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6. News Bytes:   New Effort to Protect Immigrants from Tricks   The New York Times reports that immigration officials are teaming up with federal and state prosecutors, the Federal Trade Commission, lawyers’ groups and immigrant advocates organizations in an effort to combat an epidemic of schemes by people posing as immigration lawyers.  The campaign, the first of its kind to harness such broad inter-agency cooperation, is an effort by the Obama administration to assist immigrant communities.  The effort involves a blitz of advertising and educational opportunities to help immigrants distinguish unqualified and fraudulent immigration lawyers.  Officials will couple this campaign with stiffer penalties and convictions for those seeking to take advantage of immigrants in the hopes that it will help curb this widespread problem going forward.   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/us/09immig.html ******      ALA. Governor Signs Tough Immigration Law   The Associated Press reports that Alabama’s Governor Robert Bentley signed a tough new immigration crackdown that contains provisions requiring public schools to determine students’ immigration statuses and making it a crime to knowingly give an illegally present immigrant a ride.    Alabama joins an ever growing number of states passing tough immigration bills and is facing outrage from civil liberties groups over provisions they feel are “mean-spirited, and racist.”  Republican Rep. Micky Hammon who sponsored the bill is proud of the tough stance it takes and pointed out that it is written in such a way that if any part fails to stand up to legal challenges, the rest will stand.                                      http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-09/us/alabama.immigration_1_illegal-immigration-immigration-law-immigration-status?_s=PM:US   The Wall Street Journal reports that advocacy groups made good on their promise to file suit over Alabama’s new tough immigration law.  The Southern Poverty Law Center and ACLU are two of many groups who are challenging the law on the basis that it encroaches on federal authority.  State officials who sponsored the bill said the suit came as no surprise and are confident the law will hold up in court.   http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2011/07/08/advocacy-groups-sue-to-block-alabama-immigtation-law/?mod=google_news_blog ******   Latest LDS Statement on Undocumented Immigration is Murky                                                                                       The Salt Lake Tribune reports that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement in support of Utah’s guest-worker measure, but failed to mention Utah HB116 by name.  HB116 seeks to fine undocumented workers in Utah either $2,500 or $1,000 and requires they pass background checks before being granted work visas for themselves and their families.  The bill was signed by Governor Gary Herbert and will take effect in July 2013.    Some Republicans looking to repeal HB116 at their upcoming state convention have questioned the statement’s true impact because it lacked the signature of the church’s First Presidency- its highest official.    The Salt Lake Tribune reports that a statement on undocumented immigration released by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just before a showdown at the upcoming Utah Republican Convention left room for interpretation.  The statement featured strong support of a guest-worker measure, but failed to mention Utah HB 116 by name that proposes a worker-program.  Furthermore, the statement lacked the signature of the church’s First Presidency- its highest official.  As a result, politicians on both sides of the guest worker issue have claimed the statement as support for their stance.   http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51983593-90/statement-church-lds-immigration.html.csp ******   Obama to Speak to Annual Conference of Hispanic Civil Rights Group National Council of La Raza   The Associated Press reports that President Barack Obama plans to address this year’s conference of the major Hispanic civil rights organization, The National Council of La Raza.  NCLR president Janet Murgia says Hispanics will want to hear from Obama on a range of issues including immigration reform, a topic Obama has received much criticism over after not moving reform as he promised in his 2008 campaign.    http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-to-speak-to-annual-conference-of-hispanic-civil-rights-group-national-council-of-la-raza/2011/06/15/AGyI2VWH_story.html ******   Texas Immigration Bill Approved by Senate                                                                            The Associated Press reports that Texas State Senate Republicans pushed through a controversial immigration bill during the current special session.  The bill gives police officers broader powers to ask people they detain about their citizenship status.  In addition, it bans enforcement agencies and local governments from adopting policies of encouraging workers not to ask about citizenship status.  Governor Perry and his supporters say the bill will help police fight crime committed by illegally present immigrants. As in many other states that have adopted similar legislation, detractors strongly object on the basis of racial profiling and the possibility that rogue officers might target Hispanics.    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7611208.html ******   Louisiana Passes Bills Requiring Employers to Check Immigration Status of Workers   The Times Picayune (LA) reports that House Bill 342, given unanimous approval Thursday in the Louisiana House could result in businesses that use undocumented immigrant labor losing their licenses or permits for at least six months.  According to the legislation, employers must use the federal verification system – known as “E-Verify” – to check the legal status of workers.  In addition to the suspension of operating licenses, employers found to utilize undocumented workers could face penalties of up to $1,000 per employee.    http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/house_approves_bill_requiring.html   The Times Picayune (LA) reports that the Louisiana House voted 100-0 Tuesday for House Bill 646 that would prohibit any public body from awarding a contract to a business that does not agree to monitor its work force for illegally present immigrants.  