Federal authorities plan to use stricter standards for identifying and detaining terrorist suspects. The change occurred one week after the Inspector General’s report highlighted numerous errors made by officials following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Officials plan to make at least 12 structural changes that were recommended in the report. Among the 12 changes being adopted are developing clearer criteria for determining which illegal immigrants are terrorist suspects, improving lockup conditions and policies for those in custody and giving immigration officials – rather than the F.B.I. – more authority to remove a suspect from custody. Officials are still actively considering nine other recommendations and are likely to accept many of those as well.

The move to embrace the bulk of the changes appears to signal a greater acknowledgement of shortcomings in antiterrorism and detention policies than the Justice Department officials had publicly admitted.

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The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration (BCIS) recently announced that customers can call 1-800-375-5283 toll-free for automated case status assistance on Service Center filed cases. The new number replaces the toll-free numbers previously used on receipt notices and serves as an automated replacement of the Service Center automated case status system. Even for those using the website to get case status, the BCIS recommends calling if they move while the application is pending at one of the Service Centers or if they don’t hear from BCIS within the processing time projected on the receipt notice.

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Five criminal aliens on the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Most Wanted Criminal Aliens List have been arrested in less than a month since the Most Wanted list was unveiled. These criminal aliens have previous convictions that include murder, lewd and lascivious acts upon a juvenile, theft and firearm violations.

The List includes foreign nationals who have been convicted of committing serious crimes in the United States and served their time. Each of these criminal aliens have been issued orders of removal, commonly referred to as deportation orders, but have eluded law enforcement.

ICE’s Most Wanted Criminal Aliens List posted on the ICE website at http://www.bice.immigration.gov, enables the public to see photographs of those wanted. The toll free tip line, 1-800-BE-ALERT (1-800-232-5378), is staffed seven days a week, 24 hours per day.

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The TSC Watchdog Group developed a system to track approvals of fiancé visas from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Texas Service Center (Center). The summary for the first week of June indicated that the Center only approved an average of 10 petitions per day, while a conservative estimate indicates that the Center receives an average of 40 petitions per business day. The report stated that this meant that the Center fell behind an estimated 26 petitions per business day or 546 petitions total for the last 30 days. Also, over 4300 petitions are still pending from October 1, 2002 through April 30, 2003. The TSC began compiling the report in order to encourage the Center to refocus on the growing backlog of fiancé visa petitions.

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The American Immigration Law Foundation’s Legal Action Center (LAC) is seeking a staff attorney to work with the LAC’s director, attorneys, legal assistant and interns to provide practice materials and litigation resources to immigration practitioners; coordinator legal work nationally on a wide variety of removal and other immigration-law issues; write and submit amicus briefs to federal courts and agencies; and investigate and pursue affirmative impact litigation.

This position requires a law degree and admittance to a state bar. Candidates must also have at least three years immigration law practice, ideally focusing on removal defense and litigation. Please send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to HR-LAC, AILF, 918 F. Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004 or fax these to 202-783-7853 before July 1, 2003.  To learn more about AILF or LAC, visit www.ailf.org.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amended 8 CFR Part 212 this week to reflect the new titles of those who are given parole authority within the new organization. Component heads of the three bureaus are the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS), the Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The change is part of the continuing process of conforming the text of Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations to the governmental structures established in the Homeland Security Act and the DHS Reorganization Plan.

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The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), Philadelphia’s non-profit economic development agency, and CanAm Enterprises, LLC (CanAm), introduced the PIDC Regional Center, which will offer investment opportunities pursuant to the EB-5 Pilot Program. The Immigration and Naturalization Service formally designated the PIDC Regional Center in February 2003. Capital generated through the Philadelphia U.S. Immigrant Investment Fund will be targeted at qualifying projects that enhance the tourist, technology, transportation, higher education, and manufacture and trade industries in Philadelphia.