Immigration Reform News 2014: Final Recommendations Coming From Agencies for Obama's Executive Action on Immigration Reform

Within the next few weeks, the Justice Department and Homeland Security will finalize their recommendations for immigration reform for the Obama Administration's executive action, reportedBuzzfeed.

President Obama said he will wait until after the elections before making the announcement. The delay has angered many Latino leaders, organizations and immigrants which may either result increased Latino turnout during the midterm elections next week, or a tepid response. Election pundits says the delay has galavinzed voters.

"Immigration is a core issue for Latinos," said Cristobal Alex, president of Latino Victory Project. "There is frustration in the Latino community around that [congressional inaction]."  Read more: http://www.latinpost.com/articles/24738/20141030/government-agencies-finalize-recommendations-for-immigration-reform-executive-action.htm

Ask Darren Heyman, Immigration Lawyer Las Vegas, about immigration reform. 

Ahead of 2016, Immigration Activists Want Answers From Clinton

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hillary Rodham Clinton had just finished telling the crowd that North Carolina families could count on Senator Kay Hagan when the chants of Oliver Merino — a 25-year-old whose mother, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, faces deportation — grew louder.

He held a sign that read, “Hillary, do you stand with our immigrant families?” and shouted that his mother lives in constant fear of deportation. “I have to say that I understand immigration is an important issue, and we appreciate that,” Mrs. Clinton said. “We thank you for your advocacy.”

President Obama has promised executive action on immigration change after the midterm elections. But immigration activists have already turned their focus — and their frustration — to his potential successor. Read more:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/27/us/ahead-of-2016-immigration-activists-want-answers-from-clinton.html?_r=0

Marriage to a U.S. citizen gives an immigrant an easy road to permanent resident status

Q: I am a U.S. citizen and I plan to marry my girlfriend who came here as a visitor but overstayed. What’s the process for getting her a green card?

Name Withheld, New YorkA: Good news: your wife-to-be has an easy road to permanent residence. First, she can interview here, the process called “adjustment of status.” That’s despite her not being here legally. Except individuals who came as crew members or on transit visas, green card applicants married to U.S. citizens, inspected at entry, can adjust status. As the spouse of a U.S. citizen, you can petition for your wife and she can apply for permanent residence simultaneously. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/marriage-u-s-citizen-green-card-applicants-article-1.1975478

In immigration news: Fewer immigration holds, new detention center for families, more

Thousands Released After Immigration Holds Denied - Associated Press From the story: "Immigration officials say local authorities across the U.S. released thousands of immigrants from jails this year despite efforts to take them into federal custody, including more than 3,000 with previous felony charges or convictions. The numbers are the first time federal immigration authorities have publicly detailed how many times local agencies have refused to comply with their requests." A growing number of local agencies are denying requests for federal immigration holds on immigrants in their custody. Read more: http://www.scpr.org/blogs/multiamerican/2014/10/20/17445/in-immigration-news-california-driver-s-licenses-f/

Applying for a green card with misdemeanor convictions on your record could mean deportation

Q: I am a permanent resident. Twenty years ago I was convicted of felonies and faced deportation. However, the immigration judge granted me a waiver. Since then, I have been convicted of two misdemeanors. I want to renew my expired green card. Should my misdemeanor convictions worry me?
Name Withheld, QueensA: Though your convictions were for misdemeanors only, applying for a new green card could mean your deportation. It depends on the misdemeanors. The law considers some misdemeanors to be “aggravated felonies.” And, some misdemeanors that are not aggravated felonies can result in deportation. Get an immigration law expert to review your record. Read more:http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/citizenship-now/misdemeanor-convictions-lead-deportation-article-1.1969480

Department of State Releases November 2014 Visa Bulletin

The bulletin shows slight forward movement in all employment-based preference categories, with the exception of the EB-2 India category, which will remain unchanged.

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its November 2014 Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin sets out per-country priority date cutoffs that regulate the flow of adjustment of status (AOS) and consular immigrant visa applications. Foreign nationals may file applications to adjust their statuses to that of permanent residents or to obtain approval of immigrant visas at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, provided that their priority dates are prior to the respective cutoff dates specified by the DOS. Read more: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/department-state-releases-november-2014-visa-bulletin

Ponnuru: Immigration reform still doesn't have a chance

Would a Republican takeover of the Senate improve the prospects that an immigration bill will get to President Barack Obama's desk? That theory is making the rounds - and some of the people who oppose the dominant approach to immigration reform are starting to worry about it.
The theory goes like this: A lot of Republicans, having just taken full control of Congress and seeking the presidency in 2016, will want to show that they can govern. And many of them think that they need to deal with immigration, in particular, to do so. The idea is that passing a reform bill would help the party appeal to Hispanics and take the issue away from Democrats in the presidential campaign.
It could happen, but I'm skeptical. Read more: http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/immigration-reform-still-doesn-t-have-a-chance-ramesh-ponnuru-1.9498367

United States: DV-2016: Applications Currently Accepted

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery  program continues—at least for one more year.  The DV-2016  application period began on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at noon and will end at noon on November 3, 2014.  From year-to-year, there is always speculation as to whether the DV Lottery will continue.  So, if you're eligible and are inclined to give your luck a try, there's no time like the present.
Congress created the DV Lottery program to provide an extra opportunity for those from countries with low rates of immigration to the US to seek U.S. permanent residence.  For DV-2016, 50,000 visas will again be available.  Applicants from no single country may in total receive more than 7% (i.e., no more than 3,500 per country for DV-2016) of the visas in any fiscal year. Read more: http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/345162/work+visas/DV2016+Applications+Currently+Accepted

Should the U.S. abandon the visa waiver program?

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating foreign countries to enter the U.S. without a visa for 90 days. In exchange for this benefit, participating countries agree to information-sharing and security cooperation with the U.S., along with reciprocal travel privileges for U.S. citizens.
The rise of ISIS has created a heightened threat of foreign terrorists entering the U.S. from European countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program. Accordingly, some members of Congress are talking about ending the program. Read more: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/10/should-the-u-s-abandon-the-visa-waiver-program.php

Federal Appeals Court Limits "Mandatory" Immigration Detention

ACLU class action lawsuit argued federal government wrongly incarcerated more than 100 people a year in Massachusetts jails under "mandatory detention" provision.
BOSTON — In a ruling that could enable more than 100 Massachusetts detainees per year to argue for their freedom, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has rejected the federal government's application of a "mandatory" immigration detention provision that prevents certain noncitizens from requesting release on bond during their immigration proceedings. The ruling came Monday afternoon in a pair of cases—including one brought by the ACLU of Massachusetts, the national ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, the Political Asylum / Immigration Representation Project, and Lutheran Social Services—in which noncitizens argued that they were being improperly detained without even the opportunity to request their release. Read more: https://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/federal-appeals-court-limits-mandatory-immigration-detention

It’s Time to Register with the U.S. Department of State for the 2016 Diversity Lottery!

On October 1, 2014, the U.S. Department of State will begin accepting requests to register for the 2016 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2016), also known as the Green Card Lottery. The Diversity Lottery Program provides a path for foreign nationals to become permanent residents of the United States regardless of whether they have a family member or an employer willing to sponsor them. This program is a success, facilitating the immigration of people from across the globe. If you meet the eligibility requirements and wish to secure permanent residence status in the United States, you should consider registration in the lottery. Read more: http://www.natlawreview.com/article/it-s-time-to-register-us-department-state-2016-diversity-lottery