Dear Readers:

Legislatures all over the country are considering immigration bills. Most focus on enforcement and most are of questionable constitutionality. So it was with mixed feelings that the pro-immigration community greeted Utah’s just passed bill that would create a state guest worker program open to those illegally present in the US. The bill calls on the state to negotiate with the federal government to secure Washington’s blessing. But it also requires the guest worker program to be implemented without Washington’s support if a deal cannot be reached.

It is encouraging to see a state sending a message to Washington that not only does enforcement need to be addressed, but solutions for the illegally present immigrants are also needed.  But just as the numerous enforcement laws passing at the state level violate the Constitution’s mandate that immigration law be dealt with at the federal level, so too does the Utah guest worker bill.

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USCIS has a tendency to be tone deaf when it comes to pursuing policies affecting the health care profession. Despite well-documented shortages in many health care fields, the agency has been pursuing ever more aggressive policies that have made work visas more difficult to secure.

The latest example was

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Readers are reminded that they are welcome to contact my law office if they would like to schedule a telephone or in person consultation with me or one of my colleagues. If you are interested, please call my office at 901-682-6455.

Regards,

Greg Siskind