Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id f7VMatf21712; Fri, 31 Aug 2001 18:36:55 -0400 (EDT)
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 18:36:55 -0400 (EDT)
Message-Id: <B7B57AF6.1651%azbecker@mindspring.com>
Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov
Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov
Precedence: bulk
From: Aliza Becker <azbecker@mindspring.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:6389] FW: Immigration Policy Update
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Status: O
Content-Length: 10569
Lines: 224
------ Forwarded Message
From: "Mbelanger" <mbelanger@immigrationforum.org>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 18:13:26 -0400
To: <mbelanger@immigrationforum.org>
Subject: Immigration Policy Update
National Immigration Forum
Date: August 31, 2001
To: Forum Associates and interested advocates
From: Maurice Belanger
Re: Immigration Policy Update
----------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
1. Public Opinion Polling Suggests Americans Support Legalization
2. New Study Highlights Beneficial Impact of Legalization on the
Economy
3. Battle Over Legalization Heats Up in the Media
4. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Plans Event Focusing on Immigration
5. IIRAIRA 5th Anniversary to be Marked by Events
6. TPS Extension Designated for Sierra Leone, Burundi, Sudan
7. From the Federal Register
----------------------------------------------------
------------
LEGALIZATION - Polls Show American Support for Legalizing Hard-working
Immigrants
------------
On August 21, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) released
the results of a public opinion poll conducted by the Tarrance Group (a
Republican polling firm) and Lake Snell Perry & Associates (a Democratic
firm), testing public attitudes towards legalization of undocumented
immigrants. The poll was co-sponsored by another union, Catholic
Healthcare West. The poll of 1,000 likely voters found that, while
voters narrowly opposed legislation to legalize undocumented workers
when no criteria were specified, after learning the details of a
potential proposal, a majority supported it. A sizable majority of
respondents said they would support a proposal that would legalize a
limited number of undocumented immigrants who can prove they have been
living in the U.S., working at a job, and paying taxes. 59 percent
favored such a proposal, with only 34 percent opposing. Support for
such a proposal crossed demographic and political party lines.
According to the poll, voters were most concerned that immigrants who
would be legalized are paying taxes, have no criminal record, learn
English, and have steady work. Length of residence in the U.S. was not
rated as very important. The poll noted that 43 percent of respondents
have seen, read, or heard something about immigration recently (up from
23 percent in May).
A Press release about the poll can be found on the SEIU website at
http://www.seiu.org/presscenter/press/release.cfm?ID=227.
--------------------------
IMMIGRANTS AND THE ECONOMY - UCLA Study Supports Legalization
--------------------------
A new study by the University of California at Los Angeles North
American Integration and Development Center concludes that the
legalization of undocumented immigrants would be beneficial for the U.S.
The report focuses on migration and development policies between the
U.S. and Mexico. Legalizing undocumented immigrants, the study
concludes, would allow them to exercise full labor rights, raising the
wage levels in labor markets dominated by immigrants, and reduce the
demand for exploitable undocumented labor. Legalization would raise
wages, productivity, consumption, and tax revenue. At the same time,
development strategies targeted to Mexico's sending regions would close
the large wage gap between those regions and the U.S., reducing
migration pressures. The study, including an executive summary, can be
found on the UCLA website at http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/. The study was
supported by the United Way of California and the John D. and Catherine
T. MacArthur Foundation.
------------
LEGALIZATION - Battle for Public Opinion Heats Up
------------
With Mexican President Vicente Fox preparing to visit the U.S. next
week, proponents and opponents of the legalization of undocumented
workers have waged increasingly intense battles in the press. This
week, the National Immigration Forum held two telephonic press briefings
for members of the press around the country, one briefing reporters on
policy issues involved in U.S.-Mexican negotiations, one on the
politics. As mentioned above, the Service Employees International Union
held a press conference releasing the results of the Tarrance Group/Lake
Snell Perry & Associates poll showing support for legalization. The
union also held a press conference with the author of the UCLA study.
