ABClocal.go.com: Some Illinois Mayors Want Immigration Reform

October 23, 2013 (CHICAGO) -- Mayors of some of Illinois' biggest municipalities called on the state's congressional delegation Wednesday to overhaul immigration laws as a way to repair and boost the economy.

The 21 leaders- mostly Democratic-leaning mayors and presidents around Chicago and central Illinois - signed a letter which says new laws focusing on all immigrants, regardless of citizenship status, will create jobs and raise revenues. There are an estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
"Illinois is facing tough economic times," the letter says. "We cannot hope to achieve the growth necessary to repair the damage done by the recession without bringing eleven million people out of the shadows and fully integrated into our economy. "
The effort was led by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and FWD.us, an advocacy organization started by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Emanuel has vowed to make Chicago the most immigrant friendly city in the world. The state already has some of the nation's most immigrant-friendly laws and a few of its top leaders are involved in reform, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez.
Still, Illinois has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and is facing other financial issues that could be helped by reform, according to the letter. The mayors said the timing is right in the wake of the end of the partial federal government shutdown.
The mayors aren't pushing for a particular bill. Legislation with amped up border security has passed the Senate but it is unclear if any overhaul will come for a vote in the GOP-led House.
SOURCE:  Some Illinois mayors want immigration reform

Idaho Mountain Express: Romanian nationals face deportation - October 23, 2013

 The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boise reported that two Romanian nationals and former Blaine County residents face deportation following sentencing Monday in federal court for obtaining immigration benefits as a result of marriage fraud.

    In a newss release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office identified the defendants, who were most recently living in Boise, as Victor Raul Fenesan, 32, and Claudia Luminita Beian, 34. Fenesan was convicted of obtaining a U.S. visa by fraud and Beian was convicted of unlawful procurement of U.S. citizenship.
    The couple was living in Blaine County when the crimes occurred.

    They were charged with the crimes in September 2012 and pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 12.
    The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that both defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to two years’ probation and fined $2,000. Lodge also ordered that Beian’s U.S. citizenship be revoked. Both are subject to deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that both Fenesan and Beian admitted in plea agreements to marrying U.S. citizens for the “sole purpose of obtaining immigration benefits.”

  SOURCE:Idaho Mountain Express: Romanian nationals face deportation - October 23, 2013

Woman faces immigration charges for Israel bombing - Laramie Boomerang Online

An Arab-American community activist from the Chicago suburbs was arrested Tuesday on immigration charges for allegedly lying about her conviction for a deadly bombing more than 40 years ago in Israel.

Rasmieh Yousef Odeh, 66, spent a decade in an Israeli prison for her involvement in a 1969 attack that involved bombs planted at a crowded Jerusalem supermarket and a British consulate, according to a federal indictment. Only one bomb _ one of two placed at the supermarket _ exploded, killing the two people and wounding several others. Israeli authorities have said the attacks were planned by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Source:Woman faces immigration charges for Israel bombing - Laramie Boomerang Online

4 Haitian survivors of failed smuggling operation released from US immigration custody

MIAMI - Four Haitians who were among a group of Caribbean nationals found clinging to the hull of their capsized boat off the coast of Miami have been released from federal custody.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had detained the survivors as part of an investigation into the accident that killed four women in the early hours of Oct. 17 seven miles (11 kilometres) east of Miami.
The four Haitians from that "failed smuggling venture have been processed and are no longer in ICE custody," U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Nestor Yglesias said late Tuesday.
Haitian Women of Miami's executive director, Marleine Bastien, said Wednesday that she was elated that the Haitians had been released. She was joined Monday by Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat, whose elderly uncle died in U.S. custody after fleeing violence in Haiti in 2004, and other community leaders in calling for the survivors' release and criticizing U.S. immigration policies that usually permit Cubans who reach U.S. shores to be quickly processed and released to their families, while Haitians and migrants from other countries typically are detained.
Source: 4 Haitian survivors of failed smuggling operation released from US immigration custody

MSNBCcom: McCain stubbornly believes the House can pass immigration reform

 Via @ tv.msnbc.com
Senator John McCain isn’t ready to concede that House Republicans won’t pass real immigration reform. But he is watching the clock.

“It’s very important that we try to act before the end of this year,” McCain said at a town hall in Mesa, Arizona, on Tuesday. Waiting any longer will run into campaign season.  But given looming battles over funding the government and increasing the debt ceiling, passing immigration legislation before 2014 may be unrealistic.

