While immigration is not on the Democrats First 100 hours issue list, Democratic leaders are finally starting to make it clear that immigration will not be ignored in the new Congress, despite some media reports questioning the commitment of Democrats to change. Harry Reid tells the AP's Spanish service that immigration will be dealt with by the Democrats. But hopes of quick passage of legislation are likely to be dashed as Reid again reiterates that the issue is complicated and needs close consideration.

Not for the squeamish. Take a look at this story from the NY Daily News. Brooklyn, NY judge John Wilson has a charming new children's book called "Hot House Flowers" that warns our impressionable youngsters about the dangers of illegal immigration. According to the Daily News, the plot involves "beautiful flowers that wither when dandelions sneak into their greenhouse."

This judge's book is offensive on so many levels. He's a judge in a city largely comprised of immigrants. His book's plot reminds me of Nazi ideology regarding Aryans and the impure. And the book is aimed at children. This guy needs to go.

Thanks go to Dan Kowalski for spotting this Jeff Parker Florida Today cartoon.

Many readers of this web site may know me as someone who writes and speaks regularly about immigration law. What you may not know unless you're an immigration lawyer and a member of either the American Bar Association or the American Immigration Lawyers Association, is that I also regularly write and speak on law office technology subjects. The web site on which you are reading this blog post was one of the very first law-related web sites on the Internet when it went online in 1994. I have co-written a best selling book on the Internet and the legal profession. I'm a regular speaker at the ABA's annual Techshow. And I'm a technology columnist for Immigration Law Today, the magazine of AILA.

This month I was writing a column for ILT on the subject of blogs and decided to create a new blog to go with that column. Tech Notes is my new blog for my tech musings. I'll be posting on law office technology subjects, new web sites, cool gadgets and more. I invite you to visit the new blog and give me feedback on what you like and don't like.

PRESS RELEASE

November 20, 2006

Contact: Greg Siskind
(901) 682-6455
gsiskind@visalaw.com

Memphis, Tenn. – The law firm of Siskind Susser Bland, P.C. announces today the formation of Visalaw International, the first worldwide alliance of immigration lawyers.

Visalaw International member firms work with each other to help individuals and companies navigate complex immigration laws around the world. Countries represented in the alliance include the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, Italy, Japan, China, Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Argentina.

“Competing in the global marketplace is difficult, and immigration laws are a trade barrier that can only add additional challenges,” said Greg Siskind, Siskind Susser Bland, P.C. partner. “Visalaw International's member lawyers are committed to helping clients develop strategies to ensure success.”

Visalaw International members are found in each of the world's regions and through the alliance, member firms can assist clients locating anywhere in the world. Clients can work directly with a Visalaw International member in a particular market or retain an alliance member in their country to manage global transfers.

Visalaw International's lawyers are some of the best known in the world.
Accomplishments include playing leadership roles in national and international bar associations; authoring best selling immigration law books in their countries; being regularly interviewed by journalists from national and international media organizations; pioneering the use of technology in the practice of immigration law; and drafting immigration legislation and regulations in their home countries. Visit Visalaw International on the Web at www.visalawint.com.

Siskind Susser Immigration Lawyers recently merged with The Eric Bland Law firm, forming Siskind Susser Bland, P.C. The Memphis-based firm is one of the largest immigration law firms in North America with offices in Memphis, New York, Atlanta and Nashville and affiliate offices in twelve countries through its participation in Visalaw International, the global immigration lawyers’ alliance. Its attorneys have experience handling all aspects of immigration and nationality law.

Siskind Susser Bland is listed as one of the best 15 immigration law practices in the United States by Chambers and Partners. Siskind Susser Bland can be found online at www.visalaw.com.

###

Leaders in Congress still are not saying much about any plans to pass immigration legislation during the lame duck session. The Republicans are indicating they intend to do little on the big appropriations bills and instead are looking to put off the real work until the Democrats take over in January. There are still possibilities, however. The Conrad 30 J-1 program extension looks close to being ready for passage and there are few opponents of the program. The recent retrogression in Schedule A numbers is creating another health care crisis and we could see some movement in either pulling more unused green card numbers for that category (as was the case last year) or a lifting of the green card cap all together (something that is part of the immigration reform package). We could also see a move to pass the SKIL Act to provide more H-1B numbers. But I think that with the exception of the Conrad bill, the odds of any movement this year are long. There have been a few comments by Republicans like Senator Arlen Specter that Republicans would be wise to pass immigration reform in the lame duck lest they get a bill much less to their liking next year. But many House Republicans hold out hope they can block immigration reform next year as well and are likely to try and thwart legislation as long as possible.

