dbevis
May 23rd, 2005, 05:43 AM
Of the 3 the first one is my pick. Nature has little regard for keeping things level and plumb, so the shot has a slightly tilted feel to it. On the second one, it feels a bit cramped and probably would have benefitted by a bit more of the sky - perhaps by shooting from a lower angle.
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xbohdpukc
04-06 11:12 PM
The faces from both sides - Major Lead and Minor Lead was looked as they didn't reach any agreement :( Frist was talking (number of times) about "Border Security Bill" at the end ...
that's the official title of the bill, nothing wrong with it.
they still have a cloture motion vote tomorrow morning, so we'll see.
that's the official title of the bill, nothing wrong with it.
they still have a cloture motion vote tomorrow morning, so we'll see.
jackisback
05-27 03:04 PM
I had e-filed for me and my wife on 05/14.
App went to NSC. Sent docs on 05/19 - delivered on 05/21
Soft LUD on 05/17, 05/18 and on 05/24
Got receipts on 05/21
Yesterday (05/25) got ASC notice for FP for my wife.. did not know that FP is needed for EAD.
I thought last time we got FP notice.. it said app type as I-485.. that time.. in July fiasco.. we had applied for 485/EAD/AP all together
Have not got my FP notice yet
I have a Que - my daughter is 7 and initially the attorney had applied for EAD for her too... but then after the first time (2007) I did not apply for her EAD.. I thought no point in wasting $340 every time..
Now since FP notices are coming for my wife and hopefully for me - how about FP notice for my daughter? Do I need to apply for EAD for her.. to get FP notice?
If I don't get FP notice for her - will her Case be ok?
App went to NSC. Sent docs on 05/19 - delivered on 05/21
Soft LUD on 05/17, 05/18 and on 05/24
Got receipts on 05/21
Yesterday (05/25) got ASC notice for FP for my wife.. did not know that FP is needed for EAD.
I thought last time we got FP notice.. it said app type as I-485.. that time.. in July fiasco.. we had applied for 485/EAD/AP all together
Have not got my FP notice yet
I have a Que - my daughter is 7 and initially the attorney had applied for EAD for her too... but then after the first time (2007) I did not apply for her EAD.. I thought no point in wasting $340 every time..
Now since FP notices are coming for my wife and hopefully for me - how about FP notice for my daughter? Do I need to apply for EAD for her.. to get FP notice?
If I don't get FP notice for her - will her Case be ok?
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paskal
12-21 04:36 PM
/\/\/\/\/\/\
more...
cool_guy_onnet1
06-01 01:49 PM
Hers's the SOURCE...
http://www.shusterman.com/toc-it.html#B
FIRST ITEM IN THE LIST
Let's fill the mailboxes over the weekend... I am driving to Atlantic city-- Worse the traffic, better for IV!! I will be calling for 3 full hours! Love my Blackberry 8800, fill in the numbers and just keep calling using "auto dial next feature"!
http://www.shusterman.com/toc-it.html#B
First ITEM in the list
http://www.shusterman.com/toc-it.html#B
FIRST ITEM IN THE LIST
Let's fill the mailboxes over the weekend... I am driving to Atlantic city-- Worse the traffic, better for IV!! I will be calling for 3 full hours! Love my Blackberry 8800, fill in the numbers and just keep calling using "auto dial next feature"!
http://www.shusterman.com/toc-it.html#B
First ITEM in the list
arihant
02-15 11:15 AM
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/02/15/science.math.ap/index.html
Here is an article that indicates that the push for better education in Math and Science is not shared by the public.
The correlation I am making is, if they do not percieve there is a problem with existing Math and Science education as it applies to the current employment environment, why will there be any interest about the proposals in PACE?
Here is an article that indicates that the push for better education in Math and Science is not shared by the public.
The correlation I am making is, if they do not percieve there is a problem with existing Math and Science education as it applies to the current employment environment, why will there be any interest about the proposals in PACE?
more...
kumarh1b
01-23 02:28 PM
Thank you very much and I sincerely appreaciate advices from all of you. Can some one please claify some other question i have on this topic. Any inputs means a lot to me.
USCIS gave RFE before denying the petition. in RFE they asked for Client letter and I submitted client letter. I don't have denial notice with me and don't know the reason of denial.
