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Daily Beast Romney Fails to Lay Out Clear Alternative on Immigration Policy, Says FAIR Sacramento Bee Romney has been explicit about his desire to repeal President Obama's Affordable Health Care Act which Congress at least voted for, but has not definitively opposed an illegitimate broad-based DREAM Act benefits package that Congress voted against. Romney: Dream Act Kids Can StayDaily Beast Romney increases efforts to win over Hispanic votersThe Hill Romney Will Honor Obama's AmnestyThe New American NJ.com (blog) -CNN (blog) -New York Magazine all 232 news articles » View the full article

‘Dreamers’: DACA is good, but we need immigration reform WKBN.comView the full article

An exceptional attorney friend of mine, Kimberley Best Robidoux of Larrabee | Mehlman | Albi | Coker LLP attended a question and answer session today at the USCIS San Diego District Office and has provided an outline of the discussion. District Director Paul Pierre spoke initially to provide information and then opened it up to Q&A from the stakeholders who had been invited to the forum. He stated that he was providing what "likely" will happen with regard to the process but that there are still 2 weeks before anything will likely be finalized. So, he said, take everything with a grain of salt. The following is a brief summary of the points that he hit upon: - Anticipated 1.4 million applicants, but that estimate keeps growing (initially started at 800,000) - Applications will likely be processed at the Service Centers and then forwarded to District Offices for interviews (if needed; e.g. criminal issues) - Currently hiring about 400 people for the Service Centers in anticipation of the landslide of applications to be filed - Service Centers nay be sending some work to the local offices for adjudication so that they can clean out their pipelines to be prepared for the DACA cases - 100% of cases will be scheduled for biometrics which means that the ASCs will become backlogged. This will impact the cycle time for N-400s and I-485s adjudicated at the local offices. Will cycle times be more than 6 months? Yes, likely. ASCs will need more machines and more contractors to handle the workload - Local offices are gearing up for training for what will be adjudicated at the local offices - Form - likely will be an I-821D. Cannot use the I-821 because it has a fee ($50). The fee impact study had only been conducted in relation to TPS and not DACA and not enough time to do a fee impact study before August 15th. So, if they make a "D" form, no fee will be required and no fee impact study necessary. Likely that they will do a fee impact study and charge in the future. - Biometrics fee will be charged ($85). - I-765 will need to be filed for EAD card and fee will be imposed for the I-765 form ($340) - Applications will likely be filed at lockbox (likely Chicago or Phoenix) and then an A file will be created - Receipt Notices will likely not be generated for 60-90 days because of the initial onslaught of cases they are expecting to be filed as of August 15th - Biometrics may likely not be scheduled for another 30 to 60 days following issuance of Receipt Notice - Likely that RFEs may be issued in a majority of cases - If I-821D is approved, the I-765 will then be adjudicated (likely to be adjudicated immediately after approval of I-821D so don't have to wait an additional 90 days). There is no 90 requirement to process the I-821D so the filing of an I-765 with the I-821D does not start the 90-day clock. EAD card will be granted for a period of 2 years from the date of approval of I-765. - As of yesterday, there will not be any appeal rights - Will ODA applicants be able to travel? Don’t know yet - What happens at the end of the 2-year Deferred Action period? Don’t know yet. - May be able to "waive" requirements for a government issued ID in some cases but as of now, the Mexican consulates are gearing up to aid people with obtaining birth certificates and issuing passports. Student IDs should list both last names for Mexicans so that it will be easier to assist with obtaining birth certificates and processing passport applications. - Residence requirement - continuous physical presence (in the aggregate) for 5 years - temporary breaks are okay - Apply for ODA concurrently with a VAWA or U or T case? Yes, but they will need to "marry" all cases together with the A file so the VAWA or U or whatever case may be delayed while adjudicating and/or inputting information for A file for ODA. Source: http://musingsonimmigration.blogspot.com/2012/07/obama-deferred-action-oda-trickling.html

Daily Beast WHY IT MATTERS: Immigration CBS News President Barack Obama has pushed for the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Efforts to pass the bill have repeatedly failed, most notably in 2010 when it stalled in a Democratic-led ... Romney: Dream Act Kids Can StayDaily Beast Romney's Immigration Clarification (Re-clarified)New York Times (blog) Mitt Romney Camp Says He Will Not Continue Deferred Action After Taking OfficeFox News Sacramento Bee -TPM -New York Magazine all 263 news articles » View the full article

