Dobson Immigration Law & Policy, LLC

Legalize LA

2009-07-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

The folks at American Apparel make it no secret that they support immigration reform. Check out their Legalize LA webpage for more. According to their website, American Apparel employs quite a lot of immigrants, and when the say "Made in the USA" they actually mean it. Most, if not all, of their clothing is manufactured in downtown Los Angeles.

The Latest on Obama and Immigration Reform

2009-06-22T11:51:00.000-07:00

According to a June 19 article at USAToday.com, President Obama stated that he is "committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform" during a speach at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. Click here to read the article.

I urge those of you who support immigration reform to call your Senators, Congressmen, and the White House to make sure that your voices are heard! Click here to find a list of useful links on my website. Near the bottom of the page, you can type your zip code into the "Write to Congress" button to find your representatives.

2009 AILA Annual Conference in Las Vegas

2009-06-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Last week, we returned from the American Immigration Lawyers Association's annual conference in Las Vegas, NV. The annual conference is great way to keep current on the constantly changing immigration laws and regulations. I learned a lot during the four-day conference and had some fun too! Here are a few photos from the trip:

Defending the Mentally Ill

2009-05-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's New York Times article, Mentally Ill and in Immigration Limbo, presents a very sad picture of how immigrant detainees who are mentally ill are sometimes treated. It's a story of a society and laws unsympathetic to the plight of these individuals, but also illustrates how difficult it can be for those who want to help the mentally ill.

Immigration Laws and the U.S. Technology Industry

2009-04-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Matt Richtel's article in today's New York Times brings to light some of the problems with the current immigration law as it relates to the technology industry in the United States. It seems obvious to me that we should have immigration laws that permit U.S. companies to hire the very best and brightest in the world. This article explains how the current structure of the law makes this difficult and how sometimes those foreigners who are rejected by U.S. companies return to their home countries to compete against them.

Immigration Reform May Be Possible This Year!

2009-04-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Take a look at today's New York Times article, "Obama to Push Immigration Bill as One Priority." According to the article, Obama plans to begin talking publicly about immigration reform in May and seriously get to work on the issue this summer. Immigration reform could come as early as this fall!

Immigration Detention

2009-04-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to The New York Times for shedding some light on the failure of our federal government to house immigrant detainees in an honest and ethical way. Nina Bernstein's article, Immigrant Detainee Dies, and a Life Is Buried, Too, describes how an immigrant died while in immigration custody and was then forgotten. Efforts to obtain further information about the man were frustrated because his date of birth and alien registration number (A number) were unavailable.

As an immigration lawyer, I face similar difficulty when trying to locate a recently detained immigrant. Though the majority of those who contact me are from the same county in which my office is located, the immigrant is frequently sent to one of several detention centers in different states! Family members contact me asking for my assistance in representing their detained relative. Though the family members may have a date of birth, they rarely have an A number. There is sometimes a delay in updating detention center records so that they might not reflect the fact that the immigrant is already in their custody, further frustrating our efforts. A common excuse given to me is that they cannot release information on the location of an immigrant "for their protection." Understandably, certain records should not be disclosed without the authorization of the immigrant, but this basic information should be made available to licensed attorneys. They then state that when I obtain a signed release from the individual, they will provide further information. How is one to obtain a signed release if they cannot locate the immigrant? With the current system, valuable time may be lost before an immigrant is located and permitted to communicate with their attorney. This is one example, among many, of an area that needs significant improvement. Perhaps a topic for another day: The difficulty immigrants face in trying to phone their attorney, family, or friends while in detention.

Doorman for America: the Immigration Lawyer

2009-03-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Please take a look at my recent article in Celebrate Hilton Head Magazine (CH2) entitled Doorman for America: the Immigration Lawyer. The article should be helpful to those who would like to know what the typical immigration lawyer actually does. For those of you who haven't read the magazine, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy on the island or in Bluffton.

ABA Commission on Immigration vs. Notario Fraud

2009-03-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce the ABA Commission on Immigration's new website, www.fightnotariofraud.org. Both immigrants who have been victimized by notarios and lawyers who wish to fight this practice should take a look at the website. If you feel that you are victim of notario fraud, contact a licensed attorney immediately. Go to www.ailalawyer.com to find a qualified immigration lawyer in your area.

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT: Better Controls Needed over Program Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws

2009-03-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

The federal government's 287(g) program is essentially a program that deputizes local law enforcement officers to allow them to enforce federal immigration law. Yesterday's New York Times article describes how the government's 287(g) program is possibly not being used for its intended purpose: rounding up violent felons and deporting them. Instead, the program has lead to accusations of racial profiling and arrests of those who have committed very minor violations.

It is my opinion that only well trained federal agents should carry out immigration enforcement duties. The federal government has failed to take responsibility for problems that are essentially its own. The federal government should act quickly and decisively to enact comprehensive immigration reform. This legislation should include provisions that clearly preempt the myriad state immigration laws that have been enacted out of frustration with the federal government's failure to act. Further, the 287(g) program should be ended, and more federal officers should be trained as required.