In its current form, the bill shares many provisions with a similar bill passed through the House earlier in the week by Representative John Bel Edwards including banning contractors from bidding on government contracts if they are found to be noncompliant. Resultantly, the bill passed through the House with little debate.   http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/house_approves_bill_requiring_1.html     The Times Picayune (LA) reports that Governor Bobby Jindal has signed two bills into law that are designed to discourage public and private sector companies from hiring illegally present immigrants.  Both House Bill 342 and House Bill 646 rely on the ‘E-Verify’ service to ensure employers working with the government check the immigration status of their employees.  Both take effect August 15.   http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/gov_jindal_signs_illegal_immig.html ******   NY Can’t Opt Out of Fingerprint Sharing With Feds: Officials                                                                                   WYNC News (NY) reports that fingerprints taken at the local level will continue to be shared with the Department of Homeland Security as part of a controversial federal immigration program despite New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s calls to end the practice.  Cuomo withdrew New York from the Secure Communities program on June 1 after ‘mounting evidence’ that it failed its stated goal of deporting serious felons.  In response to widespread criticism, ICE director John Morton announced that changed to the program would be made, including making sure the program is focused on dangerous criminals and ensuring victims and witnesses of crimes are not put into deportation proceedings.   http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/jun/27/secure-communities/ ******   Huntsman Takes Cue from McCain on Immigration   The Arizona Republic reports that Republican presidential hopeful, Jon Huntsman, appears to have taken his cue from the tactical shift to the right made in 2007 by U.S. Sen. John. McCain on the issue of immigration.  Huntsman, widely considered the most moderate 2012 Republican candidate, is a longtime backer of comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for illegally present immigrants already in the country.  Like McCain, he now says the U.S.-Mexican border must be secured first and grudgingly acknowledged the need for a fence along the border.    http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/06/26/20110626huntsman-mccain-immigration-nowicki.html ******   Governor Haley Signs Controversial Immigration Bill   WSPA News (SC) Gov. Nikki Haley signed a tough immigration bill that South Carolina Lawmakers sent to her desk.  Much like its Arizona counterpart this bill requires police in South Carolina to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect is here illegally and would require businesses to check the legal status of anyone they hire by using the E-Verify system.    A coalition of 21 faith and civil rights groups urged Gov. Haley to veto the bill, saying it will encourage racial profiling.  The coalition threatens a costly lawsuit challenging the bill.  A spokesman for Gov. Haley says that since it has been changed since a recent Supreme Court ruling on the Arizona legislation they are confident it will hold up in court.    http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/jun/27/gov-haley-signs-controversial-immigration-bill-ar-2035633/ ******   Board Sets Favorable Precedent for Children of Fiancées (K-2 Visa Holders)   The American Immigration Council’s Legal Action Center reports the Board of Immigration Appeals has advanced the cause of family unity in its June 23, 2011 decision, Matter of Le.  The Board concluded that the age of the child is “fixed at the time the child is legally admitted to the United States and therefore is eligible for adjustment of status even after turning 21.   http://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/newsroom/release/bia-sets-favorable-precedent-children-fianc%C3%A9es-k-2-visa-holders ******   San Diego County Moves Toward E-Verify System   The San Diego Union Tribune reports that San Diego County took the first step toward requiring all new employees to be screened through a federal database used to check the legal status of prospective workers.  The Board of Supervisors gave county officials three months to test the E-Verify program on new hires and report to the supervisors whether it is viable.  An ACLU policy director raised concerns about privacy and burdensome costs for human resources departments.  Even so, county officials have reported that public opinion remains on their side, supervisors assert that the majority of the calls to their office are in support of the measure.    http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/28/county-may-tap-database-check-worker-legal-status/ ******   Count of Pearce Recall Signatures Tops Requirement   The Associated Press reports that after an initial check of recall petitions targeting Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce, Maricopa County officials have verified there’s more than enough valid signatures to force a special election.  Pearce is the Senator who introduced Arizona’s controversial SB1070 immigration law.  Elections Director Karen Osborne said a comprehensive report on the verification results will be prepared and submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.  If the recall election is still on track, Pearce would be given the opportunity to resign or face voters.   http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/article_215156b4-a1e0-11e0-a75c-001cc4c002e0.html ******   Celebrating America’s 235th Birthday by Welcoming More than 24,000 New Citizens   The Blog @ Homeland Security reports that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) celebrated America’s 235th birthday by welcoming more than 24,000 new citizens.  In nearly 350 naturalization ceremonies across the United States and as far away as Baghdad and Kabul, individuals from all over the world took the Oath of Allegiance and accepted the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.   