White House to host immigration meeting on Thursday

[newbie2020]

White House to host immigration chat - White House- msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32453384/ns/politics-white_house/)
WASHINGTON - The White House is hosting an immigration discussion Thursday with advocates, religious groups, businesses and law enforcers as part of an effort to bring all parties to the heated debate into one room.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead the discussion, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is not public.
Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said Napolitano has been holding similar meetings across the country during the past few weeks. He said Napolitano thinks it is important to speak directly to the people who are affected by the department's policies....
Last week President Barack Obama said immigration reform is important, but other priorities such as his health care overhaul and financial regulation must come first.
Obama said he expects to see draft legislation for an overhaul in the immigration rules by the end of the year, but changing the system will have to wait until next year. The immigration system is undeniably broken, he said, and he expects there will be a fight over how to change it.
It has been a roller coaster ride for immigrant rights advocates pushing for change during the past few years. When a call to action came in 2006, more than a million people nationwide marched in solidarity to fight a bill considered anti-immigrant. Since then, two legislative attempts failed.
Napolitano said last week that her department's job is to enforce the immigration laws currently on the books. She said, "When the law changes, we will be prepared to enforce that law as well." .

[gc_on_demand]

White House to host immigration chat - White House- msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32453384/ns/politics-white_house/)
WASHINGTON - The White House is hosting an immigration discussion Thursday with advocates, religious groups, businesses and law enforcers as part of an effort to bring all parties to the heated debate into one room.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will lead the discussion, said an official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is not public.
Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler said Napolitano has been holding similar meetings across the country during the past few weeks. He said Napolitano thinks it is important to speak directly to the people who are affected by the department's policies....
Last week President Barack Obama said immigration reform is important, but other priorities such as his health care overhaul and financial regulation must come first.
Obama said he expects to see draft legislation for an overhaul in the immigration rules by the end of the year, but changing the system will have to wait until next year. The immigration system is undeniably broken, he said, and he expects there will be a fight over how to change it.
It has been a roller coaster ride for immigrant rights advocates pushing for change during the past few years. When a call to action came in 2006, more than a million people nationwide marched in solidarity to fight a bill considered anti-immigrant. Since then, two legislative attempts failed.
Napolitano said last week that her department's job is to enforce the immigration laws currently on the books. She said, "When the law changes, we will be prepared to enforce that law as well." .


This kind of meetings are going on since last 2-3 months but they will not touch any CIR before Jan 2010. I think Jan - Apr 2010 is critical time for us if any thing happens. If not then don't keep hope for another 3 years.

[neelu]

Would it be a good idea for IV to present our case at these meetings? Can IV get a seat at the table?

Or, is it not important, because lawmakers are the ones that need to be educated and influenced?

[immigrant2007]

how do we know that someone will raise our concern?
My question is even simpler, please tell us how long do we need to wait and why on the face of earth people from 2001, 2002, 2003 , 2004 still in backlog? Just give a temproray green card to evryone stuck due to backlog

[dummgelauft]

More hot gas.
These meetings and summits are nothing more than PR exercises to string along us and the illegal trespassers.
EB-I (both 2 and 3) are stuck in a place where the "sun don't shine".
Visa recapture does not need legislation, and can be done by executive order, but will the President do it. NO.

[gbof]

More hot gas.
These meetings and summits are nothing more than PR exercises to string along us and the illegal trespassers.
EB-I (both 2 and 3) are stuck in a place where the "sun don't shine".
Visa recapture does not need legislation, and can be done by executive order, but will the President do it. NO.

Why NO?

USCIS and AILA is aware of huge backlogs and meetings like these (at the highest level) openswith a clear intent for remedial measures to be adopted to get over existing flaws. Guys, we know PERM processing came into effect bacause of uscis thinking that it was taking years for LC clearance.

I have full faith in the 'still broken' system, when president too is aware of. CIR is awafully complicated issue but before anything like CIR comes they need to think of backlog legal applicants.

We should hope for the best

[maximus777]

One can always hope, but still needs to be firmly rooted in reality. What is stopping the the "change man" from issuing an executive order to recapture lost visas now that he has deemed CIR not important enough and relegated it to the next year?!?

