Editor's Comments

ILW.COM has been gratified and overwhelmed by the response to our pro bono, at-cost seminar, "Immigration Implications of September 11th Tragedy." We have been inundated with sign ups on line, by FAX and by phone. One non-immigration implication of the September 11th tragedy that we learned from our phone service provider is that there has been a huge increase in the demand for phone seminar services. Because of a limitation on the number of phone lines available, people who signed up for the seminar series after 4:00 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday afternoon will be able to participate in the second and third seminars by phone, and will receive a cassette tape of the first seminar. We encourage those who are interested to sign up now. We will make arrangements for sufficient phone lines for the second and third teleconferences. Questions and answers will be handled through the e-mail component of the seminar series because the large number of participants makes a question and answer session during the teleconference impractical. All who signed up before Wednesday afternoon should receive an e-mail by Thursday morning with details of how to call in for the Friday session, including the phone number and password. If you signed up by Wednesday and have not received your e-mail by Thursday morning please write to seminars@ilw.com.

ILW Focus

H-1Bs and the 9/11 Tragedy

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the initial over-reaction from the federal government, continued maintenance of H-1B status is all the more critical. For those already faced with reductions in force, the potential arguments for favorable government discretion become even harder to muster. Strategizing beyond the H-1B status to permanent residence is now made more complicated by the government's immigration-related reaction to the tragedy. For ideas and strategies to try and help you maneuver through these increasingly complex problems, join in the final session of our H-1B teleconference series. Angelo Paparelli and Steve Yale-Loehr will address these concerns and provide insight and suggestions. This final H-1B session is a must for employers, aliens and their lawyers.

For more info, or to sign up online, click here.
For more info, or to sign up by fax, click here.

Tip of the Day

Immigration Daily Searchable Archive of Past Issues

Immigration Daily maintains a searchable archive of past issues. Did you miss an issue of the Daily? Have you tried to go back and locate a case or notice from the federal register only to find you had deleted the e-mail? Are you a recent subscriber who wants to know what you missed in the earlier issues? All past issues of Immigration Daily are archived by date. You can also use the search function to search the digest portion, the original source documents or both. Coming soon will be improved search capabilities to help you refine your search further. Old issues of the Daily do not die, they just get archived. And unlike many on-line publications we do not require subscription or registration for access to the archive. Just like the e-mail subscription the archive is available to anyone who is interested-for free!

ILW Featured Article of the Day

The ABCs of Immigration - Inadmissibility - Security Grounds
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine examine security related grounds for inadmissibility.

Immigration News

Alien Status Not out of Heartland of Cases
In US v. Estrada-Vega, No. 01-1001 (8th Cir. Sept. 26, 2001), the Appeals Court found that the District Court's decision not to exercise its authority to grant a downward departure in Defendant's sentence was unreviewable and noted "that a defendant's alien status, without more, cannot take his case outside the heartland of cases" under the relevant sections of the sentencing guidelines.

Criminal Alien Visa Denial Act
Rep. Shays introduced H.R. 2965, the Criminal Alien Visa Denial Act of 2001 to ensure the State Department and INS have access to US criminal databases before they let aliens into the country.

Sen. Feingold Cosponsors INS Access to FBI Records
Sen. Feingold has been added as a cosponsor of S. 1452, a bill to provide for electronic access by the Department of State and INS to certain information in the criminal history records of the FBI to determine whether or not a visa applicant or applicant for admission has a criminal record.

Rep. Tancredo on the Defense of the Nation
Rep. Tancredo remarked to his colleagues that "[t]he defense of the Nation starts with the defense of our borders."

New BIA Members
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced that the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) welcomed Kevin A. Ohlson, Frederick D. Hess, and Roger Pauley as its newest Members.

BIA Updates Special Filing Instructions
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has udpated its special filing instruction in the wake of the September 11 attack including applying a temporary "grace period," regardless of whether it was requested or not, and regardless of whether documentation was supplied, to all time-sensitive filings which were due from Monday, September 10, 2001, to Friday, September 28, 2001, and were received before the end of September 2001.

Update on NYC Immigration Court
According to a letter from the Chief Immigration Judge the immigration court on the 11th floor of 201 Varick Street remains closed to the public, but hearing are expected to resuem October 2 at the immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza.

DOS Memo on Security Clearance for Visas
A recent telegram from the Department of State updates the summary of the nationalities and/or circumstances in which additional clearance procedures beyond the standard CLASS namecheck are required for security-related reasons, in connection with issuance of nonimmigrant or immigrant visas.

Immigration in the Press

Noncitizens' Detention Poses Risks
According to the Newark Star Ledger the power of the INS to keep people behind bars is a tool could pose a dilemma for an FBI that must rely on immigrants -- many already wary of the INS -- as a primary source of tips and information.

This Day in Immigration

From September 27, 2000

"Vacated Conviction Not a Conviction for Immigration The Board of Immigration Appeals in In re Rodriguez-Ruiz, No. A74-726-833 (BIA Sept. 22, 2000), found that a conviction that been vacated did not constitute a conviction for immigration purposes."

Classifieds

For information on advertising in the classifieds please click here.

HELP WANTED: CORPORATE IMMIGRATION PARALEGALS
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, is the largest law firm in the country practicing exclusively in the area of immigration and nationality law. In order to meet the demands of our growing business, the firm is actively recruiting for experienced paralegals in its ATLANTA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY,and CHICAGO offices. The ideal candidate has business immigration experience or a human resources background dealing with immigration issues. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to perform multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. The firm offers superior salaries and exceptional growth opportunities. Please submit cover letter and resume to Anne-Rose van den Bossche, Esq., Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy, 515 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022 or fax 212-750-1121 or avandenbossche@fragomen.com

IMMIGRATION TELECONFERENCE
Angelo Paparelli and Steve Yale-Loehr will conduct a teleconference and e-mail listserv series titled On the Cutting Edge: H-1B Practice and Strategy with Angelo Paparelli and Steve Yale-Loehr. The final teleconferences will take place Wednesday October 3, 2001, at 1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern (New York) time. It is open to attorneys, employers, HR professionals and anyone else interested in the H-1B process and strategy. For more information or to register click here.

IMMIGRATION LAW SEMINAR
Saturday, October 13, 2001, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ramada Inn, Fairfield, NJ. A panel of experienced immigration lawyers and paralegals will explain how the administrative system operates and present the information you need to handle basic immigration matters. You’ll also hear directly from several agency representatives about the procedures you need to follow when dealing with these agencies. For details click here.

IMMIGRATION LAW CONFERENCES
The American Immigration Lawyers Association Litigation Conference on October 19, 2001 and Asylum Conference on October 20 will take place at the Wyndham Ambassador West Hotel, 1300 North State Parkway, Chicago, Illinois. The deadline for early registration and to secure a hotel room at the AILA Room Rate is October 3, 2001. Both these Conferences will provide information that you can immediately integrate into your practice. Complete Program Information and a Registration form is available at http://www.aila.org/conferences/chicago2001.html.

CLE CONFERENCE
American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter (AILA-CFC) will be holding its 15th Annual Advanced-Level Immigration Law Seminar on October 26-27 at the Renaissance Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida.  Discounted hotel rates are available from the resort.  Point of contact for information/registration is Steve Zawacki, immigration@abanet.org or 407/831-6644.