1. If my employer is filing new H1 application why i should go with premium processing? why not regular.
2. Am i out of status now?.
3. Can i do H1 transfer now if someone offers fulltime. Should i tell them that my previous H1 application denied if they are willing to transfer.
Thanks in advance.
USCIS gave RFE before denying the petition. in RFE they asked for Client letter and I submitted client letter. I don't have denial notice with me and don't know the reason of denial.
1. If my employer is filing new H1 application why i should go with premium processing? why not regular.
2. Am i out of status now?.
3. Can i do H1 transfer now if someone offers fulltime. Should i tell them that my previous H1 application denied if they are willing to transfer.
Thanks in advance.
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blizkreeg
01-26 12:44 PM
Seriously, who cares that Andhra bagged 7 ranks. How on earth is it relevant to the discussion going on here? Plus this isn't a forum for Indians only(and I'm Indian).
Stop posting these nonsense, amateur messages.
Stop posting these nonsense, amateur messages.
more...
nareshg
10-12 01:59 AM
they responded today to USCIS, nothing much here I guess...
one of the forms had my birth date wrong, so USCIS was asking for the actual birth date.
Strange...my 140 was filed on Nov 2006....and then got a REF on August 29th 2007, my pawyer responsed last week...and I thought that as soon as USCIS gets the evidence they will hopefully approve my case....(the evidence was a minor (atleast I thought it was minor) issue about birth date...
and now USCIS has revieved the evidence they asked for...guess what they say...
On October 10, 2007, we received your response to our request for evidence. We will notify you by mail when we make a decision or if we need something from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service. You should expect to receive a written decision or written update within 60 days of the date we received your response unless fingerprint processing or an interview are standard parts of case processing and have not yet been completed, in which case you can use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done. This case is at our NEBRASKA SERVICE CENTER location. Follow the link below to check processing dates. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.
60 more days...come on....
one of the forms had my birth date wrong, so USCIS was asking for the actual birth date.
Strange...my 140 was filed on Nov 2006....and then got a REF on August 29th 2007, my pawyer responsed last week...and I thought that as soon as USCIS gets the evidence they will hopefully approve my case....(the evidence was a minor (atleast I thought it was minor) issue about birth date...
and now USCIS has revieved the evidence they asked for...guess what they say...
On October 10, 2007, we received your response to our request for evidence. We will notify you by mail when we make a decision or if we need something from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service. You should expect to receive a written decision or written update within 60 days of the date we received your response unless fingerprint processing or an interview are standard parts of case processing and have not yet been completed, in which case you can use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done. This case is at our NEBRASKA SERVICE CENTER location. Follow the link below to check processing dates. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.
60 more days...come on....
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JunRN
05-05 10:09 AM
To force USCIS to adjudicate i-140 within 180 days or 6 months, if concurrent filing is removed, we may comment to include a clause that says "If i-140 is pending for more than 180 days and PD is current, i-485 may be filed.
Better yet, if they will include filing of i-485 even if PD is not current.
The silverlining if they remove concurrent filing is that there will be pressure to adjudicate i-140 within reasonable time or better yet, a hard target of 6 months.
Better yet, if they will include filing of i-485 even if PD is not current.
The silverlining if they remove concurrent filing is that there will be pressure to adjudicate i-140 within reasonable time or better yet, a hard target of 6 months.
more...
felix31
04-18 11:42 AM
I received a receipt confirmation for my I-140 petition. It shows that they received on March 24, 2006. I tried to check on the status on USCIS website in case status. I could not find my case so far. Does it take so long to be updated. I am worried if my petition is misplaced somewhere...
Please give me your advice.
GC092003,
I am sorry to hear that. But this is absolutely new to me. As soon as we got the receipt number we were able to check online status ....
have you punched in all the letters and numbers correctly? Pay attention to that, because if you mistake one number you will not get accurate result..
If the number you are typing is correct than something must be wrong on their side and you can call 800 number to inquire via attomated system about your case...
hope this helps
Please give me your advice.
GC092003,
I am sorry to hear that. But this is absolutely new to me. As soon as we got the receipt number we were able to check online status ....
have you punched in all the letters and numbers correctly? Pay attention to that, because if you mistake one number you will not get accurate result..
