Blog: Think Immigration
We believe that immigration law is an integral part of America’s past, present and future. We also know that immigration law is complicated. Here you’ll find experts writing in an accessible way about immigration issues, from big, broad ideas down to specific cases. Our members bring knowledge they’ve gleaned from the daily practice of immigration law to this space and offer their expertise to readers.
Browse the Blog: Think Immigration collection
It’s The Economy Stupid
The New York Times reports this morning that American and Mexican researchers have charted a marked decline in illegal crossings from Mexico into the U.S.—the result, they say, of the ailing U.S. economy. http://tinyurl.com/qnjmf7. This trend suggests that the economy, not arbitrary and unworkable c
Take this Immigration Quiz
Admit it. Every now and then you veg out in front of the computer cruising the Internet. At least I do. Tonight was just such a night. But I ran into this immigration quiz. The purpose of this quiz is to point out how far we have come, or perhaps how far we have not […]
What is the Deal with H-1Bs and Congress
You have to wonder. Why do some member of Congress use the H-1B visa as a punching bag? What is it with Durbin and Grassley, two unlikely allies on this issue?
Postville, One Year Later
Today marks the one year anniversary of the ICE raid at the Agriprocessors meat packing facility in Postville, Iowa. The raid, which was the largest worksite enforcement raid in U.S. history, resulted in the conviction and deportation of more than 300 undocumented immigrants, mostly uneducated Guate
Why Don’t You Just Come Legally–The Visa Mess
Okay, we all know there are no visas available until October 1, 2009 for any third preference employments immigrant. It stinks. It makes no sense in how we grow the economy and bring in “legal“ workers. And, we know there is a 5-9 year wait in this category. We know that there are between 8-50
Postville Gives Attorney General Holder An Opportunity To Do Justice
By AILA Board of Governors member Leslie Holman Yesterday Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. told 11 new U.S. Prosecutors: “Your job as assistant U.S. attorneys is not to convict people,“ Holder said. “Your job is not to win cases. Your job is to do justice. Your job is in every case, every dec
Promoting UPL – another danger of hooking up on the Internet
by AILA Board of Governors member Leslie Holman “Hooking up“ on the Internet may result in an unintended coupling that has nothing to do with finding love. A few years ago my teenaged daughter was horrified when I asked her and her group of friends whether they were going to hook up with other
ICE and Ankle Bracelets–Better Than No Detention at All?
ICE DRO (Detention and Removal Officers) were trolling the Immigration Courtrooms this week in Atlanta looking for respondents who were appearing for their hearings, but whom had previously not been detained by ICE, and thus had no bond or restraints on their liberty. You ask, what would ICE be doin
Is Stephanie Rose The Right Pick For U.S. Attorney in Iowa?
A prosecutor's job is to do justice, not merely to convict. The Supreme Court's decision in Flores-Figueroa v. United States raises serious questions about whether Stephanie Rose, who has been nominated to be U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, is the right choice for the job. http://ti
Looking to Immigrants for H1N1 Cure
At a time when talented researchers are often forced to wait years to immigrate to the United States and many clamor to close the borders or to suspend legal immigration, it is important to remember who we often turn to for help in a crisis. The current H1N1 epidemic is a case in point. Apparently [
Postville Prosecutions Should Be Investigated In Light Of Supreme Court’s Identity Theft Decision
In a unanimous decision the U.S Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the federal identity theft statute may not be used against many undocumented workers who used false social security numbers to get jobs. The case was Flores-Figueroa v. United States http://tinyurl.com/d2eedn. Coincidentally, the Cou
Obama Takes it Slow and Steady On Immigration Reform
In today's Washington Post, E.J. Dionne, Jr. wrote a terrific opinion piece on the Obama administrations consensus building process on immigration reform. He talks about how Rahm Emmanuel shifted positions on immigration reform, and the problems that the Obama administration has to navigate to get t
Obama Focus On Employers Is No Substitue for Immigration Reform
The Obama administration has “adjusted“ the draconian raids policy of the Bush administration, shifting its exclusive focus on the arrest of undocumented immigrant workers to the prosecution of bad-actor employers. But Obama's new raids guidelines offer no solution to our dysfunctional immigra
Are Republicans Rethinking Their Anti-Immigration Strategy?
Richard Nadler, president of the Americas Majority Foundation, a public-policy think tank in Overland Park, Kansas recently posted some key monetary information about donors to Republican candidates or causes. Typically Republican leaning groups such as farmers, ranchers, hoteliers, construction com
Ability to Pay
A guest blog today from AILA Board of Governors member Dagmar Butte: If you have been feeling lately as though there are ever more new and creative ways for your employment based permanent residence case to get denied, you are not alone. The worst part is that some bases for denial arise out of regu
If Your Law Practice Includes Immigration At All, You Should Be There
How do I: 1. Find out what to do when USCIS says NVC has the file, and NVC says it doesn't? 2. Get a step-by-step rundown of how to fill out a Form I-129 and document it? 3. Find the hidden time bombs in an affidavit of support? 4. Obtain the low-down on what to […]
The New Immigration Judges–Wherefrom Art Thou?
A guest post today for AILA Board of Governor Member Amy Peck: The EOIR swore in 10 new Immigration Judges this week. The April 24, 2009 EOIR announcement states that the judges were appointed by the Attorney General after completing a rigorous application, evaluation, and interview process. Under t
Immigration and Senator Specter
Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) (Wow, that looks weird), just changed parties, and this changes the dyanmic somewhat for immigration reform this year. While Senator Specter has always been considered a friend of immigration and immigration reform, he has long been under pressure from more conservative
Accused Nazi Death Camp Guard Demjanjuk Too Frail to Be Deported Or Fraud?
On April 14, 2009 government agents executed a final order of deportation against accused Nazi Death Camp Guard John Demjanjuk of Seven Hills, Ohio. Demjanjuk taken out of his home in a wheel chair screaming in pain with his head rolled back. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo7VJKNU4I0] Hour
Family Values
I guess it's not enough to exclusively blame undocumented workers for our dysfunctional immigration system. Apparently, we need to take their kids too. The New York Times reports this morning that undocumented immigrants are losing not only their freedom, but their children, who are taken away and g
An Immigrant Writes
Hi Mr. Charles, I am writing to you today as an immigrant to USA conversing his concerns to the president of AILA. As our nation has taken a U-turn in the overall direction on the topics of major national agenda and foreign policy unfortunately one single area where we have not seen any activity is
It’s The Economy Stupid
Today's New York Times editorial offers a cogent explanation for why the major unions have come together in support of a comprehensive overhaul of our immigration system. http://tinyurl.com/dfew2h Stated simply, it makes economic sense for workers and organized labor. An undocumented work force that
Immigration and the Pulitzer Prize
Today, Ryan Gabrielson and Paul Giblin of the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Arizona were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their series of articles of the infamous “Sheriff Joe“ of Maricopa County. The Tribune won the most prestigious award in journalism for revealing how a popular sheriff's focus
Searching for the Truth in the Immigration Spin Cycle
Sifting through immigration rhetoric for the truth is a herculean task for even the most dedicated on the complex issue of immigration policy in the U.S. For example:1. The Human Rights Watch Report entitled “Forced Apart by the Numbers“ (April 15, 2009) notes that although federal authorities
AILA MAP Volunteer Meets with Success
In the midst of all the bad news constantly coming out of the USCIS, it is nice to hear some good news. Kudos to AILA Member Frances O'Connell Taylor for efforts as part of AILA's Military Assistance Program in securing the naturalization of Sargent Juan Luis Alcivar this week. Alcivar, 25, was swor