Recently, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy issued a controversial policy barring graduates of physical therapy schools in the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Egypt from sitting for the National Physical Therapy Examination. This effectively bars immigration of PTs from these countries. FSBPT is involved in an intellectual property dispute with a physical therapy exam preparation school in Manila over the prep center's use of questions gained from test applicants to prepare students for future exams. FSBPT issued this decision after losing its fight in court against the test prep center.

The American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment is considering litigation to block FSBPT from carrying out the new policy and is seeking plaintiffs in the following categories:

1.    Physical therapists that are graduates from schools in the affected countries with immigrant visas that were deemed qualified and eligible to test but cannot take the NPTE as a result of the recent FSBPT suspension.

2.    Physical therapists that are graduates from schools in the affected countries that are US citizens and were deemed qualified and eligible to test but cannot take the NPTE as a result of the recent FSBPT suspension.

4.    Physical therapists that are graduated from schools in the affected countries that were deemed qualified and eligible to test but cannot take the NPTE as a result of the recent FSBPT suspension.

Anyone interested in participating, should feel free to contact me at gsiskind@visalaw.com.

From DHS Deputy Press Secretary Matt Chandler:

“The court’s decision to enjoin most of SB1070 correctly affirms the federal government’s responsibilities in enforcing our nation's immigration laws. Over the past eighteen months, this Administration has dedicated unprecedented resources to secure the border, and we will continue to work to take decisive action to disrupt criminal organizations and the networks they exploit. DHS will enforce federal immigration laws in Arizona and around the country in smart, effective ways that focus our resources on criminal aliens who pose a public safety threat and employers who knowingly hire illegal labor, as well as continue to secure our border.

“ICE works everyday with local law enforcement across the country to assist them in making their communities safer and we will continue do so in Arizona. At the same time, we will continue to increase resources in Arizona by complementing the National Guard deployment set to begin on Aug. 1 with the deployment of hundreds of additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement personnel that will aid in our continuing efforts to conduct outbound inspections, patrol challenging terrain, and interdict illicit smugglers. We are focused on smart effective immigration and border enforcement while we work with Congress toward the type of bipartisan comprehensive reform that will provide true security and establish accountability and responsibility in our immigration system at the national level.”

The judge enjoined four parts of the new law from taking effect:

- the requirement to request documents if the officer has “reasonable suspicion”  about a person's immigration status at the time they make the stop
- the creation of a new state law to carry federal immigration documents
- the creation of a new  state law making it a crime for unauthorized alien to solicit, apply for or perform work.
- the allowance of police to make arrests on what would be a removable offense

A few things were not enjoined mainly because the plaintiffs chose to wait until the trial to make their arguments. That includes the day labor ban and the section permitting people to sue law enforcement officials for not enforcing the new law.

Here it is.

Is Arizona ready to start spending the big dollars to enforce this law as well?

I'm sure the good taxpayers of Arizona have plenty of extra money available.