[January 15, 2008]

SECRETARY CHERTOFF ADVISES OF CHANGES IN FBI

NAME CHECK CLEARANCE PROCESS

¨ù                 that DHS Secretary Chertoff indicated that USCIS and the FBI are changing parts of the name check process, with the expected result that a large proportion of the backlog should be cleared within six months?

¨ù                 that the changes are consistent with Secretary Chertoff¡¯s risk management approach?

¨ù                 that he hopes that, in addition to clearing the backlog, a large percentage of the kinds of applications and situations that have previously been caught in name check delays will, in the future, be cleared quickly?

¨ù                 that he cautions that some checks will be delayed by investigations, but that that number should represent a small proportion of the numbers previously delayed?

MORE ON IMMIGRATION BENEFITS

¨ù                 that noted scholar Gionvanni Peri, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of California, Davis and author of a recent landmark study on the positive effects of immigration on overall wages, has produced another insightful, thought-provoking piece, this time on the effects of immigrants on cities?

¨ù                 that Professor Peri contends that immigration is disproportionately directed towards cities, so it is important to understand what happens to these cities, and the natives who live there, as a result?

¨ù                 that in short, Professor Peri concludes that immigrants in general have a net positive effect on natives living in cities, consistent with the findings of other researchers?

¨ù                 that specifically, Professor Peri found that immigrants exact positive wage effects on city-dwelling natives, and that immigrants help produce positive housing price effects, as well?

¨ù                 that for example, an increase in the share of immigrants by 1% increases rents by 1%, housing values by 0.3%, and wages by 0.3-0.4%?

¨ù                 that these effects are even more pronounced when only high skilled immigrants are taken into account, but, Professor Peri says, even where low-skilled immigrants are concerned the effects are overwhelmingly positive, since most American workers do not compete with them for jobs, yet still benefit from the work low-skilled immigrants do?

¡°WHO WANTS TO MARRY A U.S. CITIZEN¡±

¨ù                 that there is a new reality TV show that makes getting a Green Card easier and is generating mixed reactions?

¨ù                 that some say the show hurts the immigration process while others praise the matchmaking concept?

¨ù                 that the show is similar to the ¡°Dating Game¡± where one bachelorette (a U.S. citizen seeking a spouse) asks three bachelors (temporary visa holders) various questions?

¨ù                 that towards the end of the show, the bachelorette decided which  one she will marry?

¨ù                 that according to the show¡¯s host, Angelo Gonzalez, the show makes it clear to all contestants that it does not guarantee marriage or legal status, but will pay for a wedding party and a honeymoon should marriage result from the show?

¨ù                 that a Mexican immigrant was accidentally electrocuted at the Mira Loma Detention Center in Lancaster?

¨ù                 that  Cesar Gonzalez-Baeza, 35, was moving fence posts as part of a voluntary work crew on December 5, when the jackhammer he was using struck a high voltage power line?  He died two days later.

¨ù                 that Gonzalez=Baeza was detained for ten months after being stopped for a traffic violation and had been held pending an appeal as an immigration case?

¨ù                 that according to his lawyer, he was a permanent resident and should have been bonded?

¨ù                 that President Bush issued a determination announcing the Fiscal Year 2007 refugee admissions numbers and authorizations of in-country refugee status?

¨ù                 that a total of 80,000 refugee admission numbers will be allocated as follows:  Africa - 16,000, East Asia - 20,000, Europe and Central Asia - 3,000, Latin America and Caribbean - 3,000, Near East/South Asia - 28,000 and 10,000 unallocated numbers?

¨ù                 that as of October 1, 2007, Indian consular posts in the U.S. have begun outsourcing visa applications and delivery processes to a private firm of Travisa Outsourcing, Inc.?

¨ù                 that U. S. residents seeking a visa for travel to India must apply to one of Travisa Outsourcing, Inc.¡¯s five visa application centers in Washington, DC, New York City, San Franciso, Chicago and Houston?

¨ù                 that a steady increase in travel and trade between the U.S. and India has resulted in an increase in visa applications which made it difficult to the consulates to keep up and maintain efficient service?

DRIVING JOBS AND INNOVATIONS OFFSHORE

¨ù                 that the recent decision by Microsoft to open an office in Vancouver, Canada is the latest symptom of a deep underlying problem plaguing the U.S.?

¨ù                 that Microsoft¡¯s decision was prompted by the company¡¯s difficulties in navigating through the mess of red tape of immigration rules that place very restrictive, arbitrary limits on the inefficient and insufficient system that burdens businesses and prevents them from expansion and innovations in a competitive economic world?

¨ù                 that in Microsoft¡¯s case: because of these laws and because Microsoft¡¯s subsequent inability to recruit professionals to fill positions of need - not enough qualified Americans exist, and not enough qualified foreign nationals are permitted into the country - the company was forced to open an office in Canada whose high-skilled immigration laws are much more flexible, permissive and friendly to business?

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