immigration

First Steps to Fixing The Crisis in United States Immigration Courts

If there was anything that was revealed from the case of a Cameroon mother who wanted to seek asylum in the United States and for her children as well, it was the fact that immigration court system in the United moves at a glacial pace if slower.

Delays were prominent while background checks, it seemed, took forever and if that wasn’t enough, 12 hearings were scheduled in a span of 5 years. Her lawyers fearing that the woman might soon turn suicidal appealed to two United States Senators not to intervene but to actually review the immigration system that is desperately in need of a serious overhaul.

One of the lawyers of the Cameroon mother, Judy London, summed it up in a few words in saying that so many things are wrong that it’s really tough to know where to start. And even though there are steps that are being taken in order to improve training, add judges and reduce the influence of politics, critics say that these reforms are too little and should have been auctioned a long time ago.

Despite the criticism, about 38 judges and 90 clerks have been added to the system who will address the backlog of 268000 cases that have remained from last year apart from placing the emphasis on thorough rulings in the appeals stage as well as an open complaint system.

Even though most people think that this is a first important step to changes in the coming years, a lot of people believe that this is not a priority with Congress.

US, Mexico Offer Rewards For The Shooting of Two ICE Agents

Ever since the shooting of two American immigration agents, both the American and Mexican governments have offered rewards for someone who could give any information that could lead to the arrest of the culprits who did the crime.

The ambush of two unarmed ICE personnel was done in broad daylight while they were on their way to an armored truck from San Luis Potosi to Mexico City. One of the ICE agents, Jaime Zapata, was killed during the attack while the other, Victor Avila, was wounded in the leg.  Officials suspect that this was done by gang members who are involved in drug trafficking since the crackdown on drug and weapon trafficking has intensified over the last few years.

The United States government has offered $ 5 million as a reward while the Mexican government has offered up to 10 million pesos in an effort to bring these criminals to justice. Both countries have also set up hotlines just in case somebody knows the needed information.  The Mexican government has already detained almost 30 suspects, including a Zetas drug cartel money man who was arrested only this month.

One of the weapons used during the shootout has been traced back to a Texan who bought it last year and who was also prosecuted for buying arms illegally.  He has not been prosecuted in relation to this case yet.

A Note on Immigration Reform

There’s no doubt that the topic of immigration evokes strong emotions in the American people. With recent developments taken by certain states, and more following suit, it looks like Obama has his work cut out for him ever since he took office in the year of 2009 as President of the United States.

Of course, since he has had to take care of health care reform as well, the entire plan around sorting this complex matter of dealing with 12 million illegal immigrants has taken a backseat. And with the American people divided on whether they should be given citizenship or should be sent back to their homeland, there’s one thing that they do agree on, immigration reform is important enough to be dealt with immediately.

And of course, this is directly related to the Latinos who have made their way across the border from Mexico. Since most of them come to the United States and work illegally, in allowing them to stay back and keep their jobs, this would end up as a $ 1.5 trillion dollar boost for the U.S economy as most of these workers do not pay their taxes to the government. In giving them citizenship, not only will they be paid higher wages but the United States government will receive taxes of the same amount as mentioned earlier but this practice of dishonest employers will come to an end.

Even several people are against doing this, and are taking steps that can only be considered as ‘racial profiling’, one can only surmise that deporting these immigrants will not only cost the government much more (and affect taxpayers to do so) but it won’t be a realistic task to do this either.

SEEKING IMMIGRATION REFORM

The topic of immigration is at the forefront of many different arenas in European culture. The political arena is finding itself ingrained in the issue. Citizens of various countries are voicing alarm at the number of immigrants flocking to numerous European countries. 

The Transatlantic Trends poll which surveyed approximately 1,000 people in eight European and North American countries revealed that 23 percent polled in England saw immigration as the country’s biggest problem. Immigration Minister Damien Green called the last decade “uncontrolled”. Prime Minister David Cameron has called for “tougher rules to ensure immigrants learn English”.

