Dear Readers:
With just four days to go until Election Day, the entire world is waiting in eager anticipation for the outcome of the balloting. I can think of few elections in my lifetime where the future seemed so uncertain and most voters are likely giving more consideration to their choices this year than in the past.
Immigration advocates are certainly watching the races around the country closely. At a general level, the worsening economy certainly will have an impact on the topic. We’ve seen reports of a dramatic decline in illegal immigration that is partly due to the lack of economic activity in the US. Immigration restrictionists credits the drop as well to more enforcement and they probably are right as well. How will unemployment rising in the US affect the immigration debate? Will fewer illegally present workers help offset the increase in the size of the unemployed population?
And what of immigration reform legislation? Congress got close twice in the last few years. The Democrats have generally been the party that has favored the legislation so the expected Democratic pick ups in the House and Senate should bode well for a reform package. But will health care, banking reform, tax bills, etc. all push immigration to the side? Or will the Hispanic community in this country successfully remind the Democrats that they had a lot to do with their improved prospects this year?
Whoever becomes President will likely support reform legislation given their track records. And both candidates have a personal connection likely to make them see immigration in a more sympathetic light. Barack Obama is the son of a Kenyan immigrant. And he spent several years of his childhood overseas. John McCain’s own daughter Bridget was adopted from Bangladesh and is of a different race. Each candidate has said the right things (though McCain’s rhetoric in the Republican primaries was certainly a lot harsher). Given this, I think the key to reform will be just how different the Congress looks.
In any case, immigration advocates need to be forceful in pressing for reform to be included in the new President’s First 100 Days agenda. Immigration will only become a tougher issue to handle as the economy worsens, midterm elections dilute the Democratic gains and other legislative priorities squeeze the issue off the agenda. Advocates need to demand that immigration not be pushed aside.
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In firm news, I’ve just returned from speaking on an immigration law panel at the annual meeting of the International Bar Association in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This was my third trip to this wonderful city and it was great to see my many lawyer friends from around the world. The meeting also gave a chance for the members of Visalaw International (www.visalawint.com) to meet. I helped found this global alliance of immigration lawyers several years ago and the IBA annual meeting is always a nice place for our members to gather.
I also returned from attending the excellent EB-5 Seminar put on by USAdvisors.org in Orlando, Florida. Michael Gibson put on an excellent program and it was a unique opportunity for lawyers, investors and regional center representatives to gather to discuss the investor immigration program.
My colleague Karen Weinstock will be a speaker on Tuesday, November 11th at a program entitled “Immigration Compliance for HR Professionals” being organized by our firm ant The McCart Group. The program is being held at The Buckhead Club in Atlanta. You can find more information at http://www.visalaw.com/seminar.pdf.
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Finally, as always, we welcome your feedback. If you are interested in becoming a Siskind Susser client, please call our office at 901-682-6455 and request a consultation. We are a national immigration law firm and work on a broad range of immigration matters.
Kind regards,
Greg Siskind
