go_guy123
05-22 02:37 PM
Thanks for your Reply.
My Employer is also threatening me that if I ask him for salary then he will lay me off and immediately send me back to India.
can he do like this ?
Yes they need to give you lay off notice officially in paper and give you plane ticket to India.
You can file the complaint and once they give you ticket to India , you can available that to go to India.
In fact H1Bs shouldn't have been approved for your employer in first place. Obviously in your case the client is delaying payment but you employers need to have the
working capital to pay you even if the client is not/delaying payment.
This was a problem/abuse with the small consulting companies aka body shoppers for over a decade now. It seems that USCIS is eventually cracking down on this.
My Employer is also threatening me that if I ask him for salary then he will lay me off and immediately send me back to India.
can he do like this ?
Yes they need to give you lay off notice officially in paper and give you plane ticket to India.
You can file the complaint and once they give you ticket to India , you can available that to go to India.
In fact H1Bs shouldn't have been approved for your employer in first place. Obviously in your case the client is delaying payment but you employers need to have the
working capital to pay you even if the client is not/delaying payment.
This was a problem/abuse with the small consulting companies aka body shoppers for over a decade now. It seems that USCIS is eventually cracking down on this.
wallpaper Ocean, Montego Bay Jamaica
kishdam
11-06 03:32 PM
All Guru's
I have only 2 options:
1) Take the Company B offer and Remain on the Bench for Company A at the same time for certain period to get the I140 copy. - Can I do this because I will be getting pay from New Employer (EAD) and old Employer (H1B) - Does this trigger any issue in future - Is this over lap (15 days) is OK
2) Do not take the Company B offer (but this is very good offer)
The question is: is a copy of I140 is that important to use AC21 . From the posts on IV forums I got the impression is you dont even need a copy of I140. The important thing is to apply for change of attorneys immediately after changing the job. If you get any RFE - you will get on the employment verification - then you need to show you have a job that is same/similar as the one in labor certification. If you know the job description (generally most employers attorneys share this info to make sure that you have relevant experience) then make sure your new job is same or atleast mostly similar.
In your two options you mentioned using EAD for one job and H1b for another. I read somewhere that this cannot be done (I dont have the link but I think this is from Murthy chat). Once you use EAD your satus will change to 485 waiter with EAD - seems like you can change back to H1b - but having two statuses at the same time is not possible. This is my understanding based on forum reading (not a lawyer).
I have only 2 options:
1) Take the Company B offer and Remain on the Bench for Company A at the same time for certain period to get the I140 copy. - Can I do this because I will be getting pay from New Employer (EAD) and old Employer (H1B) - Does this trigger any issue in future - Is this over lap (15 days) is OK
2) Do not take the Company B offer (but this is very good offer)
The question is: is a copy of I140 is that important to use AC21 . From the posts on IV forums I got the impression is you dont even need a copy of I140. The important thing is to apply for change of attorneys immediately after changing the job. If you get any RFE - you will get on the employment verification - then you need to show you have a job that is same/similar as the one in labor certification. If you know the job description (generally most employers attorneys share this info to make sure that you have relevant experience) then make sure your new job is same or atleast mostly similar.
In your two options you mentioned using EAD for one job and H1b for another. I read somewhere that this cannot be done (I dont have the link but I think this is from Murthy chat). Once you use EAD your satus will change to 485 waiter with EAD - seems like you can change back to H1b - but having two statuses at the same time is not possible. This is my understanding based on forum reading (not a lawyer).
Blog Feeds
04-26 11:20 AM
As many of our readers know, overstaying a visa can have a serious implications on ones ability to return to the US. The USCIS can record timely departure of a visitor by collecting the I-94 card upon exit.
An I-94 is a form denoting the Arrival-Departure Record of particular foreigners used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses Form I-94 also. Form I-94 must be completed at the time of entry to the United States by foreign citizens that are being admitted into the United States in a non-immigrant visa status.
But what if you did not turn in I-94 when you left the U.S., what should you do? US Customs provided some useful tips:
If you returned home with your Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it is possible that your departure was not recorded properly.
If you departed by a commercial air or sea carrier (airlines or cruise ships), your departure from the U.S. can be independently verified, and it is not necessary to take any further action, although holding on to your outbound (from the U.S.) boarding pass - if you still have it - can help expedite your reentry next time you come back to the United States.
