[March 15, 2005]

¼                 that  the March visa bulletin includes the appearance of a cut-off date of July 1, 2001 across the board in employment-based third preference, and other worker category?

¼            that it seems that there will be no new numbers before the end of this fiscal year, namely: October 2005?

¼            that over 6.3 million entries for the 2006 Diversity Visa Lottery were received during the two month electronic registration period ending January 7, 2005?

¼            that anti-fraud technology in use for the 2006 Diversity Visa Lottery detected 31,334 exact duplicates which were eliminated from the eligible entry pool?

¼            that there have been several instances of groups of individuals attempting to defraud Diversity Visa Lottery entrants?

¼            that lottery entrants selected as winners in the Diversity Visa random drawing are notified by the Department of State to advise them of their wining entry?

¼            that notification of winning entries will be sent to the winning entrants by mail, between May and July 2005, and will be provided further instructions, including information or fees connected with immigration to the U.S.?

¼            that legislation that would help provide U.S. employers with access to critically needed H-2B workers is expected to be introduced shortly?

¼            that as background, on January 4, 2005, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the restrictive cap limiting the H-2B visa program had been exhausted, only three months into the current fiscal year?

¼           that this marks the second year in a row that the cap has been reached?

¼            that without an immediate fix, the lack of access to H-2B short-term workers will economically devastate industries and communities nationwide; disrupt the vacation plans of hard-working American families; and force some American employers to shut their doors, reduce their seasons, or operate at less than full capacity?

¼            that we urge you to support this vital H-2B fix!

¼            that Alberto Gonzales won Senate confirmation as Attorney General despite Democratic accusations that he formulated White House policies that led to overseas prisoner abuse?

¼            Fed up with illegal immigration and eager to send a message to federal lawmakers, hundreds of volunteers from across the nation will spend the month of April patrolling the Arizona-Mexico border, helping to apprehend migrants coming into the U.S.?

¼            that  the organizer of what is called the Minuteman Project says that it is a direct challenge to President Bush who they allege has continued to ignore the problem and so do the state officials, senators and congressmen?

¼            that as a last-ditch effort, this group has decided to take action themselves?

¼            that Arizona is the nation’s biggest gateway for illegal immigrants, more than California, Texas and New Mexico combined?

¼            that most of the activity occurs in the southeast part of the state near Tucson.  Many immigrants now choose to go through New Mexico but traffic in Arizona remains high?

¼            that the Department of State has released an October 20, 2004 cable urging consular posts to make significant efforts to facilitate business travel?

¼            that the cable is a follow-up to an earlier communication that had requested suggestions from posts on how to improve the business visa process?

¼            that the cable urges posts to quickly implement or expand business facilitation programs “to help counter impressions that the U.S. no longer welcomes foreign travelers”?