If the number you are typing is correct than something must be wrong on their side and you can call 800 number to inquire via attomated system about your case...
hope this helps
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miguy
03-16 08:43 AM
hopein07........do you know if one has to pass the evaluating exam first to get a Statement of Need from Canada for j1?...
more...
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RNGC
11-25 03:03 PM
You are doing great...Please keep up the good work...
also, add item 6 to our wish list..
6. Remove "same or similar" clause in EAD which is causing lots of confusion. Just see that anyone who gets a EAD works in the Information technology field and not flipping burgers.
also, add item 6 to our wish list..
6. Remove "same or similar" clause in EAD which is causing lots of confusion. Just see that anyone who gets a EAD works in the Information technology field and not flipping burgers.
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sammyb
11-19 12:21 PM
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/Processtimes.jsp?SeviceCenter=TSC
because of page cache or they posted it today ... just wondering ... anyway thanks for the info ...
because of page cache or they posted it today ... just wondering ... anyway thanks for the info ...
more...
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marblerock
06-11 12:32 PM
Mr. Sanju,
We are all aware of what going on at the Senate floor and also about the ammendments that put forth on the floor. So my question is clear anc simple what ammendment is supported by CORE IV and what are we looking for.
Because the passing of the current version of the bill will effect all the old cases which many people are in and I wont allow that to happen. I will try my best to avoid this situation to happen. Even though i have a MAster in engineering I will not support SKIL progran that will void the previously pending cases. Good try core IV yto make member to work towards the betterment of few people You know what such people are called" SELFFISH". Guys beware on whaT ACTIONS YOU ARE DOING SO THAT YOU WONT REPENT.
Please feel free to influence any bill any way you please. Seems like you are in cotrol of your destiny. When you point that SELFISH finger at the IV core, also look at the three fingers pointing back at you.
The IV position on the pertinent amendments already discussed on the floor is on the the front page of the website.
If your are privy to the amendments being negotiated behind the scenes, please be kind and share the information with us. None of us has any information on these and as such cannot take a position.
In my opinion you are asking for it. If everyone was not fatigued from last week, your allegedly disappearing thread would be flaming out pretty fast.
We are all aware of what going on at the Senate floor and also about the ammendments that put forth on the floor. So my question is clear anc simple what ammendment is supported by CORE IV and what are we looking for.
Because the passing of the current version of the bill will effect all the old cases which many people are in and I wont allow that to happen. I will try my best to avoid this situation to happen. Even though i have a MAster in engineering I will not support SKIL progran that will void the previously pending cases. Good try core IV yto make member to work towards the betterment of few people You know what such people are called" SELFFISH". Guys beware on whaT ACTIONS YOU ARE DOING SO THAT YOU WONT REPENT.
Please feel free to influence any bill any way you please. Seems like you are in cotrol of your destiny. When you point that SELFISH finger at the IV core, also look at the three fingers pointing back at you.
The IV position on the pertinent amendments already discussed on the floor is on the the front page of the website.
If your are privy to the amendments being negotiated behind the scenes, please be kind and share the information with us. None of us has any information on these and as such cannot take a position.
In my opinion you are asking for it. If everyone was not fatigued from last week, your allegedly disappearing thread would be flaming out pretty fast.
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pitha
08-04 05:07 PM
I too dont have an A# on my my I-140 approval. Does the I140 receipt notice have an A# on it. I dont have the receipt for the i140.
I have the notice of action for my I-140 approval. It doesn't mention an A# anywhere. Are you sure about this?
I have the notice of action for my I-140 approval. It doesn't mention an A# anywhere. Are you sure about this?
more...
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nozerd
01-15 11:02 AM
If you are not that serious about Canada and are cool with being rejected dont take the test. If they were ok with passing you anyways they wouldnt have specifically asked you to take it.
IELTS is more widely accepted and has more centers in the US than the other test.
IELTS is more widely accepted and has more centers in the US than the other test.
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reddog
01-31 12:31 AM
YOu will have to wait till your PD gets current.
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jackisback
02-14 02:07 PM
I would have loved to attend, but since this a long weekend I am going out on Friday and will not be back until Monday.
Just FYI.. I did send the letters last week.
Thanks,
Abhay
Just FYI.. I did send the letters last week.