http://blog.dhs.gov/2011/07/celebrating-americas-235th-birthday-by.html ******   No Visa Processing In Yemen   Bender’s Immigration Bulletin reports that all visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen have been suspended until further notice.  Applicants who need to travel to the U.S. before the resumption of full visa services in Sana’a are welcome to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any U.S. Embassy or consulate outside Yemen which provides visa services.  The Embassy will commence visa operations gradually as circumstances permit.   http://yemen.usembassy.gov/visas.html ******   Texas Senator Backs H-1B Staffing Firms   ComputerWorld reports that Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is siding with IT staffing firms that rely heavily on H-1B visa workers against a USCIS memo that upended their business model.  The memo requires staffing firms to maintain day-to-day control of H-1B workers at third-party sites despite the fact that this control typically belongs to the third party using the worker rather than the staffing firm.  Senator Cornyn wrote a letter to Alejandro Mayorka, the USCIS director, accusing the agency of overstepping its authority and “denying the entire IT consulting and staffing industry access to H-1B workers.”  The USCIS said it planned to respond to the senator and cited the memo as one of the responses it made to a study that revealed rampant fraud and technical violations in H-1B petitions. Texas Senator Backs H-1B Staffing Firms  ******   Southern Baptist Leader Wants DREAM Act for Illegally Present Immigrants’ Children   The Associated Press reports that a Southern Baptist Convention leader says the group’s policy arm supports a version of the DREAM Act.  Richard Land, president of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, stated to the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security that the commission could support the DREAM Act with conditions.  One condition would be making sure the bill does not allow young adults who gain legal status to help their relatives gain legal status or enter the country.    http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/30/3739589/southern-baptist-leader-wants.html ******   New I-9 Central Website Aggregates Information About I-9 Process   International Law Office reports that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has launched a new website to provide resources, information and updates regarding the management of employee eligibility verification.  The new website, called I-9 Central, is available online at www.uscis.gov/I-9Central.   http://www.internationallawoffice.com/newsletters/detail.aspx?g=4c6f57c2-b31b-4b8d-b6e4-2f5b7fd1981b ******   Maryland Voters to Decide Immigrant Tuition Law   The Washington Post reports that opponents of a new law that gives illegally present immigrants in-state tuition discounts at Maryland’s public colleges have gathered enough signatures to suspend the law and force a statewide referendum.  Though elections officials have yet to certify the outcome, it is the first time in 20 years that a petition drive has forced a vote on a Maryland law.  Supporters of the law have created a collation to scrutinize the validity of the petition’s signatures and assert that they are confident that their cause will prevail in a statewide vote.  Meanwhile, the petition’s Republican organizers view the referendum as a huge success in a traditionally socially liberal state.    http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/md-voters-to-decide-immigrant-tuition-law/2011/07/07/gIQAfAsr2H_story.html ******   Arpaio’s Office to Pay $200,000 in Profiling Case   The Arizona Republic reports that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will pay $200,000 to settle a claim brought by two Hispanic men who accused sheriff’s deputies of racial profiling. The claim arose out of one of Sheriff Joe Arapaio’s worksite enforcement raids. Deputies pulled Julian and Julio Mora over outside the business and proceeded to detain them for nearly three hours without a warrant.  An attorney for the Sheriff’s Office said it was impossible to defend the merits of the stop because the deputies who stopped the Moras could not be identified due to the large number of deputies working the operation.   http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/07/08/20110708arpaio-office-profiling-case-settlement.html ******   Illegally Present Immigrant In-State Tuition Begins in Connecticut   The Associated Press reports that in-state tuition for illegally present immigrants at Connecticut’s public universities is set to begin this year.  The measure reduces tuition costs by as much as $17,000 annually and places Connecticut among twelve states that grant in-state tuition to illegally present immigrants who are working toward legal status.   http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/07/illegal-immigrant-in-state-tuition-begins-in-conn/ ****** U.S. Privacy Groups Protest Proposed E-Verify Bill   Computerworld reports that the ACLU and several other civil liberties, privacy and labor groups last week urged Congress to reject the Legal Workforce Act of 2011.  The bill would require all U.S. employers to use E-Verify to determine whether new hires and current employees can legally work in the U.S.  The bill also proposes a pilot biometric authentication program that would let employers fingerprint employees as part of the vetting process.  Backers say the bill and the proposed maximum $25,000 fines for noncompliance are designed to curb unauthorized immigration to the U.S.  Civil rights and privacy groups, however, contend that it would lead to the creation of a huge database containing highly sensitive information that would be hard to protect and ripe for misuse. Privacy Groups Protest E-Verify Bill  ******   Border Patrol Rescues 26 Illegally Present Immigrants in Arizona Desert   The Associated Press reportsTucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued 26 illegally present immigrants found wandering in the western Arizona desert over the Fourth of July weekend where temperatures were 118 degrees.   http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/article_4a145bf8-a7f5-11e0-9101-001cc4c03286.html ******

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