Last year, the Obama administration spent almost $18 billion on immigration enforcement. This is more than the amount spent on all other federal enforcement agencies combined (that total is $14  billion)!
 
That is a lot of taxpayer money going towards enforcement of our
government’s immigration laws. One thing to note is that under the Obama  administration, he has deported more immigrants in his first term than  President W. Bush did in his two terms in
office.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/08/us/huge-amounts-spent-on-immigration-study-finds.html?smid=fb-share

 House Judiciary Committee Chair, Lamar Smith, introduced a new
immigration bill this week. The focus of the bill is to replace one program with
a new program.

Currently, we have an immigration program called Diversity Lottery. The diversity lottery is basically a lottery for citizens of particular countries which are not substantially represented in the United States. Folks from that country specific list enter the lottery, and if their number is picked, they could have the opportunity of obtaining permanent residence in the U.S.  There has been some controversy regarding the diversity lottery in the past because  critics argue that it can give people a free pass of obtaining a U.S. Green Card, which can been seen as “not
fair.”

 The GOP Bill will get rid of the diversity lottery program and give more visas to people with advanced high-tech degrees. The proposed bill would allow 55,000 of these visas. My question is whether this bill will cure the immigration issues raised by others about our immigration problem.

 What do you think?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/26/gop-immigration-bill-keeps-the-well-educated/?utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=dfa8249839-AILA8_11_28_12&utm_medium=email

The Goldberg Law Office, PLLC wishes each of you a very happy Thanksgiving holiday. This time of the year, we are reminded of all of the wonderful opportunities we have living in the United States.

We are thankful for the clients we have and the people in our community that support our firm.

May this holiday bring you and your family a lot of joy and appreciation.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Mississippi is the first state to join a lawsuit against the  Obama administration immigration policy. The case Mississippi joins is one in  which 10 ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) officials sue the administration on its handling of immigration affairs. Click here to read our  blog post back in August 2012 regarding the existing lawsuit.

 The governor of Mississippi believes that the administration is asking that states turn a blind eye to illegal immigration. 
 
As a Houston immigration lawyer, I work with immigrants and  immigration officials constantly. This area of the law is quite complicated,  and there are many different groups involved in the adjudication and  enforcement of the laws. Each group has its own interests in the immigration debate. This news of Mississippi shows how not only an immigration agency disagrees with the president’s policies, but some states also  disagree.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/10/mississippi-joins-lawsuit_n_1956059.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=d816a95211-AILA8_10_12_12&utm_medium=email
 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services prepared to process 300,000 applications for the new Deferred Action/Dream Act program by October 1.
However, by that date, they only received 120,000. Many people are still unsure
about whether to apply. 

Some believe that as more applications get approved, and friends see that other friends are getting work permits and social security cards, that may prompt more people to want to apply.  

One big result of the Deferred Action/Dream Act policy is that dreamers are requesting their school records. High school, middle school, and elementary school records may be good evidence to prove certain aspects needed to get approved for Deferred Action/Dream Act. 

For more information about Deferred Action or the Dream Act, contact our Dream act lawyer today.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-illegal-kids-20121002,0,4879720,full.story?utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=86f2c357e5-AILA8_10_4_12&utm_medium=email

 As a lawyer representing clients with Deferred Action/Dream Act, some people have asked what happens if Governor Mitt Romney is elected as president. This is a good question, considering that Deferred Action/Dream Act is a decision made by President Obama’s administration


According to Romney’s campaign, he will not take away something that people have been given. Therefore, people who are granted Deferred Action will not have it taken away. Moreover, Romney intends to develop a more permanent solution. As things stand now, Deferred Action/Dream Act is granted for a two year period.

If you have questions about Deferred Action/Dream Act, it is important to speak with an experienced immigration lawyer about this new policy. You can contact our Deferred Action Attorney here.


 http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/romney-dials-back-acceptance-of-obama-immigration-program/?utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=3403df0a29-AILA8_10_5_12&utm_medium=email

 When deciding whether to apply for Deferred Action/Dream Act, it is a good idea to know about what the results are to submitting an application. 
 
Besides being able to get a work permit, approved applicants may also be able to get state-issued drivers licenses and social security cards. These are very important for folks interested in entering the working world. One of the biggest disappointments many young people had prior to Deferred Action/Dream Act, was that after graduating from college, they were unable to get a job based on their immigration status.  With the new Deferred Action/Dream Act policy, some young people have a new opportunity.


 Below is a link with information of applying for social security  after being granted Deferred Action/Dream  Act.

 http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=41276&utm_source=Recent%20Postings%20Alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RP%20Daily

The Obama administration had immigration prepared to handle 250,000 applications by now for the new Deferred Action/Dream Act program. However, the actual number of those who have applied is at 75,000. At the current rate, the government estimates to receive 200,000 applicants by the November elections. Some have found that as many as 1.2 million could immediately qualify for Deferred Action/Dream Act. 
 
Director Alejandro Mayorkas says, “If somebody submits documents that show by
the preponderance of the evidence that they meet the guidelines, we are poised
to move the cases as quickly as possible.” Therefore, it is important to get  appropriate legal advice about Deferred Action, and it can help make a person’s
application process go quickly and smoothly.

 Click here for more information on Deferred Action/Dream Act.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/us/program-offering-immigrants-reprieve-is-off-to-quick-start.html?_r=0

I am a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), a national organization of attorneys focused on assisting immigrants with their needs. The group has a relationship with all immigration agencies, including Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  


DHS advised AILA about information regarding the current processing time for Deferred Action/Dream Act applicants. So far, it will take one month from getting a receipt notice to receiving a biometrics appointment. The process will average around 4-6 months for the first group of Deferred Action/Dream Act applicants. Thereafter, they anticipate a longer processing time as more people apply.

District Judge K. Michael Moore in Florida ruled that U.S. citizen children that have parents who are illegally present in the United  States, should be permitted to pay in-state tuition.


Judge Moore found that it was against the equal protection clause  to charge a higher rate to students because their parents were illegal. These lawsuits originated because certain Floridian students attending public universities in the state were unable to prove their parents’ immigration status, and therefore were required to pay higher tuition.


http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Judge-rules-for-students-in-immigrant-tuition-suit-3838779.php?utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=9d7c3afb1a-AILA8_9_6_12&utm_medium=email