Thanks,
Abhay
pnjbindia
07-20 12:08 AM
Gcfever007,
thanks for the post.. on your point below -
3. Spouse in USA as your dependent ( i.e. H4 etc.)
he/she will be 'out of status' as soon as your GC is approved. Inspected by an immigration agent at entry point. Not on parole. You can file 485 under [Section 245(K)] within 180 days. No special processing. NO fines.
doesnt my PD have to be current for me to apply for her 485? What if the PD is not current at the time after my approval?! I will not be able to apply for her 485?
thanks for the post.. on your point below -
3. Spouse in USA as your dependent ( i.e. H4 etc.)
he/she will be 'out of status' as soon as your GC is approved. Inspected by an immigration agent at entry point. Not on parole. You can file 485 under [Section 245(K)] within 180 days. No special processing. NO fines.
doesnt my PD have to be current for me to apply for her 485? What if the PD is not current at the time after my approval?! I will not be able to apply for her 485?
Blog Feeds
06-27 06:50 PM
AILA Leadership Has Just Posted the Following:
President Obama and Congress members met privately at the White House on Thursday for their first major discussion of immigration reform. A Way Forward on Immigration (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/opinion/27sat1.html). New York Times Editorial June 27, 2009. President Obama has a lot on his plate dealing with the economy, health and energy but his approach to immigration reform indicates a clear grasp of the complex dynamic needed to win the battle. The need to reform our immigration laws now could not be more immediate or urgent. There is a crisis in immigration and the need to fix this mess has never been more critical. Immigration raids in our communities and our factories, along with the horrific conditions of detention, have created dread and anxiety within our immigrant population. The process of obtaining lawful status has become unreasonably difficult, and there are few options for the millions of immigrants, many of whom have deep roots here, but entered without visas or have expired visas. Millions of these people have U.S. citizen spouses and children, but no path to legalization. Despite decades of living in the U.S., and contributing to our economy, and whether applying for immigrant or nonimmigrant visas, the pattern is the same: restrictive adjudications coupled with outdated visa quotas that choke the system and make the attainment of lawful status virtually impossible. Whether applying through family or employment, the waiting lines are as protracted as they are preposterous. Many with advanced degrees wait for years and family visa waiting lines routinely extend a decade or longer. Due process protections that form the basis of our great democracy have been stripped from immigrants.
President Obama told a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week that Congress should begin debating a comprehensive immigration by year�s end or early next year, but Republicans said they would support a measure only if it included an expansion of guest worker programs. Republicans Focus on Guest Workers in Immigration Debate (javascript:popup(). The White House released President Obama's remarks following a meeting on June 25, 2009 with congressional leaders to discuss immigration reform, in which he expresses his administration's support for CIR and indicates a clear understanding of the issues and how to fix them. President Obama's Remarks Following June 25 Meeting on Immigration Reform with Congressional Leaders (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29384)
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) understand immigration in a way that only a doctor understands medical ailments or an engineer understands building bridges. We know the issues from a deep perspective and not merely from an emotional view. We believe that a sensible comprehensive immigration reform package will have to include smart enforcement, a path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the U.S., elimination of family and employment-based visa backlogs, adequate visas to meet the needs of U.S. families and businesses, a new visa program for essential workers, and due process protections to restore the rule of law in our immigration adjudications and courts. AILA Welcomes Obama's Proactive Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29372).
The current immigration system is broken and to allow the status quo to continue will only make things worse for the country. Until Congress deals responsibly with immigration - making taxpayers out of all immigrants, making all employers follow sensible rules, and creating a functioning legal immigration system - everything else on the President's domestic agenda is vulnerable to being dragged down. This is the year and this is the moment for a popular President to work with Congress to address a national issue in a way that benefits the American people and our economy. The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released a new housing report which notes, �immigrants could be a key element to recovery." Immigration Impact, June 26, 2009, Immigrant Homebuyers Play Crucial Role in Housing Market Revival (javascript:popup(). The president announced that he has charged DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano with leading a bipartisan, bicameral working group to help negotiate and move a legislative package later this year, and those of us who have been championing immigration reform�and who have been training for this day�are off to the races (http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/statements/2009/06/White_House_immigration_meeting_statement062509.ht ml). President Kicks Off Immigration Reform (javascript:popup()"The White House meeting yesterday demonstrated that the question is no longer whether reform is necessary or whether it can be achieved this Congress. Those questions were answered squarely in the affirmative." Center for American Progress (CAP), June 26, 2009.
