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Editor's Comments of the Day
The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
has released a report titled,
"Behind Locked Doors: Abuse of Refugee Women at the Krome
Detention Center." The Women's Commission visited
Krome in March 2000 and again in September 2000. According
to the report, "[w]omen consistently describe an atmosphere
of fear and intimidation in the facility. Sexual abuses
ranging from rape to sexual molestation and harassment
have been occurring repeatedly at the hands of at least
15 male INS officers. Women who cooperated in sexual activities
were made false promises of release from detention. Threats
of deportation, transfer to county jails, or even death
were leveled at women who dared to resist or complain
of such abuses. Physical and emotional abuses have included
demanding that Muslim women remove their veils or go without
eating and yelling at women of particular nationalities."
The Commission calls for the INS to regain control of
its detention program, develop and consistently apply
generous parole policies for asylum seekers, develop alternatives
to detention for those asylum seekers who cannot be released,
ensure oversight of conditions of detention and the highest
level of professionalism among detention center personnel
and aggressively pursue prosecution of or disciplinary
action against every officer involved in sexual abuses
against women detained in the Krome facility and immediately
take every step necessary to ensure that such abuses are
never repeated in Krome or any other detention center.
We agree with the authors that, "[n]othing less is acceptable
from a country that prides itself for its strong refugee
tradition and generous immigration policies."
Federal
Register News of the Day
Corrections
to National Interest Waivers for EB-2 Immigrant Physicians
The INS has issued several corrections to the "National
Interest Waivers for Second Preference Employment-Based
Immigrant Physicians Serving in Medically Underserved
Areas or at Department of Veterans Affairs Facilities"
rule which was previously published in the Federal Register
on
Tuesday, September 26,2000.
Cases
of the Day
Medical
and Psychiatric Problems Basis for Waiver
In a recent decision from the Office of Administrative
Appeals (AAO) the Nebraska Service Center's denial of
a hardship waiver of the J-1 two-year home residency
requirement was overturned. The AAO found that the record
contained specific documentation of ongoing medical
and psychiatric problems beyond the normal, and economic
evidence that the United States citizen spouse would
not be able to support two households. (Courtesy of
Steven C. Thal)
Congressional
News of the Day
Senate
Passes the Religious Workers Act of 2000
Senate passed H.R.
4068, the
"Religious Workers Act of 2000." This bill would amend
the Immigration and Nationality Act to extend for an additional
3 years the special immigrant religious worker program.
Senate
Passes Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act
Senate passed S.
2406, the "Mother
Teresa Religious Workers Act." This bill would
amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide
permanent authority for entry into the United States
of certain religious workers.
Senate
Passes International Patient Act of 2000
The Senate passed H.R.
2961, the
"International Patient Act of 2000," which would
amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize
a 3-year pilot program under which the Attorney General
may extend the period for voluntary departure in the
case of certain nonimmigrant aliens who require medical
treatment in the United States and were admitted under
the visa waiver pilot program.
Senate
Passes Waiver of Oath for Aliens With Certain Disabilities
The Senate passed S.
2812 which would amend the Immigration and Nationality
Act to provide a waiver of the oath of renunciation
and allegiance for naturalization of aliens having certain
disabilities.
Bills
Awaiting President's Signature
The House of Representatives has passed
and presented
H.R. 2883, the "Child
Citizenship Act of 2000," and H.R.
3767, the
"Visa Waiver Permanent Program Act," to the President
for his approval.
New Bill in Senate to Extend Religious Worker Program
S. 3226, a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality
Act to extend for an additional 3 years the special
immigrant religious worker program was introduced in
the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on the
Judiciary.
INS
News of the Day
INS
Quick Guide to "Public Charge" and Receipt of Public
Benefits
INS releases the Massachusetts edition of, "A Quick
Guide to 'Public Charge' And Receipt of Public Benefits."
This guide provides a summary of how receiving public
benefits in the United States may or may not affect
an alien under the "public charge" provisions of the
immigration laws.
Immigration
News of the Day
Businesses Look to Immigrants to Fill Work Force
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports on the tension between
the need for immigration to fill jobs and the issues ethnicity,
race and national identity.
H-1B Leaves Minority Workers on Sidelines, Groups Say
The SFGate reports that many African Americans, Latinos,
women, older workers and other groups underrepresented
in the high-tech industry say the H-1B program is short-circuiting
their opportunities.
ILW
Highlights of the Day
ILW.COM's Case
Tracking System Keeps You Better Informed About Your
Case
Now you don't need to call up your attorney multiple
times to find out the status of your case. Use ILW.COM's
case tracking system.
ILW.COM Chats and Discussions of the
Day
Chat with Edward Shulman,
Esq. and Daniel Weiss
Attorney Edward Shulman and Daniel
Weiss will answer questions
on all aspects of immigration law on Monday, October
23, 2000, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern (New York) time. Questions
will be accepted starting 15 minutes before the start
of the chat.
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