PlainSpeak
01-14 12:42 PM
Good catch !!!!!!!!!!! HA....HA.......H.....AAAAAAAA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My friend it took it time to get the joke but you got it. I am happy for you
My friend it took it time to get the joke but you got it. I am happy for you
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dskhabra
01-13 02:01 PM
One important point from the document: If employer can not directly control/supervise his employee's work and then H1B new petition/extension may not be approved.
walking_dude
02-13 02:11 PM
Most of these settlement suits were fought by organizations like American Baptist Churches, Catholic Church Services, AILF etc. Meaning, organizations which have a strong steady stream of revenue (unconnected to the lawsuit). Participants didn't have to pay any money out of pocket. And the organizations didn't have to raise money for the lawsuit.
IVs case will be different
1) Significant amount of funds will need to be raised. It will hamper other IV activities such as legislative and executive lobbying as contributions will get diverted. It will be hard to raise another 30k to lobby for adding IV provisions to any upcoming bill, if we are already in the middle of a 50k lawsuit.
2) We need to have a large number of plaintiffs ready to put their names on court papers. These plaintiffs also need to pay money for their participation.
Lawsuits do work. Apparently nobody checked the links I posted on page 1 so here are a few examples:
USCIS Settlement Notices and Agreements
American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh (ABC) Settlement Agreement
Barahona-Gomez v Ashcroft
CSS
LULAC (Newman)
Ngwanyia v Gonzalez (Asylee Adjustment Case)
Notice of Proposed Settlement Agreement and Hearing in Kaplan, Et Al. v. Chertoff, Et Al., Civil Action No. 06-5304 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Notice to Persons Whose Naturalization Applications Were Denied by the Seattle, Spokane or Yakima Immigration Service
Proyecto San Pablo v INS
Ramos v Chertoff (02 C 8266, Northern District, Illinois)
Walters v Reno
Settlement Agreement Signed! Details available by clicking here. --2/9/05
IMPLEMENTATION OF NGWANYIA (ASYLEE ADJUSTMENT CASE) SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT Ngwanyia v. Gonzales, No. 02-502 (RHK) (D. Minn).
If you were granted asylum in the United States and have a pending application for adjustment of status, this settlement applies to you. Please refer to http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/NgwanyiaVGonzales.PDF In recent years immigration law had allowed only 10, 000 asylees per year to adjust their status to Lawful Permanent Residents. Under the settlement agreement, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will process an additional 31,000 asylee adjustments during the next three years. During fiscal year 2005, ending September 30, 2005, USCIS will process 8,000 of the additional 31,000, bringing the total number adjusted for the year to 18,000. USCIS will process at least 8,000 of the 31,000 during fiscal year 2006, (October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006) with the remaining additional applications being processed in fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007). The settlement also provides that asylees who have a pending application for adjustment of status may renew their employment authorization document (EAD) by requesting a multi-year EAD with a validity of up to five years. The multi-year EAD must be prepaid for the number of years requested. The cost of the multi-year EAD will be less than the cost of annual renewals by at least $20 per year. A requests for a fee waiver, if applicable, may be made pursuant to 8 C.F.R. � 103.7(c) Cost of multi-year EAD: 1 year card - $175.00 2 year card - $330.00 3 year card - $485.00
IVs case will be different
1) Significant amount of funds will need to be raised. It will hamper other IV activities such as legislative and executive lobbying as contributions will get diverted. It will be hard to raise another 30k to lobby for adding IV provisions to any upcoming bill, if we are already in the middle of a 50k lawsuit.
2) We need to have a large number of plaintiffs ready to put their names on court papers. These plaintiffs also need to pay money for their participation.
