Setting the record straight on immigration rule change

The Hill ^ | 01/11/12 | Michele Waslin

[hocndoc]

These are precisely the immigrants who have been waiting in line and now face a bureaucratic challenge to obtaining the physical green cards.

The proposed rule change falls precisely within the scope of what administrations do. The regulatory change is important because, under current procedures, some persons who have already met the eligibility requirements for green cards must leave the U.S. to obtain their permanent residence status, but as soon as they leave, they are immediately barred from re-entering the U.S. for three or ten years because of a period of unlawful presence in the United States. There is a family unity waiver available, but the way the law is currently implemented, the waiver can only be adjudicated abroad. That adjudication can often take many months, leaving the applicants in limbo, waiting to find out if the waiver has been approved and if they will be able to go back to the U.S to join their US citizen or legal resident family member. As a result, many otherwise eligible applicants do not leave the country to get their green cards, remaining unauthorized in the U.S. rather than risk separation from their families. Under the proposed rule change, spouses and children of U.S. citizens who are eligible for a green card would be allowed to apply for the waiver without leaving the U.S. They would still be required to depart from the U.S. before receiving final approval and their green card.

[hocndoc]

I thought the comment about regulatory change was interesting, especially in light of the way the conscience laws and regulations were attacked when Bush was the head of the "administration."

Nevertheless, heeeeeeeeeere's amnesty, folks!

[rockinqsranch]

BFLR

[liberalh8ter]

Yep....amnesty it is. Using the requirement they can't re-enter after a period of illegal occupancy is pure straw man in light of the fact they're not even enforcing the law.

[hocndoc]

But it’s for the family!
“Keep American Families Together”
http://www.ballardnewstribune.com/2012/01/11/letters-editor/opinion-keep-american-families-together

And such a tiny change!
“Immigration proposal not seen as major step”
http://www.texastribune.org/immigration-in-texas/immigration/caution-patience-urged-after-tweak-proposed/

[traditional1]

How about if ALL Americans employ the "Castle Doctrine", whereas if someone is TRESPASSING by illegally entering your property, you are in fear of the THEFT and WORSE that are SURE TO OCCUR, and you shoot the bastards?

Billions in savings.....

[zeestephen]

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“Finally, there is ample evidence that immigrants – lawful or unlawful – are not responsible for the country’s economic woes or for continued high levels of unemployment.”

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About 50,000 LEGAL immigrants - new citizens and Green Cards - enter the USA work force each month.

About 20,000 have not graduated from high school.

No serious person can argue that this does not impact wages and job availability for America's low skill, home grown workers.

Also, about 500,000 LEGAL immigrants - most with “temporary” work visas - hold “high skill” jobs in the USA.

In fact, a huge majority of these “high skill” workers compete directly against recent home grown college grads and home grown mid-level technology workers.

[max americana]

My Filipina sis-in-law has an niece who is an IT grad who recently got promoted to the teaching faculty of a tech college and also worked on the Dell Philippines staff. No criminal record and 6 of us vouched for her, has her own money to create her won start-up in Silicon Valley yet it took us months get the US Embassy to Ok her visa...yet illegals and lazy Americans are given preference.

[liberalh8ter]

I'm all for keeping the family together.....IN MEXICO! I also oppose 'anchor babies'. I've always thought it contradictory that the child born to illegal invaders is granted citizenship while as a legality, we extend punishments for things that happen during or as a result of the commission of a crime.

Just because a woman drops her smuggled fruit on this side of the boarder doesn't make it American.

[zeestephen]

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“...yet illegals and lazy Americans are given preference.”

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Maybe we can convince the lazy Americans to get work visas in the Philippines?

Oh, wait, I forgot.

The Philippines don’t give work visas to Americans.

They won’t even allow Americans to buy property.

[dragnet2]

These are precisely the immigrants who have been waiting in line and now face a bureaucratic challenge to obtaining the physical green cards.

Someone send a memo to those in DC, there are tens of millions of Americans who are under-employed or with no jobs, homes etc.

This begs the question, why would the government not immediately and drastically reform/restrict all legal immigration?

With these lunatic policies, the government might as well start strafing us.

[Flint]

If an illegal leaves the country and is pining for his/her true love then said true love can get a bus ticket to Mexico and solve that problem.

I don't see why American tax payers need to be funding romantic problems.

[max americana]

the 1st part is false, they do given foreign worker visas, the 2nd part about foreigners not owning property is correct. If you can also convince lazy Americans to get work visas in the Philippines that will be awesome as we will need more space in America..

[ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas]

Someone send a memo to those in DC, there are tens of millions of Americans who are under-employed or with no jobs, homes etc. This begs the question, why would the government not immediately and drastically reform/restrict all legal immigration?

One word: pandering. Bureaucrats are in bed with politicians on this, and that includes many idiots in the GOP.

[dforest]

Oh, they are planning on that anytime now.

[zeestephen]

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“...they do given foreign worker visas...”

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You omitted some information.

Virtually all the jobs are for executive or high tech positions.

The potential worker must have a written contract offer from the company.

The company must guarantee sponsorship of the potential worker and any dependents.

The company must swear that no Philippine citizen could be located to do the work.

I searched for a hard number on Filipino 9G work visas, but could not find one.

I'd be amazed if it's more than a few thousand each year.

Compare to the USA...

10 million new citizens in the last 11 years - Filipinos in second place, behind only Mexico.

5 million new Green Cards in 11 years.

About 500,000 temporary work visas in 2011 (with USA unemployment almost 9%).

And you're pissed off that your sister-in-law can get in?

Wow...

[Democrat_media]

Close the border to all immigration and to all foreign products and peoples. There are no jobs in the U.S.A. yet we keep importing immigrants and exporting jobs.

The left wants to destroy the U.S. border(U.S. sovereignty) and they do it with immigration and “free” trade.

[Jim Noble]

under current procedures, some persons who have already met the eligibility requirements for green cards must leave the U.S. to obtain their permanent residence status, but as soon as they leave, they are immediately barred from re-entering the U.S. for three or ten years because of a period of unlawful presence in the United States.

Why is this a problem?

[ReagansShinyHair]

This change in procedure is just Hispandering. If these people apply for their “preapproved waiver” and are denied, they will be put into removal proceedings, and most probably deported.

Also, the consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mex approves waivers at a much higher rate than other consulates. So, what rate are they going to be approved at within the US? Probably close to the average, which means that fewer Mexican citizen waivers will get approved overall.

This may very well put more people into removal proceedings than ever before.

Perhaps that’s what the overlords want, so that they can claim a huge crisis and use it as an excuse to pass actual amnesty?

[max americana]

“And you’re pissed off that your sister-in-law can get in?”

She already got her H1B visa. Ain’t life grand? (wink)

I already outsourced most of our resources to go cheap. Doesn’t that bother you? (wink)

[zeestephen]

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“Doesn’t that bother you? (wink)”

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I misread your original post, thought you were complaining that one of your relatives couldn't get in.

So, ok, you're actually complaining that it took months for her to get her H1B.

If your relative is getting paid $150,000 a year, then no, it doesn't bother me at all.

I support immigration based on merit - highest paid equals first on the list.

If your relative displaces a qualified American or drives down the average pay, then yes, it does bother me.