A Note from the Editors:

Immigration Visions - Democratic And Presidential

The Democrats responded to President Bush's immigration reform initiative with their bill, the "Safe, Orderly Legal Visas and Enforcement (SOLVE) Act of 2004". Although the White House did not present its preferred legislative language, comparison of the two visions of immigration law policy is useful. The weakness of the President's proposal is that it lacks a strong legalization component. The weakness of the Democratic proposal is that it does not provide an employer-friendly guest worker program. However what is more interesting than these differences is what both the Presidential and Democratic visions have in common. Both see a future immigration system where the bulk of the permanent immigration visas are family-based. Both visions do not acknowledge the fact that most immigrants to America come here to work. It follows that major immigration reform should ensure that the bulk of permanent visas are employment-based, not family-based. As the legislative process unfolds, Congress will have the opportunity to address this key weakness in both visions. In any case, it will likely be a couple of years before any major immigration reform bill becomes law. Immigrant's Weekly will keep you on top of events every step of the way.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas on this topic with us by writing to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Articles

Asylum Resource Series: Eritrea/Ethiopia
USCIS Asylum Resource Information Center offers asylum information on Eritrea/Ethiopia.

Joel Stewart's BALCA Review (May 11, 2004)
Joel Stewart presents a summary of recent notable BALCA decisions.

Citizen V. Non-Citizen: Differential Rights And Treatment
Cyrus D. Mehta writes "The undermining of the rights of non-citizens ultimately tends to also erode the rights of citizens."

Not Just Any Immigration Case (Green Cards For John Lennon And Yoko Ono)
Leon Wildes shares his personal anectodes as immigration counsel to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

White House On AGJOBS
During a White House press briefing, the White House Spokesman responded to a question on AGJOBS.

Immigrant's Weekly Feature
US Immigration Law Issues For Foreign National Environmental Engineers
David Nachman, Esq. writes "In light of the recent issues presented by the H-1B cap, it may also be possible for foreign national environmental engineers and their firms to use other nonimmigrant visa categories."

How Do I Get a Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement if I am an Exchange Visitor?
Read a response from the USCIS explaining how exchange visitors can obtain a foreign residence requirement waiver.

ILW Highlights

Seminar On Nurses And Allied Health Care Professionals

The curriculum for our upcoming seminar on Nurses and allied Health Care professionals is as follows:

1. Final rules related to the certification of foreign-educated healthcare professionals

1. application to TN and temporary visas
2. initial application and adjustment of status
3. transition period
4. USCIS approval of certifying agencies
5. How the rule will affect recruitment

1. Qualifying employment for Schedule A
2. Visa processing in India and the Philippines
3. Success rate on the NCLEX-RN for the foreign educated nurse
4. Other countries for Nurse Recruitment

1. Pharmacists, Dentists, and Chiropractors
2. PTs, OTs, and other therapists
3. Medical technologists

Letters to Editors

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

Dear Editor:
I believe that the immigrant should have an opportunity for legalization not just because they are farmer workers. The bill of the agriculture’s workers should be incorporated with the guest worker and thus make the best of the intentions intended. I am in a rural area where agriculture is prominent but part of the product of agriculture is processed by plants that are not considered in the agriculture branch.

Gladys Farris

Dear Editor:
How could I get a hard copy of Immigrants Weekly? I am so eager to subscribe to any magazine or newspaper that brings latest news about immigration issues.

Willie Villarmino

Editor's Note: Both our periodicals, Immigrant's Weekly and Immigration Daily are free and available online or via email. However, you always have the option of printing your Immigrant's Weekly copy if you prefer a printed version.