[chil3]

What IV is doing on recapturing visas ...previously we used to see some activity on this topic but nothing now....I don't understand what IV does with the money it collects every month...If we access this website just to discuss our immigration problem then murthy.com also does the same then why the contribution is for...??

If apart from showing the $ collection bar on the top..if IV show the activities scheduled for the month then I believe bigger contribution can be achieved....

Don't angry on me ...

[chil3]

What IV is doing on recapturing visas ...previously we used to see some activity on this topic but nothing now....I don't understand what IV does with the money it collects every month...If we access this website just to discuss our personal immigration problem then murthy.com also does the same then why the contribution is for...??

If apart from showing the $ collection bar on the top..if IV show the activities scheduled for the month then I believe bigger contribution can be achieved....

[dummgelauft]

[/COLOR]

Why NO?

USCIS and AILA is aware of huge backlogs and meetings like these (at the highest level) openswith a clear intent for remedial measures to be adopted to get over existing flaws. Guys, we know PERM processing came into effect bacause of uscis thinking that it was taking years for LC clearance.

I have full faith in the 'still broken' system, when president too is aware of. CIR is awafully complicated issue but before anything like CIR comes they need to think of backlog legal applicants.

We should hope for the best

I have said what I think is realistic. You can continue to HOPE all you want, but mere hope gets you nothing, null, jack-squat..

If the President feels that strongly about CIR, but thinks now is not the time, what is there to stop him for issuing an executive order to start visa re-capture. Bill Clinton did it, why not Barack Obama?
I think the President does not even know about the sorry state of affairs with the EB community. Even if he does, he does not care. The reason is simple - Political Clout; of which we have next to none. We (EB community) are not un-educated, trespassing, cow-herders and farmers from latin america. Rather, most of us are educated individuals who strive to do well in life by the dint of hard work, not government handouts.
We DO NOT represent a massive vote bank. We represent ZERO political capital.

[kate123]

More hot gas.
These meetings and summits are nothing more than PR exercises to string along us and the illegal trespassers.
EB-I (both 2 and 3) are stuck in a place where the "sun don't shine".
Visa recapture does not need legislation, and can be done by executive order, but will the President do it. NO.

WRONG...

Recapture can't be by executive order... Its a legislative change... President has no power to recapture the visas.

[dummgelauft]

One can always hope, but still needs to be firmly rooted in reality. What is stopping the the "change man" from issuing an executive order to recapture lost visas now that he has deemed CIR not important enough and relegated it to the next year?!?

Thank You, I am happy that you think straight.
CNN.com has a big article by one Rudy Ruiz, crying out a river about how the President has once more, relegated CIR to 2010, which basically means 2011, and realistically, "NOT THIS TIME".
Where is our Rudy Ruiz...our Navarette..

[gbof]

I find your post without understanding of what the true intentions of these lawyers and politicians are.
You say AILA and USCIS knows this. If they know this how come AILA has not fixed this issue for past so many years?

What have AILA achieved for us in the last 5 years? Please enlighten me.

Why do you think they should think of legal immigrants? Don'y you know undocumented folks have a more humane reason to be considered than rich arrogant folks like us? This administration won because of Hispanic votes and not because of Indian American votes. In fact they always said in their campaign that they do not want American jobs be taken away by foreigners. So why will they clear the backlog for foreigners?

Well, I donot want to argue on this.....AILA may not have any special love for EB but they are on the table and constitute a kind of advisory. btw, Who can forget congresswoman Logran and AILA pressure on uscis Juy07 fiasco. Congresswoman Logran and

Now, reforms is a process and they can not overlook this big backlog.
They may have to FIX backlog EB petetions (and have a plan for this) before they go for CIR.....they did creat 'backlog centers' to handle old LC petetions
...my 2 cents...

[maximus777]

Give me one good political reason why he should pass an executive order for you?

Why are you so important for him? He has repeatedly said in his campaign that he will not let American jobs be taken way by foreigners.

What god to the country will happen by recapture? Nothing.
Recapture will allow H1Bs to take promotions in Jobs and make more money
H1Bs will get greencard for their wife and children who will join the work force and take away American Jobs during recession.
Nobody cares about promotions or getting your wife to be able to work.

I do not see any strong reasons for recapture in the posts on the forum other than getting people getting the greencard for their 'own'. This selfish reason does not serve US national interest. People need to come up with stronger reasons if they need a recapture.

