Blog entries

Is Newt Gingrich Acting Like A Human Being On Immigration Reform?

J. Stephen Wilson — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 01:56:29 +0100

Is Newt Gingrich acting like a human being on immigration reform?

In a Republican field dominated by ideologues who, in playing to their far right supporters, will say nearly anything to get elected, Newt Gingrich stands out. He does not, apparently, believe undocumented immigrants are should be fodder for crocodiles in border moats or that all 12 million should be rounded up, Gestapo style, and deported en masse. We (sort of) commend him for his "humanitarian vision", ...

Bangladesh Ineligible, Poland Eligible for DV-2013 Diversity Visa Program

J. Stephen Wilson — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:48:32 +0100

Instructions and rules for the calendar year 2011 green card lottery (DV-2013) were just posted by the U.S. Department of State (DOS). To the disappointment of millions of citizens of Bangladesh, this impoverished nation was declared ineligible for the upcoming green card lottery program for the first time.

To be eligible the total number of immigrants from any given country cannot exceed 50,000 for the previous five years. If they do, that country automatically becomes inel...

Immigration Restrictionists Are On The Run, For Now

J. Stephen Wilson — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:50:19 +0100

In the past few days we have witnessed several key events that, taken together, imply that common sense may yet prevail in immigration policy.

First, there was the widely applauded but unexpected administrative action by President Obama halting automatic deportations of undocumented aliens for non-criminal activity, allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to focus their limited resources on those who represent an actual threat to the public.

This has not stopped ...

Get a FREE Copy of â€œWin the Green Card Lotteryâ€ Until September 7

J. Stephen Wilson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:58:07 +0100

In what started out as an apology to existing myUSAi members who may have lost one or more photos in a recent technical glitch, we decided to give all new members an equal opportunity to get a free copy of our flagship booklet, “Win the Green Card Lottery”.

Here is all you need to do:

Register as a member of the United States Association of Immigrants,
Complete your member profile, and
Upload one or more NEW photos (or videos).
Notify us by midnight, Wednesday, Septe...

Will 2011 be the Final Year of the Green Card Lottery?

J. Stephen Wilson — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:35:50 +0100

With the green card lottery opening registration date fast approaching, it seems like a good time to review the current state of affairs of the annual diversity visa program. But first a quick primer:

The "green card lottery” is well-paved path for immigrating to the United States. Originally sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy to benefit Irish immigrants, it now provides approximately 50,000 visas per year randomly to applicants from countries that have not s...

Is the Administrative Action by Obama de facto Passage of the DREAM Act?

J. Stephen Wilson — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:29:25 +0100

Last week, the Obama administration announced, in apparent reaction to Wednesday’s National Day of Action by Latino activists protesting deportation of thousands of illegal immigrants, a change to the "Secure Communities" policy to include reviews for criminal conduct.

According Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the amendment will mean those who are in the process of deportation, numbering approximately 300,000, will now have the chance to have their cases review...

GOP-Sponsored Hispanic Leadership Network to Meet in Albuquerque in September

J. Stephen Wilson — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:16:47 +0100

The Hispanic Leadership Network (HLN) just announced they will hold their next conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico September 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The Hispanic Leadership Network is funded by the American Action Network a conservative think tank founded in 2010 that focuses on promoting “center-right policies.” Co-founded by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former economic policy adviser to Republican Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign, and Norm Col...

A Closer Look at the New DREAM Act: S. 952

J. Stephen Wilson — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:54:33 +0100

On June 28 the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary held hearings on the latest version of the DREAM Act. As you recall, last year the DREAM Act was defeated. The latest proposal is Senate Bill 952 sponsored by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. (The 2010 Senate version of the DREAM Act was S. 3992 and the corresponding 2010 House bill was H.R. 6497.)

The text of S. 952 and statements from those who participated in the recent hearings are available ...

State Department Unveils Improved Green Card Lottery Status Checking

J. Stephen Wilson — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:39:37 +0100

July 15, the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs rolled out a new version of their electronic status check (ESC) website for those who registered for last year’s annual diversity visa (green card) lottery.

The newly updated ESC website now features a Secure Login, Glossary, Search, and a modern Help System, complete with screenshots that (almost) puts their new system on par with commercial applications. Presumably too, the software error that incorrectly notif...

About Those 22,000 DV-2012 Green Card Lottery Winners

J. Stephen Wilson — Sat, 21 May 2011 22:56:01 +0100

In our previous column we reported that the U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that Electronic Status Checking for DV-2012 applicants was delayed until July 15 due to a progamming error. This error mistakenly notified 20,000 green card lottery applicants that they were winners, when in fact they were not.