Dear Editor:
I just read the letter authored by the 2 highly educated Brit's who are experiencing the reality of our immigration system. I wanted to share with them, my experience. I'm the US citizen whose husband is the Canadian forensic weapons expert the US just had to have. Secretary Rumsfeld and the US Army sent lots of official letters down to the folks over at immigration urging that, on behalf of the war fighters defending our nation, a rare exception be made and he be allowed to submit his N400 a year early. Since the Army couldn't get past the iron curtain they downed tools, and my husband got the shaft. At long last, we're ready to file our N400 and I've spent months gathering up all the additional information I was told to compile to help the immigration folks process our application in a timely fashion. I was given this "advice" a year ago from the Customer Service people. I called the Nat'l Customer Service number, again, just to make sure I've done all I was told to do. I was told I could only ask 3 questions, and as it turns out, he checked with his people and they didn't know the answer to my question either. He simply said he would not take responsibility for giving me the wrong answer. I was passed on to a "specialist" who gave me advice contradicting the advice I was given a year ago. When I questioned the lack of information he was giving me, compared to the detailed advice over a year ago, I was then referred to the Catholic Social Services Group, the designated group in my area, and I was told they would be able to answer all my questions. The receptionist tells me I've got to drive 8 hours to their office for an appointment limited to Tuesday - Thursday. I was then told that I'd need to hire my own attorney since they're a pro-bono law firm doling out free info to the underprivileged. Said if I decided to get an appointment I'd need to fax my tax returns because they didn't take people who made over $26,000 a year. When I told them I felt like I was getting the run around, I was transferred to a voice mail, I left a message, and never heard back from them. America has a dirty little secret called the immigration system. Shame on us.

A sour American citizen

Dear Editor:
This is to request help from you to help Mexican immigrant employees that work for Moon Valley Nurseries. They are being treated and paid like slave labor. My husband is a white American who works for Moon Valley Nurseries as a delivery driver and has been trying to get better wages for the Mexican employees that work there. My husband has followed the chain of command and has spoken with his supervisors and the company's owner in order to get the Mexican immigrant employees better wages. The company officials are not interested in paying these Mexican workers better wages for all of their hard work. Some employees are paid only $55 per day regardless of the hours worked, which average 9-10 hours or more daily. Some employees are paid only $5.50/hour and work seven days and up to 90 hours per week with no overtime pay. They do not receive raises yearly as the company says it gives its employees. There are also no indoor bathroom facilities with running water at the Mesa location (McKellips Rd); there are only port-a-potties. My husband has been gathering information from the Mexican immigrant workers in order to get better wages for them. He has copies of time cards and check stubs from some of the Mexican workers. The Mexican workers, of course, are afraid to speak up for themselves for fear of deportation - which they have been threatened with this week for speaking to my husband. My husband has done all he can to try and help them. We have contacted numerous state Representatives, state Senators, the Governor's office, newspapers, television stations, the Department of Labor, and others. My husband, our children, and I protested in front of Moon Valley Nursery on McKellips Rd. in Mesa this past Friday and Saturday. Shortly after we arrived home on Saturday, my husband was served with a Workplace Injunction that prevents him from contacting the Moon Valley Nursery by telephone or to come on or near its property. We need your help. These Mexican immigrants need your help. They need a voice that will stand up for them and let their voices be heard. Please do what you can to help them.

Teresa Miller and Shawn Miller

Immigrant Life

What Is a Driver's License?

A driver's license is a card which allows you to operate a motor vehicle legally. A driver's license is issued by the state in which you live but allows you to drive anywhere in the United States and Canada.

Why Is a Driver's License Important?

To learn more, see here.

Have a story that you'd like to share with us? Send your story as an immigrant to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

This week's chat schedule

ILW.COM announces that as of Feb 3rd, all chats will be held at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

When	Attorney
Tuesday, May 18 5:00 pm Eastern Time	H. Fred Ford, Sr, Esq.
Thursday, May 20 5:00 pm Eastern Time	Shari L. Moidel, Esq.
Tuesday, May 25 5:00 pm Eastern Time	To Be Announced

Classifieds

For information on advertising in the classifieds please click here.