If you departed by land, private vessel or private plane, you will need to take steps to correct the record. If you do not validate your timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove you departed within the time frame given to you when you entered, the next time you apply for admission to the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. So if you are a Visa Waiver Program visitor who traveled by land to either Canada or Mexico for an onward flight, it is particularly important for you to register your timely departure if your green I-94W was not taken when you exited the U.S. If you fail to do so and you arrive at a U.S. port of entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, CBP Officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin. If you are a VWP visitor and you left the U.S. by an air or sea carrier, you don't need to worry.
If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States to:
DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP Office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. The London, Kentucky office does not answer correspondence, so please do not ask for confirmation that your record has been updated.
To validate departure, CBP will consider a variety of information, including but not limited to:
* Original boarding passes you used to depart another country, such as Canada, if you flew home from there;
* Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and
* Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:
* Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States,
* Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States,
* School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States, and
* Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.
To assist us in understanding the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. CBP cannot return original materials after processing.
We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to DHS-CBP and carry it with you the next time you come to the United States in case the CBP Officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter. Carrying those materials with you will also allow your record to be corrected at the time of entry if, for some reason, the London, Kentucky office has not yet done so.
If taking short trips (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands during the course of your visit to the U.S., hold onto your I-94 or I-94 (W); it should only be turned in when you leave the U.S. to return home.
Delays beyond the traveler's control, such as cancelled or delayed flights, medical emergencies requiring a doctor's care, etc. are not considered unauthorized overstays, however, you will need to bring proof of the cause of your overstay next time you travel to the U.S. in order for it to be forgiven. For airline delays, ask the airline for a letter affirming the delay or a copy of your cancelled boarding pass.
So make sure to remember to turn in your I-94's, that will eliminate any problems the next time you return to the US.
More... (http://www.visalawyerblog.com/2010/04/how_to_record_and_report_depar.html)
An I-94 is a form denoting the Arrival-Departure Record of particular foreigners used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses Form I-94 also. Form I-94 must be completed at the time of entry to the United States by foreign citizens that are being admitted into the United States in a non-immigrant visa status.
But what if you did not turn in I-94 when you left the U.S., what should you do? US Customs provided some useful tips:
If you returned home with your Form I-94 (white) or Form I-94W (green) Departure Record in your passport, it is possible that your departure was not recorded properly.
If you departed by a commercial air or sea carrier (airlines or cruise ships), your departure from the U.S. can be independently verified, and it is not necessary to take any further action, although holding on to your outbound (from the U.S.) boarding pass - if you still have it - can help expedite your reentry next time you come back to the United States.
If you departed by land, private vessel or private plane, you will need to take steps to correct the record. If you do not validate your timely departure from the United States, or, if you cannot reasonably prove you departed within the time frame given to you when you entered, the next time you apply for admission to the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may conclude you remained in the U.S. beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), visitors who remain beyond their permitted stay in the United States cannot reenter the U.S. in the future without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. So if you are a Visa Waiver Program visitor who traveled by land to either Canada or Mexico for an onward flight, it is particularly important for you to register your timely departure if your green I-94W was not taken when you exited the U.S. If you fail to do so and you arrive at a U.S. port of entry seeking admission under the Visa Waiver Program without a visa, CBP Officers may order your immediate return to a foreign point of origin. If you are a VWP visitor and you left the U.S. by an air or sea carrier, you don't need to worry.
If you failed to turn in your I-94 Departure Record, please send it, along with any documentation that proves you left the United States to:
DHS - CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
Do not mail your Form I-94 Departure Record or supporting information to any U.S. Consulate or Embassy, to any other CBP Office in the United States, or to any address other than the one above. Only at this location are we able to make the necessary corrections to CBP records to prevent inconvenience to you in the future. The London, Kentucky office does not answer correspondence, so please do not ask for confirmation that your record has been updated.
To validate departure, CBP will consider a variety of information, including but not limited to:
* Original boarding passes you used to depart another country, such as Canada, if you flew home from there;
* Photocopies of entry or departure stamps in your passport indicating entry to another country after you departed the United States (you should copy all passport pages that are not completely blank, and include the biographical page containing your photograph); and
* Photocopies of other supporting evidence, such as:
* Dated pay slips or vouchers from your employer to indicate you worked in another country after you departed the United States,
* Dated bank records showing transactions to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States,
* School records showing attendance at a school outside the United States to indicate you were in another country after you left the United States, and
* Dated credit card receipts, showing your name, but, the credit card number deleted, for purchases made after you left the United States to indicate you were in another country after leaving the United States.
