It is Really Hard
So much happens every day. Asylum cases that you believe should be approved are denied. You see bad choices being made, and people losing or being denied benefits because of them. Judges make bad decisions. People can not afford to challenge the system to make it right. Officers who think there is something sinister so [...]
Been too long – Too much to talk about
I was away for a short while and the world of immigration went crazy. I will try and touch on as much as I can as quickly as possible.
First, it looks like the lack of hiring has really impacted the Specialty Worker H1-B filings. There were very few (like 13,500) submitted. This is a great [...]
Lots of Immigration News
So much going on this week, I can’t wait to sit down and write in earnest. But sitting in the airport, I can’t wait.
Padilla was decided, and immigrants get some protection from bad plea advice. Illinois businesses will be getting together to support CIR. H-1B petitions for FY 2011 were accepted beginning 04.01.10. [...]
Senators Schumer & Graham on NBC’s Meet the Press
I was all excited when I heard that Senators Schumer and Graham were going to be on NBC’s Meet the Press this morning. For the last few months every time I have heard their names together it meant a discussion of the (hopefully) forthcoming proposal for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Less than two weeks ago they [...]
More Meetings about CIR
The week ended for me as it started. More meetings with Congressional Staffers. I was back in DC as part of the National Day of Action with AILA campaigning for comprehensive immigration reform. A large delegation descended on the Hill. From Illinois we had almost 20 people and met with someone in the office of [...]
What a day! Keep the Pressure on for CIR!
I am back in the airport after a long day of meetings with Congressional staffers. Our group met with staffers in the offices of IL Representatives Bobby Rush, Mike Quigley, Luis Gutierrez, Danny Davis, Dan Lipinski, Jan Schakowsky, Mark Kirk, Melissa Bean, Don Manzullo and IL Senator Dick Durbin. There were also meetings scheduled with [...]
Show your support for CIR
There were 200,000 people in DC today rallyingfor Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). (Local DC Fox said 500,000.) Its time for each of us to stand up and be heard. We need to make sure that all of our reprsentatives and senators hear from us. We can not let the antis drown out our voices. Advocacy [...]
200,000 in DC March for America – CIR NOW!
I am in awe as I watch the 200,000 people, the congressional leaders, Pres. Obama, civic leaders, religious leaders, and the people. The masses and masses of people. To watch the news you might not know this was going on. CNN, MSNBC, Fox are all focused only on Health Care Reform, and don’t misunderstand, today [...]
Big Immigration Weekend Upon Us
So its March 20, 2010, and I am in Chicago. Looking outside for the start of spring and I am seeing snow. But I am all warm and giddy for spring. The season of rebirth. Seems appropriate when there is so much excitement in the world of immigration. Locally close to 200 buses are loading [...]
A Very Positive Sign for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Yesterday was a good day for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). From all reports, most of the day at the white house was spent focused on this issue. Meetings with Senators (Schumer & Graham) and leaders from faith and grass roots organizations, and Obama reaffirmed his commitment to CIR. He also indicated that there needed to [...]
2010 Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame
I am honored to share that I have been selected to receive the Friend of the Filipino Award (Immigration Law) at the 2010 Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame Event, to be held this Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown.
Thank you to Veronica Leighton, Joe Mauricio, VIA Times and CPRTV. It is [...]
I am a Hopeful Realist
I think that is the best way I can think of to describe my feelings about tomorrow. Hopeful Realism.
Rumor has it that Pres. Obama will be meeting with Sen. Schumer and Sen. Graham to discuss immigration, presumably with a significant emphasis on Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the status of the bill that has been talked [...]
Detained and Deported: Failed By a Broken Immigration System
Please join me tomorrow for this lunch and learn session hosted by JCUA, and its Immigrant Justice Strategy Team. JCUA – IJST is one of the groups I am working with to raise awareness about the push for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Detained and Deported: Failed by a Broken Immigration System, Reflections and Testimonies on why we need Reform; [...]
March for America – Change Takes Courage
People should go to the Hull House located 800 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL on Monday February 22nd at 10:30 AM for the Press Conference on “March for America – Change Takes Courage” – and should volunteer to ride and donate to support immigration reform through the 100,000 person march planned for March 21, 2010 [...]
Don’t Give Up
There are a lot of people who want change to come to the broken immigration system who are out there, and who are disheartened by recent events and are prepared to pack it in and head home. To you I say – Don’t Give Up. The more I talk to people the key is to [...]
State of the Union
I wonder when immigration will be addressed. Lots of references to commissions and agenda items. Jobs, taxes, schools, college, healthcare reform, even a shout out for child obesity. Recovery program. Housing. Government spending. Campaign Funding. Supreme Court. Confirmations. Iraq. Military withdrawal. Military families. Haiti. Civil rights. Hate crimes. Gays in the military. Equal pay.
Finally – [...]
Early Thoughts on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
I am an optimist and a realist. These two ideologies don’t always work together. In the case of CIR (Comprehensive Immigration Reform) this might be a problem. The optimist in me hopes that getting a proposal out there will spawn debate and maybe we will finally have the change we need to help the millions [...]
Its been too long…
Sorry for the hiatus. There is so much going on. Its time for me to get back to chatting about what’s going on out there. Comprehensive Immigration Reform, will it come to fruition? Immigration has come up in the health care debate, the disaster in Haiti, whether it stimulates job creation. It was an issue [...]
Does USCIS even read its own information?
Many of you likely heard that 2 different immigration programs were scheduled to sunset on March 6, 2009. Someone in my office and I were busy debating what exactly does the term sunset mean. Is sunset the last day the program is valid or the first day the program expired? Well let’s look at the [...]
Why Limit Investment Visas to Treaty Countries?
In case someone did not notice, the economic condition of the US is not so hot right now. It does not seem like a very big stretch to me that the US should be welcoming any person who wants to come here and invest capital. Sadly, this is not the case. If you are from [...]