“I remain guardedly optimistic that our friends in the House of Representatives will agree to their legislative process and then we can get to conference,” McCain, who was joined by fellow Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake, told the audience. He cited the array of interests backing reform, including major business groups, labor unions, and evangelical organizations, as evidence of its momentum.
House leaders are moving forward with a series of bills on border security and visa programs, but they’ve yet to decide how–and whether–to offer legal status and a path to citizenship to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in America today. McCain is still hoping the House will support a citizenship component in a final deal.

“I don’t accept your premise that the House of Representatives will absolutely reject a path to citizenship,” McCain told a reporter at the forum. “I think we’ll know more in two or three months.”

The Senate bill would require undocumented immigrants to meet a variety of requirements, including paying a fine and learning English, in order to obtain citizenship. The process would take at least 13 years for most eligible applicants. But among House Republicans, it’s not clear that the caucus supports even limited legal status for undocumented immigrants. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, chair of the House Judiciary Committee overseeing immigration legislation, recently suggested that even immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children should not get a new path to citizenship. Continue Reading @ McCain stubbornly believes the House can pass immigration reform
Benjy Sarlin, @benjysarlin

LIRSorg: Infographic Comprehensive Immigration Reform Mythbuster

SOURCE: Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

ENLACEINTLorg: Private Prison Divestment Campaign

SOURCE: Enlace’s Private Prison Divestment Campaign
Enlace, in partnership with community groups and unions across the US, is calling on all public and private institutions to divest their holdings in Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group, America’s largest private prison corporations which have profited from billions in taxpayer money. Continue reading @Enlace’s Private Prison Divestment Campaign

What is Green Card EB-3 Employment Based Immigrant Visa?

Every year the USCIS makes available a certain number of immigrant visas for permanent workers in the United States. There are around 140,000 visas available every fiscal year for permanent workers and their families. Employment in the United States is based on education, experience, and skills. People with the right combination of skills, education and/or work experience may be eligible for immigrant visas under the different categories.

The employment-based greencards maybe broadly classified into 5 categories:

1. First preference or EB-1
2. Second preference or EB-2
3. Third preference or EB-3
4. Fourth preference or EB-4
5. Fifth preference or EB-5

This article takes a look into the details of the EB-3 employment based immigrant visa category.

EB-3 Employment Based Green Card

The third preference category for employment based green cards is for skilled workers, professionals and other workers.

• Professionals, like the name suggests, should be members of professions for which they have a minimum of a U.S. baccalaureate or its equivalent foreign degree.
• Skilled workers are those who have at least 2 years of work experience or training in a job that is neither seasonal nor temporary.
• Other workers are those who require less than 2 years of work experience or training in a job that is neither seasonal nor temporary.

EB-3 Green Card Process

A permanent worker has to be sponsored by an employer. The employer who has made a job offer under the EB-3 category has to file Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. But before the employer can file the petition he should get a Labor Certification from the US Department of Labor. The certification is to verify that there aren't enough US workers to fill the available positions at the prevalent wages and that by offering this position to a foreigner, the wages and working conditions of the US workers in the same level will not be affected in any way.

When the employer files the I-140, he should also provide documentary evidence that he can pay the wages, that were offered to the beneficiary, as of the visa priority date. The when the application is filed and accepted by the USCIS for processing is known as the priority date. There is a back log of applications for employment-based green cards. The applications are processed by priority date. When the beneficiary's priority is being processed, the employer should be in the position to pay the wages he had offered when making the job offer to the beneficiary.

Family of EB-3 Green Card Holders

Family members of the EB-3 green card holders may be admitted to the United States. The spouse of a skilled worker or a professional will be admitted under the E34 category, whereas the spouse of other workers will be admitted under the EW4 category. Children under the age of 18 of skilled workers and professionals will be admitted under E35 and of other workers under EW5. Spouses may apply for an Employment Authorization Document when in the United States.

Homeland Security Facts and Principles

The duty of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is to protect the United States from national disasters and threats and the goal of the DHS is to keep America safe. The DHS is the national protection agency that secures the borders of the country and that prevents terrorists from attacking the country. This department was created in the year 2003 after the INS was dissolved in response to the terrorist attacks in 2001. The US Department of Homeland Security safeguards the constitutional rights of the Americans and protects the economy of the country. DHS is the executive department of the federal government and its main responsibility is to protect the country. It prevents terrorist attacks, enhances border security, administers immigration laws, secures cyberspace and minimizes the damage from natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

DHS oversees few different government agencies and the department was created through the integration of 22 different federal departments and currently the DHS oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), US Coast Guard, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, US Secret Service (USSS) and the Office of Inspector General. The main goals of the DHS are to prevent terrorist attacks and to prevent them from using nuclear and chemical materials on American soil.