Lawsuits do work. Apparently nobody checked the links I posted on page 1 so here are a few examples:
USCIS Settlement Notices and Agreements
American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh (ABC) Settlement Agreement
Barahona-Gomez v Ashcroft
CSS
LULAC (Newman)
Ngwanyia v Gonzalez (Asylee Adjustment Case)
Notice of Proposed Settlement Agreement and Hearing in Kaplan, Et Al. v. Chertoff, Et Al., Civil Action No. 06-5304 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Notice to Persons Whose Naturalization Applications Were Denied by the Seattle, Spokane or Yakima Immigration Service
Proyecto San Pablo v INS
Ramos v Chertoff (02 C 8266, Northern District, Illinois)
Walters v Reno
Settlement Agreement Signed! Details available by clicking here. --2/9/05
IMPLEMENTATION OF NGWANYIA (ASYLEE ADJUSTMENT CASE) SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT Ngwanyia v. Gonzales, No. 02-502 (RHK) (D. Minn).
If you were granted asylum in the United States and have a pending application for adjustment of status, this settlement applies to you. Please refer to http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/NgwanyiaVGonzales.PDF In recent years immigration law had allowed only 10, 000 asylees per year to adjust their status to Lawful Permanent Residents. Under the settlement agreement, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will process an additional 31,000 asylee adjustments during the next three years. During fiscal year 2005, ending September 30, 2005, USCIS will process 8,000 of the additional 31,000, bringing the total number adjusted for the year to 18,000. USCIS will process at least 8,000 of the 31,000 during fiscal year 2006, (October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006) with the remaining additional applications being processed in fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007). The settlement also provides that asylees who have a pending application for adjustment of status may renew their employment authorization document (EAD) by requesting a multi-year EAD with a validity of up to five years. The multi-year EAD must be prepaid for the number of years requested. The cost of the multi-year EAD will be less than the cost of annual renewals by at least $20 per year. A requests for a fee waiver, if applicable, may be made pursuant to 8 C.F.R. � 103.7(c) Cost of multi-year EAD: 1 year card - $175.00 2 year card - $330.00 3 year card - $485.00
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breddy2000
09-04 12:40 PM
Dont tell me your crap stroy. First do it and then we can talk.
You know the reason why I had to cancel my CC. Its been compromised....
Get a life...Idiot....
You know the reason why I had to cancel my CC. Its been compromised....
Get a life...Idiot....
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sri1309
09-23 05:53 PM
I am titled towards this idea. We can say its hard to get a mortgage with the status pending..
But nobody likes my idea ? Premium processing @$10K. I am sure there will many who would like to do it, but based on response I got, I am doubting now.. Anyone who thinks this can be proposed too?
But pls keep calling on 5882.. I still feel there is a chance..
But nobody likes my idea ? Premium processing @$10K. I am sure there will many who would like to do it, but based on response I got, I am doubting now.. Anyone who thinks this can be proposed too?
But pls keep calling on 5882.. I still feel there is a chance..
krishna.ahd
02-18 08:57 PM
Don't shoot the messenger.
A couple of studies came to mind recently that don't involve immigration.
In Florida there was a plan over 30 years ago to build an artifical reef by planting 2 million tires. Seemed like a good idea but didn't serve its intended purpose and did the exact opposite. Now, 30 years later the person who pushed to do this is saying it was a mistake. There has been so much damage caused by this and now 30 years later they want to fix it. It wasn't studied enough and it was implemented and became a disaster.
In 1999 at Laguardia airport there was a push to allow smaller airlines some space at the airport; even though the airport couldn't accomodate more airlines/flights. There was strong opposition but they did it anyways. Since then; it takes more then 45 minutes from the time your flight leaves the gate to actually get airborn. The flight time from Laguardia versus into Laguardia has a differential of almost an hour. Now; eight years later they are going to try to fix this. Even though it has been a problem for this long. Wasn't studied or thought of carefully enough.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
.
I will give you example which involves immigration
Nurses / Physical therapist and in near future Teachers
Because of bad planning in the past or say no encouragement of these skill now there is Schedule A to import them and hand over the green card.
A couple of studies came to mind recently that don't involve immigration.
In Florida there was a plan over 30 years ago to build an artifical reef by planting 2 million tires. Seemed like a good idea but didn't serve its intended purpose and did the exact opposite. Now, 30 years later the person who pushed to do this is saying it was a mistake. There has been so much damage caused by this and now 30 years later they want to fix it. It wasn't studied enough and it was implemented and became a disaster.
