New York, May 2009
Welcome to the United States Immigration Newsletter
This is NOT spam. You have been sent this email
because you have subscribed to the U.S. Immigration Newsletter or placed an
order with U.S. Immigration Support. All email addresses are stored and used
solely by U.S. Immigration Support in accordance with United States legislation
and the Data Protection Act. If you do not wish to receive further emails from
us, click here to unsubscribe.
|
|
THE ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION REFORM
 Washington, D.C.
- While the Obama administration recognizes that a depressed economy is not the time to begin discussing immigration reform, they intend to begin proposing legislation in the near future, according to recent reports. In fact, many predict that legislation regarding immigration reform will be proposed by the end of 2009. This is strategic on the administration’s behalf for several reasons. Due to the downturn in the U.S. economy,
illegal immigration has been reduced, and less illegal immigrants have been apprehended at borders. In addition, some of the major roadblocks to the failed 2007 immigration legislation reform have been removed, which could potentially improve the chances for a new immigration reform bill to pass. The failed immigration reform bill of 2007 proposed a guest-worker program. This will most likely be omitted from the new bill, as opponents say guest worker programs take away jobs from
American citizens. With these considerations in mind, any legislation involving a guest worker program would be difficult to pass considering the country’s current high unemployment rate. |
|
COMPLICATIONS IN FAMILIES OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
 El
Paso, TX - A new report reveals that an estimated 7 percent of children in
the U.S. have a parent who is an illegal
immigrant. There are approximately a total of 5.5 million children whose
parents are illegal immigrants, and about 73% of these children became U.S.
citizens at birth. Because many undocumented immigrants in the United States
have family who are of legal immigration status, challenges are posed to policy
makers in regards to creating a path towards
citizenship and deportation.
Thus, policies to deal with undocumented immigrants become complicated when
examined within a familial context. Increased immigration enforcement has been
known to “break up” families by deporting an undocumented immigrant, while their
remaining family of legal immigration status remains behind in the United
States. |
|
MOST CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE LEGAL U.S. CITIZENS
 Miami,
FL - It is estimated that the majority of children of undocumented immigrants are legal U.S. citizens. Data from the Pew Hispanic Center reveal that 73% of children of undocumented immigrants are born in the United States, granting them U.S.
citizenship. This figure is significantly higher than in 2003, when only two-thirds of the children were born in the U.S. One reason why there are so many legal U.S. citizens born to illegal immigrants is that undocumented immigrants are, for the most part, young and have high rates of marriage. The report refutes common perceptions of undocumented immigrants as single and male. Instead, about 50 percent of illegal immigrants consist of young families. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz) commented on the findings at the high rate of births to illegal immigrants: "I think the obvious answer is: If you secure our
borders, and we do not allow people in this country illegally, then you don't have that problem. I think it's because we have failed to secure our borders."
|
|
SECURE COMMUNITIES IN OPERATION BY ICE
 Charlotte,
NC - Secure Communities, an information sharing program between federal and
local law enforcement agencies designed to identify jailed
illegal immigrants is expected to
expand within the next several years. It’s already operating in 12 counties in
North Carolina. ICE received $350 million in funding to implement and run the
program in all U.S. jails by the end of 2011. It is estimated that approximately
450,000 inmates could face deportation
every year. Secure Communities operates by sharing information with FBI and
immigration databases. Under the program, if an inmate is found to in the U.S.
illegally, an automatic alert is sent to immigration officials. An ICE spokesman
commented, ““This is about sharing information with local law enforcement
agencies to make sure they have all the information that is available about the
person they have in custody.” Secure Communities remains controversial, however.
A spokesman for a North Carolina based advocacy group states: “We foresee it's
going to create more problems instead of less. What happens now is tons of
Latinos are getting stopped just because they look Latino. And that it's just
going to expand that much more.”
|
|
MICHIGAN OFFERS ENHANCED DRIVERS LICENSE
 Detroit,
MI -
Citizens of Michigan can now apply for an enhanced Michigan
Driver’s license, which also serves as
a passport when crossing U.S. land or sea borders from Canada, the Caribbean,
and Mexico. Enhanced driver’s licenses are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel
Initiative in an effort to offer improved border security as well as to offer a
more simple process when crossing between U.S. land and sea borders. Enhanced
driver’s licenses are less costly than traditional U.S.
Passports and they are more convenient to
carry. Moreover, enhanced driver’s licenses only take 2 to three weeks to
receive, compared to four to six weeks for traditional passports. The enhanced
driver’s licenses are projected to improve tourism and training between Michigan
and Canada.
|
|
JUNE 1 DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR BORDER CROSSINGS
 New
York, NY - As of June 1, 2009 all travelers entering the U.S. from Canada or Mexico must have approved governmental documentation in order to gain admittance into the U.S. This regulation applies to all individuals, regardless of North American citizenship. Previously, individuals from the U.S. were able to verbally declare
citizenship. Under these new regulations, however, U.S. citizens crossing into the U.S. by land will need to furnish a U.S. passport or other approved documentation including a U.S. Passport Card, SENTRI, FAST, NEXUS credential, enhanced driver’s license. Canadian and U.S. citizens under 16 can show a
birth certificate. As always, anyone traveling internationally to the U.S. by air must still show a passport or other approved document before gaining admittance into the U.S. The upcoming June 1 deadline is a requirement outlined in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which was created in 2004 for enhanced security purposes.
|
|
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
If you no longer wish to receive the newsletter,
click here to unsubscribe. |
|
|
|
DISCLAIMER:
This newsletter is published by U.S. Immigration Support, an independent organization. U.S. Immigration Support is not affiliated with the United States government. Please review our disclaimer for more information. |
|
|
|
|
|
UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION SUPPORT
511 Avenue of the Americas # 45
New York, NY 10011
Phone: (646) 233-3836
Fax: (646)792-3296
Web: www.usimmigrationsupport.org
Email: info@usimmigrationsupport.org
|
|
|
