A Note from the Editors:

In lieu of an editorial on the sad and solemn occasion of Sept 11 anniversary, we will merely repeat what we said on 9/11/2001:

"Today, ILW.COM, just like all Americans, supports President Bush in taking actions necessary to ensure security for America and in finding and punishing the perpetrators of today's cowardly acts.

Many Americans may, in the heat of the moment, condemn all immigrants with a broad brush instead of those individuals, whether American or of another country, responsible for today's inhuman acts. This is not justified. We must remember the many patriotic immigrants who fought and died for America in many wars. Many of America's Generals and Admirals receive their stars in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes. This hall has portraits of recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, America's highest military decoration. Many of these heroes were immigrants. I urge everyone not to forget that fact today.

I support our country taking whatever steps are reasonable and necessary in reacting to today's acts of terrorism against us. However, we must all remember that our civil liberties are even more necessary today than they were before these terrorist acts. It was the country of the Bill of Rights that was attacked today. When our nation retaliates, it should not be against those very same Bill of Rights."

To see the entire issue of 9/11/2001, please click here.

Articles

The ABCs of Immigration - Citizenship Rules for People Born Outside the U.S.
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine write about the citizenship rules for those born outside the U.S. to one or both U.S. citizen parent.

H-1B Series: Discussion of the "Specialty Occupation" Standard and Particular Occupational Categories
George N. Lester IV continues the H-1B series by a further discussion on specialty occupations.

ABA Series: A Legal Guide For INS Detainees
The Commission on Immigration Policy, Practice and Pro Bono of the American Bar Association provides the 2nd of 8 parts of its Legal Guide for INS Detainees.

AR-11s Flood INS
The Washington Post reports "The Immigration and Naturalization Service has been deluged by hundreds of thousands of change-of-address forms after Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the enforcement of a law requiring immigrants to alert the government when they move. The INS says it does not have a system in place to keep up with all the paperwork."

All Undocumented Are Terrorists Say Restrictionists
Newsday of Long Island, New York quotes an anti-immigration restrictionist "Every person who exists in this country who has never been identified -- never had a visa at all, always been illegal -- is a terrorist in the sense that we do not know who they are and they continue to live in a society of secrecy."

Visa Lottery Rules Continue to Thwart Out of Status Aliens
Carl R. Baldwin writes "The fact that large numbers of law-abiding, tax-paying aliens will continue to be excluded from visa lottery benefits should prompt Congress to make the program meaningful by abolishing the bars for overstays created by the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA). We have had enough time to see how counterproductive this law has been."

Homeland Security Vs. Homeland Economy
The Naples, FL, Daily News reports "A study commissioned by the Lee County Port Authority earlier this year calculated that German homeowners in Lee County alone pump more than $115 million into the local economy. That figure would be multiplied by the effect of people from around the world owning homes in cities and counties throughout the United States. Those who oppose the rule say this economic benefit would be put on the chopping block by the rule change."

Immigrants in the Crosshairs: The Quiet Backlash Against America’s Immigrants and Refugees
The National Immigration Forum writes "The best way to enforce the laws is to create laws that are enforceable ... [placing the immigration function in the Department of Homeland Security sends] a powerful signal that all immigrants will be viewed as terrorist threats ... After September 11, Congress passed a law requiring all airport baggage screeners to be U.S. citizens. Thousands of immigrants who have not yet become citizens have been fired from jobs they have been trained for and often held for many years. In their place, airports have had to hire citizens who have to be trained anew. Ironically, non-citizens can serve in the military and the National Guard, where they may watch over the citizen baggage screeners."

Many Voices On 9/11 And Immigration
The National Immigration Forum offers a 12-page compilation of quotes from across the political spectrum on immigration and 9/11. The Orange County Register says that we have entered a new era in immigration where security is the focal point of immigration policy. The Salt Lake Tribune talks of the Mexican immigration reform derailed by 9/11. An article in the Philadelphia Inquirer recounts the debate between those championing the need for security and those advocating preserving of liberties. An Op-Ed piece in the New York Times (registration required) observes that the government actions since 9/11 have been chipping away at the Jeffersonian vision of universal human rights.

One Year After 9/11: Will The Courts Protect The Rights Of Non-Citizens?
Cyrus D. Mehta writes that "Unlike a conventional war, President Bush’s “war” against terror is undefined and may go on forever."

