Month: November 2007

According to NYDailyNews.com:  “Driven by mounting opposition, Gov. Spitzer buckled Tuesday on his controversial plan to issue special driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants.”

According to an article on Dallasnews.com:  “While many GOP presidential hopefuls are quick to deplore illegal immigration, they should be careful, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros warned Monday.”

I tend to agree with this analysis.  The issue of immigration makes for bad politics even though time and time again, some politicians see the “illegal immigrant” issue as an easy target.

The only solution to our immigration crisis is Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR).  By definition, CIR is “comprehensive” and will include enforcement provisions as well as benefits, including a legalization component for the undocumented.  Unfortunately, we will have to wait until after the 2008 elections for CIR to be brought to the forefront again.

According to an article on omaha.com:  “The case of 13-year-old Fernando Rodriguez, the Nebraska student allegedly kidnapped and sexually abused by a female schoolteacher, is unique.  But his circumstances were not.”

According to a USCIS Update, effective December 10, 2007, USCIS will only accept H-2A
(temporary/seasonal agricultural worker) petitions mailed or delivered to its California Service Center.

The notice informs the public to use the following addresses:
Direct mail:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services California Service Center
ATTN: H-2A Processing Unit
P.O. BOX 10140
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-1040
Non-United States Postal Service deliveries (e.g. private couriers):
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services California Service Center
ATTN: H-2A Processing Unit
24000 Avila Road, Room 2312
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

According to an article on CNN.com:  “Facing growing pressure from his own party, Gov. Eliot Spitzer indicated he had not ruled out rescinding a heavily criticized plan to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, according to published reports.”

According to an opinion piece by Linda Chavez on Yahoo News:  “For the second time in as many years, immigration has fizzled as a wedge issue at the polls. In 2006, Republicans hoped to use anger over illegal immigration to maintain control of Congress, but failed miserably, losing races even in states like Arizona and Colorado that have experienced large influxes of illegal aliens.”

The USCIS has released its weekly Application and Receipting Update and it looks like they have caught up with EB I-140’s and I-485 receipts.  In fact I-140 and I-765 forms are current for receipting at the Texas Service Center.

According to an article on builderonline.com:  “Voters in Virginia yesterday largely rejected Republican calls for tougher state immigration laws as the Democrats won the State Senate by focusing on bread and butter issues such as managing residential growth and infrastructure funding.”

Another illustration of how immigration is a losing political issue.  When will they learn?  I think a clever tactic for democrats would be to avoid discussing the issue or voice a moderate stance.  The angry GOP candidates will self-destruct with their anti-immigrant rhetoric as they listen to the loud minority who oppose immigration.

BTW those organizations that loudly oppose illegal immigration such as NumbersUSA and FAIR also oppose and seek to limit legal immigration.  It’s just easier to get people on board to listen to them by starting with the undocumented.

The USCIS should be releasing its weekly Application and Receipting Update today.  It will be posted as it becomes available.

According to an article on RealClearPolitics.com:  “For the umpteenth time, American voters this year have rejected a nativist approach to illegal immigration. It ought to be a warning to Republicans: Don’t make this your 2008 wedge issue.”

The USCIS has released a 47-page  I-9 Instruction Handbook for Employers.