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Immigrant's
Weekly September 24, 2001
Arthur L. Zabenko, Editor
Marc Ellis, Chat Transcripts Editor
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A Note from the Editors:
Smoke, though much less, is still pouring from the wound where the towers of the World Trade Center stood. Beyond that stands the Statue of Liberty, unscathed and untarnished, holding her torch as she has to welcome generations of immigrants. As each of us starts to deal with the pain and grief in his or her own way, we can call to mind Emma Lazarus's poem engraved on the statues pedestal:
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Reports of ugly incidents around the country are being heard of people being threatened, attacked and murdered because they are perceived as not American. Immigration practitioners know those who have chosen to come from other lands to live among us are our business associates and clients, our friends and neighbors, and in many cases, for the ones who have been here long enough, our fellow citizens. We can be leaders in reaffirming those ideals which have drawn the best hearts and minds from around the world, and continue to welcome the immigrants who have made our country the great land it is with an even brighter future.
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INS New York District Office Temporarily Closed
The INS New York District Office at Federal Plaza is temporarily closed and has rescheduled appointments.
Separating Immigrants from Terrorism
Cyrus D. Mehta writes about the recent terrorist attacks and their effect on immigration.
Immigration-Related Issues of Concern to US Employers and Foreign Workers in light of Terrorist Actions on September 11, 2001
Angelo A. Paparelli writes about the effects of the recent events on immigration.
The ABCs of Immigration - INS Issues V Visa Regulations
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine write about the V visa regulations recently released by the INS.
Mobilization Against Terrorism Act
The proposed Mobilization Against Terrorism Act would create a new category of aliens certified to be terrorist who would be subject to administrative orders of removal reviewable only in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. [Obtained courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.]
Mood Swiftly Changes on Immigration
According to the Los Angeles Times reversing momentum that had been building in Washington for a relaxation of U immigration laws, last week's terrorist attacks appear likely to spawn a rash of measures designed to tighten the nation's borders.
What Does the Economic Downturn Mean to Your Labor Certification?
Lorenzo Lleras of the firm of Latour and Lleras writes that even in a time of economic downturn it is important not to think in terms of WHETHER the labor certification will be approved or not, but rather in terms of WHEN it will be approved.
Fox Open-Border Plan a Distant Dream after Attacks
According to the News after the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York, Mexico is suddenly finding that its northern neighbor has little time to consider issues like immigration reform, temporary work visas, amnesty for illegal migrants and more open borders.
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| ILW Highlights |
Immigration Implications of September 11th events: Seminar Series by Stephen Yale-Loehr and Denyse Sabagh (more speakers will be added soon)
The tragic events of September 11th will have many effects on the immigration field. The effects will be both short-term and long-term. This telephonic seminar series will focus on the important points detailed below. The attorneys and others presenting the seminar are doing so pro bono. ILW.COM is offering the series at cost. This is not a venture to make money, but a service designed to assist attorneys to cope with the immigration aftermath of the events of September 11th.
The seminar series will consist of three seminars of 60 minutes each. An important feature of each seminar will be a question-and-answer session, where attorneys can bring up issues of concern to their individual practices. The first seminar is tentatively scheduled for September 26th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m. to 12 noon PST). The second seminar is tentatively scheduled for November 7th, and the third is tentatively scheduled for December 5th. The exact dates may be changed based on the situation. The intention is that the third seminar will be after Congress has adjourned for the year, so that a fuller analysis can be presented to attorneys. The total cost for the entire seminar series is $99. Several people can share the cost by sitting around a speaker-phone, however only one password will be provided per sign up. An email list-serv will supplement the seminar to facilitate additional information exchange (including Q & A).
For details click here.
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| Letter To The Editor |
We invite you to write to the Editor at weeklyeditor@ilw.com.
Dear Editor,
Firstly, my deepest and most sincere condolonces on the loss of your felow citizens during this week's terrorist attacks.
I am a U.K citizen residing within the U.S and I know that from
phone calls to the U.K that the whole of the U.K mourns along with the United States.
I receive ILW weekly as an immigrant residing within the U.S.
To date I have found the newsletter and website to be informative, useful and acurate - however, I feel the need to comment on the aforementioned
article.
Mr Ridgeway stated that the U.S "Need look no further than the draconian
immigration laws withn the U.K today"
I find this comment difficult to believe given the draconian and inhumane
system previously operated by the U.S INS in relation to I130
petitions. As you are aware, the petition (prior to the release of the K3 visa during
August) took a good 12-18mnths to complete - This seperation through
immigration law was, as previously noted, were inhumane to say the least.
The immigration process operated by the INS was beyond any
comprehension, IE, Premium processing for work visa's - 12-16 weeks
processing for fiance visa's - and yet, the reward for a couple who made that
lifelong commitment to each other was at least a year's wait! - Surely the emphasis
should have always been on reuniting man and wife - obviously, untill
recently, this was not the case.
Comparitavely, immigration to the U.K as a spouse is a more simplistic and
humane operation. Even given the release of the K3, it is still a
far more efficient process. The emphasis (unlike that of the U.S INS) being to
reunite the separated families.
The United States of America witnessed earlier this week just how
devastating terrorist attacks can be.
The U.K has suffered from numerous terrorist factions for many many years.
The immigration laws mentioned by Mr Ridgeway were introduced as
a result of continual terrorist attacks and the subsequent loss of life of
innocent U.K citizens. I was unfortunate enough to lose a close family
member to such an attrocity and as such, welcome such immigration laws.
The laws, while being stringent - have saved lives - I'm sure that if the
United States had suffered from a similar level of terrorism that
such laws would and may still be, implemented by the INS.
I welcome and encourage freedom, free speech and the right to protest, be it
by a citizen, immigrant or asylum seeker. I welcome more
immigration laws that save lives. Perhaps Mr Ridgeway should review his comments
in future before damning immigration policies that do just that.
Regards,
Mark Bould.
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| Immigrant Life |
Participate in Refashioning of America
Immigration policies, security policies etc. are being written which will affect ALL our lives. It is important to
Speak Up and
take part in the refashioning process of America.
Spencer says, "......I for one as an immigrant I joined the military to give back to this great Nation. I know when called upon would take arms to protect the rights that me and my children enjoy here.
I still fail to understand why the media does not address the issues of immigrants serving in the armed forces, which would be a great information on those opposed to immigration, plus provide the immigrants with postive news,
rather than the negative news we read often. In my military career, I have........" (read more)
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| Classifieds |
ILW.COM carries classified ads for immigration related positions. $100 for single insertion, payable in advance. Contact us for details. We reserve the right to refuse any ad and to make minor editorial and formatting changes. Send to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.
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U.S. IMMIGRATION U.S. Visa Search gives you the opportunity to exhaustively explore all of your U.S. immigration possibilities for only $10! -- PLUS -- Sign up for a USVISASEARCH referral account and earn 10% of EVERY purchase linked through from your web-site or word-of-mouth referral!
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An Important disclaimer! The information provided on this
page is not legal advice. Transmission of this information
is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not
constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers must
not act upon any information without first seeking advice
from a qualified attorney. © Copyright 2001 American Immigration
LLC, ILW.COM. Correspondence to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.
Letters may be edited and may be published and otherwise
used in any medium. |
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