Month: September 2008

According to a DHS Fact Sheet:  “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Waiver Final Rule, a regulation that will streamline the issuance of certain short-term non-immigrant visas for non-U.S. citizens who are HIV-positive.”

The Department of State has released Instructions for the DV-2010.

A debate is scheduled for Friday between Senators Obama and McCain. Although the economic “crisis” is understandably the issue that needs to be urgently addressed, it would be interesting to see how McCain would handle the question of whether he supports a path to legalization for the undocumented who are currently in the U.S., and what, if any, conditions precedent he would require.

It would be interesting to hear McCain’s answer given that he was co-sponsor of the now famous McCain-Kennedy bill and his position on the issue almost cost him the Republican primary. McCain later altered his position to “securing the borders first” to appease the far right of his party. More recently, McCain again softened his position and demonstrated support for CIR before an Irish audience. Moreover, McCain recently ran Spanish-language television commercials blaming Obama for derailing the McCain-Kennedy bill. Talk about a lot to reconcile! Hopefully the issue is addressed in Friday’s debate, if McCain shows up.

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it will extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of El Salvador through Sep. 9, 2010.   The extension will make those who have already been granted TPS eligible to reregister and maintain their status for an additional 18 months.  There are approximately 229,000 nationals of El Salvador (and people having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) who are eligible for reregistration.  TPS does not apply to Salvadoran nationals who entered the United States after Feb. 13, 2001.”

A USCIS Press Release states:  “We realize that unexpected events in a person’s home country can sometimes affect travel or other plans. Given recent severe weather in the Caribbean, USCIS would like to remind customers of available services.”

It is not always easy for a government agency the size of the USCIS to adapt to the needs of the population it serves.  In light of the anti-immigrant sentiment that has been so prevalent over the past year or more, it is refreshing to see an announcement with a compassionate tone from such an agency.

I received an e-mail from Edward Alden, Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of a new book entitled The Closing of the American Border: Terrorism, Immigration and Security Since 9/11. I have reviewed the links and have put this book on my “must read” list.  Below is the e-mail I received with the relevant links:

Dear Mr Maged,

I wanted to alert you to a book I have written, published last week by HarperCollins, that may be of interest to readers of your blog. The book is entitled The Closing of the American Border: Terrorism, Immigration and Security Since 9/11. It tells the story of the internal battles within the Bush administration after 9/11 over how far to go in tightening U.S. borders in what was often a misguided effort to keep out terrorists. That story is interspersed with many personal tales of innocent people who got caught up in the labryinth of post-9/11 restrictions. I also make a number of larger points about the damage that has been done to the U.S. economy and to the country’s standing in the world by the heavy-handed way in which border security measures have been implemented.

The book comes out of reporting I did after 9/11 while I was the Washington Bureau Chief for the Financial Times, and well as more than a year of further research after I joined the Council on Foreign Relations.

I think it might be of considerable  interest to readers of your website. It is available in bookstores, and on Amazon.

You can also get a preview of the first chapter at: http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061558399

There is also a podcast of an interview online at: http://www.cfr.org/publication/17259/alden_on_us_immigration_clampdown_post911.html?breadcrumb=%2Fbios%2F2472%2Fedward_alden

A somewhat more truncated transcript of a different interview is at: http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/09/17/post-911-antiterrorism-measures-should-be-more-targeted-says-new-book.html

Thanks very much for your interest, and keep up your superb work on these issues. We need it now more than ever.

Best regards,

Ted

According to an article on boston.com:  “Now in a general election against an opponent who broadly shares his views on the issue, McCain is showing greater ease asserting his distance from the anti-immigration right.”

One doesn’t have to be a mind-reader to know that McCain favors Comprehensive Immigration Reform with a path to earned legalization for the undocumented.  However, the passage of such sweeping yet badly-needed legislation will once again be in the hands of Congress. 

By early to mid-October, www.immigrantconnect.com will become the URL for our law firm, Maged Rost.  The Blog will be a component of the site which will also include more detailed information related to our firm and the services we provide.  Most of the older posts will be archived.  Our current site, www.magedrost.com, will become a client portal, offering information and online case information for pending cases.   

Immigrantconnect.com currently averages 1000 unique visitors daily.  I will continue to post regularly on developments in U.S. immigration law of which there should be no shortage.  I invite you to keep readong and to subscribe to the new and improved Blog.   

According to a USCIS Press Release:  “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds its customers that authorization for the non-minister special immigrant religious worker program will expire on Oct. 1, 2008.   Individuals applying to serve in the two non-minister categories of the program must either adjust status to permanent residence or apply for, and be admitted with, an immigrant visa before Oct. 1, 2008.”

According to an article on azcentral.com, Senator Obama referred to the rash of recent high-profile ICE raids as a “publicity stunt”.  The piece compares the presidential candidates’ views on immigration.

Fortunately, both candidates support Comprehensive Immigration Reform of which interior enforcement would be but one component.  The likelihood of reform passing in 2009 will be highly dependent on the make-up of Congress.