In 1999 at Laguardia airport there was a push to allow smaller airlines some space at the airport; even though the airport couldn't accomodate more airlines/flights. There was strong opposition but they did it anyways. Since then; it takes more then 45 minutes from the time your flight leaves the gate to actually get airborn. The flight time from Laguardia versus into Laguardia has a differential of almost an hour. Now; eight years later they are going to try to fix this. Even though it has been a problem for this long. Wasn't studied or thought of carefully enough.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
.
I will give you example which involves immigration
Nurses / Physical therapist and in near future Teachers
Because of bad planning in the past or say no encouragement of these skill now there is Schedule A to import them and hand over the green card.
more...
johnmcdonald98
04-23 01:48 PM
I work for this company and I moved to the different state. Now my company has approved labor from the state I was before in with similar job as mine with similar degree as mine. What do you guys say, should I go for substitution? Lawyer says that even though I am in a different state, he can apply for this, but if it takes more than 6 months, he will file state change and I will be ok. Worst case is, I have to move, but only when its approved. What do you guys say, should I go for it?
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Michael chertoff
05-01 04:52 PM
[QUOTE=snathan;338267]Thomas Jefferson, once said, "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. "
I really believe Jefferson's worst fear is playing out in Sri Lanka.
QUOTE]
This quotation is only for Sri Lanka?? or it can be tru for india too???
MC
I really believe Jefferson's worst fear is playing out in Sri Lanka.
QUOTE]
This quotation is only for Sri Lanka?? or it can be tru for india too???
MC
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bestia
02-14 01:03 PM
Hi Bestia
I see your PD is Aug 2004 for EB3 ROW, and U already filed I 485.
I need some help: My PD is also Aug 2004, I'm in the EB3 ROW. When can I start filling I-485? The March VB says 01JAN2005. What is the last date I can file?
Thanks 4 help.
You can mail your I-485 on Feb 29. USCIS must receive it in March. I would suggest you to file your app ASAP in March, because you never know - dates might retrogress again.
I see your PD is Aug 2004 for EB3 ROW, and U already filed I 485.
I need some help: My PD is also Aug 2004, I'm in the EB3 ROW. When can I start filling I-485? The March VB says 01JAN2005. What is the last date I can file?
Thanks 4 help.
You can mail your I-485 on Feb 29. USCIS must receive it in March. I would suggest you to file your app ASAP in March, because you never know - dates might retrogress again.
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TeddyKoochu
09-17 03:23 PM
I wish the statement is true.
I think your friends cousin got the card by mistake, that does not mean that it will see a significant moment for EB3 I. The only possibility is if USICIS wants to recapture the unused visa numbers over a period of time, then EB2 I, EB3 I all move together.
Arun thanks for sharing the news & congrats to your cousins friend, may well be one of the cases of successfully porting PD.
I think your friends cousin got the card by mistake, that does not mean that it will see a significant moment for EB3 I. The only possibility is if USICIS wants to recapture the unused visa numbers over a period of time, then EB2 I, EB3 I all move together.
Arun thanks for sharing the news & congrats to your cousins friend, may well be one of the cases of successfully porting PD.
more...
Roger Binny
05-28 11:46 PM
Problem is with out any attorney's support or making a case for them they cannot file it, stupid creativity by legal folks and these sweat shop clowns.
Same thing happened with labor substitution, these clowns sold their labor certifications to just came in tards for a premium, and they got their GC's.
Fr****ekkkkkin loop holes.
Same thing happened with labor substitution, these clowns sold their labor certifications to just came in tards for a premium, and they got their GC's.
Fr****ekkkkkin loop holes.
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chanduv23
09-03 09:51 AM
It is sad to lose a leader who got elected democratically.
It was also sad that few people who could support SRK (does that related to our immigration issue :confused:) but comfortably felt that missing YSR is not as important as SRK.
Why do u feel sad if people support SRK? And why do u compare SRK to YSR?