Daily Beast Romney's Immigration Clarification (Re-clarified) New York Times (blog) ... months whether Mr. Romney, as president, would continue President Obama's policy of temporarily halting deportations for so-called Dreamers, young unauthorized immigrants who would have been eligible for legalization under the long-stalled Dream ... WHY IT MATTERS: ImmigrationHuffington Post Romney: Dream Act Kids Can StayDaily Beast Romney increases efforts to win over Hispanic votersThe Hill The New American -NJ.com (blog) -Education Week News (blog) all 249 news articles » View the full article

WHY IT MATTERS: Illegal immigration and how the candidates plan to tackle the ... Newser President Barack Obama has pushed for the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Efforts to pass the bill have repeatedly failed, most notably in 2010 when it stalled in a Democratic-led ... and more » View the full article

Report: DREAM Act approval would boost Arizona economy TucsonSentinel.com WASHINGTON – Arizona could add more than 83,000 jobs and see an additional $18.4 billion in economic activity by 2030 if the DREAM Act was approved, a new report claims. The Arizona impact is just part of the $329 billion in economic activity that ... View the full article

The Associated Press WHY IT MATTERS: Immigration The Associated Press President Barack Obama has pushed for the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Efforts to pass the bill have repeatedly failed, most notably in 2010 when it stalled in a Democratic-led ... Today's Challenge of Immigration ReformWashington College Elm all 125 news articles » View the full article

Lopez Plans on Reintroducing DREAM Act Bill in 2013 Sun Gazette “I will keep introducing my Virginia DREAM Act legislation every year until it becomes the law of the commonwealth,” Lopez (D-49th) told the Sun Gazette. In Virginia, students without legal immigration status are allowed to attend public institutions ... View the full article

DREAM Act offers opportunity Delmarva Now That is reasonable justification for both federal and Maryland versions of the DREAM Act — an appropriate acronym that stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors. Yes, this is the hotly disputed legislation that will appear as one ... and more » View the full article

Dream Act would bring in $15.9B to New York, Center for American Progress ... Bizjournals.com New York is one of 12 states that would feel the greatest economic impact as a result of the Dream Act passing, according to a report released Monday by the Center for American Progress and Mayor Michael Bloomberg's coalition, the Partnership for a New ... View the full article

If anyone can do it for us, it's Mr. Durbin. Comment below. Senator Dick Durbin on Tuesday expressed confidence that a bill providing a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants, even if challenged by a lawsuit, would eventually pass. “Some day, in the not-to-distant future, the DREAM Act is going to be the law of the land,” Durbin said in a speech at the Center for American Progress. “I hope to have the honor of attending many a naturalization ceremonies and watching each of these dreamers swear an oath of allegiance to the country they still call home.” His remarks come just about a month after the Obama Administration announced it would no longer seek deportation of some immigrants and allow them to apply for work permits. “These DREAMers are no longer whispering in the shadows,” Durbin said of the ramifications of the president’s action. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) has said he intends to file a lawsuit to suspend Obama’s order, but Durbin dismissed that action as a threat. “We are lowering the priority here, we are saying we are not going to deport these [DREAM Act students], we will dedicate our resources to those that may be a challenge or problem for our future,” Durbin said, according to Roll Call. “That is a clearly recognized principle of law. Congressman King, we know where he’s coming from, and he can continue this if he’d like, but after all that we’ve been through and all these DREAMers have been through, a court challenge is not going to slow us down one bit.” The DREAM Act — short for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act — would grant conditional legal status to people illegally brought into the United States as Children if they attend a college or join the United States military. Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-durbin-dream-act-center-american-progress-speech-163597946.html

Arizona DREAM Act students and Latino voters protest Congressman Jeff Flake ... Tucson Citizen Arizona DREAM Act students and Latino eligible voters via Tequila Party members support the Arizona DREAM Act protest of Congressman Jeff Flake in Mesa, Arizona. Jeff Flake voted against kids and students in December 2010 and we might forgive but ... and more » View the full article

‘Dreamers’: DACA is good, but we need immigration reform MyWabashValley.comView the full article

The Associated Press WHY IT MATTERS: Searching for the elusive balance on illegal immigration ... Washington Post President Barack Obama has pushed for the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Efforts to pass the bill have repeatedly failed, most notably in 2010 when it stalled in a Democratic-led ... Obama Camp: Romney Still Opposes DREAM ActTPM Mitt Romney Deferred Action Immigration Switch Puts GOP Hardliners On MuteHuffington Post Romney Fails to Lay Out Clear Alternative on Immigration Policy, Says FAIRThe Herald | HeraldOnline.com eNews Park Forest -NBC Latino -The Moderate Voice all 142 news articles » View the full article

WHY IT MATTERS: Immigration San Jose Mercury News President Barack Obama has pushed for the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Efforts to pass the bill have repeatedly failed, most notably in 2010 when it stalled in a Democratic-led ... and more » View the full article

