On August 18, 2011, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, together with the U.S. Department of Justice, DHS is creating an interagency working group to review all pending deportation cases to ensure that persons facing deportation are among DHS’s highest priorities for removal.

This group will conduct a case-by-case review of all individuals currently in deportation proceedings. DHS indicated that individuals determined to be low priorities will have their cases administratively closed and will be eligible to apply for work permits with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

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The final Student Visas & Citizenship Workshop will be held Oct. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the main auditorium of Hennepin Technical College — Brooklyn Park Campus, 9000 Brooklyn Boulevard, Brooklyn Park.

Anyone interested in information and processes for receiving F-1 student visas, green cards, and citizenship should attend the forum. Legal permanent residents who want to become US citizens are encouraged to attend the forum. The event is sponsored by Hennepin Technical College’s Multicultural/International Office.

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WASHINGTON (Sept. 16, 2011) — Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton today announced a new initiative to streamline the international student visa process for foreign students seeking to study in the United States.

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Washington D.C.  (Sept. 29, 2011) — Yesterday, Judge Sharon Blackburn failed to enjoin major portions of Alabama’s extreme anti-immigrant law, HB 56, leaving many dangerous sections open to implementation. Local police, for example, are required to act as federal immigration enforcement agents by demanding proof of legal status from anyone who appears to be foreign. Other provisions—that go further than Arizona’s law—insist public school administrators check the legal status of students and their parents and create confusing and burdensome new restrictions on contracts between the state government and immigrants and between private citizens and immigrants. It’s unclear how far the restrictions on contracts will go, but at a minimum they will limit access to housing and utilities for anyone who cannot produce the proper documentation.

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WASHINGTON (Sept. 19, 2011) — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to provide relief to victims of crimes, has for the second straight year approved 10,000 petitions for U nonimmigrant status, also referred to as the U-visa.

On an annual basis, 10,000 U-visas are set aside for victims of crime who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to help law enforcement authorities investigate or prosecute crime.

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Doua Thor, executive director, SEARAC

Washington, D.C. (August 19, 2011) — The Obama administration last week announced that the Department of Homeland Security, with the Department of Justice, would review the deportation caseload and use discretion to prioritize deporting people who have been convicted of crimes or pose a security risk, while clearing out low priority cases.

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Washington D.C. (August 22, 2011) — The American Immigration Council hosted a briefing to discuss the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement last week that it would issue agency-wide guidance to make certain that prosecutorial discretion is exercised in a manner that ensures the agency’s enforcement resources are used to remove those who pose the greatest risk to public safety.

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WASHINGTON (June 9, 2011) – The U.S. government unveiled today a multi-agency, nationwide initiative to combat immigration services scams. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, and the Federal Trade Commission are leading this historic effort.

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WASHINGTON. D.C. (June 3, 2011) – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan participated in a conference call last week to discuss comprehensive immigration reform with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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SALT LAKE CITY (May 27, 2011) – Today members of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice requested a Utah district court judge to issue an injunction that prevents Utah’s new immigration enforcement bill, HB 497, from taking effect.

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