A Note from the Editors:

Today, let us share a happy story with our readers. Many individuals from INS, DOJ, DOL and other Government Agencies read the Immigrant's Weekly newsletter each week. One such person: JH - an INS Employee (read letter below), has stepped forward to give a hearing to the case of Ikram (letter published in Weekly issue of 7/15/2002). Ikram is an asylum seeker, who had made the application in 1990 but even after 12 years hasn't made much progress in the matter. We thank JH in taking the initiative and wish to reiterate to our readers that many INS Employees are sympathatic to the situation of immigrants. Hope exists!

Articles

The Prevalence Of Closed Hearings, Secret Evidence, And Denial Of Access To Information — Troubling Trends In Recent Department Of Justice Directives
Cyrus D. Mehta writes "Unfortunately, history has shown that in times that are deemed to be times of “national crisis,” the judicial system has not always stepped up to protect the due process rights that are guaranteed to all persons within the United States, not just its citizens."

Immigration Lawyers For The Snakeheads
Law.com reports on immigration lawyers allegedly working with the Chinese "Snakeheads."

Immigration Alert! Failure to Inform INS Promptly of Change of Address May Land You in Removal Proceedings
Carl R. Baldwin writes "It is appalling, but it is what is going on these days in the perilous world of immigration."

INS Office Anti-Cuban At Time Of Elian Affair
The Miami Herald reports that "The legal watchdog group Judicial Watch presented Friday what it called evidence of ''anti-Cuban and anti-Hispanic'' attitudes in the Miami offices of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service during the days preceding Elián González's removal from the home of his Miami relatives."

Baloney Sandwich, Anyone? - Another CIS "Report"
Jose Latour writes that the Center for Immigration Studies "hides behind a thin façade of "objective" reporting, pretending to be a high-quality "Think Tank."

"Immigration Consultants" Rip-Off Immigrants
The San Francisco Chronicle reports on immigrants being ripped off by "immigration consultants."

Green Cards Not H-1Bs: How September 11th Can Reverse Split The Bill
Gary Endelman writes that the real thing to fear post-September 11th is a 1924-style moratorium on immigration and that addressing the big picture is preferable to emergency campaigns.

Social Security Administration Raids Essential Workers
The Salt Lake Tribune reports on the Social Security Administration's "mismatch letters" and quotes Angela Kelly of the National Immigration Forum saying "the stepped-up effort amounts to "a silent raid against undocumented workers."

The ABCs of Immigration - O-1 Visas
Greg Siskind and Amy Ballentine write about O-1 visas.

US Needs Mexican Workers
The Tuscon Citizen says "The United States profits from the presence of illegal immigrants but forces them to go through hell to do what they want to do and what we need done."

How Do I File an Affidavit of Support for a Relative?
Read comprehensive answer from INS to this question about how to bring a relative to the United States.

ILW Highlights

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Letters to Editors

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

Dear Editor:

In response to last edition's, 'Letter to Editor' from "Ikram". Please call ___ (number witheld). No promises, but your case WILL be reviewed. Just ask for ___ (name witheld). Leave a phone number and your A-number, if I'm not available. I'll get back to you. That's a guarantee! See? Some of us really DO CARE!

JH

Dear Editor:

What makes an American?

Orientation, indoctrination, and teaching keep us walking down the main path of Americanism. The public school rituals of the flag salute, the singing of the national anthem before ball games, the learned reverence for the flag are all a part.

More important though, is a love, a hunger, a craving for liberty and personal freedom, an intense yearning for true justice and space for spiritual expansion. This is why it is so difficult for so many people born to this dream to understand how it empowers refugees and immigrants to be, perhaps, more intensely American but with less desire or need to display it.

Thank you for the opportunity to share these thoughts - they've been seeking shape for some time.

Dave Anderson
Gainesville, GA

Immigrant Life

After Sept 11, I am more determined to become a US citizen for my security

Speak your mind on the above topic. Share your thoughts with other readers and site visitors, and make yourself heard.

This week's chat schedule

When Attorney Monday, July 22 9:00 pm Eastern Time Jon Hultman, Esq. Wednesday, July 24 9:00 pm Eastern Time Chris Musillo, Esq. Friday, July 26 9:00 pm Eastern Time Bindu Wotorson, Esq.

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