DREAM Act gains support, recent polls find Diamondback Online State voters overwhelmingly support the ballot initiative, the polls suggest — an average of 60 percent of those asked favored the legislation while about 30 percent opposed it. In January, 48 percent supported the state DREAM Act and 49 percent ... View the full article

‘Dreamers’: DACA is good, but we need immigration reform WSYRView the full article

WHY IT MATTERS: Immigration Huffington Post President Barack Obama has pushed for the DREAM Act, a path to citizenship for many young illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. Efforts to pass the bill have repeatedly failed, most notably in 2010 when it stalled in a Democratic-led ... and more » View the full article

Group Says DREAM Act Would Create Jobs HispanicBusiness.com The report found that up to 223,000 of the 2.1 million young illegal immigrants eligible for the DREAM Act would have an easier time enrolling, paying for and finishing college, which would lead to the increased economic gains. The study was released ... View the full article

Rubio says Romney wants permanent solution for Dream Act kids Los Angeles Times Obama also supported the DREAM Act, legislation also aimed at illegal residents brought to the U.S. as children. The bill would provide a path for young illegal immigrants to reside in the country if they have maintained a clean record and have ... Rubio slams Obama, Biden on economyLas Vegas Review - Journal all 8 news articles » View the full article

Would you guys like a new forum section titled 'work after ead' in that particular forum, members can make new topics discussing work related things like how they can actuially find a job, talk about thier current job, etc Good idea yes? no? elaborate

NBC Latino New report demonstrates economic benefits of DREAM Act NBC Latino Critics of the DREAM Act have long focused on the legal, ethical, and logistical concerns regarding the bill, but a new report by the progressive think tank claims passing the DREAM Act will add $392 billion to the U.S. economy. In a new analysis by ... View the full article

THIS SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT ONLY 200 HAVE BEEN APROVED, BUT IT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE. COMMENT BELOW!! ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Daniel Gonzales was only 11 or 12, so details are fuzzy. He remembers two strangers came to his grandmother's door in Bolivia, drove him to the airport in La Paz, and put him on a plane to join his parents in New York. Now 27 and barrel-chested, he has never had legal status as an immigrant in the United States. Gonzales has finished high school and kept out of trouble. But he's been refused jobs at an Apple store and a Best Buy because he doesn't have a work permit. Without proper papers, he is ineligible for in-state tuition at the community college where he studies science, and he can't get a Virginia driver's license. Gonzales would seem the perfect candidate for the Obama administration program, launched in mid-August, to grant work permits and two-year deportation deferrals to illegal immigrants who came to America as children. But he hasn't applied. "I am still skeptical," Gonzales said after attending a free workshop at Northern Virginia Community College. He fears a future administration will end the deferrals and use the details in his application to arrest and deport him and his parents, who are also undocumented. He is hardly alone. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials had prepared to process 300,000 applications from young illegal immigrants by Oct. 1. But only about 120,000 people have applied so far. Alejandro Mayorkas, who heads the federal agency, called the response "significant," even though it is far below projections. "We felt that we needed to be prepared for whatever might come," he said in a telephone interview. Only about 200 applications have been approved. Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute at New York University law school, said applications could snowball after young people see neighbors and friends gaining work permits and deferrals. He called the response so far "a promising start," if not very enthusiastic. GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney has said he disapproves of President Obama's use of an executive order to deal with the nation's immigration problems. But he has refused in several interviews to say whether he would reverse the deferral program. Immigration advocates say that uncertainty has discouraged many eligible youths from applying. They expect the pace to pick up if Obama wins reelection. "There is no guarantee that this program will be extended," said James Ferg-Cadima, a lawyer with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund in Los Angeles. "Many applicants are taking the wait-and-see approach." Another reason: Applicants need voluminous documents. They must prove they came to America before they were 16 and are now under 31, have been here continuously for the last five years, and were here on June 15 when Obama first announced the program, among other requirements. But for applicants who moved from school to school, or who attended years ago, obtaining transcripts isn't always easy. So far, more applications have been submitted from California than anywhere else, and the Los Angeles Unified School District has been inundated with requests. Some applicants find novel means to prove their whereabouts on June 15. Advocates say ATM slips, cellphone records and credit card receipts are acceptable. Facebook posts may help if the applicant "checked in" at a location; a status update can be posted from anywhere. Some people seeking old work records or pay stubs face resistance from employers fearful that their businesses could be prosecuted for hiring an illegal worker. Undocumented workers who submit paperwork with fake Social Security numbers are in a gray area: They are not likely to face immediate prosecution, lawyers say, but could face legal problems in the future. "It's a lot more complicated process than people thought it would be," said David Leopold, an immigration lawyer in Cleveland who has received hundreds of requests for assistance. At the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, 200 people still attend group workshops every day. Individual appointments are booked until March. "Very few feel comfortable doing it on their own and filling it out themselves," said Luis Perez, the coalition's deferred action project manager. "They feel they need someone to review it." For some, listing every home address can be daunting. Delia Esmeralda Arriaga, 26, was brought to Los Angeles from Mexico as an infant. That makes 25 years of addresses. Her parents remembered the cross streets of her first U.S. home, but not the number. Arriaga found a photo of herself in her mother's arms in front of their apartment building. Using Google, she matched an existing building with the one in the photo. "I came here when I was five months old. I don't feel like I have a dual identity," Arriaga said. "This is where I grew up. This is what I know." Mexico is the most common country of origin for applications filed so far, followed by El Salvador and South Korea, officials said. But applicants hail from around the globe. Seth Ronquillo, a third-year film studies major at UCLA, came from the Philippines when he was 12. He expects to scrape together the $465 application fee and finish collecting his documents in a few weeks. "Even if I work, I can barely work," Ronquillo said of his job options as an undocumented immigrant. If he is approved, "maybe I can work using my college degree." If an application falls short of evidence, adjudicators have been instructed to request more information rather than deny the application outright. Even if someone is rejected, the Obama administration says none of the material submitted will be used to deport the applicant or his or her relatives, or to take enforcement action against employers who have hired the applicant in the past. Still, some activists say, there are no guarantees. "Wow, the government has my fingerprints. They know where I am. It could be used against me," said Hareth Andrade, 19, who arrived as a tourist from Bolivia with her grandparents in 2001 and never left. Still, Andrade submitted her application from northern Virginia. "You have to trust that they won't … come for you and take you away," she said. Source: http://www.latimes.c...0,6830779.story

