Log in

Tag: 1TP5UnitedStates

Posted on

Political games have left Dreamers uncertain.

More than 590,000 dreamers are once again facing uncertainty due to a request from 9 Republican-led states to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Many of those affected see this request as a legal threat against the program, which since 2012 has protected from deportation more than half a million dreamers, who arrived in the country irregularly as children and are seeking temporary status to live and work in the USA, as reported by CBS News.

Dreamers have pressured Joe Biden to fulfill his commitment to provide them with a path to citizenship (since there is currently no such path) through comprehensive immigration reform, which he had promised to implement within his first 100 days in office.

Many of the hopeful promises that could be seen at the beginning of the Biden administration under his government program are fading more and more each day for the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States and the immigration challenges that keep coming.

This new lawsuit, led by 9 Republican states*, is the third lawsuit against DACA expected to reach the Court.
The lawsuit argues that the program is illegal and seeks to overturn it. Furthermore, it hopes that this request will abolish the program's renewal process, which allows applications every two years.

The uncertainty for thousands of migrants covered by the DACA program continues, and is further compounded by the fear of other migrants who have not yet been able to join the program due to an amendment issued by Judge Andrew Hanen, declaring DACA illegal.

No dates have yet been set for the next hearings, nor for the issuance of their final sentence, which has left almost 700 dreamers in legal limbo.

Source: Telemundo, CNN

Posted on

«"Welcome Corps" private sponsorship for refugees in the United States

“WELCOME CORPS” PATROCINIO PRIVADO PARA REFUGIADOS EN USA

The Biden administration unveiled a new program called “Welcome Corps” that will allow groups of permanent residents and citizens to sponsor refugees from around the world to live in the United States.

Many define this program as a measure to fulfill at all costs the commitment to implement a private sponsorship program to resettle refugees in the United States, as instructed in Biden's executive order since February 2021.

This program will be implemented in 2 stages:

  1. Participating private sponsors will be connected with refugees whose cases have already been approved for resettlement. The State Department will begin coordinating sponsors with refugees arriving during the first six months of 2023.
  2. It will be launched in mid-2023, and private sponsors will be able to identify refugees to send to the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for resettlement purposes.

During the first year of the program, the State Department will seek to motivate 10,000 Americans to apply as sponsors to host at least 5,000 refugees.

According to the program, groups of at least 5 people can apply to sponsor refugees and help them adjust to life in the USA, with the support of a consortium of non-profit resettlement organizations.

Sponsor groups must raise a minimum of US$1,275 per refugee, but they are not obligated to provide ongoing financial support to the refugees they sponsor. The support they provide will be fixed for the first three months, and they must ensure continued financial support for the refugees as needed for two years.

The migration process for a refugee is not an easy task; finding a school, a job, learning how to get around, having financial support, and other everyday things takes time. All of these tasks would have to be taken on by a group of 5 or more Americans.
Now, the main concern that remains is whether sponsors will actually come forward for this arduous task.

Source: State Department and CNN en Español

Posted on

Migrants in the United States will be able to report labor abuses without fear of legal retaliation.

Unfortunately, undocumented migrants are subject to far more abuse than people with legal immigration status. It's very common for them to be underpaid, forced to work in unsanitary conditions, or forced to work in environments that put their lives at risk.

Many work environments create unfair, low-paying, and unsafe conditions in the labor market, perpetuating illegal and inhumane acts by employers toward migrants, who are often afraid to report abuses for fear of deportation or immigration retaliation.

However, this will no longer be the case, as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that undocumented workers who are victims or witnesses of labor rights violations can now report them without fear of legal retaliation and can request deferred action, which protects workers from threats by employers.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stated that through these new efforts, and with the support of labor agencies, it will be possible to protect the dignity of the workers who drive the American economy, the U.S. labor market, and workplace conditions. *U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

This new measure is also expected to encourage many workers to assert their rights by reporting violations they have suffered or observed and to cooperate in investigations of labor standards.

How can you apply?

In order to submit the application, the worker must:

  • Complete a written request signed by the worker.
  • Letter from employment agency supporting the application
  • Evidence about the case
  • Identification tests
  • Attach the 3 required forms.

Thanks to this new measure, people who are granted deferred action may be eligible for employment authorization, provided they demonstrate financial need.

Source: USCIS

Posted on

The United States, Mexico, and Canada seek to curb illegal crossings

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are using a digital platform to require migrants to check their eligibility for any programs before beginning their journey to the border, so they can receive travel authorization. Otherwise, they will be immediately deported from all three countries.

