A Note from the Editors:

The bad news just keeps coming for INS. Within a little more than a week after a statement from the INS Commissioner defending the agency against a story on 60 Minutes and publishing an explanation of why approval notices two of the September 11 hijackers arrived at their flight school on the six-month anniversary of their dastardly deed, the INS has now issued a decidedly un-reassuring statement that a check of INS and other databases shows no evidence that any of four Pakistani crewmen mistakenly granted shore passes is in any way connected to criminal or terrorist groups. According to the Washington Post the Justice Department has launched an investigation into the INS and why an immigration official improperly allowed the four Pakistani crewman to come ashore.

One of the major media adopted the slogan "America Challenged" for its coverage of September 11. Coverage of the INS could aptly be called an "agency challenged." As the New York Times points out the challenges are large. The author of a letter to the editor notes that INS Commissioner Ziglar has filled that post for only seven months. He came to the position without a background in immigration. Let us hope he can use his managerial experience to reform the agency so that the good people who work there can go home with some peace of mind and the satisfaction of a job well-done instead of afraid to listen to the news because the next item might be just one more gaff by the INS.

Articles

The ABCs of Immigration - Student Visa Procedures
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine offer a step-by-step guide through the process of obtaining and maintaining student status.

Four Pakistanis Missing After INS Wrongly Let Them Enter Country
According to Fox News an INS inspector granted four Pakistanis "shore leave visa waivers," which allowed them to come ashore even though they had not been granted visas for entry into the US even though after September 11 the INS issued a directive specifically denying Pakistani crew members shore leave or "admission as crewman."

Civil War within the GOP: Who Wins on Immigration?
Gary Endelman writes about battle going on within the Republican party over immigration policy and that the real prize is not Hispanic voters, but the political center.

Likely Changes in Visa Rules After Recent Furor over INS Actions Concerning Terrorists' Visa Applications
Cyrus Mehta provides a comprehensive review of upcoming changes in INS and Department of State procedures.

Blame Government Bloat for Immigration Snafus
According to an opinion piece in USA Today, if INS Commissioner Ziglar really wants to know what's wrong at his agency — or, in fact, with the federal government's entire executive branch — he needs only to open the INS phone book and start dialing.

Explaining Mohamed Atta's M-1 Approval: A Very Embarrassed INS and Angry Politicians
Jose Latour write that the arrival of change of status notices foe hijackers on the six-month anniversary of their attack happened because "immigration" is a "Size XXXX" issue in this country and the Congress is giving the agency in charge of said issue a "Petite" budget.

Judge Orders Details Released on Sept.11 Detainees
According to Reuters a New Jersey Superior Court Judge has ruled that information on people held in two New Jersey jails after the September 11 attacks must be disclosed, including their names and the reasons why they were detained.

Adoption Scandal in Cambodia Prompted INS and DOS to Suspend Adoption Processing There
Carl R. Baldwin writes about the reasons for INS's suspension of processing Cambodian adoptions, and why it will be difficult to lift the ban.

U.S. Weighs the Fate of Child Immigrants
The New York Times [registration required] reports that while the INS says it works with nonprofit organizations and public agencies to place the nearly 5,000 unaccompanied children who arrive in the US in the least restrictive setting possible, many are sent to jails for months at a time without access to critical services.

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Letters to Editor

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

Dear Editor:

I am an Immigration attorney with a real story to tell if you are interested. On my OWN petition for my pregnant wife, the MSC has taken nealy 150 days to approve a K-3 (normal processing "15-22 days") because they have lost photos, documents, rejected in error.... The Asst. Officer in Charge (M. Sanders) personally "walked it through" after a media threat, only to have the WRONG visa type approved.

My child will now be born in Mexico, my step-son was taken out of private school because we were sure the visa would be approved by January, I have been unable to file taxes thinking my wife would have a social security number.... This is unust and inexcusable neglect and ought to be subject to public discussion.

Sean Lewis

Immigrant Life

Reflections of an Indian business traveler in the United States

"..........Thus, if the Indian democracy is being ruled and ruined by its unscrupulous politicians and its corrupt bureaucrats, the US democracy continues to be handicapped by its (in) Justice department and by its self-seeking lawyers. Indeed, there is a great deal of realism in what Akio Morita, the founder and the former CEO of SONY, once wrote to the effect that the most native product of America is its "Lawyer"!........." (Cont'd)

This week's chat schedule

When Attorney Monday, April 1 9:00 pm Eastern Time Bob Beer, Esq. Wednesday, April 3 9:00 pm Eastern Time Kyle Kinzy, Esq.

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