A Note from the Editors:

The INS has released a memo providing guidance on the implementation of recent legislation relating to the employment of spouses of E and L beneficiaries, as well as overseas employment requirements for beneficiaries of L blanket petitions. Since regulations implementing the statute have not yet been promulgated, and since the statute was effective immediately upon enactment in January 2002, this memo will hopefully be of help to the affected alien beneficiaries.

The February numbers are in. The most popular articles for the month of February were:

1. The "Mismatch Letter" Is in the Mail: The Social Security Administration Ramps Up Its Warnings to Employers (Parts I and II) by J. Ira Burkemper
2. September 11 Ushers in a New Era in Immigration Law and Practice by Angelo A. Paparelli
3. Conditional Residents May Seek Naturalization While I-751 is Pending by Cyrus D. Mehta
4. In Your Face With the Regs - 245(i), Where Art Thou? by Jose Latour
5. Not All H-1Bs Are Created Equal" by Gary Endelman

Articles

The ABC's of Immigration - Citizenship Rules for People Born Outside the U.S.
Greg Siskind writes about general rules for citizensip for those born outside the U.S.

Applying for E & L Spousal Work Authorization
Cyrus D. Mehta writes about the recent INS memo regarding applying for work authorization for spouses of E-1 and L-1 visa holders.

Police May Soon be Able to Arrest Illegal Immigrants
The Florida Times-Union reports that Florida Domestic Security Chief Steve Lauer said he expects the state to join an unprecedented relationship with the federal government that would allow police to arrest illegal immigrants.

USDA Terminates Support of J-1 Waivers
Carl Shusterman writes about the recent decision of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to terminate its program permitting International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who have completed medical residencies and/or fellowships in the US to practice in medically-underserved rural areas in exchange for a waiver of the home residency requirement.

Pentagon Seeks Curb On Foreign Workers
The Washington Post write on new proposal to bar non-U.S. citizens from filling an array of technology jobs in the Defense Department.

Alien Children in INS Custody Are Focus of Sweeping Legislative Reform Proposal
Carl R. Baldwin writes about the "Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2001," and the recent Senate hearing about the Act.

Mexican States Launch Their Own Guest Worker Programs for US Companies
The Associated Press reports that Mexican states are helping Mexican workers find work in the US, investigating both companies and workers to make sure both sides keep their side of the bargain, and applying heavy pressure on workers to stay legal.

The Relationship Between Advance Parole and Unlawful Presence
Sherry L. Neal of Hammond & Associates, LLC, writes cautions that even with Advance Parole leaving the US after having spend been unlawfully present can trigger a bar to admission.

USDA Decision Worries Rural Hospitals
According to the Topeka Capital Journal rural hospital officials say their struggle to recruit doctors to sparsely populated communities will worsen under a federal agency's decision to stop seeking waivers that allow foreign physicians to remain after their training in the US.

ILW Highlights

Immigration Q&A archives

"A friend on a K-1 got married within the 90-day requirement. Do they have to file his adjustment to permanent residency within that period as well?"

Find answer to the above and hundreds of other immigration questions in the "Q&A archives". These questions are from every aspect of immigration law: H-1B layoffs, adjustment of status, minimum amount for investor visa, denial of asylum, criminal conviction, greencard interview, options to immigrate to US, etc. etc. They are answered by immigration lawyers during twice-a-week live chat on ILW.COM.

Letters to Editor

To write to Editors, send emails to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Dear Editor:

To reunite children with their parents is the policy of natural justice and equity. In view of this, the former President Bill Clinton signed the bill the LIFE Act of 2000 into law creating a new visa category, the "V" visa, which has allowed the children of F2A category, who have been separating from their parents for more than 3 years. This act of the United States is very praiseworthy. But, the children of F2B category, who have been separating from their parents for 9 years, have been debarred from taking the advantage of this newly created V visa. With this, it is certain that justice is not done to them. It is astonishing to say that how the U.S. legislators have ignored the children of the F2A category who have been separating from their parents for almost a decade, when creating the V visa. This is to draw the kind attention of the U.S. legislators to the hardships being suffered by both the children of the F2B category and their parents. Therefore, this is my humble request to the U.S. legislators to amend the LIFE Act of 2000 entitling the children of the F2B category also for the "V" visa so that they could join their parents.

Chhimi Tataya Bhata

Dear Editor:

The arguments of Mr. Baer, D. V. M. are most accurate and more still, very logical and practical. I too know personally many Mexicans in my community in California. (I am not Mexican but Puertorican.) The people I know are hard working members of our community, have strong families, are honest and most have been living in the community for many years. Many of the young ones come to join older established family members. (By the way, there is no crime in our community except very minor offenses.)

The employers I know express that they wouldn't be able to do without their Mexican employees. But further still, they are a strong market element thus being a positive contributing factor to the economy. They pay taxes and most also pay Social Security taxes, even if they won't get benefits from it. I want to add this element to the very well brought argument of MR. Baer. And, please ask the President to put his actions where his words are.

Magdalena Villaronga

Immigrant Life

Take a Quiz

Which are the top three countries of origin for most of the immigrants since 1970?
- Mexico, China/Taiwan/Hong Kong, Phillipines
- Mexico, China, India
- China, India, Phillipines

This week's chat schedule

When Attorney Monday, March 11 9:00 pm Eastern Time Fariba Faiz, Esq. Wednesday, March 13 9:00 pm Eastern Time Kevin Dixler, Esq.

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