[March 15, 2010]

 CITIZENSHIP FOR MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL

¨ù    that the number of unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. dropped by roughly 1 million last year, according to a new report released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?

¨ù    that as of January 2009, the number of unauthorized immigrants currently residing in the U.S. totals 10.8 million, down from 11.6 million in January 2008, marking the second consecutive year of decline?

¨ù    that as numerous reports have noted, not since 2005 has the number of unauthorized immigrants been so low?

¨ù    that this decline seems to provide further support for the historic connection between illegal immigration and the economy-when there are no jobs, illegal immigration declines overall?

¨ù    that the 2010 mid-term elections is important to the impatient Latino vote?

¨ù    that America's Voice released a report that analyzes forty battleground "Races to Watch" where the Latino vote will be pivotal to both parties?

¨ù    that the report notes that "as the Latino electorate grows in size and power, candidates from all political parties must take their views into account to remain viable in an increasing number of House and Senate races as well as future Presidential contests?"

¨ù    that for this group of voters however, immigration reform is a litmus test, and how each candidate treats the issue will be a key factor in determining which way the Latino voters will swing?

¨ù    that a new study confirms the positive impact of immigration on wages of native-born workers?

¨ù    that the Economic Policy Institute  released a new study, Immigration and Wages, which confirms what many other economists have also found: "that immigration has a small but positive impact on the wages of native-born workers overall?"

¨ù    that the report makes clear, the plight of low-wage native-born workers cannot be blamed on immigrants and scapegoating immigrants for the nation's economic woes will do nothing to help American workers.

¨ù    that as of December 14, 2009, applicants seeking adjustment of status or any other immigration benefits that require admissibility no longer need to submit proof that they have received the human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes zoster (zoster) vaccinations?

¨ù    that they do, however, still need to submit proof that they have received the following vaccines: mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tentanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, influenza, hepatitis B, haemophilius influenza type B, varicella, pneumococcal, rotavirus, hepatitis A, and meningococcal?

¨ù    that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a notice extending temporary protected status (TPS) for Sudan, which was set to expire on May 2, 2010?

¨ù    that USCIS explained that during the past year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State have reviewed the conditions in Sudan, and, based on this review, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano has determined that an 18-month extension is warranted because the armed conflict is ongoing and the extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the TPS designation of Sudan persist?

¨ù    that there are approximately 700 nationals of Sudan and individuals who have no nationality who last resided in Sudan who may be eligible for re-registration?

¨ù    that TPS does not apply to Sudanese nationals who entered the U.S. after October 7, 2004?

¨ù      that the Immigration Policy Center released a fact sheet which provides background information vital to understanding TPS, including: Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary, humanitarian form of relief from deportation that does not include granting permanent residence or "amnesty" to unauthorized immigrants in the United States?¡¯

¨ù    that the 100,000-200,000 Haitian immigrants whom the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates are now in the United States on a temporary basis or without authorization will not be subject to removal as long as there is no functioning country to which they can return, and provided that they do not have criminal records?

¨ù      that a new rport from researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) provides further evidence that immigration reform which includes the creation of a pathway to legal status for unauthorized immigrants already in the United States would yield tangible economic benefits?

¨ù      that the report estimates that "unauthorized Latino immigrants in California...missed out on approximately $2.2 billion in wages and salary income last year alone due solely to their legal status, and the state lost out on the multiplied impacts of that potential income and spending, suggesting a total potential gain of $3.25 billion annually from authorization?"