Secretary Napolitano is defending Obama’s new  immigration policy of Deferred Action. This policy provides an opportunity for  certain young people to obtain a legal immigration status and a work permit.  Critics say that it’s an amnesty, and rewards folks for going around the  immigration laws. As an immigration attorney, I have witness every day the struggles that folks have to go through to legally immigrate to the United States.  Some believe that all  immigration involves is sending in an application and a fee. Unfortunately, it  is much more involved than just that.


One hardline reality of U.S. immigration law is that, once a  person enters illegally, it is very hard to ever become legal. Further, if you  have lived in the U.S. for more than one year without any immigration status,  and you leave the country, you are barred from returning for TEN years! These  are harsh penalties to give young people who did not have a choice of moving  with their parents to the U.S.


Many people entered as young children or as babies without  inspection by a U.S. border officer. They have been living in the U.S. for  several years, and attending U.S. elementary and secondary schools. Deferred Action gives them an opportunity to continue forward with maybe getting a  college degree or get a job in a field they desire.


 Click to learn more about Deferred Action.

According to the Department of Commerce, international visitors to the United States spent almost $14 billion in tourist-related activities in May 2012. That is $1 billion more than May 2011!

I hope that such news will translate into the United States becoming more welcoming to foreign tourists. Whenever I return from an international trip, I along with everyone else, must go through customs. We all have to deal with ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) officers.

If you are a US citizen, you will be in one line. If you are a lawful permanent resident or visa holder, you must get in the other line. I always feel bad for the folks in the "other line" since most likely a few of them will be detained for hours undergoing secondary questioning by ICE officers. This process can instill fear in those who actually are here to briefly visit the U.S.

Some folks have told me that they now try to avoid flying to the U.S. because they get so stressed going through our customs process.

Hopefully the news about international visitors bringing so much money to our country will affect the way we greet foreign visitors. Hopefully folks will feel welcomed to visit and spend their money, instead of jumping through hoops prior to officially entering the country.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/07/13/international-visitors-us-spent-record-139-billion-may-helping-support-us-jobs

Yesterday we celebrated July 4th, American Independence Day. 

Growing up I loved the holiday because of the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, eat barbecue, and swim in the pool during Houston's summer heat.

However, since I started practicing U.S. immigration law, I have developed a new appreciation of July 4th. It's a chance to think about life in America, and all of opportunities people have in this country.

So many people around the world want to come live in the United States with the hope of creating a better life for themselves and their families. U.S. Citizens, no matter what race, religion, ethnicity, or gender, are able to vote in elections. We have so many freedoms in America--a country created and built by immigrants.

People in other countries do not share the same rights and protections that we do in the U.S. It is one of the reasons why it is important to vote. Each citizen's voice counts when it comes to our government.

I am also thankful of the dedication and service of the U.S. military for continuing to protect the freedom and rights we have in the United States.

With Texas bordering Mexico, I think it is important to be aware of the news, politics, and leadership in our neighboring country. When I studied at the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico City in 2005, I learned a lot about the the country and its people.

One memory I have is of watching President Vicente Fox addressing the nation. For 71 years, the PRI party was in power in Mexico. However, in 2000, the conservative party--PAN--took over. While President Fox was delivering his speech, many of the government officials present were standing with their backs facing the President. Others held up signs that said PRI. I found this behavior shocking since such incidents didn't happen when the US President delivered his state of the union.

Since 2000, Mexico has been run by the PAN party. However, Mexico just had an election yesterday. Their new, young president, Enrique Pena Nieto of PRI, won the election. After a 12 year hiatus, PRI is back in power.

http://news.yahoo.com/exit-polls-show-mexicos-pena-nieto-winning-presidency-011510137.html