Controversy surrounds new Memo from ICE Director John Morton

On June 17, 2011 the ICE Director John Morton signed a new memo on exercise of prosecutorial discretion in arrests and removal of illegal aliens. Full text of the memo is here:

http://www.iceunion.org/download/283-284-mortons-prosecutorial-discretion-memo.pdf

However, on June 11, 2010, ICE Union leaders around the nation issued a unanimous no confidence vote in ICE Director John Morton on behalf of ICE officers, agents and employees nationwide citing gross mismanagement within the Agency as well as efforts within ICE to create backdoor
amnesty through agency policy.  The press release is here:

http://www.iceunion.org/download/286-287-press-release-pd-memo.pdf

EB-5 Immigrant Investor: significant changes proposed

USCIS Proposes Significant Enhancements to EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Processing.

released May 19, 2011

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today proposed significant enhancements to the administration of the USCIS Immigrant Investor Program, commonly referred to as the EB-5 Program—transforming the intake and review process for immigrant investors as part of the Obama administration’s continued commitment to improve the legal immigration system and meet our economic and national security needs for the 21st century.

The EB-5 Program makes 10,000 visas available annually to immigrant investors who invest in commercial enterprises that create at least 10 U.S. jobs. EB-5 investors may petition independently or as part of a USCIS-designated Regional Center.

“Congress created the EB-5 Program in 1990 to attract investors and entrepreneurs from around the globe to create jobs in America,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “We are dedicated to enhancing this program to ensure that it achieves that goal to the fullest extent possible.”

USCIS is proposing three fundamental changes to the way it processes EB-5 Regional Center filings.

1.) First, USCIS proposes to accelerate its processing of applications for job-creating projects that are fully developed and ready to be implemented. USCIS will also give these EB-5 applicants and petitioners the option to request Premium Processing Service, which guarantees processing within 15 calendar days for an additional fee.

2.) Second, USCIS proposes the creation of new specialized intake teams with expertise in economic analysis and the EB-5 Program requirements. EB-5 Regional Center applicants will be able to communicate directly with the specialized intake teams via e-mail to streamline the resolution of issues and quickly address questions or needs related to their applications.

3.) Third, USCIS proposes to convene an expert Decision Board to render decisions regarding EB-5 Regional Center applications. The Decision Board will be composed of an economist and adjudicators and will be supported by legal counsel.

This proposal will be online until June 17, 2011, for public comment.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit www.uscis.gov 

Immigration Resource Library online at UCLA: LibGuide.

UCLA Law Library has made available a Library Guide ("LibGuide") with extensive
and detailed research on the nation's current immigration situation.

Here's the link: http://libguides.law.ucla.edu/arizonaimmigration

This LibGuide served originally as electronic readings for a series of national
trainings. The LibGuide has evolved into a resource bank for all people
interested in learning more about the current immigration debate in the United
States. Critical topics include SB 1070 and its copycats, historical precedents,
demographic data, growing federal enforcement programs, "comprehensive
immigration reform," community-based and global activism, and much more.

FY 2012 H-1B Visa period starts on April 1, 2011.

USCIS Announces FY 2012 H-1B Work Visa Petitions Will Be Accepted Starting April
1, 2011.

USCIS announced that it will start accepting cap-subject H-1B petitions for
FY2012 on April 1, 2011, noting that cases will be considered accepted on the
date USCIS receives a properly filed petition, not the date that the petition is
postmarked.

The cap (the numerical limit on H-1B petitions) for FY 2012 is 65,000.

The first 20,000 H-1B petitions filed on behalf of individuals with U.S.
master's degrees or higher are exempt (subject to a separate cap).

Fee Waiver Guidelines from the USCIS, March 13, 2011.

On March 13, 2011, USCIS has published the following final policy Memorandum:

Fee Waiver Guidelines as Established by the Final Rule of the USCIS Fee
Schedule; Revisions to Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) Chapter 10.9 (AFM Update
AD11-26).

It lists the petitions and applications fees can be waived and how to prove your
inability to pay the filing USCIS fees.

See at
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2011/March/FeeWaiverGuidelines_Establi\
shed_by_the_Final%20Rule_USCISFeeSchedule.pdf