The Immigration Policy Center reports that Utah is trying to pass its own guestworker program: Utah’s Immigration Solution Not a National Model Legislation Fails To Live Up To State’s Best Intentions Washington D.C. – Late Friday night, the Utah Legislature passed three immigration-related bills that await Governor Herbert’s signature or veto. Utah’s policy discussions were [...]

The Orlando Sentinel reported earlier this week that the proposal of an Arizona style immigration legislation that some say helped Florida’s current Governor Rick Scott get elected, is not well received in the Florida legislature. Critics in the Florida Legislature have said that for Arizona, a border state that has a lot of undocumented immigrants and sees ongoing violence just across the [...]

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reported today that Representative King, a Republican from Iowa introduced the Birthright Citizenship Act (H.R. 140) on January 5, 2011.  If the bill were to be signed into law, it would amend the immigration law and, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would redefine who can be deemed a U.S. citizen at birth.  [...]

The Orlando Sentinel reported today that the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee has invited speakers for a hearing scheduled for later today to provide information about immigration reform and its impact on the State of Florida. Both Florida’s Governor and Attorney General who began their terms in office just last week, support an Arizona style immigration related legislation. We at Pappas Law Group [...]

Immigration reform had a high and a low in 2010.  For example, on December 9, 2010, the House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act that would allow certain undocumented immigrants that were brought to the U.S. as young children who met requirements such as receipt of a college degree or having completed a certain amount of military service, would be legalized.  However, [...]

The New York Times reported today that the House of Representatives passed the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010 also known as the DREAM Act late last night by a vote of 216 to 198. This is great news for undocumented immigrant students that have been brought to the U.S. as children because [...]

The New York Times reported yesterday that immigrant advocate groups across the United States have come together to call on members of Congress to pass a bill that would legalize undocumented illegal immigrant students.  This is an effort to have the legislation pass before Congress adjourns for the year and, while Democrats still have control in both chambers of Congress. [...]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported today that the agency has implemented a standardized form for applicants to submit with certain applications to request a waiver of the filing fees charged for processing of forms to grant or deny immigration benefits. USCIS Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver), is available for use beginning today.  Additionally, the USCIS’ increase in filing [...]

The New York Times reported yesterday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, would introduce a bill in the upcoming Congressional lame duck session to legalize certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, otherwise known as the DREAM Act. The Senator tried to introduce the DREAM Act as part of a larger military appropriations bill prior to the midterm elections. However, the [...]

As a reminder, the US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin charging higher filing fees for most applications beginning November 23, 2010. The USCIS conducts filing fee reviews every 2 years to determine whether costs to administer the immigration laws, process applications, and provide the technology and personnel needed are being recovered. The USCIS, a fee based agency uses about [...]