Denmark has enacted new immigration laws placing stricter requirements for immigrants wanting to enter the country and for those already present desiring to marry a Dane. The populist Danish People’s Party was founded because of too many immigrants and is gaining acceptance as a permanent part of parliament and politics. 

A recent influx of over 4,000 Tunisia migrants to Lampedusa, an Italian island, has prompted Italy’s Interior Minister Roberto Maroni to ask Tunisia to let Italian authorities intervene. Calls from Rome have requested permission to deploy Italian police to Tunisia. The proposal has been refused by the country.
Sweden’s parliament saw the entry of the Democratic party last year. The party would like to see the large number of incoming immigrants substantially reduced. Democratic leader Jimmie Akesson thinks current immigration policy has created parallel societies rather than an assimilated Swedish culture.

Some international bodies believe that some immigration laws and policies enacted by some European countries breach European Union law. But, the overall consensus of many European countries’ citizens is that immigration policy needs to be reformed.

DREAM Act may help ease immigrant woes

Immigrants in the United States are still facing improper treatment, despite the DREAM Act now sitting in the halls of the US Congress. Deportation rates have risen to an all time high of 1,200 percent for the past two decades. From what were 30,000 deportations each year has now risen to almost 360,000 under President Barack Obama’s governance. These figures are sources from a study made recently by the New York Immigration Coalition, and points to the harsh reality that immigrants go through each day.

Almost 1,000 immigrants are sent home on a daily basis. The creation of the DREAM Act, also known as the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors, under the Senate almost ten years ago is yet to bear fruit. The bill is supposed to provide some relief to young immigrants who are facing America’s most difficult immigration crisis ever. It also aims to enable immigrant youth to qualify for conditional permanent residency, thereby easing up accommodation hardships. To qualify, immigrants have to graduate from an American high school, and should be certified as having good moral character.

Further requirements for conditional permanent residencies include having immigrated into the US at a minor age, and should have stayed in the country for a minimum of five years before the bill is passed as law. Also, qualifiers should undergo military training for at least two years or study in college for at least four years. The DREAM Act however is still sitting in Congress awaiting further deliberation.

The plight of illegal immigrants

Around 70,000 people from other nations flock to the United States each day mostly as tourists. Out of that number, above 60,000 enter the country as tourists, entrepreneurs, college students or overseas workers that are given legal access across US borders. Of the remaining number of people entering the country, which is around 2,200, mostly are immigrants seeking refuge in the country along with proper invitations to reside permanently inside America. Not to be left out are the 5,000 mostly of whom are illegal entries without authentic travel documents to show border officials.

Of that big number, around 4,000 will be unsuccessful in their attempt to reside illegally in the country, being arrested by border officials shortly after passing the border. Around a thousand of them will be able to get pass officials hunting for illegal aliens and thus can either choose to stay in the country or go home to Mexico. Meanwhile, there are those who will choose to remain in the country illegally despite the expiration of the entry visas, while others are able to elude detection by carrying falsified visas.

Government points to the continued hiring of illegal immigrants as fueling the occurrence of unauthorized aliens in the country. This remains the highest incentives for outsiders to attempt trespassing the border and seeking employment in the U.S. The Mexican government is quite indifferent to the situation, quoting remittances from illegal workers in the U.S. as one of the country’s biggest sources of foreign income, surpassing that of oil, foreign investment and even energy.

Federal judges consider constitutionality of Arizona immigration law

A panel of three federal judges will consider the constitution of Arizona Law SB 1070. SB 1070 was the measure passed that let police question someone’s immigration status when an officer pulled someone over on a different violation. An earlier federal judge had struck down parts of the measure as unconstitutional.

Arizona law enforcement agencies have issued requests for more weaponry and manpower to deal with the kidnapping and drug violence that has come through the state. Drug dealers also do a brisk side business of transporting people across the border illegally into the United States. Critics of the measure said the bill would lead to racial profiling.