This new strategy, described as the latest in a series of North American efforts, comes at a time of unprecedented movement in the Western Hemisphere and is designed to combat the root causes of irregular migration, defined as the flight of thousands of people from their countries of origin due to poverty, lack of opportunities, violence, drug trafficking, government corruption, and the effects of climate change, among other reasons.

SMOKESCREEN?
The reality of immigration in the United States has faced changing patterns that pose unique challenges for Joe Biden; however, many question whether this measure will be yet another of the many soft policies that have NOT contributed to controlling the immigration crisis and HAVE generated strong criticism among Republicans and Democrats.

TO COVER THE SUN WITH ONE FINGER
One of the main points of the agreement was the announcement of the creation of this digital site with access to information regarding legal pathways available to emigrate to the three countries, an initiative that the USA has been using since last year to receive immigrants from Ukraine and Venezuela, and for the last few weeks to Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans.

IT WAS TIME TO REACH AN AGREEMENT
Through this plan, they seek to implement “practical steps to improve coordination and address the root causes of irregular migration” in the region, which has reached an unprecedented level of migration, with migrants fleeing their countries in search of asylum, primarily at the southern border of the United States.*

*The agreements include the opening of a migrant center in Tapachula on the southern border of the United States.

IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR BIDEN
Many believe that the immigration issue has gotten out of President Joe Biden's control, which is why he is seeking, through this alliance with Mexico and Canada, to stop the flow of migrants from the main source countries such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and El Salvador.

MEANWHILE?
During this summit, Mexico, the US, and Canada strengthened their relationship and affirmed their commitment to building a more equitable, fair, inclusive, resilient, secure, and prosperous North America.
Now, we can only wait to see how much of what was discussed at this summit can be put into practice to achieve more equitable results that respond to the needs and aspirations of migrants.

Do you think this digital platform will work for such an advanced migration problem?

FOUNTAIN: Editorial Staff/With information from Univision/CNN

Posted on

New US visa fees 

President Joe Biden's administration proposed a series of fee increases for some visas and immigration procedures in order to fully recover its operating costs and return to full operation. 

The reality behind the increased visa fees is that no increases had been implemented since 2016, and furthermore, there was a drastic reduction in 2020 due to Covid-19. Even with these reasons for the fee increase, many people fear it could affect their access to visas.

However, the proposal seeks to increase, among other things, the prices of employment visas, but will maintain the prices of humanitarian visas and non-immigrant visas. 

«"The new fees would allow USCIS to more fully recover its operating costs, restore and maintain timely case processing, and prevent future backlogs," the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

Another major reason is that since 2020, due to closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been "a drastic reduction in new applications, resulting in a temporary drop in revenue," which is why the agency has reduced its ability to adjudicate cases on time, according to USCIS.

The agency did not establish changes to non-immigrant visas, such as B1-B2 tourist visas.

Some visas and procedures that would increase in price: 

Some of the most notable changes in the increase in visa and immigration processing prices are those related to skilled workers with H-2A, L or O visas.

H-1B visas, for highly skilled workers, would increase from US$ 460 to US$ 780 once the proposal takes effect.

The H-2A visa, for foreign workers who come to do agricultural work, would increase from US$1,460 to US$1,090, a 1,371% increase.

L-type visas, for workers with specialized knowledge, would increase from US$$ 460 to US$$ 1,385, an increase from 201%

H-3, E (investor), O (persons with extraordinary achievement or ability), P (for renowned individuals, whether athletes or artists), Q (cultural exchange), R (religious workers), or TN (NAFTA Temporary Professionals) visas would increase from US$$ 460 to US$$ 1,015, an increase in the fee of US$1,21%

Investor visa applications could increase from US$ 3,675 to US$ 11,160

The electronic registration fee for the H-1B visa would increase from US$ 10 to 215, a rise from 2050%.

The naturalization process, through form N-400, would go from US$ 640 to US$ 760, an increase of 19%.

The application for permanent residence registration, made using form I-485, would change from US$ 1.140 to US$ 1.540. This form allows verification of whether the person requesting the service is eligible to obtain legal residency or a green card.

USCIS said it would preserve the fee waiver for vulnerable and low-income populations, as is currently the case, in addition to adding new waivers for some humanitarian programs.

USCIS expects that with this proposal it can collect an average of US$5.2 billion per year in fiscal years 2022 and 2023. With the addition of premium processing for some visas, total revenue is projected at US$6.4 billion per year. 

The rates will not change immediately, but in about 60 days, until the final rule comes into effect once public comments have been made, which began on January 4 of this year and end on March 6, 2023. 

News report compiled using information from: BBC News, USCIS News, Federal Register

Posted on

Migration 2022: challenges and crises

During these 12 months, the United States border has seen unprecedented numbers of migrants, causing a migration crisis due to the difficult economic and political situation in Latin America, especially in countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.  