We may know more once the Democrats have chosen their immigration subcommittee leadership. We should have some more news for you soon on that front.

I hope our readers in American (and our American readers abroad) had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays not just because of all the great food, football games and time with friends and family. The holiday is a time when we can reflect on how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful country as the United States. The country is far - very far - from perfect, but we are still one of the most free countries in the world, we enjoy mind-boggling prosperity, we are one of the most creative, fun-loving, we're incredibly generous and we're also one of the most welcoming and tolerant societies.

This combination of attributes makes America still, in my opinion, the top destination in the world for immigrants. Despite some loud anti-immigrant rhetoric heard on talk radio and on cable news, the country is overwhelmingly in favor of immigration and sees immigrants as being a positive force. Even the anti-immigration crowd is careful to shape there arguments as being against "illegal" immigration as opposed to opposition to immigration generally.

Indeed, immigration is a key part of the American identity, something that only a few other countries have in common (Australia, Canada and Israel are the only ones that immediately come to mind). We see this not only in symbols such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Americans think of themselves in terms of hyphenations - I'm an Italian-American, a Mexican-American, etc. From the day immigrants enter the country, they start to assume an American identity and, indeed, Americans start to absorb the culture of the newcomers.

And Thanksgiving is, ultimately, a holiday that celebrates immigration. The Pilgrims coming to Plymouth Rock and working together with the native tribal community to survive is one of the earliest examples of the American immigrant experience. Native Americans welcomed the newcomers and began a 400 year tradition.

The few times in our history where we have shunned immigrants are also some of the most shameful. The exclusion of Chinese immigrants for nearly a half century begin in the late 19th century is one example. And the passage of the National Origins Act in 1924 set the stage for the US failing to accept thousands of Holocaust victims. That failure to act led to the passage of modern refugee laws in place today.

The American Hospital Association, a group not normally thought of as one involved with immigration advocacy, is pushing for passage of the SKIL Act, a bill which would open up more H-1B visas for physicians and more green card numbers for nurses and doctors. In the AHA's daily email news alert, the organization issued the following statement:

The AHA today joined a coalition of health care, education and business groups in calling on Congress to act during the lame duck session to pass the Securing Knowledge Innovation and Leadership bill (S. 2691/H.R. 5741), which would address shortages in H-1B visas and backlogs in the employment-based green card visa system. In a letter to all members of Congress, the coalition said
that the nation’s “outdated and counterproductive” visa policy is forcing “thousands of valued foreign-born professionals - including scientists, teachers, engineers and medical professionals - into legal and professional limbo for years. If we are serious about remaining the world’s innovation leader, we must fix our broken visa system and we urgently request your support for reform.” The AHA backs the SKIL bill because it would remove nurses and physical therapists from the annual worldwide caps for skilled workers by designating them as “shortage occupations,” making it easier for them to enter the U.S.

The New York Times this morning reports that the number of F-1, J-1 and M-1 visas issued to foreign students has increased by 14% in the past year and a record 591,050 applications were approved. The annual Open Doors survey conducted by the Institute of International Education will be released today. The report also notes that more than half of 900 schools surveyed have seen foreign student enrollment increase this semester.

Despite a Washington Post story that said the Democrats may not be so excited to move on immigration reform lest it affect their ability to maintain control in Congress in 2008, Senator Reid assured the country's Latinos that the Democrats heard their message on Tuesday. Indeed, exit polling data is now indicating that Hispanic voters probably had more to do with putting Democrats over the top than any other factor. The percentage of Hispanics voting increased substantially and the share of those votes going to Democrats also increased markedly.

Senator Reid issued the following statement Friday:

“Senate Democrats have heard Latino families’ message and are ready to deliver for them and all the American people. We need a better direction on
education, healthcare, economy, immigration, and Iraq to ensure a hopeful tomorrow for our nation.

“Democrats are committed to a number of key priorities including fixing our broken immigration system. Our country needs to strengthen security at our borders, bring millions of undocumented workers out of the shadows of our society, and restore the rule of law to our immigration system. Democrats look forward to working with Republicans to achieve real border security through bipartisan, tough, fair, and practical immigration reform."

President Bush told reporters today that he's hopeful that the the election victory by Democrats yesterday will lead to movement on immigration reform.