Don't demonize people just because just because they voice their opinions.
It was also sad that few people who could support SRK (does that related to our immigration issue :confused:) but comfortably felt that missing YSR is not as important as SRK.
Why do u feel sad if people support SRK? And why do u compare SRK to YSR?
Don't demonize people just because just because they voice their opinions.
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CreatedToday
09-04 01:56 PM
Why the &*#@ are you still POOR, being in US?
Mr.Nair tell me is it Gulf or Gelf. Do you still wear lunky in office or smoke peedi...enda peedi malabar pedi, enda CM EK nayar...he he :D
If its GOD own country...what are you doing there. Are you renting it mr.Nair
by the way how is omana kutty.
Mr.Nair tell me is it Gulf or Gelf. Do you still wear lunky in office or smoke peedi...enda peedi malabar pedi, enda CM EK nayar...he he :D
If its GOD own country...what are you doing there. Are you renting it mr.Nair
by the way how is omana kutty.
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snathan
08-16 12:29 AM
US knows that Pakistan is the mother of Terrorism, doesn't look like with all the aid flowing in, that it is being reduced to rubble. Terrorism is a deeper debate, and it borders on uneven economics, social structures, global imbalance to name a few. We have quite a few terrorists in India too, just look up Sikh riots of 1984 and Gujrat riots of 2002, the culprits walk scott free. You talk about Israel, how safe is Israel? Would you settle in Israel given a chance? The same is with the US, in the pretext of 9/11 the residual racism is now emerging in these situations.
Whether we like it or not, Kasab will be hung to death. He is definitely a criminal, and it shines on our judicial system and independent media (both are screwed in their own ways) that we can tell that a terrorist hasn't been reduced to a weakling to not demand the food of his choice.
If you are soft state they will after you...How come Israel surviving with all hostile neighbour....Do you know the seven day war. Do we have the guts to do that with any country who are launching terrorist into our land.?
Yes...US is not attacking Pak...because Pak is living at US mercy.
Whether we like it or not, Kasab will be hung to death. He is definitely a criminal, and it shines on our judicial system and independent media (both are screwed in their own ways) that we can tell that a terrorist hasn't been reduced to a weakling to not demand the food of his choice.
If you are soft state they will after you...How come Israel surviving with all hostile neighbour....Do you know the seven day war. Do we have the guts to do that with any country who are launching terrorist into our land.?
Yes...US is not attacking Pak...because Pak is living at US mercy.
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Openarms
08-17 03:49 PM
Well - world is definitely a beautiful place. World is beautiful because of beautiful good people. Like there is a saying "How is house different from a home? House maybe be beatiful and big but it is a home ONLY if it is a happy place to live" and making the world our home lies in how we make sure that it is a happy place to live.
While your approach towards solving the problems is "education" in my opinion education does help, but that is NOT the only factor. Change happens gradually. Don't we all agree that the most educated people might be the biggest "problem creators"
WRT snathan - he is a personal friend and I know him. He is sympathetic towards poor and downtrodden and wants to fight against injustice etc.....
To snathan - to understand things in a better perspective, I recommend that you try this. Invite 30 hungry, poor, starving people to your house and provide them with food, education, good life and ask them to seek opportunities to better themselves. You may face the following
(1) People may get more demanding
(2) They may fight among themselves
(3) Some might steal from you
(4) Some might get into unethical activities
(5) Some might disrespect you and step over you
(6) They may show more respect to those who did not care for them and curse you for some silly reason.
You might find some good people who really do what you intend them to do.
Why I say this is - there is no GOOD POOR MAN nor BAD RICH MAN - different people behave different in different circumstances.
Did you know that India's independence struggle, American civil liberty struggle were all funded by rich businessmen - they trusted the leaders and gave a lot of money for campaigns for them to be successful.
--- Do these things or ASK our SRK/Politicians/Business Tycoons to do -----
When I say education, you can not just isolate it from mother tree. It is root of the tree... all the branches grow from there...
Like you said give education for those 30 children born from today and come back after 20 years.. see how their lives would be different for better then those 30 unfortunate children who are unable to have education.