To assist us in understanding the situation and correct your records quickly, please include an explanation letter in English. Your statement will not be acceptable without supporting evidence such as noted above. You must mail legible copies or original materials where possible. If you send original materials, you should retain a copy. CBP cannot return original materials after processing.
We strongly urge you to keep a copy of what you send to DHS-CBP and carry it with you the next time you come to the United States in case the CBP Officer has any questions about your eligibility to enter. Carrying those materials with you will also allow your record to be corrected at the time of entry if, for some reason, the London, Kentucky office has not yet done so.
If taking short trips (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands during the course of your visit to the U.S., hold onto your I-94 or I-94 (W); it should only be turned in when you leave the U.S. to return home.
Delays beyond the traveler's control, such as cancelled or delayed flights, medical emergencies requiring a doctor's care, etc. are not considered unauthorized overstays, however, you will need to bring proof of the cause of your overstay next time you travel to the U.S. in order for it to be forgiven. For airline delays, ask the airline for a letter affirming the delay or a copy of your cancelled boarding pass.
So make sure to remember to turn in your I-94's, that will eliminate any problems the next time you return to the US.
More... (http://www.visalawyerblog.com/2010/04/how_to_record_and_report_depar.html)
2011 Montego Bay Beaches, Water
anilsal
07-07 02:15 PM
We need to post every news article on DIGG and then as many of us as possible, should digg them.
I think it may be possible that because of us digging a lot of the earlier news reports, smaller newspapers are picking up material.
Go IV.
I think it may be possible that because of us digging a lot of the earlier news reports, smaller newspapers are picking up material.
Go IV.
more...
bslraju
05-26 04:16 PM
Dear Members:
My Lawyer was suggested that we request porting PD after the second I 140 gets approved instead of doing it at the time of applying for second I 140.
They have mentioned that, If we request porting of 140 , Then in case if it is denied then 485 also gets denied(because this is linked to the new 140). This is according to Nebraska service center press release in Nov 2010.
They suggested that I am on EAD and no longer maintaining H1 since 2008, its better apply interfiling/porting after second 140 is approved.
Guys, had any one come across this situation ? can you please advise?
Thank you in advance
---------------------------------------------------
2001 entered but still fighting for GC batch.:)
My Lawyer was suggested that we request porting PD after the second I 140 gets approved instead of doing it at the time of applying for second I 140.
They have mentioned that, If we request porting of 140 , Then in case if it is denied then 485 also gets denied(because this is linked to the new 140). This is according to Nebraska service center press release in Nov 2010.
They suggested that I am on EAD and no longer maintaining H1 since 2008, its better apply interfiling/porting after second 140 is approved.
Guys, had any one come across this situation ? can you please advise?
Thank you in advance
---------------------------------------------------
2001 entered but still fighting for GC batch.:)
sledge_hammer
06-09 05:37 PM
Write a letter to the employer explaining that you need to get paid. Attach a copy of the timesheets and all other documets for proof. Send this via registered mail. Give him some time to respond, if he doesn't, then file a complaint with DOL.
Dear Viewers
Could anyone please advice me on how to claim the unpaid salary from the previous employers.
I was working for a company based in Michigan run by an Indian. This person did not pay me my last month salary. He does not pick up his phone or respond to my email. I have all the proof that my client has paid him the money for which I worked but he continue to ignore my request. This guy owes me around 5000 dollars.
Any piece of advice would be of great help.
Dear Viewers
Could anyone please advice me on how to claim the unpaid salary from the previous employers.
I was working for a company based in Michigan run by an Indian. This person did not pay me my last month salary. He does not pick up his phone or respond to my email. I have all the proof that my client has paid him the money for which I worked but he continue to ignore my request. This guy owes me around 5000 dollars.
Any piece of advice would be of great help.
more...
jonty_11
02-14 04:17 PM
In the RIR system EB2 was MS + 3 and BS+5.
If BS+5 is still the norm in PERM...how come MS+0 is acceptable under PERM. Did they change the rule....I think this a loophole
If BS+5 is still the norm in PERM...how come MS+0 is acceptable under PERM. Did they change the rule....I think this a loophole
2010 Beach Club, Montego Bay
yabadaba
10-17 01:25 PM
u should just do a walk in and see. i did a walk in with my wife and the guard did not even look for the date. just walk in and see what happens.. dont say u r there to prepone...if they see the date at that time..request/beg them based on ur circumstances.
more...