Good read once again! Comment with anything you want. WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s new plan to grant temporary work permits to many young, illegal immigrants who otherwise could be deported may cost the government more than $585 million and require hiring hundreds of new federal employees to process more than 1 million anticipated requests, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. The Homeland Security Department plans, marked “not for distribution,” describe steps that immigrants will need to take — including a $465 paperwork fee — and how the government will manage the program. Illegal immigrants can request permission to stay in the country under the plan by filing a document, “Request for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” and simultaneously apply for a work permit starting Aug. 15. Under the new program, which President Barack Obama announced last month, eligible immigrants must have arrived in the U.S. before their 16th birthday, are 30 or younger, have been living here at least five years, are in school or graduated or served in the military. They also must not have a criminal record or otherwise pose a safety threat. They can apply to stay in the country and be granted a work permit for two years, but they would not be granted citizenship. The internal government plans obtained by the AP provide the first estimates of costs, how many immigrants were expected to participate and how long it might take for them. It was not immediately clear whether or under which circumstances any immigrants would not be required to pay the $465 paperwork fee. The plans said there would be no waivers, but Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress last week that the government would grant waivers “in very deserving cases.” She said details were still being worked out. “We anticipate that this will be a fee-driven process,” Napolitano said. A DHS official said Tuesday that the department is looking at various estimates of the volume of applications and potential costs. Fee waivers could dramatically affect the government’s share of the cost. The plans said that, depending on how many applicants don’t pay, the government could lose between $19 million and $121 million. Republican critics pounced on that. “By lowering the fee or waiving it altogether for illegal immigrants, those who play by the rules will face delays and large backlogs as attention is diverted to illegal immigrants,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas. “American taxpayers should not be forced to bail out illegal immigrants and President Obama’s fiscally irresponsible policies.” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services estimated it could receive more than 1 million applications during the first year of the program, or more than 3,000 per day. It would cost the government between $467 million and $585 million to process applications in the first two years of the program, with revenues from fees paid by immigrants estimated at $484 million, according to the plans. The government estimated that as many as 890,000 immigrants in the first year would be immediately eligible to avoid deportation. The remaining 151,000 immigrants would likely be rejected as ineligible. The plans estimated that the Homeland Security Department could need to hire more than 1,400 full-time employees, as well as contractors, to process the applications. Salaries were included in the agency’s estimates of total program costs. Once immigrants submit their applications, it could take between two and 10 days for the Homeland Security Department to scan and file it. It could take up to four weeks longer to make an appointment for immigrants to submit their fingerprints and take photographs. A subsequent background check could take six more weeks, then three more months for the government to make its final decision before a work permit would be issued. Napolitano said new information about the program should be made available by Aug. 1. She has said immigrants would generally not be detained by immigration authorities while their application is pending. Source: http://www.washingto...dt6W_story.html