Give education for an entire generation of kids for 20 years....and let them figure out their problems...don't just feed them, don't just build homes for them...don't need to solve the problems for them.. let them figure out... that is what going on in USA.
You can not tie INDIA and USA together.... all you are doing is comparing apples to oranges... don't do that...India needs to learn sooooo many things from countries like USA... not comparing to them.
While your approach towards solving the problems is "education" in my opinion education does help, but that is NOT the only factor. Change happens gradually. Don't we all agree that the most educated people might be the biggest "problem creators"
WRT snathan - he is a personal friend and I know him. He is sympathetic towards poor and downtrodden and wants to fight against injustice etc.....
To snathan - to understand things in a better perspective, I recommend that you try this. Invite 30 hungry, poor, starving people to your house and provide them with food, education, good life and ask them to seek opportunities to better themselves. You may face the following
(1) People may get more demanding
(2) They may fight among themselves
(3) Some might steal from you
(4) Some might get into unethical activities
(5) Some might disrespect you and step over you
(6) They may show more respect to those who did not care for them and curse you for some silly reason.
You might find some good people who really do what you intend them to do.
Why I say this is - there is no GOOD POOR MAN nor BAD RICH MAN - different people behave different in different circumstances.
Did you know that India's independence struggle, American civil liberty struggle were all funded by rich businessmen - they trusted the leaders and gave a lot of money for campaigns for them to be successful.
--- Do these things or ASK our SRK/Politicians/Business Tycoons to do -----
When I say education, you can not just isolate it from mother tree. It is root of the tree... all the branches grow from there...
Like you said give education for those 30 children born from today and come back after 20 years.. see how their lives would be different for better then those 30 unfortunate children who are unable to have education.
Give education for an entire generation of kids for 20 years....and let them figure out their problems...don't just feed them, don't just build homes for them...don't need to solve the problems for them.. let them figure out... that is what going on in USA.
You can not tie INDIA and USA together.... all you are doing is comparing apples to oranges... don't do that...India needs to learn sooooo many things from countries like USA... not comparing to them.
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doomer
01-13 06:16 PM
what the heck is all this
i cant even understand a single word
is it going to effect the students who did their masters here?
right now im working as a contractor i did my masters over here
is it gonna effect me now
:mad::confused:
i cant even understand a single word
is it going to effect the students who did their masters here?
right now im working as a contractor i did my masters over here
is it gonna effect me now
:mad::confused:
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ita
03-30 01:08 AM
Snathan,Arkbird
Please do understand MMS brought economic reforms when he was finance minister in P.V Narasimha Rao's govt.People thought country would see the same in 2004 when MMS was made PM. But Sonia Gandhi didn't give him that freedom.We didn't see any reforms in these 5 years.
Opting for MMS is like saying I won't take Sonia/Rahul but would take them if they came with a wrapper called MMS. That's what MMS is.
All those voting for MMS in the poll might as well vote for Rahul if you are bent on only congress party for communal/other reasons of your own.
MMS is not even fighting these elections.As per congress party sources Sonia doesn't want to announce Rahul as PM candidate because if congress loses then Rahul has to take the blaim(which will affect his charisma..huh our leaders run not qualifications but charisma and even urban/rural people fall for that).If congress wins MMS will be replaced with Rahul citing health or some other issue within no time.
I can understand rural masses but educated skilled people falling for the tactics of unskilled Sonia is something.No wonder she is going great.
Please do understand MMS brought economic reforms when he was finance minister in P.V Narasimha Rao's govt.People thought country would see the same in 2004 when MMS was made PM. But Sonia Gandhi didn't give him that freedom.We didn't see any reforms in these 5 years.
Opting for MMS is like saying I won't take Sonia/Rahul but would take them if they came with a wrapper called MMS. That's what MMS is.
All those voting for MMS in the poll might as well vote for Rahul if you are bent on only congress party for communal/other reasons of your own.