The CAP report articulates five principles for responsible immigration reform grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. The nation�s broken immigration system undermines our core national values, disserves our economic and security interests, and diminishes our moral standing in the world. Congress has for years now overseen an explosion of expensive, ineffective enforcement policies that have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, enriched criminal syndicates, divided families, disrupted communities, and battered local economies rather than confronting our failed policies with common sense solutions grounded in what is best for our nation. In short, Congress has sacrificed our national interest at the altar of a destined-to-fail, get-tough enforcement strategy.
Confronted with this crisis the United States is left with three options: 1) preserve the status quo�an option that no responsible policymaker would advance; 2) drive millions of workers and families out of our communities, which CAP estimates would run over $41 billion annually; or 3) embrace tough but fair and practical solutions.
The Center for American Progress correctly concludes that the status quo is untenable, mass deportation is contrary to our national interests and values, and the only viable approach is comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform would require immigrants to register and become legal, pay taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks.
Five key principles for reform should guide the president and Congress as they begin to reengage this pressing domestic priority. CAP�s principles for responsible immigration reform are grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. They are:
Resolve the status of the undocumented
It is morally and economically unacceptable for the wealthiest nation on earth to have 12 million people living and functioning in an underground economy in the United States. Our �shining city upon a hill� is casting a dark shadow over a large class of workers. These workers and their families are interwoven in our communities, yet they are proscribed from becoming full members of our society. Their labor enhances the nation�s competitiveness and enables economic growth, but their lack of legal status exposes them and their U.S. counterparts to manipulation and exploitation. Effective reform must require those living in the United States illegally to register, pay their full share of taxes, learn English, complete background checks, and earn the privilege of citizenship. The country will in turn benefit from an expanded tax base, a more robust rule of law, a workforce less vulnerable to exploitation, and a level playing field for all workers.
Enhance legal immigration channels and labor mobility
Globalization has made it increasingly more efficient to move capital, goods, and services across national borders. Yet legal channels facilitating movement of labor have not kept pace with this rapid development, even though immigration is an integral part of the American economy. The demands of global competitiveness require increased overall levels of legal immigration. Immigrants serve important roles in the success of the nation�s economy in boardrooms and corn fields, in Silicon Valley and the San Fernando Valley. Demographic trends show that an aging United States will need more workers across all occupation levels. Employment-based immigration and family-based immigration complement each other and should not be pitted against one another in a zero-sum game. Target levels should be adjusted to acknowledge that immigration is an engine of economic dynamism and to ensure that close families are not separated for years by outdated limitations. The United States must embrace the inevitable shift toward a well-regulated, legal, global labor market in order to retain our economic leadership.
Protect U.S. workers
Comprehensive immigration reform will benefit all U.S. workers. A program that brings undocumented immigrants out of the shadows will improve accountability for all employers. And a clear but rigorous path toward citizenship would diminish U.S. workers� vulnerability to unscrupulous employers. This creates fair, not exploitative, competition.
Any reforms must also protect American workers by safeguarding their ability to defend their rights, including the rights to change jobs freely and organize without fear, and to earn a fair wage. Millions of American workers are experiencing unemployment or underemployment in today�s economy, and we should strive to provide just wages for all workers and terminate policies that enable employers to participate in a race to the bottom of the wage ladder.
Foster an inclusive American identity
Our country�s identity is shaped by core values of equality, freedom, and opportunity. Immigration and the process of assimilation constantly tests and ultimately strengthens and deepens our commitment to those values. We must be vigilant, however, to ensure that newcomers have access to programs�language and civic education�that facilitate their integration into the nation�s social and cultural fabric. Naturalization, the cornerstone of integration and first step in civic participation for new citizens, must be accessible and encouraged.
Adopt smart enforcement policies and safeguards
The U.S. Border Patrol�s annual budget has more than quintupled since 1993 while the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has tripled to approximately 12 million during that same time period. Militarization of the border has obviously failed as an immigration control strategy.
CAP has a clear grasp of the essential ingredients to reforming our immigration laws and the American public gets it. More than 80 percent (http://amvoice.3cdn.net/ea94778f39d6c895c3_zvm6beppq.pdf) of Americans across the country, across party lines, and across nearly all demographic cross-sections, want comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, makes employers accountable, and requires undocumented workers to register, learn English, and pay taxes.
