Category: Uncategorized

On Thursday, May 26, 2011, The Supreme Court upheld an Arizona law that imposes penalties on businesses that hire illegal workers with the loss or suspension of their business licenses. By a 5-3 vote, the court said current federal immigration law gives states the authority to penalize employers. The court’s decision hinged on a provision in the […]

As state legislative sessions draw to a close for the year, controversial and potentially costly immigration enforcement bills have either failed to pass or are being delayed in Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Michigan. Following passage of Arizona’s immigration law (SB 1070) last summer, states across the U.S. began writing similar, ‘get tough’ enforcement legislation.  However, lessons learned from […]

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) reintroduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (known as the DREAM Act) on May 11, 2011.  The bill outlines a pathway for thousands of undocumented students who graduate from U.S. high schools to gain legal immigrant status. The DREAM Act was originally introduced […]

On May 1, 2011, The White House released its plan, “Building a 21st Century Immigration System.” The document outlines immigration law reform aimed at meeting the country’s economic and national security needs while perpetuating America’s history as a nation of immigrants. Since being elected, President Obama has advanced immigration enforcement with: Resources to better secure U.S. […]

On May 5, 2011, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that its Trusted Traveler Programs reached a total of one million members. The programs—four in total named NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST and Global Entry—expedite entry at U.S. ports for pre-approved, low risk travelers through dedicated lanes and kiosks. Approved commercial truck drivers (FAST), air, sea […]

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed one of the nation’s toughest immigration measures into law at the state Capitol in Atlanta on Friday, May 13, 2011. The law, which is being compared to controversial laws in Arizona and Utah, passed both houses of the Georgia Legislature with overwhelming majorities and is expected to take effect on […]

All employers, agricultural recruiters and referrers for a fee are required to verify the identity and employment authorization of each individual they hire for employment in the United States, regardless of the individual’s citizenship.  In 2008 an Interim Rule was passed that amended DHS regulations governing the types of acceptable identity and employment authorization documents […]

With the impending threat of a government shutdown looming, many are wondering what the possible effects on the various departments that have a role in immigration services might be. While we can only speculate on the results of such a shutdown, the consequences could be far-reaching.   A partial shutdown would likely include those functions that are […]

USCIS started accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2012 cap on April 1, 2011. Cases will be considered accepted on the date USCIS receives a properly filed petition for which the correct fee has been submitted; not the date that the petition is postmarked. The H-1B visa is a temporary worker’s visa […]

Last week, Berardi Immigration Law represented an elderly Canadian woman who had been turned away at the Peace Bridge as a visitor.  The recent widow, who had wintered in Florida as a “snow-bird” with her U.S. citizen husband, was attempting to enter the U.S. in order to sell their belongings and settle her late husband’s […]