MMS is not even fighting these elections.As per congress party sources Sonia doesn't want to announce Rahul as PM candidate because if congress loses then Rahul has to take the blaim(which will affect his charisma..huh our leaders run not qualifications but charisma and even urban/rural people fall for that).If congress wins MMS will be replaced with Rahul citing health or some other issue within no time.
I can understand rural masses but educated skilled people falling for the tactics of unskilled Sonia is something.No wonder she is going great.
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satyasaich
01-13 04:04 PM
Nuke buddy are you off your rocker. These guys will kill you for even suggesting it. I myselft have taken all kinds of abuses from everyone here and i myself had the presence of mind to not go there. Leave it . That law is the law. Of course it did hurt EB3 but what it did is take the unfair benefit that EB3 was getting because of wrong interpetation of the law. No all that is water under the bridge.
Once upon a time in this country ( & based on situation 'at' that time), laws were made and hence some classifications such as EB1/2/3 etc;
I'm not here to waste any one's time( including mine) but why shouldn't we ( i mean IV which includes "all" members) try for following
1. Automatic consideration of any EB3 after 5 years of filing date of LC ( conditions being verifiable and clean work history ) to EB2 such as a person in the queue shall be able to apply him/her self by providing facts such as 5 years of W2s, say for example.
2. Any spill over from ROW must "first" be made available to "highly retrogressed EB category" regardless of the country. Simple rule: make the spill over available to "that" EB category where there is most retrogession.
Meaning not the vertical spill as it is happening now
AND
3. Remove the count of dependent family members against number of visas granted per year in any of EB category
Once upon a time in this country ( & based on situation 'at' that time), laws were made and hence some classifications such as EB1/2/3 etc;
I'm not here to waste any one's time( including mine) but why shouldn't we ( i mean IV which includes "all" members) try for following
1. Automatic consideration of any EB3 after 5 years of filing date of LC ( conditions being verifiable and clean work history ) to EB2 such as a person in the queue shall be able to apply him/her self by providing facts such as 5 years of W2s, say for example.
2. Any spill over from ROW must "first" be made available to "highly retrogressed EB category" regardless of the country. Simple rule: make the spill over available to "that" EB category where there is most retrogession.
Meaning not the vertical spill as it is happening now
AND
3. Remove the count of dependent family members against number of visas granted per year in any of EB category
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Legal
07-03 10:41 PM
documentation >to <verifying no US citizen worker was available for a given job) -
should have been documentation verifying
should have been documentation verifying
ivar
08-16 02:05 AM
He is confused immigration with security system
I agree security system and immigration system are two different things but they are closely related. What procedures we follow after landing with our I-94 form are immigration procedures and not security checks. Well i guess i need not extend this topic any further.. because as one post above says that this thread is not leading to any fruitful discussion. I assume forums are a place to discuss and exchange views and ideas and what better place than IV to discuss immigration issues.. i don't understand. Still if this thread doesn't serve any purpose i will edit and remove all my post on this thread. Thanks everyone for sharing your views.
I agree security system and immigration system are two different things but they are closely related. What procedures we follow after landing with our I-94 form are immigration procedures and not security checks. Well i guess i need not extend this topic any further.. because as one post above says that this thread is not leading to any fruitful discussion. I assume forums are a place to discuss and exchange views and ideas and what better place than IV to discuss immigration issues.. i don't understand. Still if this thread doesn't serve any purpose i will edit and remove all my post on this thread. Thanks everyone for sharing your views.
bayarea07
09-24 07:27 PM
Interesting Analysis from Greg Siskind
http://blogs.ilw.com/gregsiskind/
COULD ELECTION YEAR POLITICS HELP RECAPTURE BILL'S CHANCES?
Yesterday, I wrote about a great bill that was introduced by Senator Menendez that would recapture hundreds of thousands of unused green card numbers, ease the strict per country limits that cause long lines for nationals of some countries and also make it easier to get a waiver when someone is subject to an unlawful presence bar.It also changes the definition of an "immediate relative" to include spouses and children of permanent residents, a provision which would be wildly popular in the Hispanic community since it would cut out the multiyear waits typical in the Family 2A category.