The president and Congress must move forward on the path they laid out this week and the American public is clearly behind the popular president.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-1584438715913274381?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com
More... (http://ailaleadership.blogspot.com/2009/06/immigration-reform-now-reality.html)
President Obama and Congress members met privately at the White House on Thursday for their first major discussion of immigration reform. A Way Forward on Immigration (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/opinion/27sat1.html). New York Times Editorial June 27, 2009. President Obama has a lot on his plate dealing with the economy, health and energy but his approach to immigration reform indicates a clear grasp of the complex dynamic needed to win the battle. The need to reform our immigration laws now could not be more immediate or urgent. There is a crisis in immigration and the need to fix this mess has never been more critical. Immigration raids in our communities and our factories, along with the horrific conditions of detention, have created dread and anxiety within our immigrant population. The process of obtaining lawful status has become unreasonably difficult, and there are few options for the millions of immigrants, many of whom have deep roots here, but entered without visas or have expired visas. Millions of these people have U.S. citizen spouses and children, but no path to legalization. Despite decades of living in the U.S., and contributing to our economy, and whether applying for immigrant or nonimmigrant visas, the pattern is the same: restrictive adjudications coupled with outdated visa quotas that choke the system and make the attainment of lawful status virtually impossible. Whether applying through family or employment, the waiting lines are as protracted as they are preposterous. Many with advanced degrees wait for years and family visa waiting lines routinely extend a decade or longer. Due process protections that form the basis of our great democracy have been stripped from immigrants.
President Obama told a bipartisan group of lawmakers this week that Congress should begin debating a comprehensive immigration by year�s end or early next year, but Republicans said they would support a measure only if it included an expansion of guest worker programs. Republicans Focus on Guest Workers in Immigration Debate (javascript:popup(). The White House released President Obama's remarks following a meeting on June 25, 2009 with congressional leaders to discuss immigration reform, in which he expresses his administration's support for CIR and indicates a clear understanding of the issues and how to fix them. President Obama's Remarks Following June 25 Meeting on Immigration Reform with Congressional Leaders (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29384)
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) understand immigration in a way that only a doctor understands medical ailments or an engineer understands building bridges. We know the issues from a deep perspective and not merely from an emotional view. We believe that a sensible comprehensive immigration reform package will have to include smart enforcement, a path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living and working in the U.S., elimination of family and employment-based visa backlogs, adequate visas to meet the needs of U.S. families and businesses, a new visa program for essential workers, and due process protections to restore the rule of law in our immigration adjudications and courts. AILA Welcomes Obama's Proactive Push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=29372).
The current immigration system is broken and to allow the status quo to continue will only make things worse for the country. Until Congress deals responsibly with immigration - making taxpayers out of all immigrants, making all employers follow sensible rules, and creating a functioning legal immigration system - everything else on the President's domestic agenda is vulnerable to being dragged down. This is the year and this is the moment for a popular President to work with Congress to address a national issue in a way that benefits the American people and our economy. The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released a new housing report which notes, �immigrants could be a key element to recovery." Immigration Impact, June 26, 2009, Immigrant Homebuyers Play Crucial Role in Housing Market Revival (javascript:popup(). The president announced that he has charged DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano with leading a bipartisan, bicameral working group to help negotiate and move a legislative package later this year, and those of us who have been championing immigration reform�and who have been training for this day�are off to the races (http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/statements/2009/06/White_House_immigration_meeting_statement062509.ht ml). President Kicks Off Immigration Reform (javascript:popup()"The White House meeting yesterday demonstrated that the question is no longer whether reform is necessary or whether it can be achieved this Congress. Those questions were answered squarely in the affirmative." Center for American Progress (CAP), June 26, 2009.
The CAP report articulates five principles for responsible immigration reform grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. The nation�s broken immigration system undermines our core national values, disserves our economic and security interests, and diminishes our moral standing in the world. Congress has for years now overseen an explosion of expensive, ineffective enforcement policies that have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, enriched criminal syndicates, divided families, disrupted communities, and battered local economies rather than confronting our failed policies with common sense solutions grounded in what is best for our nation. In short, Congress has sacrificed our national interest at the altar of a destined-to-fail, get-tough enforcement strategy.