Although some of these 20,000 may still win the lottery, they (and all other applicants) must recheck their status on or after July 15, 2011 when the sof...

State Department: DV-2012 Green Card Lottery Results Voided Until July 15

J. Stephen Wilson — Sun, 15 May 2011 18:34:22 +0100

The U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs announced today that all results for last year’s diversity visa program for DV-2012 posted at the Electronic Status Check (ESC) site were incorrect.

Although the ESC site has been down for at least one week, there was a period of time beginning May 1 when DV-2012 applicants could check their results online.

Unfortunately, this means that if you checked your winning status, and you received a message that y...

President Obama Blasts Republicans for Stalling Immigration Reform

J. Stephen Wilson — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:49:23 +0100

Yesterday, President Barack Obama outlined his position on immigration reform from El Paso while mocking Republicans for continuing to block common sense legislation designed to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Several people I spoke with here in Albuquerque echoed similar comments:

Obama's speech was a well delivered indictment of Republicans who continue to believe in the myth that enforcement-only solutions will solve our immigration problems...

Green Card Lottery Electronic Status Checking Began May 1

J. Stephen Wilson — Mon, 02 May 2011 22:23:08 +0100

Beginning today, entrants from last year’s calendar year 2010 diversity visa lottery (DV-2012) can check on-line to see if they won.

An unknown number of temporary visa holders from Albuquerque are part of the 14.77 million applicants from last year (19.67 million including spouses and children) that will be checking their status beginning today at the Electronic Status Check (ESC) web address at: http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/.

Applicants need three pieces of informa...

Will Republicans End the Annual Diversity Visa Lottery?

J. Stephen Wilson — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:57:47 +0100

Republican Senator Orin Hatch of Utah sponsored Senate Bill 332 that, together with House Bill 704, sponsored by Virginia Representative Bob Goodlatte, seek to terminate the diversity visa (green card) lottery. This popular program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department, awards 50,000 permanent resident cards to applicants from countries that are underrepresented in the U.S. in terms of numbers of immigrants.

The program goal is to diversify the mix of immigrants. Anyone can...

FY 2012 H-1B Applications for Speciality Worker Visas

J. Stephen Wilson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:55:45 +0100

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced they started accepting H-1B “specialty worker” visa petitions on a first come, first served basis starting April 1 for the new government fiscal year beginning October 1, 2011.

The United States currently allows 65,000 workers to enter the country via the H-1B program, plus another 20,000 for foreign nationals graduating from U.S. universities with a Master’s degree or higher. This allows a total of ...

Taxpayers stand to profit from crisis financial loans to Citigroup

ghurlie — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:09:56 +0100

Citigroup, along with other companies, borrowed billions in emergency loans from working class individuals. However, it might turn out to be the model bailout. When remaining shares are sold, it is likely to net a profit for the Treasury. A profit at all will probably please pundits. The profits ought to total about $12 billion. Citigroup is attempting to help keep individuals from feeling like they're creating some kind of a payday cash off their consumers. Post resource - Citigroup turns em...

New E-verify â€œSelf-Checkâ€ Version 1.0 Not Yet Available in New Mexico

J. Stephen Wilson — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:51:05 +0100

On March 21, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas announced the preliminary release of “E-Verify Self Check.” This new online service allows people residing in five states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Virginia) and the District of Columbia) to confidentially check their eligibility to work in the United States against databases of the Social Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security.

Thi...

Yes, Emails to Lottery Winners are all Frauds

J. Stephen Wilson — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:13:34 +0100

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, emails to diversity visa program "winners" requesting money are indeed frauds. No payment of any kind is required until the U.S. government visa interview process actually begins. I get communications from lottery entrants here in New Mexico and abroad each day questioning these emails, and United States Consulates are putting out press releases on the same topic every week.

THE SCAM. Here ...

Who is Radicalizing Who in America?

J. Stephen Wilson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:48:12 +0100

Thursday, a U.S. House of Representatives panel will begin hearings on “Radicalization of Muslims in America”, sponsored by Representative Peter King, a Republican from New York’s 3rd District and chair of the House Homeland Security Committee. His prior comments on conservative talk radio claiming that "80-85 percent of mosques in this country are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists” suggest either a misguided gamble for publicity or ignorance of the fact...

Is NM Governor Susana Martinez a Pawn of the Koch Brothers?

J. Stephen Wilson — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:17:08 +0100

As we watch the ideological debate in Wisconsin bankrolled by billionaires Charles and David Koch turn against unions, we wonder if the Martinez political agenda in New Mexico is also driven by payback to her right wing donors from outside the state.

Although we agree with Republican Governor Scott Walker that public sector union worker wages and benefits have outstripped the private sector and need to be rolled back to help control the state budget deficit, the fact that th...