Q Thank you, Mr. President. On immigration, many Democrats had more positive things to say about your comprehensive proposal than many Republicans did. Do you think a Democratic Congress gives you a better shot at comprehensive immigration reform?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, I should have brought this up. I do. I think we have a good chance. Thank you. It's an important issue and I hope we can get something done on it. I meant to put that in my list of things that we need to get done.

I would hope Republicans have recognized that we've taken very strong security measures to address one aspect of comprehensive immigration reform. And I was talking to Secretary Chertoff today; he thinks that these measures we're taking are beginning to have measurable effects, and that catch and release has virtually been ended over the past couple of months. And that's positive.

And that's what some members were concerned about prior to advancing a comprehensive bill. In other words, they said, show me progress on the border, and then we'd be interested in talking about other aspects. Well, there's progress being made on the border in terms of security, and I would hope we can get something done. It's a vital issue. It's an issue that -- there's an issue where I believe we can find some common ground with the Democrats.

Q What are the odds for a guest worker provision?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's got to be an integral part of a comprehensive plan. When you're talking comprehensive immigration reform, one part of it is a guest worker program, where people can come on a temporary basis to do jobs Americans are not doing. I've always felt like that would be an important aspect of securing the border. In other words, if somebody is not trying to sneak in in the first place, it makes -- decreases the work load on our Border Patrol, and lets the Border Patrol focused on drugs and guns and terrorists. But that's a -- I appreciate you bringing that up. I should have remembered it.

You'll read tomorrow about the Democrats big win in the House (and possible the Senate). You probably won't read about how badly anti-immigrants in the House have done this evening. Between retirements and losses, at least 11 and as many as 20 hardcore anti-immigrant Congressman will be gone in January. They include

Bass (R-NH)
Beauprez (R-CO)
Bradley (R-NH)
Gutknecht (R-MN)
Hayworth (R-AZ)
Heffley (R-CO)
Hyde (R-IL)
Ryun (R-KS)
Taylor (R-NC)
Sweeney (R-NY)

And another several races are too close to call including

Bilbray (R-CA)
Cubin (R-WY)
Doolittle (R-CA)
Drake (R-VA)
Kuhl (R-NY)
Musgrave (R-CO)
Otter (R-ID)
Renzi (R-AZ)
Schmidt (R-OH)

No matter what is said after this election, the American public spoke and made it clear that they do not buy the anti-immigrant rhetoric of some in Congress. Not a single pro-immigrant Congressman lost to an anti-immigrant opponent as far as I can tell.

NBC News is projecting the Democrats will win the House of Representatives by twice as many seats as needed. The Immigration Subcommittee will now be chaired by a Democrat and the prospects for passage of comprehensive immigration reform will improve dramatically in the next session.

Nancy Johnson, a leading opponent of L-1 intracompany visas, has lost her House seat. Johnson had been a vocal critic of the L-1 visa category and had proposed a low cap on the category.

One of the first election results of the evening is the loss by John Hostettler of his House seat in Indiana. Hostettler is the anti-immigration Republican chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee and he ran his race largely on an anti-immigration platform. All of the networks have called the election for Brad Ellsworth. The Democrats appear to be moving toward claiming the majority in the House and that would result in a new chairman anyway. But come January I can now tell readers that there will be a new person in charge of this critical committee.

Love Slideshare.net. Publishing Powerpoint presentations is now a cinch.

Check this out! Slideshare uses the YouTube model for publishing PowerPoints and slide shows on the web.

I'm on the way home from the AILA Midsouth Chapter's annual meeting which was held this year in New Orleans. It was great to be coming to New Orleans for fund and education. Katrina still can be felt everywhere, but the city is on the rebound. The French Quarter is the exciting location it always was and definitely still a worthwhile place to spend your vacations or hold your conferences.

The AILA chapter conference had numerous excellent speakers including my friend Robert Divine, the Deputy Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Robert has also been the chief lawyer for USCIS as well as the Acting Director.

Today the program focused on law office management. AILA has come a long way in a short time with the strategic hiring of Reid Trautz, one of the best law practice management consultants in the country. Reid helped organize an excellent program that focused on technology and marketing. I spoke on two panels. The first was with my law partner David Jones and focused on taking your technology on the road. The second was with Reid and Ernie Svenson, one of the gurus of lawyer blogging. Ernie's famous Ernie the Attorney web site is well known in law technology circles and certainly is an excellent example of the right way to do a lawyer blog.

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