Immigration

►Arizona’s pro-immigrant politicians and law enforcement

We’ve heard a lot in past months about the stiffly anti-immigrant Joe Arpaio, as well as other Arizona sheriffs and lawmakers involved in tightening Arizona’s already tight immigration policies. But lately, New America Media highlighted some of the pro-immigrant authorities of Arizona, and what they are doing to help immigrants in Arizona.

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►Government Freezes Haitian Deportations

As an executive order, President Obama, following the exhortation of immigration lawyers and social and religious leaders, including the Archbishop of Miami, decided to include Haitians under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, which

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►Comprehensive immigration reform bill introduced to US Congress

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, a bi-partisan union of Hispanic congressmen and women from across the United States, will introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill as this paper goes to press on Wednesday, December 16. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D - Ill.), an active member of the caucus who has been touring the US holding rallies and talks in support of immigrant families, wrote an article for the Huffington Post in which he praised the new bill as "progressive, compassionate and comprehensive" and claims that much of the bill is supported by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,

►Obama advisor says new immigration law is still on the table

Senior advisory David Axelrod said in a recent CNN interview that a comprehensive immigration reform bill is still being discussed and that it could become law early next year. “I think some good work is being done on both sides of the [political] aisle to achieve that,” said Axelrod.

►H1-B applications down; deadline extended indefinitely

Petitions for H1-B foreign worker visas will be accepted from companies until the cap is met, according to reports from the Boston Globe and US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Normally, the cap for standard H1-B visas – 65,000 this year – is met within the five day application period that ended earlier this month. However, applications are down sharply due to the current economic climate, in which many IT companies are downsizing and unwilling to hire foreign workers. In 2008, about 160,000 petitions were filed before the deadline. This year, only about 32,500 applications had been filed at the deadline, and only 10,000 more after an extended week of eligibility.

►New Federal Guidelines Restrict 287(g) Program

The 287(g) program allows local law enforcement to enforce federal laws with regards to immigration. In other words, this program makes it possible for local police to arrest, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants without involvement from the federal government. However, recent federal guidelines aim to restrict this program’s application, so that it can only be used in cases of dangerous criminals, such as convicted rapists, assaulters, and murderers. Furthermore, the new guidelines call for greater transparency and oversight from the federal government whenever such action is taken.

►First Raid of Obama Administration Prompts Review from Homeland Security

Immigration activists responded strongly to reports of a raid in Bellingham, Washington, in which 29 employees of an engine manufacturing plant were arrested. It was the first raid to be conducted under the Obama administration. Director of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said she was not told of the raid until the morning of February 25th, after it occurred. She said that the focus needs to be kept on employers, not employees. “I want to get to the bottom of this”, Napolitano said. Immigration activists are “cautiously hopeful”, according to a report from the Associated Press, that Napolitano’s comments point to an end to workplace raids.

►Iowa Immigrant Law Shelved

A prospective Iowa law that would have given more authority to local and state police to handle undocumented immigrant cases has been indefinitely shelved, according to a report from Radio Iowa. The law would have provided for less reliance on federal immigration enforcement, giving local authorities much more control over the arrest and detention of undocumented immigrants.