Click here for the U.S. Government Accountability Office's full report entitled "IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT: Better Controls Needed over Program Authorizing State and Local Enforcement of Federal Immigration Laws."

The History of Immigration to the United States

2009-02-05T14:18:00.000-08:00

I found a very interesting website today entitled, "Immigration to the United States, 1789-1930," which is part of Harvard University Library's Open Collections Program. Take a look at the timeline by clicking here.

President Barack Obama

2009-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

I want to take a moment to wish President Barack Obama the very best during his first term. The United States faces many challenges, and I am confident that he will lead us through them successfully. Take a look at his new website (at least it's his for the next four years): www.whitehouse.gov.

Horrendous Treatment of Immigrant Held in Detention Facility

2009-01-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

Take a look at the article entitled "Immigration officials end RI detention contract" at www.washingtonpost.com. According to the article, immigration officials found the treatment of the detainee so egregious that the have cancelled their contract with the facility. The article describes how a 34-year-old computer engineer was horribly mistreated at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island while dying with cancer. He was being detained for allegedly overstaying his visa.

President George W. Bush on Immigration

2009-01-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

In an interview with Brit Hume of Fox News, President Bush (referring to fellow Republicans) said that "[w]e should be open-minded about big issues like immigration reform, because if we’re viewed as anti-somebody — in other words, if the party is viewed as anti-immigrant — then another fellow may say, well, if they’re against the immigrant, they may be against me.” For more details on this, see the New York Times article entitled "Bush Calls on Republican Party to Be Inclusive."

H-2B Cap Reached for Fiscal Year 2009

2009-01-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

According to the Cap Count for H-1B and H-2B Workers for Fiscal Year 2009 page on the USCIS website, the H-2B Cap was reached for Fiscal Year 2009 on January 7, 2009.

Senator Harry Reid on "Meet the Press"

2009-01-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterday on "Meet the Press", Senator Harry Reid said "I have, I have John McCain's word that he's going to work real, real hard on immigration reform...And I'll, and I'll work with him." Click here for the transcript. You can also watch a netcast of the show at msnbc.com.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T07:41:00.000-08:00

I wish everyone a very happy and prosperous 2009! For many of us, 2008 was a difficult year. Let's all work hard to make 2009 a better one. Maybe this is the year that we will finally get comprehensive federal immigration reform.

Sedation During Deportation

2008-12-30T08:43:00.000-08:00

A recent article by Dianne Solis at The Dallas Morning News describes how immigration officials have now changed their policy on sedating certain deportees with the drug Haldol, a drug normally used to treat schizophrenia or other serious mental conditions. The article indicates that the drug has been used relatively infrequently and is now used even less. However, the fact that the drug is being used for something that may be beyond its intended purpose, can cause serious complications, and can be administired to deportees againsts their will makes it controversial. Feel free to read the article and then post your comments here.

AILA Applauds Challenge by U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Federal Government’s Attempt to Expand E-Verify Program

2008-12-29T13:39:00.000-08:00

The American Immigration Lawyers' Association praised the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for challenging the legality of requiring federal contractors and sub-contractors to use the E-verify program in a press release dated December 23, 2008. See the press release on AILA's website for the details.

Information for Members of the Military and Their Families

2008-12-24T08:15:00.000-08:00

The USCIS has posted an information page for members of the U.S. military and their families. It includes a toll-free helpline that is to be used exclusively by members of the military and their families: 1-877-CIS-4MIL (1-877-247-4645).

Many of you may not be aware that immigrants have a long history of serving honorably in the U.S. military and continue to do so today. We wish all the troops serving in our military, both citizens and non-citizens, a very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very joyous holiday season!

DHS Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Issues a Study and Recommendations on Naturalization Oath Ceremonies

2008-12-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

According to a press release dated December 16, 2008, "[t]he U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman Michael Dougherty today [12/16/08] issued a study and recommendations on naturalization oath ceremonies."

The article stated "that The Ombudsman noted that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalized more than one million new citizens during Fiscal Year 2008, surpassing last year’s number by almost 400,000. However, the Ombudsman received credible information that one court denied USCIS the opportunity to administer the oath in a timely fashion to more than 1,900 approved naturalization applicants. The court’s delay adversely impacted the ability of these individuals to vote in the recent general elections."

ICE Air

2008-12-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Though most airlines are suffering right now, here's a story about one airline that keeps getting busier. Click here to read the article and see the video on the ABC News website.

H-2B Count as of December 12, 2008

2008-12-16T12:45:00.000-08:00

According to a recent posting on the USCIS website, 18,367 petitions have been counted toward the H-2B cap of 33,000 for the second half of Fiscal Year 2009 (as of December 12, 2008).

The Economy and Immigration Reform

2008-12-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's article in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled "Economy may trump Obama's pledge on immigration" seems to indicate that immigration reform will be delayed due to the current economic crisis. Peter Schuck, a professor at Yale Law School, expressed doubt that immigration issues will be be addressed within the next couple years. On the other hand, Frank Sharry, director of America's Voice, expects that at least an attempt at immigration reform will happen in Obama's first year in office.