LOL123
06-24 09:12 AM
I had the same experience. exactly the same message and then the day after it was showing delivered. You should be fine.
Yes. I sent my ead renewal app on friday to reach on saturday. On saturday, when I checked the status, it was exactly the status you have written. When I checked again this morning (Monday), it said the mail was accepted at 5.30 am this morning.
I find it hard to believe the mail was delivered to and was signed by someone at USCIS at 5.30 in the morning. So I think it is just a problem with USPS and the way they update status.
Yes. I sent my ead renewal app on friday to reach on saturday. On saturday, when I checked the status, it was exactly the status you have written. When I checked again this morning (Monday), it said the mail was accepted at 5.30 am this morning.
I find it hard to believe the mail was delivered to and was signed by someone at USCIS at 5.30 in the morning. So I think it is just a problem with USPS and the way they update status.
hair JAMAICA The each at Montego
WithoutGCAmigo
06-07 05:37 PM
sorry my friends; 'm not understanding;when i viewed immigration voice last time you were all supporting it now you are against it. i'm quite confused:confused: :confused: :confused:
more...
sparuthi
08-10 04:34 PM
PD March 2006
RD July 26. 2007
ND August 27. 2007
RD July 26. 2007
ND August 27. 2007
hot of the Montego Bay airport
Dhundhun
06-22 02:22 PM
S/he has to have an unexpired I-94 to stay in the country. It is not about AP or EAD.
Unexpired I-94?
The status of I-485 pending (at least (c)(09)() class, I know) is not controlled by I-94.
If (s)he is on H1B/H4 she needs to have unexpired I-94. If I-485 pending then I-94 is not significant.
However, I suggested to get in touch with USCIS office.
For more understanding of I-94, in case of students it is stamped valid until I20 is valid. Students don't have I-94 expiry date. In similar way I-485 pending person remains in parolee status (parolee has six meanings in USA for immigration purpose including I485 pending), if other status is not there. I-94 does not control status of each and every case.
Unexpired I-94?
The status of I-485 pending (at least (c)(09)() class, I know) is not controlled by I-94.
If (s)he is on H1B/H4 she needs to have unexpired I-94. If I-485 pending then I-94 is not significant.
However, I suggested to get in touch with USCIS office.
For more understanding of I-94, in case of students it is stamped valid until I20 is valid. Students don't have I-94 expiry date. In similar way I-485 pending person remains in parolee status (parolee has six meanings in USA for immigration purpose including I485 pending), if other status is not there. I-94 does not control status of each and every case.
more...
house Montego Bay / Sunset Beach
vicks_don
12-11 02:21 PM
You are still on H1 status. Why do you want to apply for AP. Get your H1 stamped when you leave the country and you can get in on H1 status.
tattoo Sunset Beach Montego Bay,
eb3_nepa
07-18 10:28 AM
^^
more...
pictures Half Moon in Montego Bay.
cooldudesfo
12-16 07:05 PM
Thanks a lot for the information.
While coming back is fine as I will be either using AP or will get VISA stamped on my passport.
Thanks again.
While coming back is fine as I will be either using AP or will get VISA stamped on my passport.
Thanks again.
dresses Montego Bay,
seaken75
11-01 03:22 PM
bump
more...
makeup Town/City: Montego Bay
chandrajp
08-15 03:44 PM
I received my Receipts now for I-485.Is there any process to expedite AP while filing .(based on family death). I'm applying for it now.
You can always take an Infopass appointment. I'm not sure if IO really has authority to generate an interim AP. In my case I took Infopass once for address change as it did not happen even after applying online twice.
You can always take an Infopass appointment. I'm not sure if IO really has authority to generate an interim AP. In my case I took Infopass once for address change as it did not happen even after applying online twice.
girlfriend Reports ». Click
god_bless_you
03-15 11:20 AM
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=207073
hairstyles Sunset Beach / Montego Bay
dreamgc_real
01-07 09:04 AM
AUSTIN -- Illegal immigration isn't on the short list of issues Texas sheriffs gave this year's Legislature, but it could end up becoming a new priority for them.
Texas has 254 sheriffs, and while opinions vary about whether illegal immigration should be their problem, some Republicans are pushing measures that won't give them a choice. More than a dozen bills targeting illegal immigration await the Legislature when it convenes Tuesday, when the GOP will enter with a historic conservative supermajority in the House.
One bill would require police to ask drivers without identification if they're in the country legally. Another would cut off state funds to departments that don't enforce immigrations laws.