VENEZUELAN EXODUS 

Venezuelan migration has been recognized as one of the world's largest displacement and migration crises, surpassing that of Syria, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The number of displaced Venezuelans has exceeded 7.1 million, according to the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (RAV).

Cubans in the USA

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), approximately 224,607 Cubans attempted to enter the United States during 2022, a number that surpasses the combined records of the Mariel Boatlift in 1980 and the Balseros Crisis in 1994, the worst migration crises in the history of the Caribbean island to date.

MIGRATION RECORD IN THE DARIEN

According to forecasts from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an estimated 200,000 irregular travelers will have crossed the Darien Gap border crossing located between Colombia and Panama in 2022.

HISTORICAL MIGRATION IN THE USA

Political and economic crises in the region, coupled with the effects of COVID-19, have influenced the record numbers of migrants arriving in the US.

US border patrols recorded contact with more than 2.7 million migrants in 2022 and 1.6 million in 2021, a dramatic spike compared to previous reports of 405,036 (2020), 859,501 (2019) and 404,142 (2018).

VISAS FOR VENEZUELANS

The U.S. government has implemented a humanitarian visa program for Venezuelans* that will allow 24,000 applicants to enter the country and live and work legally for two years. *This new measure was implemented to reduce the record number of people arriving daily at the U.S. southern border.

RECORD OF NATURALIZATION IN THE USA

Nearly 1 million immigrants became U.S. citizens in 2022, the highest number of naturalizations in the past 15 years, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. *The top five countries of birth for the new citizens were Mexico, India, the Philippines, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic.

TITLE 42 REMAINS 

The administration of US President Joe Biden intended to repeal Title 42, a measure that allows for the expulsion of people who cross the border illegally. Although it was officially set to expire on December 21, the Supreme Court issued an order postponing its repeal. The decision on whether the law will remain in effect could still be delayed until February.

Do you think 2023 poses a challenge for Joe Biden's government on immigration issues?

News story created with information from Voice of America

Posted on

US labor shortage

Many wonder why the country's labor shortage persists almost three years after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the answer is simple: they don't have enough immigrants. Furthermore, immigration has long been a political tool in the United States, rather than a genuine priority, says journalist Vanessa Yurkevich. 

“Part of the reason there are so many vacancies and unfilled jobs in the U.S. is that many immigrants who came regularly before COVID are no longer here,” said Giovanni Peri*. The reality is that migrants are filling thousands of positions that many Americans don't want to do. *Author of the research at the University of California and director of the UC Davis Center for Global Migration.

According to research from the University of California, by the end of 2021 there were about 2 million fewer working-age immigrants in the United States than there would have been if pre-pandemic immigration had continued unchanged.

Illegal migration is one of the factors that has affected the labor shortage over the past two years for American companies focused on construction, agriculture, and hospitality. 

Similarly, the lack of available workers has driven up wages, leading to higher inflation. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that in addition to an aging workforce, a shortage of foreign labor is contributing to the labor shortage.

The greatest impact is felt in industries such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality, which rely on immigrant workers. There are currently 10.3 million job openings in the US: 377,000 in construction and 1.6 million in hospitality. This number has been increasing in recent months. *According to research from the University of California, Davis. 

The only solution that many of the industries directly affected by Covid-19 see is that through immigration reform, industries affected by unskilled labor will be improved, in addition to allowing more legal immigrants who need the job and contribute to the progress of the American nation. 

Written from: CNN en español

Posted on

Even without Title 42, they will continue to deport

Title 42 is a 1944 law that Trump recently used to expel immigrants from the US. This law empowers the federal government to take extraordinary measures to prevent the introduction of easily transmissible diseases into the country. Trump used this legislation to expel thousands of immigrants under the pretext of COVID-19.

After a long legal battle between Democrats and Republicans over the legality of this policy, Title 42 will expire this Wednesday, December 21. This represents a victory for the Democrats, but leaves a bitter taste for the immigration system.

With the end of Title 42, we return to Title 8, regulations that are more rigid and strict than 42. Under these regulations, people who enter irregularly must be interviewed by a border agent and demonstrate a "credible fear" of returning to their country
of origin.

The penalties for those who have entered the country illegally on repeated occasions are more severe. Furthermore, the situation is unclear for individuals who were removed under Title 42 and are now attempting to enter under Title 8, since removal under Title 42 is based on public health concerns, while removal under Title 8 is based on admissibility or inadmissibility under immigration law.

In other words, this means that deportations under Title 42 did not take into account a person's merits for remaining in the U.S. Therefore, the government could deport people to Mexico and make them wait there for their hearing, regardless of whether or not they had a strong asylum case. This discouraged many people from crossing irregularly.