On that note, what good came out of the amnesty/immigration reform that Bush Sr and Clinton signed off on? What good did it do to this country? Didnt Bush Sr lose his re-election bid??

Like it or not, in a global economy jobs/businesses will go to places that can provide quality products for a fraction of the cost - be it Buffalo, Bangalore or Shanghai. Call it what you want, that is basic capitalism for you.

Bottomline, does this administration want well educated, tax paying, law abiding legal immigrants from India and China or not? If not, close the shutters and end this farce. Talking about election promises, they are just that - promises! Didnt he promise CIR this year in his campaign? Sick of the double talk.

[immigrant2007]

okay does someone have a bright idea what we all can do? I think if 40000 to 50000 of us go and make a collective effort we will know the results immediately.

[simple1]

I fully agree with kate123. meeting lawmakers is the only way to achive our goals.

WRONG...

Recapture can't be by executive order... Its a legislative change... President has no power to recapture the visas.

[vbkris77]

WRONG...

Recapture can't be by executive order... Its a legislative change... President has no power to recapture the visas.

Here is the Wiki on Exec order

Basis in U.S. Constitution
U.S. Presidents have issued executive orders since 1789. Although there is no Constitutional provision or statute that explicitly permits executive orders, there is a vague grant of "executive power" given in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitutions and the statement "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" in Article II, Section 3. Most executive orders are orders issued by the President to US executive officers to help direct their operation[citation needed], the consequence of failing to comply being removal from office.



Historically there were lot of executive orders done to fix the loop holes. Here in this case if President is convinced that it was un-just in the first place on CIS part to loose the visas eventhough there was demand, He can issue an Exec. Order.

Now Will he do that??? He might, if enough people approach whitehouse. But as you know we are all educated idiots and will not form a Caucus and fight collectively. Not gonna happen with 10-15 letters and 5-10 phone calls!!!

[gc_on_demand]

Here is the Wiki on Exec order

Basis in U.S. Constitution
U.S. Presidents have issued executive orders since 1789. Although there is no Constitutional provision or statute that explicitly permits executive orders, there is a vague grant of "executive power" given in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitutions and the statement "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" in Article II, Section 3. Most executive orders are orders issued by the President to US executive officers to help direct their operation[citation needed], the consequence of failing to comply being removal from office.



Historically there were lot of executive orders done to fix the loop holes. Here in this case if President is convinced that it was un-just in the first place on CIS part to loose the visas eventhough there was demand, He can issue an Exec. Order.

Now Will he do that??? He might, if enough people approach whitehouse. But as you know we are all educated idiots and will not form a Caucus and fight collectively. Not gonna happen with 10-15 letters and 5-10 phone calls!!!


can you update your PD ? it will make our tracker little rich in information.

[txh1b]

AILA will not even go close to talking about EB GCs. They have all made enough money to retire from the EB GC people during the July 2007 VB and will continue to make it filing APs and EADs.

Imagine how much money they can make provided the illegal immigration system is addressed and something changes that will allow them to become legal?

AILA and other immigration lawyers will have a flood of customers rushing to file and that companred to EB cases has more advantage from a financial perspective to them that few EB cases being backlogged for ever.

Food for thought....

[NolaIndian32]

What IV is doing on recapturing visas ...previously we used to see some activity on this topic but nothing now....I don't understand what IV does with the money it collects every month...If we access this website just to discuss our personal immigration problem then murthy.com also does the same then why the contribution is for...??

If apart from showing the $ collection bar on the top..if IV show the activities scheduled for the month then I believe bigger contribution can be achieved....

Dear Chil3,

Have you donated to IV yet? You are listed as a Member, please consider donating so that you can have access to the donor forums.

-Nola

[Honda]

CIR Bill looks like very useful for Illegals not for legals?


Basically all legals are paying more taxes (Social security, Federal, State tax,.....) compare to illegals.

[psaxena]

I would suggest to please check the donor forum, to find what IV is doing about it.

If you are really concerned and want to make a difference I would request to join the donor forum. IV team is really working hard and making every effort help everyone.



What IV is doing on recapturing visas ...previously we used to see some activity on this topic but nothing now....I don't understand what IV does with the money it collects every month...If we access this website just to discuss our immigration problem then murthy.com also does the same then why the contribution is for...??

