[October 15, 2007]

Senator Reid Voices Strong Support for DREAM Act, Urgent Action Needed

¨ù                 that last week, the DREAM Act failed to come to a vote as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 1585)?

¨ù                 that though disappointed, supporters of the bill had their spirits lifted immediately by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) who vowed that the DREAM Act would be brought to the Senate floor for a vote sometime before November 16^th?

¨ù                 that it is unusual for specific legislation like the DREAM Act to get such a public pledge, which will require the Senate Leadership to set aside days of floor time just before Congress is scheduled to leave for the year?

¨ù                 that when the DREAM Act does come to the Senate floor, it will need 60 votes to pass?

¨ù                 that it is expected to be a very close vote, and the anti-immigrant advocates will again be out in force?

¨ù                 that you should call your senators TODAY and urge them to vote YES on the DREAM Act?  Find your senators' phone numbers and talking points on the amendments on Contact Congress at http://capwiz.com/aila2/go/DREAM

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES THAT THE PERMANENT LABOR CERTIFICATION BACKLOG HAS BEEN ELIMINATED

¨ù                 that on October 1, 2007 the Department of Labor announced that the permanent foreign labor certification program's backlog has been eliminated, with nearly 99 percent of cases completed and the remainder awaiting responses from employers?

USCIS REACHED H-2B CAP FOR FIRST HALF OF FY2008

¨ù                 that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of Fiscal Year 2008 (FY2008)?

¨ù                 that the USCIS notified the public that September 27, 2007 was the ¡°final receipt date¡± for new H-2B worker petitions requesting employment start dates prior to April 1, 2008?

¨ù                 that the ¡°final receipt date¡± is the date on which USCIS determined that it had received enough cap-subject petitions to reach the limit of 33,000     H-2B workers for the first six months of FY2008?

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS INCREASE

¨ù                 that the confluence of application fee increases, citizenship drives by various organizations, and Congress¡¯ failure at immigration reform are three factors driving a significant increase in immigrants seeking naturalization, according to an article in the New York Times?

¨ù                 that the article states that application numbers are increasing each month: 65,782 in December 2006 to 115,175 in May 2007?

¨ù                 that the new fee for naturalization, increasing from $400 to $675, which became effective on July 30, 2007, is cited as one cause of the spike; many legal immigrants have been mobilized by a nationwide television and radio campaign by Univision, the Spanish-language television network; and the still-unclear future of immigration reform is compelling immigrants to take the step toward naturalization?

EXTENSION OF TPS BENEFITS TO EL SALVADOR NATIONALS

¨ù                 that on February 1, 2007, the Government of El Salvador requested an extension of the TPS designation for its nationals in the United States?

¨ù                 that this review revealed that current conditions in El Salvador still reflect much of the destruction caused by the earthquakes in 2001 with critical infrastructure remaining damaged or destroyed, particularly in the critical areas of health care and housing?

¨ù                 that based upon his review, the Secretary found, after consultation with the appropriate Government agencies, that the conditions that prompted the designation of El Salvador for TPS continue to be met and there continues to be a substantial, but temporary, disruption in living conditions in El Salvador as the result of the 2001 earthquakes and El Salvador continues to be temporarily unable to handle adequately the return of its nationals?

¨ù                 that the Secretary also found that it is not contrary to the national interest of the United States to permit aliens who meet the eligibility requirements of TPS to remain in the United States temporarily and on the basis of these findings, the Secretary concluded that the designation of El Salvador for TPS should be extended for an additional 18-months, until March 8, 2008?

U.S. PASSPORT SERVICES BACK TO STANDARD

PROCESSING TIME, DOS STATED

¨ù                 that the Department of State had advised that it has restored passport service to the standard six - to eight - week processing time for routine passport applications and no more than three weeks for expedited service?

¨ù                 that the DOS stated that that, as of September 7, 2007, it had issued over 16 million passports in Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, which ended on September 30?

¨ù                 that this is nearly four million more than were issued in FY 2006?

U. S. WORKING TO LET IN MORE IMMIGRANTS

¨ù                 that there are rumors that finally, the Administration understands that additional agricultural workers are badly needed and may increase the numbers for farm workers¡¦maybe?

NATURALIZATION FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL

¨ù                 that recent changes in sections 328 and 329 of the INA make it easier for qualified military personnel to become U.S. citizens?

¨ù                 that in addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has created a streamlined process specifically for military personnel serving on active-duty status or recently discharged?

¨ù                 that as of October 1, 2004, members of the U.S. Armed Forces do not pay a fee when filing for citizenship?

¨ù                 that to qualify, a military service member must meet certain requirements to become a U.S. citizen. These include: demonstrating good moral character, demonstrating knowledge of the English language, demonstrating knowledge of U.S. government and history (civics) and  demonstrating attachment to the U.S. by taking an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution?

¨ù                 that military service members are exempt from other naturalization requirements outlined in the INA as amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004?

¨ù                 that Section 1703 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 - extension of posthumous benefits to surviving spouses, children, and parents - states that an alien spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who dies in combat or as a result of combat can file for citizenship within two years of that service member¡¯s death. For immigration purposes, the applicant will remain an immediate relative of the deceased service member. This status would be revoked should the spouse remarry?

¨ù                 that Section 1704 of the same act - Expedited process for granting posthumous citizenship to members of the armed services - states that a service member who dies in combat or as a result of combat may receive posthumous citizenship?

¨ù                 that the service member¡¯s next of kin, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary¡¯s designee with USCIS may make this request on behalf of the service member?

¨ù                 that a request for posthumous citizenship must be made within two years of the service member¡¯s death or within two years of the enactment of this section of the law?

¨ù                 that Section 1705 of the Act states that the amendments made by the provisions of the Act take effect as if enacted on September 11, 2001?

¨ù                 that on July 3, 2002, President Bush signed the ¡°Expedited Naturalization Executive Order¡± calling for the expedited naturalization of aliens and non-citizens serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during the War on Terrorism?

¨ù                 that the Executive Order allows active duty personnel serving on or after September 11, 2001 to immediately file for citizenship. Normally, a military service member would have to complete one-year of honorable service before qualifying to file for citizenship?

¨ù                 that Section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes the President to waive this requirement during periods of military hostilities.

¨ù                 that the INA allows for the awarding of posthumous citizenship to active-duty military personnel who die while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

¨ù                 that in addition, surviving family members seeking immigration benefits are given special consideration?

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