With the end of this policy, the door is opened for thousands of immigrants to attempt to enter irregularly starting Wednesday. This is for two reasons: first, there is no mechanism to deport anyone who fails the credible fear interview; and second, those who were deported under Title 42 have not been deported under Title 8, which has a different standard.

Faced with the surge of migrants waiting to cross the border, the Biden team claimed to have increased resources for the area, improved application processing, imposed penalties for illegal entry, and targeted smugglers. Even so, the issue of immigration is a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.

News report compiled from: CNN and San Diego Union Tribune

Posted on

Job crisis in the United States due to lack of professional qualifications

Imagine this scenario: you find a job offer that's perfect for you, requiring exactly the kind of skills you have. But you can't apply, or if you do, you're rejected because the position requires a university degree you don't possess.

WORK LIMITATIONS

More than 70 million people in the USA are affected by not having a degree, including many undocumented professionals or self-taught individuals who cross the border in search of a better quality of life and with the desire to find jobs that match their skills, according to estimates from the NGO Opportunity at Work.

WHO HITS THE CEILING?

Workers known as STARs* who acquired their skills and knowledge on the job, through non-university training courses and/or programs, among other means. * (acronym for "trained through alternative pathways") 

LABOR CRISIS 

In general, the number of workers without a bachelor's degree is even higher among minorities; 62.1% of those over 25 do not have a bachelor's degree, but that percentage increases to 72.1% for African Americans and 79.1% for Latinos. *According to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

WHAT EFFECTS DOES IT HAVE?

Unskilled jobs such as construction, agriculture, waiters, baristas and/or hotels among others, that is, cheap and poorly paid labor, in addition to having a wage gap between those with a university degree and those without, which has doubled during the last 40 years, according to Opportunity at Work.  

REQUIREMENTS

Job offers that were generally for people with average skills who could apply with high school diplomas, now establish a university degree as a minimum requirement, a credential that only a third of the adult population possesses according to the NGO report Opportunity at Work.

REALITY

According to Opportunity at Work, STARs* represent more than 501,000 people in the U.S. workforce, including 611,000 African Americans and 551,000 Hispanics. 

THE SOLUTION

The more large companies that join organizations like Chevron, Accenture (where only 261% of their positions require a degree), Google, IBM (where 291% of positions require a degree), LinkedIn, Comcast, and Walmart to raise awareness in the United States about the "paper ceiling" and encourage employers to abandon this practice.

News report compiled from: Washington Examiner and BBC News

Posted on

Appointments at the Embassy, don't let them pull this stunt on you

During the last few months, news has been circulating regarding the advancement of appointments at the American embassy in Colombia, stating that scheduling times have been reduced from 2 years to 2 months.

How true is this?

The U.S. government constantly updates average wait times for scheduling appointments. Furthermore, the U.S. Embassy in Colombia is working tirelessly to reduce wait times for tourist visa interviews; in fact, they have even deployed an additional team to support them.

This mission has already begun to yield results. Currently, applications from people who do not require a consular interview for the granting of their tourist visa have an estimated wait time of 23 calendar days.

Who does NOT require a consular interview?
Visa renewals that have expired in the previous 48 months, children under 13 years old and adults over 80 years old. However, not everyone in this group qualifies; the appointment scheduling system decides whether or not you should proceed with the process, just like most people in the 2-year-old group.

Why some yes and others no?

Many people have already been able to reschedule their appointment, however, others have not. This may be because, despite being on the correct team, you have obtained a new passport, your fingerprints have not been taken in the past, or you have been denied another visa recently.

Waiting times according to visa type

In the case of the most common visas, which are the B1 (for visitors arriving in the United States for business) and the B2 (for tourists), the waiting time for an interview appointment at the embassy of that country in Colombia is currently 799 days.

However, if the applicant is requesting a different type of visa, the processing times are much shorter. For students or visitors participating in an exchange program (F, M, and J visas) and for petition-based temporary workers (H, L, O, P, and Q visas), the waiting time for an appointment is only 13 calendar days.

If you are eligible to be exempt from an interview (check the website of the United States embassy), the waiting time for any type of visa is on average 23 calendar days.

It is important to remember that the estimated wait time to receive an interview appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate can change weekly and is based on the actual incoming workload and staffing levels.

The U.S. government clarifies that the above are only estimates and do not guarantee appointment availability. Interview waiver application wait times refer to the average number of days between acceptance of an interview waiver application and its adjudication by a consular officer; they do not include the time required for passport or other document processing.

Consular sections abroad can expedite your interview date if there is an urgent and unforeseen situation, such as a funeral, a medical emergency, or the start date of classes.

News written from: Portfolio, USCIS