Likewise, the department allots funds to modernize ports of entry and it helps to enhance national preparedness in state and local law enforcement. It is also updating the border security technology as the goal of the department is to secure the land, air and sea ports of entry. It also investigates and prevents criminal organizations from getting into the country. DHS has doubled Border Patrol agents and it has deployed National Guard troops in order to help the law enforcement agencies. Moreover, the department is joining forces with Mexico to secure the border.

DHS implements immigration laws and the USCIS, a federal agency managed by the DHS, oversees all immigration processes. Likewise, the responsibility of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is to identify and remove undocumented immigrants. It is also working hard to combat human trafficking and is conducting programs to assist the victims. The National Cyber Security Division of the DHS counters cyber threats and implements cyber-risk programs. People can obtain information about cyber crimes from the National Cyberspace Response System and this system also assesses cyber threats through its US-Cert Operations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency of the Homeland Security, makes recommendations to the government and provides disaster assistance to affected communities. However, DHS that is keeping the country safe, is looking forward to become a smarter agency and protect the country more effectively.

What You Should Know When Renewing A Green Card?

Green Card is an identity document issued by the government of the United States to the permanent residents of the country. Green Card holders can enjoy various rights and they also have few responsibilities. With this Green Card, you can stay anywhere in America, as long as you wish and this permanent resident status will never expire. But this does not apply to Green Cards and the Green Cards will expire and these cards are good only for a decade and the Green Card holders will have to apply for Green Card renewal prior to the expiration of their cards.

Hence, it is mandatory to understand the renewal process. An expired Green Card will create problems and it might also endanger your permanent resident status. You may not be able to accept employment in the country if you do not have a valid document to prove that you are a permanent resident and you may not be able to obtain benefits that are meant for permanent residents. US employers may not hire you, if your permanent resident Card is invalid. To avoid such difficulties, you need to immediately file an application for Green Card renewal, if you find that your Green Card is about to expire or if it has already expired.

The USCIS forms that must be filed to get your Green Card renewed, is Form I-90. All the fields of this form must be completed and the required supporting documents along with the form must be mailed to the right service center. The form filing process may not be difficult as you can file Form I-90 electronically and you can just follow the customized form instructions and complete the form. Moreover, you will immediately receive a confirmation notice after you e-file your Green Card renewal application. Copies of supporting documents such as your driver's license, both the sides of your Green Card, passport and other relevant documents must be mailed to the location specified in the confirmation notice that you receive after filing your petition, online. You may pay the form filing fee through a check or a money order, if you file the paper form and through your debit or credit if you e-file your Green Card renewal application.

Currently, the form filing fee is $450 and this includes the biometrics fee. And remember that you will be sent a biometrics appointment notice after you file your petition and without fail you will have to make it to the location, specified in the appointment notice. USCIS might require applicants who have filed applications for Green Card renewal to appear for in person interviews and this may not be applicable to all the applicants. USCIS will issue a new Green Card that is valid for a ten year period, after conducting background checks or after the interview, if you are still eligible for lawful status in the United States.

The Difference between the H1B Sponsorship Job and the U.S. General Jobs

A foreigners  who are not a citizen of America or not an LPR residents  need a work visa like any other immigrants in quest of relocating, broaden their horizons  and working in the United States of America, or wish to change the current visa status to a H1B visa transfer, it is a must and required to acquire a job offer H1B visa sponsorship, you will need to meet some requirements to qualify and the work should be with a corporation or a Company who hires migrant workers, and who are willing to sponsor the highly motivated and skilled candidates employment by applying and filing a petition for an H1B work visa with USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services).

As a result, your career hunting is very different from the usual because you must meet the US job standard, criterion and requirements for the H1B visa program, the jobs, employment in the United States should be currently available for H1B sponsorship. Under the US immigration law: the US Companies must meet the specific H1B sponsor requirements, abide to H1B policy and regulations,  understand the processes and the responsibilities required of the employers and most importantly the US Companies who have a job offer must be willing to sponsor/ file a nonimmigrant petition and apply for an H1B visa.

If you want an H1B visa, visa sponsorship program varies depends on the kind of career you want to have i.e. temporary work, seasonal work and depend on your skills and the level of your expertise and the experiences you have. Foreign national’s job seeker who wishes to apply on sponsorship program can access a list of organization and Companies that sponsors a visa by applying online.

Currently there are a vast growing numbers of Jobs & Employment based companies and web sites posted online who are offering for a sponsorships visa but you should be wary of them.  The best way to obtain that sponsorship is to research the Companies who will be needing your skills and  create a blow up Curriculum Vitae that highlights your unusual expertise and exotic skills that is highly needed in America and above all, market yourself – convince then and makes them wants to sponsor you.