Immigration Resources
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by elianaphelps on Nov.20, 2009, under E-Verify, Law and Policy
The New York Times is reporting that the ICE are about to audit 1,000 companies for illegal workers.
“An audit consists of ICE officials checking each worker’s Employee Eligibility Verification Form, known as an I-9, to determine what steps were taken to confirm the person was eligible to be hired. If irregularities are found, the companies may then be fined for lax monitoring.
The strategy is part of the Obama administration’s effort to reduce illegal immigration by forcing companies to fire unauthorized workers rather than by conducting raids at the workplace, actions that are often accompanied by great personal trauma, including deportation and the dividing of immigrant families.”
The knock-on effect of this initiative is that employers are firing illegal workers. Already American Apparel in LA fired 1800 workers after inconsistencies were detected in a similar audit in September 2009.
by lauraj on Jul.31, 2009, under Deportation, E-Verify, Immigration Law Reform, Law and Policy
What has caused the drastic decline in illegal immigration from Mexico?
In the past year, the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border into the U.S. has reached the lowest level of the past ten years. With the tough economic environment continuing in the U.S., it comes as no surprise to see that fewer immigrants are taking the risk of illegally crossing the border into the U.S. in order to find work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) placed the unemployment rate for June at 9.5 percent or 14.7 million unemployed people with the prediction of ending the year at an estimated 10.5 percent. Many of the sectors that have been hardest hit tend to employ a large percentage of undocumented workers such as construction and landscaping.
by lauraj on Jul.21, 2009, under E-Verify, Law and Policy
The Department of Homeland Security announces additional support for E-Verify.
Although immigration reform is starting to draw the attention of Congress and the Obama administration, any formal U.S. policy changes will most likely not be seen until sometime next year. However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Administration have been focused on reinforcing current immigration policies and strengthening newer programs such as E-Verify. The verification program, run by the Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with the Social Security Department, allows businesses to check a job applicants legal status by comparing a worker’s I-9 form against a database at the federal government in order to ensure a legal workforce. E-Verify is a web-based program free to businesses that wish to participate.
by lauraj on Jul.10, 2009, under E-Verify, Law and Policy, Resources, WHTI
How does the fiancé visa work and what are the requirements?
The immigration system can be very difficult to navigate even for a U.S. citizen engaged to a foreign national. The first requirement for a fiancé visa is that the petitioner must be a U.S. citizen. If an American citizen’s fiancé is residing outside of the U.S. and you would like them to travel to the United States to marry, the American petitioner must file a Petition for Alien Fiancé, Form I-129F. This form must be filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office within the area where you live. USCIS makes it a point to inform petitioners that this form cannot be filed outside of the United States. Once the petition is approved, it then goes to the National Visa Center to be processed and forwarded to the consulate where the immigrant fiancé will apply for a K-1 non-immigrant visa for a fiancé.
by lauraj on Jul.06, 2009, under E-Verify, Law and Policy
ICE audits over 650 businesses checking for illegal immigrant employees.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) gave notice to more than 650 businesses around the country that their employment records will soon be subjected to an audit. This move includes 50 businesses in California alone where the illegal immigrant population is estimated to be over 3 million. This new concerted effort sets a record for the most audit notices sent out in one day. Not to mention, this number beats out the total number of audits for all of fiscal 2008.
Although the Obama administration has started to take a look at immigration reform, it is doubtful that any legislation will take shape before the end of the year. However, in the mean time, the administration has made immigration enforcement a priority especially with regards to businesses. “Part of the strategy is to let businesses know we mean business,” ICE spokesperson Pat Reilly stated. Once a business is served with an audit notice, immigration agents then review all I-9 forms filed by the employees in addition to any identification documents such as social security information. If there is evidence that a company hired several undocumented workers, the employer could face stiff fines and possible criminal prosecution.
In an effort to assist employers with the hiring process, the Department of Homeland Security and the office of Social Security have created E-Verify, which allows participating businesses to electronically verify an employee’s employment eligibility. The E-Verify system is voluntary and free to businesses that wish to participate.
(source: latimes.com)
by lauraj on Jun.21, 2009, under E-Verify, Immigration Law Reform, Law and Policy, WHTI
President Obama Speaks on Immigration Reform
At the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast and Conference, President Obama reiterated his commitment to immigration reform. He assured the crowd that immigration is essential to the United States. However, he also reiterated that illegal immigration must be stopped and our borders must be strengthened. As for the question of what to do with the millions of illegal immigrants already living in the U.S., the President addressed the issue by saying, “For those who wish to become citizens, we should require them to pay a penalty and pay taxes, learn English, go to the back of the line behind those who played by the rules. That is the fair, practical and promising way forward.”
Although President Obama gave no timetable as to when immigration reform can be expected, a Senate immigration subcommittee chaired by Senator Schumer a Democrat from New York hopes to get a reform bill together in time for the fall legislative session. The Obama administration has been working on other aspect of the immigration problem such as border security and employment verification through programs such as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) and E-Verify.
(source: voanews.com)