jail.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Another reason for the DREAM ACT

Congress must pass the Dream Act. It makes sense Except for those conservative that blame the parents, and leave the children behind

US Naturalized Citisen of the Day - Dinesh D'Souza from India



Dinesh D'Souza was born April 25, 1961 in India and is an author and public speaker who once served as the Robert and Karen Rishwain Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

He is a conservative writer and speaker and the author of numerous New York Times best selling books including The Enemy At Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11, What's so Great about Christianity?, and Letters to a Young Conservative,

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Take our Jobs


I Can NOT WAIT for the clip tonite, I will post tomorrow

Stephen Colbert is teaming up with U.S. farmworkers to present a tongue-in-cheek campaign called "Take Our Jobs" on July 8, according to The Associated Press.

Take Our Jobs addresses the politicians and anti-immigration activists who blame farmworkers for taking the jobs of unemployed Americans. United Farm Workers of America president Arturo Rodriguez says his organization is encouraging the unemployed to apply for some of thousands of agricultural jobs posted with state agencies at http://www.takeourjobs.org.

"The reality is farmworkers who are here today aren't taking any American jobs away. They work in often unbearable situations," Rodriguez said. "I don't think there will be many takers, but the offer is being made. Let's see what happens."

The campaign will be featured on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report to highlight the unlikeliness of Americans clamoring for what the Bureau of Labor Statistics' calls one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the nation.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Hot Dog eating Champion Granted O-1 visa as Alien of extraordinary ability

Hot dog eating champion and competitive eater Kobayahi from Japan was granted an O-1 visa as an alien of extraordinary ability. This visa category is used for the best of the best in the world. The O-1A visa granted to Kobayashi is limited to individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, education, business, or athletics, as evidenced by “sustained national or international acclaim.”

For the record, he was recently arrested yesterday July 4 at the hot dog eating contest, wonder if ICE put a hold on him?

Sunday, July 4, 2010

4 the Fourth

The Real American Dream

The American dream is the defining principle of our nation and the muse of our founding fathers as they built our nation. The inspiration is not only for the American citizen, but for citizens of other countries who come to fulfill their own destiny and the freedoms they long for.



The American dream has led to the pursuit of higher education, unprecedented achievements in innovation and technology that, for starters, sent man to the moon, and successes in research and medicine known the world over. There is more to speak of.

We are America, and our story is legend.

America had humble but noble beginnings. We were molded by a simple group of people who defied oppression in search of a dream - the dream of freedom, justice, liberty and life in a new world. On this notion, our country grew both in greatness and in size, battling the odds it encountered along the way. The Americans then, as now, were a proud people and were willing to defend their country at all costs. Though under the yoke of a colonizer, the people fought for their freedom and the liberty to form their own nation.

Today, we stand together, the beneficiaries of their courageous struggle. Over the years, generations of Americans have continued our forefathers' legacy of sacrifice and selflessness. To the Americans today and for those to follow, we offer a country where the hopeless find hope and those who pursue their dreams fulfill them.

• To read other letters from readers, click on the links under Related Articles at top right

Twenty-six years ago, my parents came to America to follow their own dreams. Much like the first settlers of the New World, they were hardworking, determined and full of promise. Both moved from the Philippines and were fresh out of college, looking to attend graduate school. My father, with a degree in economics, was the first in his family to move to America and receive a Western education. My mother, with a degree in political science, wished to pursue a new life and help support her aging mother back home.

Once my parents graduated, they traveled the country and grabbed opportunities where they could in hope to eventually settle down. Work eventually brought them to Cincinnati, where they raised our family.

My mother and father have gained much knowledge and wisdom from their experiences in America and have passed on these lessons to my brother and me. They remind us to work hard in school and grasp every opportunity to do better and never take anything for granted. To us, their offspring, these lessons remain the true spirit of America.

My story may differ from that of America's founding fathers, but it conveys a similar message: In America, we can choose our own destiny. One can make it here with determination and hard work and belief in one's self.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Naturalized US Citizen of the Day- Frank Capra



Frank Russell Capra was a Sicilian-born American film director and a creative force behind a number of films of the 1930s and 1940s, including It Happened One Night (1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Lost Horizon (1937), You Can't Take It With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Watch the White House Immigration Debate

Obama calls for Republicans to support Immigration Reform

President Obama today called for a "practical, common sense" immigration system that will help the U.S. economy and maintain America's immigrant tradition -- and he put the pressure on Republicans to get it through Congress

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

US Naturalized Citizen of the Day - Willem de Kooning


Willem de Kooning (April 24, 1904 – March 19, 1997) was a Dutch American abstract expressionist artist who was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

In the post-World War II era, de Kooning painted in a style that came to be referred to as Abstract expressionism or Action painting, and was part of a group of artists that came to be known as the New York School. Other painters in this group included Jackson Pollock.

Interesting OP Ed on Anchor Babies

This Op Ed from the Chicago Tribune gives a very in depth perspective on Anchor Babies.

Poll: Ohioans like Arizona immigration law

Poll: Ohioans like Arizona immigration law

Link text

Monday, June 28, 2010

Not enough votes to pass CIR

This article states that there are not enough Democrats to pass Comprehensive immigration reform. If the Democrats won't pass it, the Republicans certainly will not. Wait until next year, yeah right.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

US Naturalized Citizen of the Day- Alfred Hitchcock









Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born on 13 August 1899 in London, England. He was an English filmmaker and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. His movies include Vertigo, The Birds, Dial M for Murder, Shadow of a Doubt, Rear Window , To Catch a Thief, and Psycho among many other classics.