Protesters for illegal alien rights groups protested after attorneys made their arguments this Monday. Chanters chanted, “Human Right[s] under attack, what we do? Stand up, fight back.” Members of the We Are All Arizonans organization stated that the new law kept illegal aliens from looking for work. Federal law currently prohibits employers from hiring non-legal U.S. Residents.

The Obama administration has challenged the bill for overstepping state jurisdiction. SB 1070 provided sweeping law enforcement powers that are broader than those used by the Department of Homeland Security. Although the bill’s future remains in doubt, at least 25 other states have placed similar measures before the legislature. 

Whether or not those bills will make it beyond the House committees that hear them will depend on the fate of SB 1070 in federal court. Legal Analysts expect the Supreme Court to have the final word upon the constitutionality of the law.

Immigration Reform – The DREAM Act of 2010

Immigration Law Reform has been one of the most important topics that have been left unresolved due to the ongoing debate that only seems to go around in circles or take an extreme approach like the Arizona-style law that allow law enforcement personnel to stop and check whether the person is a citizen of the country or not.

Another law that has been doing the rounds is the DREAM Act and which is not as hostile as the Arizona SB 1070 but is more accepting of illegal immigrants and their children has yet to be made into law, as it is still being reviewed by lawmakers.

The DREAM Act, which was brought into existence by Senator Lugar from Indiana and Senator Durbin from Illinois among other senators, allows illegal immigrants who were brought by their parents (illegally, of course!) into the country and have studied in American schools to become permanent residents.

While demonstrating the ability to speak fluent English, the individual should have entered the country below the age of sixteen and must have lived in the United States for at least 5 years without an interruption.

Of course, one does not become a permanent resident by just meeting these conditions and must either enroll for higher education or join the military, for conditional residency in the United States. After completion of an associates’ degree within six years of their petition, the status will be changed to that of a permanent resident.

While this law wants to use taxpayer dollars that are being used to educate illegal immigrants in public schools, what this also does is give those without citizenship status a chance to make that happen.

A United States Passport: More than Mere Identification

What does having a passport mean? For starters, having a United States passport means your individual identity has been certified, and that you are a United States citizen. A passport is an official document issued only by the government, in this case, the State Department.

What do you require a passport for? Your United States passport is your major requirement for entering almost any foreign country. This is because it is recognized as an official and international travel document which permits an individual to leave the United States for travel to foreign nations, and to allow him or her to return to the US.

In January 2007, a law was declared that compelled all US citizens to own an official travel document and have it ready when traveling between the US and Canada, Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda and other international countries. An official US passport was considered valid, and so were a US passport card, a US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card or an AIR Nexus card.

Getting a passport in the US can be challenging, and it is absolutely important to follow all instructions stated in the US passport information that is in the application and renewal guide. This guide helps US citizens with the requirements and procedure, so that they do not have to hire the services of a third party immigration, passport and visa support center.

If you would like to apply for the passport, you should also consider getting a US Passport card. You can only do both if you are a US citizen.

Inspection Procedures at US Ports of Entry

Whether you are a foreign national traveling to the United States for the first time in your life, or are an American going back home after a stay abroad, it is important that you are prepared for the inspection process that is performed in all United States ports of entry by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Inspection processes such as this is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and the requirements and procedure is published under the Federal Register in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Customs and Border Protection officers perform an inspection of immigration, customs, and agriculture components, and may refer a traveler to the public health officer if found to have a health issue.

When you get to your Port of Entry (which is usually an airport, seaport or a land border) you will be inspected by CBP officers. Your reason for entry will be defined, as well as your purpose and the duration of the stay. You will undergo inspection in four categories namely, agriculture, customs, immigration and public health.

You must be prepared to present your passport, visa and other related documents. Be prepared to answer questions about your identity and nationality. Also, you will be asked how long you intend to stay and in which status. Your inspecting officer will look into your fingerprint records, national qualifications for your visa, and your arrival and departure record. Finally, be prepared to answer questions about your true intention for entering the US. You will need to specify if you are going there to tour, visit family, study or work.

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