On the other side, the "Coalition for Sensible [sic] Immigration" (led
by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)) is spending
approximately $300,000 at the end of August and the beginning of
September in several markets in the South and mid-West on radio and
television spots arguing against legalization. FAIR held a press
conference on August 30, releasing a Harris Poll that purported to show
public opposition to legalization. Interestingly, even that poll showed
a surprising amount of support for legalization, despite the wording of
the question. Person participating in the poll were asked, "In your
opinion, should the United States grant amnesty to illegal immigrants
living here and allow them to become legal residents?" 32 percent of
respondents said "yes" and 18 percent said "yes, under certain
circumstances"--a total of 50 percent. It is precisely under "certain
circumstances"--the legalization of those who are working and paying
taxes, etc.--that any proposed legalization would be conditioned on.
The Harris poll also showed majority support--53 percent--for a
temporary worker program that would eventually lead to permanent
residence. An SEIU press release reacting to the FAIR poll can be found
at http://www.seiu.org/presscenter/press/release.cfm?ID=233.
The month of September will be a busy one for both proponents and
opponents of legalization, with many events planned to draw attention to
the issue. If you know of activities planned for your area, let us
know. Send a message about the event to Tara Young at
tyoung@immigrationforum.org.
-----------
U.S./Mexico - U.S. Chamber of Commerce Conference on Immigration Policy
-----------
U.S./Mexico negotiations on migration policy provide an opportunity to
think about changing our immigration system so that it better works for
this country. To that end, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be hosting
a conference, "Building an Immigration System for the 21st Century" on
September 19th, 2001. Panels will consider ideas for improving the visa
application system and other methods of reform to meet business and
economic needs. You can find more information on the conference,
including the agenda and registration information, on the website of the
National Chamber Foundation at http://www.uschamber.com/ncf
------
FIX 96 - 5th Anniversary of IIRAIRA Provides Opportunity to Advocate for
Change
------
September 30th marks the 5th anniversary of the Illegal Immigration
Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act that, along with the
Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, stripped legal
immigrants of many of the due process rights which we take for granted.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is spearheading a campaign
to draw attention to the overly harsh law on its anniversary. For more
information, or if you would like to plan an event to mark the
anniversary of IIRAIRA, contact Hugo Romero at the American Immigration
Lawyers Association athromero@aila.org. If you are planning an event,
let us know so that we can let others know. Send a message to
mbelanger@immigrationforum.org.
---
TPS - TPS Extended for Nationals of Sierra Leone, Burundi, and Sudan
---
On August 31, the INS published three Federal Register notices
announcing an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for
nationals of Sierra Leone, Burundi, and Sudan.
For nationals of all three countries, TPS has been extended until
November 2, 2002, and is limited to persons who registered during the
initial registration period, which ended on November 3, 1998, or
registered during the re-designation registration period, which ended on
November 2, 2000, and has re-registered during subsequent extensions.
The registration period for this extension begins August 31st and ends
on November 29 for all three programs. There are estimated to be 6,102
persons from Sierra Leone, 1,000 persons from Burundi, and 1903 persons
from Sudan eligible for TPS extension. The Federal Register notices,
including details on the re-registration process, can be found by going
to the Federal Register search page at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html
FROM THE FEDERAL REGISTER
1. Address Correction for Filing LIFE ACT Legalization
Applications.
On August 29, the INS published a notice in the Federal Register noting
that it had published an incorrect address for filing applications under
Section 1104 of the LIFE Act (the so-called LIFE Legalization
provision). The incorrect address was published with the LIFE Section
1104 implementing regulations on June 1. All applications filed in
relation to LIFE Legalization (such as Forms I-485, Application to
Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and supporting documents,
Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and Forms I-131,
Application for Travel Document) and LIFE Act Amendments Family Unity
(Forms I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits) should be mailed
to: United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, P.O. Box 7219,
Chicago, Illinois 60680-7219.
2. Notice Pertaining to Supreme Court Decision on Indefinite
Detainees.
On August 24, the INS published a notice in the Federal Register with
the address of the office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(Service) to which a detained alien must submit, in writing, a request
for release on the ground that there is no significant likelihood that
the Service will be able to remove the alien in the reasonably
foreseeable future, in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court
in Zadvydas v. Davis. Such persons should submit a written request for
release, along with supporting documentation, to: U.S. Department of
Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Headquarters,
Post-Order Detention Unit, 801 I Street NW., Suite 900, Washington DC
20536.
The Federal Register notices mentioned above can be found by going to
the Federal Register search page at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html.
==============================
Maurice Belanger
Senior Policy Associate
National Immigration Forum
mbelanger@immigrationforum.org
http://www.immigrationforum.org
------ End of Forwarded Message
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Jan 18 2002 - 11:30:52 EST