USCIS launches campaign against scams and "notarios públicos".

Federal, state and local authorities today announced the launch of a campaign to combat scams by notarios and immigration consultants targeting immigrants seeking legal help to fix their papers. The initiative, "The Wrong Help Can Hurt You - Avoid Immigration Scams," is spearheaded by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The goal ... Read more

Governor of New York suspends "Secure Communities" program

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday that his state will suspend its participation in the Secure Communities program. The governor's office sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notifying him that due to numerous complaints and concern for the welfare and safety of residents of his state, New York is withdrawing from the program. In ... Read more

Supreme Court votes in favor of anti-undocumented law in Arizona

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-3 vote, this morning upheld an Arizona law that allows the state to severely punish companies that hire undocumented immigrants and authorizes the mandatory use of the federal E-Verify program to verify the immigration status of employees. In its resolution, the majority of ... Read more

Immigrant labor rights

Federal law prohibits discriminatory practices during the search, hiring, employment eligibility verification process (known as Form I-9), or termination of persons authorized to work in the United States. It is important to know what guidelines hiring managers must follow to avoid being a victim of discrimination and to understand what your rights and responsibilities are. Read more

San Francisco Sheriff rejects enforcement of "Secure Communities".

San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessy announced that he will begin releasing undocumented immigrants who are in jail for minor crimes, even if federal authorities request that they remain in detention for a deportation hearing. San Francisco is a "sanctuary city," as established by an ordinance passed in 1989. The ordinance ... Read more

Illinois withdraws from "Secure Communities" program

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced yesterday that his state will no longer participate in the Secure Communities program. The governor sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notifying them that the state is withdrawing from the program because the federal government is applying it in a discriminatory manner, and because it is not complying with ... Read more

March for immigration reform

Yesterday multiple marches took place around the country, where thousands of people took to the streets to demand comprehensive immigration reform. This Sunday, May 1st, was the 6th anniversary of the monumental march that started this movement. I participated yesterday, as in other years, in the march of ... Read more

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