Editor's Comments

We have received an outpouring of letters here at ILW.COM expressing concern for our safety and offering encouragement and good wishes. Not all are appropriate for publication, but we do want to acknowledge all who have taken the time to write and thank you. We have been allowed back into our offices in the Empire State Building. The view from our south-facing windows used to be dominated by the towers of the World Trade Center. It is hard if not impossible to look at the still smoking ruins without a tenseness in the stomach, grief for the humanity lost and a sense of foreboding for what may come. Now the landscape has changed both - of the city and the discussion of immigration policy in the country. Whatever that discussion may be we at ILW.COM will be covering it for you and bringing you all the immigration news, because we are back to business as usual.

The priority dates for the family-based preference visa categories, employment-based visa categories and the DV Lottery have been updated.

ILW.COM Focus

Testimonial from Maureen Musseau

Maureen Musseau, who attended the seminar on H-1Bs by Angelo Paparelli and Stephen Yale-Loehr, has this to say on the seminar: "I think it's great that an unlimited amount of people can benefit from your seminars in a cost-effective manner, and I thought that the question and answer period was handled in such a way that the answers were straight and to-the-point, as were the answers or advice given. Information was given in a clear and concise manner. The only down side to the telephone seminar is that it seemed to move a little too quickly at times, but that is to be expected. Overall, I thought it was a great experience and look forward to listening in on the next seminar."

For more info or to sign up online, click here.
For more info or to sign up by fax, click here.

Tip of the Day

Making ILW.COM Your Home Page

For a Web user, the home page is the first Web page that is displayed after starting a Web browser such as Netscape's Navigator or Microsoft's Internet Explorer. A number of our site readers have made ILW.COM their home page for their Internet Explorer or Netscape browser. Making ILW.COM your home page is a convenient way to keep up with the latest immigration news. It is also useful to have ILW.COM as you home page if you need quick access to government processing times, the visa bulletin, immigration forms, 245(i), the Attorney Directory or any other immigration related information. Here's how to make ILW.COM your home page:

In Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or Higher:

1. In the Tools menu, choose Internet Options
2. In the Home Page area, type in http://www.ilw.com
3. Click OK. From then on, when you start up Internet Explorer, ILW.COM
will be your starting point.

Once you've set this up, ILW.COM will be the first page retrieved when you access the Internet on your computer, and whenever you need to return to ILW.COM, just click on "Home" (the button with a picture of a house on it) on your browser's tool bar and you'll come back to ILW.COM.

ILW.COM Featured Article of the Day

Hunger Crisis in Central America May Have Immigration Effects
Carl R. Baldwin writes that due to the current hunger crises in Guatemala it nationals should be granted TPS like those of its Central American neighbors.

Immigration News

District Court Retains Habeas Jurisdiction to Review Removal Order
In Chmakov v. Blackman, No. 00-2235 (3rd Cir. Sept. 11, 2001), the court determined that district courts retain jurisdiction to entertain a habeas petition alleging a Fifth Amendment due process violation filed by aliens subject to a final order of removal for reasons other than a conviction for a deportable crime.

Taking Indecent Liberties is Sexual Abuse of a Minor
The court in Bahar v. Ashcroft, No. 99-15183 (11th Cir. Sept. 10, 2001), agreed with the Immigration Judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) that a conviction under North Carolina law for "taking indecent liberties with a child" was a conviction for "sexual abuse of a minor," and so an aggravated felony for immigration purposes.

Remand to BIA for Review of Discretionary Decision
In Bosquet v. INS, No. 00 Civ. 6152 (GBD)(AJP), the Magistrate Judge recommended that Petitioner's habeas petition be granted to the extent of remanding to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) for a decision on whether or not to affirm the Immigration Judge's discretion-based denial of relief, but that if the BIA found Petitioner statutorily ineligible for relief, that decision would be subject to habeas review.

Habeas Denied for Guilty Plea After AEDPA and IIRIRA
The court in Soto v. Ashcroft, No. 00 CIV 5986 (AJP) denied Petitioner's request for habeas because he had pleaded guilty to after the effective dates of AEDPA and IIRIRA and failed to provide evidence in support of his Convention Against Torture (CAT) claim.

BIA Grows to 23
The Department of Justice has added to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) two Board Member positions, expanding the Board to 23 permanent members.

Competition for NIS Community College Partnerships Program
The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State announces an open competition for the J-1 NIS Community College Partnerships Program (NISCCPP).

Competition for NIS College and University Partnerships Program
The Office of Global Educational Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State announces an open competition for the J-1 NIS College and University Partnerships Program (NISCUPP).

Nomination for Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices
Juan Carlos Benitez, of Puerto Rico, has been nominated to be Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices.

Immigration in the Press

Amnesty May Lose Support: Backers Fear Concerns about Border Security Will Hurt Their Cause
According to the Orange County Register among the many things Tuesday's catastrophe may fundamentally alter is the debate over our nation's immigration policy.

Civil Liberties at Stake
The Village Voice writes that when terrorists strike, immigrant freedom is first to go.

This Day in Immigration

September 14, 2000

"Offense of Alien Smuggling Can be Committed Extraterritorially In US v. Liang, No. 99-10578 (9th Cir. Sept. 13, 2000), the court found that the offense of attempted alien smuggling began upon leaving the country of origin and continued until apprehension in US territory. Since the vessel, passengers and crew were taken into custody approximately 100 yards form the shore of Guam, venue was proper there and not in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island more than 100 miles away."

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

I thought your edition of the September 12 newsletter was poignant. I know you will come through this challenge with flying colors.

Greg Siskind

Classifieds

ILW.COM carries classified ads for immigration related positions. $100 for single insertion, $250 for five consecutive insertions, payable in advance. Contact us for details. We will also carry for no charge announcements such as immigration related events. We reserve the right to refuse any ad and to make minor editorial and formatting changes. Send to editor@ilw.com.

HELP WANTED: CORPORATE IMMIGRATION PARALEGALS
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, is the largest law firm in the country practicing exclusively in the area of immigration and nationality law. In order to meet the demands of our growing business, the firm is actively recruiting for experienced paralegals in its ATLANTA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY,and CHICAGO offices. The ideal candidate has business immigration experience or a human resources background dealing with immigration issues. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to perform multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. The firm offers superior salaries and exceptional growth opportunities. Please submit cover letter and resume to Anne-Rose van den Bossche, Esq., Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen, & Loewy, 515 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022 or fax 212-750-1121 or avandenbossche@fragomen.com

IMMIGRATION TELECONFERENCE
Angelo Paparelli and Steve Yale-Loehr will conduct a teleconference and e-mail listserv series titled On the Cutting Edge: H-1B Practice and Strategy with Angelo Paparelli and Steve Yale-Loehr. The final teleconferences will take place Wednesday October 3, 2001, at 1:00-2:30 p.m. Eastern (New York) time. It is open to attorneys, employers, HR professionals and anyone else interested in the H-1B process and strategy. For more information or to register click here.

IMMIGRATION LAW SEMINAR
Saturday, October 13, 2001, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ramada Inn, Fairfield, NJ. A panel of experienced immigration lawyers and paralegals will explain how the administrative system operates and present the information you need to handle basic immigration matters. You’ll also hear directly from several agency representatives about the procedures you need to follow when dealing with these agencies. For details click here.

CLE CONFERENCE
American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Chapter (AILA-CFC) will be holding its 15th Annual Advanced-Level Immigration Law Seminar on October 26-27 at the Renaissance Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida.  Discounted hotel rates are available from the resort.  Point of contact for information/registration is Steve Zawacki, immigration@abanet.org or 407/831-6644.