Confronted with this crisis the United States is left with three options: 1) preserve the status quo�an option that no responsible policymaker would advance; 2) drive millions of workers and families out of our communities, which CAP estimates would run over $41 billion annually; or 3) embrace tough but fair and practical solutions.
The Center for American Progress correctly concludes that the status quo is untenable, mass deportation is contrary to our national interests and values, and the only viable approach is comprehensive immigration reform. Such reform would require immigrants to register and become legal, pay taxes, learn English, and pass criminal background checks.
Five key principles for reform should guide the president and Congress as they begin to reengage this pressing domestic priority. CAP�s principles for responsible immigration reform are grounded in a belief that lasting solutions flow from policies that defend the bedrock American values of opportunity, equality, fairness, compassion, and a commitment to the common good. They are:
Resolve the status of the undocumented
It is morally and economically unacceptable for the wealthiest nation on earth to have 12 million people living and functioning in an underground economy in the United States. Our �shining city upon a hill� is casting a dark shadow over a large class of workers. These workers and their families are interwoven in our communities, yet they are proscribed from becoming full members of our society. Their labor enhances the nation�s competitiveness and enables economic growth, but their lack of legal status exposes them and their U.S. counterparts to manipulation and exploitation. Effective reform must require those living in the United States illegally to register, pay their full share of taxes, learn English, complete background checks, and earn the privilege of citizenship. The country will in turn benefit from an expanded tax base, a more robust rule of law, a workforce less vulnerable to exploitation, and a level playing field for all workers.
Enhance legal immigration channels and labor mobility
Globalization has made it increasingly more efficient to move capital, goods, and services across national borders. Yet legal channels facilitating movement of labor have not kept pace with this rapid development, even though immigration is an integral part of the American economy. The demands of global competitiveness require increased overall levels of legal immigration. Immigrants serve important roles in the success of the nation�s economy in boardrooms and corn fields, in Silicon Valley and the San Fernando Valley. Demographic trends show that an aging United States will need more workers across all occupation levels. Employment-based immigration and family-based immigration complement each other and should not be pitted against one another in a zero-sum game. Target levels should be adjusted to acknowledge that immigration is an engine of economic dynamism and to ensure that close families are not separated for years by outdated limitations. The United States must embrace the inevitable shift toward a well-regulated, legal, global labor market in order to retain our economic leadership.
Protect U.S. workers
Comprehensive immigration reform will benefit all U.S. workers. A program that brings undocumented immigrants out of the shadows will improve accountability for all employers. And a clear but rigorous path toward citizenship would diminish U.S. workers� vulnerability to unscrupulous employers. This creates fair, not exploitative, competition.
Any reforms must also protect American workers by safeguarding their ability to defend their rights, including the rights to change jobs freely and organize without fear, and to earn a fair wage. Millions of American workers are experiencing unemployment or underemployment in today�s economy, and we should strive to provide just wages for all workers and terminate policies that enable employers to participate in a race to the bottom of the wage ladder.
Foster an inclusive American identity
Our country�s identity is shaped by core values of equality, freedom, and opportunity. Immigration and the process of assimilation constantly tests and ultimately strengthens and deepens our commitment to those values. We must be vigilant, however, to ensure that newcomers have access to programs�language and civic education�that facilitate their integration into the nation�s social and cultural fabric. Naturalization, the cornerstone of integration and first step in civic participation for new citizens, must be accessible and encouraged.
Adopt smart enforcement policies and safeguards
The U.S. Border Patrol�s annual budget has more than quintupled since 1993 while the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has tripled to approximately 12 million during that same time period. Militarization of the border has obviously failed as an immigration control strategy.
CAP has a clear grasp of the essential ingredients to reforming our immigration laws and the American public gets it. More than 80 percent (http://amvoice.3cdn.net/ea94778f39d6c895c3_zvm6beppq.pdf) of Americans across the country, across party lines, and across nearly all demographic cross-sections, want comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, makes employers accountable, and requires undocumented workers to register, learn English, and pay taxes.
The president and Congress must move forward on the path they laid out this week and the American public is clearly behind the popular president.https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/186823568153827945-1584438715913274381?l=ailaleadership.blogspot.com
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