Tag Archive | Immigration
March 6, 2013  

Cato Institute Study: Poor Immigrants Use Public Benefits at a Lower Rate than Poor Native-Born Citizens

Cato Institute

Cato Institute (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cato Institute’s new report entitled, “Poor Immigrants Use Public Benefits at a Lower Rate than Poor Native Born Citizens” has concluded that low income immigrants utilize public benefits at lower rates than their American born counterparts.  The study also indicates that the cost of this lower level of utilization and benefits to immigrants means that it costs less to provide public benefits to “non-citizen immigrants and most naturalized immigrants” is lower than for those born in America.

 

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January 3, 2013  

GAO Report – Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen Customs and Border Protection Efforts to Mitigate Risk of Employee Corruption and Misconduct

U.S. Customs and Border Protection :Original c...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection :Original caption: CBP Officers uniforms and Border Patrol Agents uniforms pay tribute to fellow fallen officers during a Law Enforcement memorial service in Washington D.C. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The United States Government Accountability Office report (link below) delivered to Congressional requesters is comprehensively summarized by its very title: “Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen CBP [Customs and Border Protection] Efforts to Mitigate Risk of Employee Corruption and Misconduct”

“CBP is the largest uniformed law enforcement agency in the United States, with approximately 21,400 BPAs patrolling between the nation’s ports of entry and more than 20,000 CBPOs stationed at air, land, and seaports nationwide at the end of fiscal year 2011.  … The total number of CBP employees increased from 43,545 in fiscal year 2006 to 60,591 as of August 2012….

On the U.S. southwest border, there are about 5,500 CBPOs and 18,000 BPAs as of the end of fiscal year 2011. CBPOs, based within OFO, are responsible for processing immigration documentation of passengers and pedestrians and inspecting vehicles and cargo at U.S. ports of entry. BPAs are based within the USBP and are responsible for enforcing immigration laws across the territory in between the ports of entry and at checkpoints located inside the U.S. border. Together, CBPOs and BPAs are responsible for detecting and preventing the illegal entry of persons and contraband, including terrorists and weapons of mass destruction, across the border.”

The GAO report concluded that much more could be done to decrease misconduct and corruption in the agency:

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December 10, 2012  

Overview of the the STEM Jobs Act

STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Press Conference

STEM Jobs Act of 2012 Press Conference (Photo credit: republicanconference)

Via The House Committee on the Judiciary

“Graduates of American universities in science, technology, engineering, and math – or “STEM” fields – are behind many of the innovations and new businesses that are part of our present and future economic growth. Talented students from around the world contribute to the graduate STEM programs of our universities. Foreign students receive nearly four out of every 10 master’s degrees awarded in STEM fields and about the same percentage of all doctorates.

But our immigration system does not always put American interests first. We have the most generous level of legal immigration in the world but we select only 5% of our immigrants based on the skills and education they bring to America. Although these foreign graduates of U.S. universities in STEM fields are in great demand by American employers, many of them end up on years-long green card waiting lists. And as a result, many of them give up and go to work for one of our global competitors.

In an ever-competitive global economy, we must keep our country as the world’s greatest source of innovation and creativity. The STEM Jobs Act allows employers to fill their talent needs with foreign graduates of U.S. universities with advanced degrees in STEM so that they can continue creating jobs and growing our economy.”

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November 28, 2012  

ETA 9089 PERM System Down for Several Days – AILA Investigating

The seal of the United States Department of Labor

The seal of the United States Department of Labor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Department of Labor has been experiencing technical problems with the PERM system, which still remains unavailable.

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November 23, 2012  

U.S. Mission in India Expands Interview Waiver Program

USA B1/B2 Visa

USA B1/B2 Visa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New Delhi | November 19, 2012

In March of 2012, the United States Mission to India unveiled the Interview Waiver Program (IWP) which allows qualified individuals to apply for additional classes of visas without being interviewed in person by a U.S. consular officer.  Following the success of the IWP, as part of continuing efforts to streamline the visa process, and to meet increased visa demand in India,  the U.S. Mission is pleased to announce an expansion of the IWP.  We expect this expansion to benefit thousands of visa applicants in India.

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November 15, 2012  

President Obama optimistic on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Official photographic portrait of US President...

US President Barack Obama (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An LA Times article covering the President’s optimism on passing Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  The President indicated that several Republicans have also acknowledged the need for CIR (ostensibly to court the Latino vote for future elections).  

“Obama outlined what he would like to see included in an immigration reform package but did not answer a question about whether he would send a draft of the legislation to Congress to consider.”

September 26, 2012  

The Department of Homeland Security’s 2011 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics – data on legal permanent residents, refugees and asylees, naturalizations, nonimmigrant admissions, and enforcement actions.

Via dhs.gov

The Yearbook of Immigration Statistics is a compendium of tables that provides data on foreign nationals who, during a fiscal year, were granted lawful permanent residence (i.e., admitted as immigrants or became legal permanent residents), were admitted into the United States on a temporary basis (e.g., tourists, students, or workers), applied for asylum or refugee status, or were naturalized. The Yearbook also presents data on immigration enforcement actions, including alien apprehensions, removals, and returns. The Yearbook tables are released as they become available. A final PDF is released in September of the following fiscal year.

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