"It's split among my colleagues on whether we should be out here just stopping individuals without probable cause, and questioning them on their immigration status," said Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton, who believes the proposals invite profiling.
On Thursday, El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles planned to join immigrant advocacy groups at the Capitol, where they're expected to denounce bills targeting illegal immigrants as bad for the Texas economy and constitutionally unworkable.
In Arizona, a new law passed last year requires police officers, when enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally. The Obama administration filed a lawsuit to block portions of the law, and the outcome remains pending in federal court.
Many Texas sheriffs along the border, long vocal about being understaffed and underfunded on the edge of Mexico's violent drug war, oppose the measures as another drain on their deputies. They and sheriffs in Houston and San Antonio also worry about profiling.
Others don't see it as an imposition, and maybe a necessity. In Fort Bend County, which includes Houston's conservative suburbs, Sheriff Milton Wright said he would support laws requiring his deputies to enforce immigration laws if the federal government won't.
"If they're not going to do it, then we need to," he said.
Arizona's new law left Texas facing unavoidable questions. Texas has an estimated 1.6 million illegal immigrants, second only to California, and Republicans control every statewide office. Gov. Rick Perry has said he doesn't support Texas adopting a law identical to Arizona's, while at the same time praising that state's initiative for taking the illegal immigration problem into its own hands.
Texas lawmakers have filed immigration bills before, only to see them wither. Deep ties Texas has to Mexico are as much cultural as economic, and leading business groups in the state oppose tough crackdown measures.
But between then new GOP supermajority in the House and Arizona's success, outnumbered Texas Democrats aren't willing to make wagers on the chances of the bills prevailing this time.
"You've got a bunch of new Republicans who campaigned with some very inflammatory rhetoric, and they now find themselves in charge," said Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia. "I'm sure they're going to want to deliver some red meat for some of their constituencies."
So important is the issue to state Rep. Debbie Riddle that she camped outside the clerk's window to ensure her get-tough immigration bills would be first in line. State Sen. Dan Patrick filed a bill that would require police to ask anyone without an ID whether they're in the country illegally, but the Houston-area talk radio host says his measure affords officer discretion. For instance, he said an officer could choose not to arrest a harmless minivan-driving mom who is revealed to be an illegal immigrant.
Patrick, who visited Arizona to see its new law in action, said the possibility of legal challenges is no barrier.
"Too many people want to duck and cover and bury their heads in the sand," Patrick said. "This is an issue we have to stand tall on. Republicans have to stand together."
In most Texas counties, a suspect's legal status becomes an issue only if they're booked into jail. Their fingerprints are run through a Homeland Security database, and people who are flagged are referred to federal immigration agents.
Harris County was the first place in the nation to try the federal program, called Secure Communities. But that's about the extent that Sheriff Adrian Garcia wants to be involved in immigration enforcement.
Garcia said he doesn't want people afraid of calling police for help or coming forward with crime tips.
"Legislation that would encourage people to have second thoughts about calling 911 or Crime Stoppers, I have a problem with that," he said.
Several sheriffs said they would wait for the Sheriffs' Association of Texas to evaluate the proposals. Bryan County Sheriff Christopher Kirk, who chairs the association's legislative committee, said last month he had yet to look over the bills individually.
The association gave its list of six priorities to lawmakers for this session. The list includes jail overcrowding, mentally ill suspects in local lockups, methamphetamines, thieves swiping salvage metals, and what Kirk described as "protecting the office of sheriff."
Topping the list: border security. But Kirk said that's not about illegal immigration.
"It's the trafficking. The borders. That smuggling could be drugs, or weapons," Kirk said.
During the previous two legislative sessions, Patrick said "too much chaos" in the House doomed immigration proposals. This time, Patrick said, Republicans have the numbers - and a willingness to work with law enforcement.
"You have to have their buy-in," Patrick said. "I want them to be enthusiastic about it."
Sen. Luz Robles' bill could become national model | Deseret News (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700098043/Sen-Luz-Robles-bill-could-become-national-model.html)
Texas has 254 sheriffs, and while opinions vary about whether illegal immigration should be their problem, some Republicans are pushing measures that won't give them a choice. More than a dozen bills targeting illegal immigration await the Legislature when it convenes Tuesday, when the GOP will enter with a historic conservative supermajority in the House.
One bill would require police to ask drivers without identification if they're in the country legally. Another would cut off state funds to departments that don't enforce immigrations laws.