And, oh yeah, there's another bill that people are talking about. The E-Verify program (DHS' much discussed electronic employment verification system) expires in November.
E-Verify is the heart of the entire enforcement agenda for the antis and with Congress set to adjourn in the next week or so and with the distinct possibility that this will put off all legislation until next February or so when the new Congress comes in, getting E-Verify extended in the next few days is a huge deal. A five year extension has passed the House already. The Senate has done nothing yet.
So it was with great interest that I read in yesterday's CQ Today print edition that Senator Menendez is blocking the E-Verify reauthorization bill in order to force consideration of the recapture bill. The article describes Republicans as being infuriated and saying that the recapture bill is a nonstarter and demanding Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid bring up a clean E-Verify extension bill.
On the House side, interestingly, the recapture bill was set for a markup in the Judiciary Committee yesterday and Congressman Conyers abruptly adjourned the hearing after a bill barring horse slaughtering was finished yesterday. According to my sources, several members of the Committee were shocked that the markup on the recapture bill didn't happen even though Conyers is a strong backer of the measure. Strange.
So that has me speculating. Is something cooking with the Democratic leadership and the Obama campaign? I think the Democrats smell blood. They know John McCain is in trouble with Hispanic voters based on recent polling data. He's polling anywhere from 10 to 20 points worse than Bush did in 2004 and the Hispanic vote partially explains why Obama finds himself ahead in places like New Mexico and Colorado, states Bush won in 2004. Erosion of support in the Hispanic community could also cost McCain Florida, a state McCain cannot lose if he has any chance of winning the election.
As I reported earlier this week, the McCain campaign and congressional leaders have been clamping down on the anti-immigrant wing of the party. You didn't really think these folks suddenly decided they no longer care about this issue, did you?
What I don't think is a coincidence is the sudden reemergence of immigration in the presidential debate. Suddenly, Obama is blasting McCain on immigration and looking for more and more forums to make his claim that he's pro-immigration and his party's solidly behind him. And he's quick to remind Latinos that John McCain turned his back on them and denounced his own comprehensive immigration reform bill, something that Latino voters are now saying is one their top priorities.
McCain is asking Latino voters for a do-over and claiming that he was only pandering to his base. He was always pro-immigration. It's just politics, you understand.
As you might expect, this message is not selling particularly well. And Democrats know it. They also know that with the economy in free fall, most Americans are not thinking that much about immigration anymore and the issue has dropped back to its historically low rank on issues of concern to the typical voter. So Democrats can be more visibly pro-immigration without having to fear negative consequences.
You probably see where this is going. Provoking a confrontation over immigration with Republicans in the month of October can only have good results. Democrats might actually pass a bill they really want. And they score politically as well.
There's no time to bring up a massive comprehensive immigration reform bill between now and the election. Something smaller and simpler, but what? Oh wait, there's that recapture bill! And there's that must pass E-Verify bill. Now there's a great way to put immigration back on the front pages. Link the two and force Republicans to vote no on a pro-immigration bill likely to have a hugely positive impact in the Hispanic community if they want the E-Verify program to survive. If the Democrats can keep the two bills linked, Republicans who can't stomach more immigration will have to vote no on E-Verify, something they'll have trouble explaining to their constituents. And Republicans who think E-Verify is too important to die, will help deliver a win on the recapture bill.
And in the mean time, McCain will have to openly confront the angry antis in his party. Some of the hardliners in his party will call the provisions easing the unlawful presence waivers to be a "back door amnesty." If McCain goes against them, he'll be seen as a liar by the people in his party who he promised that he would not support an "amnesty" without enforcement first. And if he votes with the antis, it will be all the Hispanic community needs to hear to confirm they're right to support Obama.
October could be interesting.
http://blogs.ilw.com/gregsiskind/
COULD ELECTION YEAR POLITICS HELP RECAPTURE BILL'S CHANCES?
