SB744 GETS OUT OF JUDICIARY

Good news, the immigration reform bill SB744 got out of the Senate judiciary committee yesterday with a few wonderful amendments.
One great amendment included adding the dual intent language to students (F-1), exchange visitors (J-1) which includes foreign doctors, E, O, P, V or W.
It also allows for a waiver for people previously removed in some cases.
There was a settlement between Senators Hatch and Schumer on H-1B cap - to go up to 180,000 based on market demand/need.
Also, increased portability for people applying for employment-based green cards and other provisions which are mostly positive.
Now the vote...

METRO ATLANTA CHAMBER SUPPORTS IMMIGRATION REFORM

The board of the Metro Atlanta Chamber agreed today to certain immigration reforms, adopting a position similar to the U.S. Chamber and other business organizations. The Chamber says expanding the EB-5, J-1 and H-1B visa programs are critical to increased competitiveness.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber said employment, investment and student-based visas are of particular interest to it. It supports removing barriers to recruiting highly-skilled talent and expertise. The Metro Chamber's position states: "Strengthening visa policy to allow the world's best and brightest to work and invest in the U.S. is a path toward economic growth and expansion."

Great move by the chamber!

ECONOMISTS AGREE IMMIGRATION REFORM WOULD BOOST U.S. ECONOMY

Economist at the Milken conference agree that immigration reform would boost the U.S. economy. Unlike the biased opinions recently appearing in the media by one economist saying it will cost a whole lot, most economists of note agree that immigration reform would boost the U.S. economy. Read more at:

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-milken-immigration-strategy-20130429,0,3473468.story?utm_source=AILA+Mailing&utm_campaign=9b99cb18c6-AILA8_5_1_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3c0e619096-9b99cb18c6-287750013

CBP DOES AWAY WITH I-94S

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started implementing the automated version of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, at air and sea ports of entry. Implementation will continue across the nation through May 21, to include air and sea ports of entry that support international arrivals.
CBP will stop giving away I-94s and instead stamp each foreign national's passport with the entry date, admission status and expiration date listed on the admission stamp and enter all their data into the electronic system. The individuals will be able to access their electronic Form I-94 by visiting www.cbp.gov/I94 and print out their I-94s.
As evidence of lawful admission submitted with a benefit request, USCIS will accept the electronic Form I-94 in paper format obtained from CBP’s website as equivalent to the paper versions of Form I-94. In lieu of submitting the electronic Form I-94 in paper format, USCIS will also accept photocopies of the passport pages that contain the individual’s biographical information, visa and admission stamp.
We'll have to wait and see how smooth this process will actually be...

MARK ZUCKERBERG BACKED IMMIGRATION GROUP LAUNCHES TV ADS

Politico reports that the Mark Zuckerberg-backed organization pressing for immigration reform will launch its first wave of television ads Tuesday, in a move aimed at gathering support for a large-scale immigration deal on the right.
FWD.us, the organization formed to push Silicon Valley’s priorities in Washington, will advocate for a new immigration law through a subsidiary group created specifically to court conservatives. It's a great initiative since the Democrats largely support this bill and this bill need a strong Republican support in order to pass Congress.
The ads feature clips of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to make its case to Republican-leaning voters who normally would not support immigration reform. No one on the right can "blame" Sen. Rubio of being a liberal since he is very conservative on almost every other issue out there so I command him for taking such a stand against his own party about this issue of immigration reform to do the right thing.
Read more at Politico: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/mark-zuckerberg-immigration-group-launches-tv-blitz-90511.html#ixzz2RbSl6BSy

GOVERNOR DEAL SIGNS SB160

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal just signed Senate Bill 160, a second bill after the notorious HB87 cracking down on illegal immigration. Not. This bill just denies further benefits to immigrants.
SB160 was passed late last month during the final hour of the legislative session, and will take effect on July 1, 2013. It will increase the list of public benefits that people without legal authorization to live in the U.S.  may not receive to include grants, housing assistance, retirement benefits and driver’s licenses.
People without a legal immigration status are not eligible anyway to receive grants, housing assistance  retirement benefits or driver's license but now thanks to this law abused women and children now cannot go to state sponsored shelters...
The only good thing about this bill (yes there is one good thing but only one) is that it will reduce delays in business license renewals. Right now an unintended consequence of HB87 requires Georgians holding professional licenses to prove they’re U.S. citizens or are in this country legally each time they apply for a renewal of the license (and the initial license of course). This requirement unduly burdened the Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division and many delays (sometimes months) were reported for critical occupations such as nurses.

DRONES TO BE USED AT SOUTHWEST BORDER?

I did not have a chance to go through all the part of the new immigration law proposal but here is something to pick up conversations: a proposals to use drones as part of the border enforcement at the southwestern border of the United States with specifically the states of Texas and Arizona (and perhaps New Mexico) as a way to monitor illegal entries. If only the U.S. government would be able to look at underground tunnels...

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2013/04/17/immigration-bill-calls-for-247-drone.html?ana=e_abd&u=smOEobGGOoSmz+5vyFsVIcfkh+E&page=all