Interesting Facts about H-1b Visas

The American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act (ACWIA) imposes annual reporting requirements on USCIS concerning the countries of origin and occupations of, educational levels attained by, and compensation paid to, aliens who were issued visas orotherwise provided nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(l5)(H)(i)(b) of the INA during theprevious fiscal year. To fulfill this requirement, USCIS submits the following report for Fiscal Year 2009, October I, 2008 - September 30, 2009.


Highlights
The number of H-l B petitions filed decreased 15 percent from 288,764 in Fiscal Year 2008 to 246,647 in Fiscal Year 2009.

• The number of H-l B petitions approved decreased 22 percent from 276,252 in Fiscal
Year 2008 to 214,271 in Fiscal Year 2009.

• Approximately 48 percent of all H-IB petitions approved in Fiscal Year 2009 were for workers born in India.

• Two-thirds of H-l B petitions approved in Fiscal Year 2009 were for workers between the ages of25 and 34.

• Forty-one percent of H-I B petitions approved in Fiscal Year 2009 were for workers with a bachelor's degree, 40 percent had a master's degree, 13 percent had a doctorate, and 6 percent were for workers with a professional degree.

• About 41 percent ofH-IB petitions approved in Fiscal Year 2009 were for workers in
computer-related occupations.

• The median salary of beneficiaries of approved petitions increased to $64,000 in Fiscal Year 2009, $4,000 more than in Fiscal Year 2008.

What part of ILLEGAL Don't you understand?

This is a great article from the Atlantic that has a fantastic response to this question about illegal immigration.

"Balderas's real crime is neither sneaking across the border 15 years ago nor failing to fill out the right paperwork. Rather, his crime is belonging to a nationality that American policy makers have decided is over-represented in this country. And there's a significant constituency for this policy among American voters, some of whom simply believe that there are too many foreigners here. But this viewpoint has little to do with the rule of law. The rule of law doesn't demand that we punish children for the crimes of their parents, or that we punish people for crimes they committed decades ago. And if you demand stricter enforcement of the existing laws while vociferously opposing all proposals to expand the legal channels for coming to this country, then I hope you'll forgive me if I conclude that you don't actually care about people like Eric Balderas." Megan McCardle

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Does Everyone who Gradutes Law School want to become an Immigration Lawyer?

Seems like and, and I ask Why????? This Denver Post article talks about as the immigration poluation grows, so does the interest in Immigration law. Does these young students want to change the world, or make a buck? I hope it is the former.

Securing our borders?

This is unreal leaked audio of a Canadian citizen confrontation with a CPB agent.
If these are the people they are picking on, I wonder how many drug smugglers and terrorists get through.

US Naturlaized citizen of the day- Paul Tillich


Paul Tillich was born on August 20, 1886 in Germany. He was a German-American theologian and Christian existentialist philosopher. Tillich was, along with his contemporaries Rudolf Bultmann (Germany), Karl Barth (Switzerland), and Reinhold Niebuhr (United States), one of the four most influential Protestant theologians of the 20th century

Sisters from Texas being deported to Serbia

Another Chilling story of Immigration system out of control. ICE will claim rules are rule, but where is the compassion? The is little reason ICE could not stipulate for a motion to reopen. Disgusting.

Gulf War Vet with a prior order of Deportation finally will be sent "home"

Monday, June 21, 2010

CIR is Dead

Just As I predicted, Comprehensive Immigration Reform is Dead. Politicians do not have the conviction to debate or pass immigration legistaltion. In the guise of fighting terrorism, Conservative activist have led the fight against illegal immigration. I think South Park said it best, people are afraid of immigration because " they'll take our jobs!"

Harvard Student spared Deportation

Richard I. Fleischer, an immigration attorney in Cincinnati Ohio with more than 30 years of experience in the Immigration Law filed send this story of a Harvard student who really would benefit from passage of the Dream Act

An undocumented Harvard University student whose detention by immigration authorities has drawn wide attention is no longer facing deportation to Mexico, officials said.

Eric Balderas, 19, was detained nearly two weeks ago after he tried to use a university ID card to board a plane from San Antonio to Boston. The detention sparked a buzz among student immigrant activists, many of whom thought Balderas's case might help advance the proposed DREAM act -- a federal bill that would allow illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship through college enrollment or military service.

Mario Rodas, a friend of Balderas's, said Balderas was granted deferred action, which can be used to halt deportation based on a case's merits. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that the agency had decided not to pursue the deportation.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Columbus Ohio Refugee faces deportation

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He did havea final order of deportation in 2002 in which he never left...

US Naturalized Citizen of the Day- Patrick Ewing


Patrick Aloysius Ewing was born August 5, 1962 in Kingston Jamaica. He was descibed as a Warrior. That is the one-word description often applied to Patrick Ewing. He was indefatigable and relentless in pursuit of an NBA championship despite being denied on an annual basis. Bold predictions did not always materialize and some took them as empty promises, while others as a will to succeed. One of the finest shooting centers to play, he left the game as the New York Knicks' all-time leader in nearly every significant category and the game's 13th all-time scorer with 24,815 points.

Need for Immigration Court Reform as Well

The average pending time for a case in the Immigration Courts is nearing 450 days. Back in the 1980s when I was an INS Trial Attorney, when one side needed a continuance on a case, it was rescheduled within a couple of weeks. Now, the waiting time to reschedule a case can be a year or more." Carl Shusterman, June 16, 2010.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

New USCIS Form I-90

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that a new version of the Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Form I-90), is available on the USCIS website. The new version of the form is dated 8/10/09 and contains more user-friendly features.