If apart from showing the $ collection bar on the top..if IV show the activities scheduled for the month then I believe bigger contribution can be achieved....

Don't angry on me ...

[gc_73]

This website (Reform Immigration for America | What would you ask Janet Napolitano? (http://www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/what-would-you-ask-janet-napolitano)) is seeking questions to be raised to DHS secretary Napolitano at tomorrow's meeting. Please post questions related to why no efforts are being made to reduce EB backlog as there are many administrative avenues available with recapture being one of them.

[maximus777]

Thanks for the info. Just posted a couple of questions.

[chil3]

I would suggest to please check the donor forum, to find what IV is doing about it.

If you are really concerned and want to make a difference I would request to join the donor forum. IV team is really working hard and making every effort help everyone.

If activities being done or planned are published...then a lot of members must be interested in contribution including me....

Restricting access of info would restrict contribution too...I am not asking of donor forum access but IV activities info would lead to positive effect...

[immigrant2007]

I fully agree with kate123. meeting lawmakers is the only way to achive our goals.

I agree we have to keep trying and make sure we encourage atleast 60-70% of us to participate. Dont know what will hapen but unless we have tried that we will never know.

[willwin]

Dear Chil3,

Have you donated to IV yet? You are listed as a Member, please consider donating so that you can have access to the donor forums.

-Nola

Well, I would like to donate and participate if someone can calrify what benefits I would get by doing so.

I am EB3 India, 2005 pursuing CP - so no safety net of EAD/AP. I have to retain my H1B in this difficult time and if I lose have to start my GC process all over.

What agenda does IV have to help people who are in my situation? Don't tell me 'recapture'.

Besides being sarcastic, heavenly advises I would appreciate an honest reply from someone from core.

[gc_on_demand]

Well, I would like to donate and participate if someone can calrify what benefits I would get by doing so.

I am EB3 India, 2005 pursuing CP - so no safety net of EAD/AP. I have to retain my H1B in this difficult time and if I lose have to start my GC process all over.

What agenda does IV have to help people who are in my situation? Don't tell me 'recapture'.

Besides being sarcastic, heavenly advises I would appreciate an honest reply from someone from core.

WILL WIN .

I think some time back Pappu replied to one of your thread that you need to find out people who are in similar situation like you. IV cannot fight for a law which can benefit to very few handful people.

You are not donating because you don't see any direct benefit to CP filer. Same way if IV start a campaign to give GC to all CP filler first or provide safety net for CP filler until they get GC. do you think majority of AOS filers will donate ? Obvious answer is NO. ( I know truth is bitter ).

But if you think about recapture then CP fillers will be first one who will get benefits. WHY ? lets take me and you as an example. I haven't filled AOS yet and because of recapture date become C tomorrow. I will be eligible to file for AOS while you have CP so you will get interview call for GC. Also as AOS people complain there is no guarantee that AOS filler will get GC if date is C. ( so many dates facotors like ND , RD , PD etc..) but CP filler will get interview call.

So for me first beneficiary of RECAPTURE WILL BE CP FILLER. and you should be happy to join IV to fight for recapture.

[simple1]

WILL WIN .

........

. Also as AOS people complain there is no guarantee that AOS filler will get GC if date is C. ( so many dates facotors like ND , RD , PD etc..) but CP filler will get interview call.

So for me first beneficiary of RECAPTURE WILL BE CP FILLER. and you should be happy to join IV to fight for recapture.

I second gc_on_demand.

[immigrant2007]

it's an irony,funny people, they discuss and keep alive that stupid thread for Shar rukh khan,whereas they dont think it is important to keep alive some other good threads
BTW thanks for the optisim of certain people that there are some good informaiton and threads on this site. If it was left to those discussing shah rukh's issue ..then....., I gues everyone is intelligent enough to think that.

[immigrant2007]

This is a question and request for all my friends here who read this thread, please take a moment and think what we need and what all can do.
If all of us (imagine all who are stuck in this backlog moribund) start an endless campaign till we see the results we want dont you think it is possible, I urge eveyrone to respond to this, if someone wants to abuse me...curse me please do so but please everyone respnd to this..alteast give a try we cant stop anything till we have actually tried and tried and tried......

We might agree at first, we will try again , lets keep on doing that till we succeed. Please understand each one of us and help themselves and all of us.