Anger At Ashcroft Is Because He Bears Bad News
Writing in Legal Times, Douglas Kmiec, Dean of the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law says "For reasons not entirely plain or often fair, John Ashcroft bears the burden of our anger. I suspect the anger we direct at the attorney general reflects the anxiety of the time and our deep resentment that the placidity of a life we once knew, and may never know again, has been stolen. We would be just fine -- thank you -- not having to contemplate another terrorist attack. In this, the attorney general is the proverbial messenger bearing news we would, as a nation, rather not deal with -- but must."

Government Seizes Property And Currency Of Deported Aliens, And Burns It
The Laredo Morning Times (of Laredo, TX) reports that when aliens are deported, their meager property, including small amounts of currency, are effectively removed from the aliens and in some cases, burned.

How Do I Renew My Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)?
Read comprehensive answer from INS on how to renew your Green Card from within and outside the United States.

ILW Highlights

Recently updated forms

Be sure to get the latest version of updated INS forms at ILW.COM.

Letters to Editors

To write to Editor, send email to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Dear Editor:

I would like your readers to be aware of the following. We are tired of the unfair and harsh treatment imposed by the 1996 immigration laws, so we are trying to create a grassroots organization to repeal or somehow soften the 3/10 year bar on admission, possiblly leading to other changes 1996 laws. Please visit
http://discuss.ilw.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=691603441&f=902603441&m=3706035211 to see how you can get involved. We must stand up for ourselves and fight this. If not us, then who? NOW is the time. Elections are coming up! We need ppl to write letters to their representatives (and/or us) and share their heartrenching stories. We may publish these stories on the internet, so don't use any real names. Details are good.

Thank you for your time,
Jamie

Dear Editor:

When if ever is any consideration going to be given to the thousands of us who do things the right & Legal way to get our married children to the U.S. who've waited years & may possibly be dead & buried before they are allowed to come, yet millions of ILLEGALS are allowed to stay , work & be in the U.S. forever. The ILLEGALS continue to be given all the rights & privledges, while those doing things the LEGAL way suffer.

Robert T Michaels

Dear Editor:

In response, or in commenting to Brenda Archer's letter to the editor, I think she possibly means that immigrants "don't claim the right amount of taxes" refers to them not putting down the correct amount of dependents on their 1040A.

I know several immigrants that put down more dependents on their W-4 to have less taxes deducted on their payroll checks so that at the end of the year, upon receipt of their W-2, it shows having paid hardly any federal and state income taxes (where state taxes are applicable).

What Brenda fails to realize is that upon immigrants filing their taxes, they have to put down by name all of their dependents with their respective SSN or TIN on their 1040A. Most don't put down all of their dependents due to the dependents not having a SSN or TIN.

Oftentimes, the single immigrant who puts down several dependents and only paid $100.00 on an income of $18,000.00, ends up paying over $1,000.00 in taxes because insufficient taxes were not taken from his check to cover what taxes he owes. Uncle Sam gets us eventually, Brenda, and he gets these individuals also. If they don't pay up front, they end up paying at tax time.

Tino Aleman, paralegal
James E. White attorney,
McMinnville, Oregon

Immigrant Life

Speak your mind

Did Sept 11 change your life?

This week's chat schedule

When Attorney Monday, September 16 9:00 pm Eastern Time Alice Yardum-Hunter, Esq. Wednesday, September 18 9:00 pm Eastern Time Chris Musillo, Esq. Friday, September 20 9:00 pm Eastern Time Arthur Zabenko, Esq.

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What ILW.COM offers:
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The right candidate must have the following:
An intense interest in learning about all aspects of immigration law is an absolute must. The right applicant must also be a "power searcher," i.e. must be very comfortable with finding information on the internet. Basic knowledge of immigration law is required. A law degree is highly preferred, but is not an absolute requirement. Experience as an immigration lawyer is desirable, but not necessary.

Who is ILW.COM:
We are a law publisher based in New York City. We are a small business, currently we have 6 team members. We own and operate www.ilw.com, one of the most important websites on immigration law in the world. We publish Immigration Daily, the pre-eminent news publication in immigration law, which is emailed to over 10,000 opt-in subscribers 5 days a week. We have an attorney referral service and offer seminars on immigration law to attorneys.

Interested applicants should kindly send a resume by email to editor@ilw.com. References are required.