"It's split among my colleagues on whether we should be out here just stopping individuals without probable cause, and questioning them on their immigration status," said Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton, who believes the proposals invite profiling.
On Thursday, El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles planned to join immigrant advocacy groups at the Capitol, where they're expected to denounce bills targeting illegal immigrants as bad for the Texas economy and constitutionally unworkable.
In Arizona, a new law passed last year requires police officers, when enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally. The Obama administration filed a lawsuit to block portions of the law, and the outcome remains pending in federal court.
Many Texas sheriffs along the border, long vocal about being understaffed and underfunded on the edge of Mexico's violent drug war, oppose the measures as another drain on their deputies. They and sheriffs in Houston and San Antonio also worry about profiling.
Others don't see it as an imposition, and maybe a necessity. In Fort Bend County, which includes Houston's conservative suburbs, Sheriff Milton Wright said he would support laws requiring his deputies to enforce immigration laws if the federal government won't.
"If they're not going to do it, then we need to," he said.
Arizona's new law left Texas facing unavoidable questions. Texas has an estimated 1.6 million illegal immigrants, second only to California, and Republicans control every statewide office. Gov. Rick Perry has said he doesn't support Texas adopting a law identical to Arizona's, while at the same time praising that state's initiative for taking the illegal immigration problem into its own hands.
Texas lawmakers have filed immigration bills before, only to see them wither. Deep ties Texas has to Mexico are as much cultural as economic, and leading business groups in the state oppose tough crackdown measures.
But between then new GOP supermajority in the House and Arizona's success, outnumbered Texas Democrats aren't willing to make wagers on the chances of the bills prevailing this time.
"You've got a bunch of new Republicans who campaigned with some very inflammatory rhetoric, and they now find themselves in charge," said Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia. "I'm sure they're going to want to deliver some red meat for some of their constituencies."
So important is the issue to state Rep. Debbie Riddle that she camped outside the clerk's window to ensure her get-tough immigration bills would be first in line. State Sen. Dan Patrick filed a bill that would require police to ask anyone without an ID whether they're in the country illegally, but the Houston-area talk radio host says his measure affords officer discretion. For instance, he said an officer could choose not to arrest a harmless minivan-driving mom who is revealed to be an illegal immigrant.
Patrick, who visited Arizona to see its new law in action, said the possibility of legal challenges is no barrier.
"Too many people want to duck and cover and bury their heads in the sand," Patrick said. "This is an issue we have to stand tall on. Republicans have to stand together."
In most Texas counties, a suspect's legal status becomes an issue only if they're booked into jail. Their fingerprints are run through a Homeland Security database, and people who are flagged are referred to federal immigration agents.
Harris County was the first place in the nation to try the federal program, called Secure Communities. But that's about the extent that Sheriff Adrian Garcia wants to be involved in immigration enforcement.
Garcia said he doesn't want people afraid of calling police for help or coming forward with crime tips.
"Legislation that would encourage people to have second thoughts about calling 911 or Crime Stoppers, I have a problem with that," he said.
Several sheriffs said they would wait for the Sheriffs' Association of Texas to evaluate the proposals. Bryan County Sheriff Christopher Kirk, who chairs the association's legislative committee, said last month he had yet to look over the bills individually.
The association gave its list of six priorities to lawmakers for this session. The list includes jail overcrowding, mentally ill suspects in local lockups, methamphetamines, thieves swiping salvage metals, and what Kirk described as "protecting the office of sheriff."
Topping the list: border security. But Kirk said that's not about illegal immigration.
"It's the trafficking. The borders. That smuggling could be drugs, or weapons," Kirk said.
During the previous two legislative sessions, Patrick said "too much chaos" in the House doomed immigration proposals. This time, Patrick said, Republicans have the numbers - and a willingness to work with law enforcement.
"You have to have their buy-in," Patrick said. "I want them to be enthusiastic about it."
Sen. Luz Robles' bill could become national model | Deseret News (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700098043/Sen-Luz-Robles-bill-could-become-national-model.html)
prem_goel
07-29 07:36 PM
Ann as always you are so upto the point and quote a valid source in your reply. Thank you so much.
anilsal
11-26 05:28 PM
Regarding surrendering I-94 upon departure, it has happened that the airline agent forgets to take it out.
On your return it is removed and a fresh one is given at port of entry (no questions asked).
On your return it is removed and a fresh one is given at port of entry (no questions asked).