Yesterday, I wrote about a great bill that was introduced by Senator Menendez that would recapture hundreds of thousands of unused green card numbers, ease the strict per country limits that cause long lines for nationals of some countries and also make it easier to get a waiver when someone is subject to an unlawful presence bar.It also changes the definition of an "immediate relative" to include spouses and children of permanent residents, a provision which would be wildly popular in the Hispanic community since it would cut out the multiyear waits typical in the Family 2A category.
And, oh yeah, there's another bill that people are talking about. The E-Verify program (DHS' much discussed electronic employment verification system) expires in November.
E-Verify is the heart of the entire enforcement agenda for the antis and with Congress set to adjourn in the next week or so and with the distinct possibility that this will put off all legislation until next February or so when the new Congress comes in, getting E-Verify extended in the next few days is a huge deal. A five year extension has passed the House already. The Senate has done nothing yet.
So it was with great interest that I read in yesterday's CQ Today print edition that Senator Menendez is blocking the E-Verify reauthorization bill in order to force consideration of the recapture bill. The article describes Republicans as being infuriated and saying that the recapture bill is a nonstarter and demanding Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid bring up a clean E-Verify extension bill.
On the House side, interestingly, the recapture bill was set for a markup in the Judiciary Committee yesterday and Congressman Conyers abruptly adjourned the hearing after a bill barring horse slaughtering was finished yesterday. According to my sources, several members of the Committee were shocked that the markup on the recapture bill didn't happen even though Conyers is a strong backer of the measure. Strange.
So that has me speculating. Is something cooking with the Democratic leadership and the Obama campaign? I think the Democrats smell blood. They know John McCain is in trouble with Hispanic voters based on recent polling data. He's polling anywhere from 10 to 20 points worse than Bush did in 2004 and the Hispanic vote partially explains why Obama finds himself ahead in places like New Mexico and Colorado, states Bush won in 2004. Erosion of support in the Hispanic community could also cost McCain Florida, a state McCain cannot lose if he has any chance of winning the election.
As I reported earlier this week, the McCain campaign and congressional leaders have been clamping down on the anti-immigrant wing of the party. You didn't really think these folks suddenly decided they no longer care about this issue, did you?
What I don't think is a coincidence is the sudden reemergence of immigration in the presidential debate. Suddenly, Obama is blasting McCain on immigration and looking for more and more forums to make his claim that he's pro-immigration and his party's solidly behind him. And he's quick to remind Latinos that John McCain turned his back on them and denounced his own comprehensive immigration reform bill, something that Latino voters are now saying is one their top priorities.
McCain is asking Latino voters for a do-over and claiming that he was only pandering to his base. He was always pro-immigration. It's just politics, you understand.
As you might expect, this message is not selling particularly well. And Democrats know it. They also know that with the economy in free fall, most Americans are not thinking that much about immigration anymore and the issue has dropped back to its historically low rank on issues of concern to the typical voter. So Democrats can be more visibly pro-immigration without having to fear negative consequences.
You probably see where this is going. Provoking a confrontation over immigration with Republicans in the month of October can only have good results. Democrats might actually pass a bill they really want. And they score politically as well.
There's no time to bring up a massive comprehensive immigration reform bill between now and the election. Something smaller and simpler, but what? Oh wait, there's that recapture bill! And there's that must pass E-Verify bill. Now there's a great way to put immigration back on the front pages. Link the two and force Republicans to vote no on a pro-immigration bill likely to have a hugely positive impact in the Hispanic community if they want the E-Verify program to survive. If the Democrats can keep the two bills linked, Republicans who can't stomach more immigration will have to vote no on E-Verify, something they'll have trouble explaining to their constituents. And Republicans who think E-Verify is too important to die, will help deliver a win on the recapture bill.
And in the mean time, McCain will have to openly confront the angry antis in his party. Some of the hardliners in his party will call the provisions easing the unlawful presence waivers to be a "back door amnesty." If McCain goes against them, he'll be seen as a liar by the people in his party who he promised that he would not support an "amnesty" without enforcement first. And if he votes with the antis, it will be all the Hispanic community needs to hear to confirm they're right to support Obama.
October could be interesting.
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