Archive for the ‘Alerts’ Category
Governor Jerry Brown Signs CA Bill Blocking E-Verify Mandates
Governor Brown has signed into law Bill 1236, the Employment Acceleration Act of 2011, which states that CA cities, counties and special districts cannot require an employer (other than a government agency) to use E-Verify to obtain a CA government contract or business license. The law also prohibits cities, counties and districts from requiring E-Verify as a penalty for violating licensing or other similar laws.
As stated in prior posts, E-Verify is a Federal program that allows employers and businesses to check the work authorization of their employees online for purposes of completing the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Vertification. CA employers are still free to voluntarily participate in E-Verify or do so as required for Federal contracts.
Tags: Bill 1236, E-verify, Employment Acceleration Act of 2011, Federal contracts, Governor Brown
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
ICE Told to Use Prosecutorial Discretion
On June 17, 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director, John Morton, issued a memorandum directing ICE officers, agents and attorneys to use “prosecutorial discretion” in the course of executing duties. Director Morton defined prosecutorial discretion as the authority of an agency charged with enforcing a law to decide to what degree to enforce the law against a particular individual. In short, prosecutorial discretion means that ICE may decide not to assert the full scope of enforcement authority the agency is afforded under the law.
The above memo is the result of ICE being confronted with more administrative immigration violations than its resources can address. Thus, to deal with the burden, Director Morton has directed ICE officers, agents and attorneys to use prosecutorial discretion when necessary.
Tags: custody, enforcement, ICE, Morton, prosecutorial discretion
Posted in Alerts, Crimes and Immigration | Read More »
Utah Passes Immigration Bills Known As The “Utah Solution”
Following in Arizona’s footsteps, Utah Governor, Gary R. Herbert has signed into law immigration bills known as the Utah Solution. The bills establish a guest worker program for undocumented workers and their families, allowing members to live and work in Utah. They also prohibit employers from knowingly hiring unauthorized workers and require most employers to participate in E-Verify. Like the recent Arizona legislation, the bills establish enforcement measures that require officers to verify the immigration status of individuals stopped under various circumstances.
Tags: Arizona, Gary Herbert, Governor Herbert, immigration bills, Utah Solution
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
USCIS Announces New Citizenship Resource Center
The USCIS has launched its new Citizenship Resource Center at http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship. It is a web portal that provides extensive U.S. citizenship information for applicants, teachers and organizations, including information about the application process, citizen rights and responsibilities, classroom tools, and grant programs, among other items.
Please don’t hesitate to contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you need assistance with a citizenship application or have questions about the new Citizenship Resource Center.
Tags: citizenship, N-400, naturalization
Posted in Alerts, naturalization, USCIS | Read More »
Update: H-1B Count 05/26/2011
As of May 26, 2011, the USCIS has received 13,100 H-1B regular cap petitions (of 65,000) and 9000 U.S. advanced degree petitions (of 20,000). An H-1B work visa is a temporary status for a professional holding a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent in experience) in a specific specialty and working in a position that requires such degree (or experience). Please see prior posts for more details.
As you can see, there are plenty of H-1B numbers left. Please don’t hesitate to contact our San Francisco Immigration Law Office if you need assistance with an H-1B petition.
Tags: cap, H-1B, H-1B visa, quota, specialty occupation, USCIS
Posted in Alerts, H-1B, USCIS | Read More »
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds the Arizona Legal Workers Act
On Thursday, May 26, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Arizona Legal Workers Act, which threatens to revoke the business licenses of companies in Arizona that knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants. The law also forces Arizona businesses to participate in the “voluntary” pilot program known as E-Verify.
E-Verify is a Congressional pilot program that allows employers to check employee identity and employment authorization documents against Department of Homeland Security and Social Security databases. Participants are required to have an agreement with the Federal government and adhere to strict I-9 (employment verification) practices. To date, the program has only been mandatory for companies engaged in Federal contracts and subcontracts. However, Arizona’s law requires ALL employers to participate.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented in the decision, stating that the law “subjects employers to a patchwork of enforcement schemes similar to the one that Congress sought to displace when it enacted IRCA [Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986].”
Tags: Arizona Legal Workers Act, E-verify, Justice Sotomayor, U.S Supreme Court
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Extended for Haitians
Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced that TPS for Haitians affected by the devastating 2010 earthquake will be extended an additional 18 months for Haitians currently residing in the U.S. She also announced that she would allow Haitians who arrived up to one year after the earthquake as visitors and in other status to apply for TPS.
Tags: earthquake, Haitian, Janet Napolitano, TPS
Posted in Alerts | Read More »
DIVERSITY LOTTERY SOFTWARE GLITCH FORCES RE-DO!
Today the Department of State (DOS) announced that it will re-run the diversity lottery due to a computer glitch that selected 90% of winners from those who filed within the first two days. The DOS has stated that this is not a fair and random selection of entrants. The DOS has also confirmed that the software glitch, which was a programming error, has now been fixed.
A new lottery will be held and the results will be announced July 15, 2011. Applicants do not need to re-enter to be eligible. The lottery will run from the same database of applicants.
Tags: computer glitch, Department of State, diversity lottery, DV lottery
Posted in Alerts, Immigrant Visas | Read More »
DREAM Act Re-Introduced!
Senators Richard Durbin, Harry Reid, and Robert Menendez re-introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act today. The DREAM Act would address the plight of young immigrants who have grown up in the U.S. after being brought here illegally as small children.
The DREAM Act would offer a path to legal status to those who have graduated from high school, stayed out of trouble, and plan to attend college or serve in the U.S. military for at least two years.
Last year, the DREAM Act passed the House of Representatives but was defeated in the Senate. The sponsors of the DREAM Act hope to build on last year’s momentum and finally see this bill become a reality. Call your senators and ask them to support this legislation!
Tags: Congress, DREAM Act, Harry Reid, House of Representatives, Richard Durbin, Robert Menendez, Senate
Posted in Alerts, immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
President Obama Invites Public to Press Congress About Immigration
On May 10, 2011 President Obama invited the public to push Congress for comprehensive immigration reform. Discussing innovation, entrepreneurship, and the American Dream, the President spoke clearly about the urgent need to fix the broken U.S. immigration system. He stated that immigration is a key component of ensuring our success in the 21st century. He also provided a blueprint that offers numerous ideas that would translate into specific legislation and encourages both parties to work in the country’s best interest.
Tags: entrepreneur, immigration reform, Obama
Posted in Alerts, immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
