Note: As many of our lawyer and paralegal readers know, we are actively planning a new e-mail based newsletter for the immigration legal professional. The newsletter will contain much of the same type of information we've previously put in this column - information on job openings, new books of interest to immigration lawyers and paralegals, information on conferences and association events, news about the profession, etc. We should have the separate newsletter ready for sending out next month. We plan on issuing that newsletter monthly and, like this newsletter, will be completely free. If you are an immigration lawyer, paralegal or other immigration professional and would like to be on this list, please let me know by sending me an e-mail at gsiskind@visalaw.com. Please also let me know a little about yourself including your full name, e-mail address, where you practice, what type of practice you have, etc. Finally, if you wish to have announcements posted in the newsletter, send e-mail to me at the address above. GS.

- Well-respected asylum expert Deborah Anker has a new edition of her Law of Asylum in the United States book coming out in September. Anker is the head of the clinical refugee law program at Harvard Law School. Pre-publication orders are being taken by the book's publisher, The Refugee Law Center. The book's publisher describes the changes from previous editions:

"Greatly expanded from prior editions, this 500 page book contains eight detailed chapters treating every basis for asylum protection, integrating domestic and international sources, BIA published and unpublished decisions, INS manuals and guidances, etc. The book contains an in-depth look at new theories of persecution and avenues of relief from persecution by non-state actors. Examples of some of the special issues treated include mental harm as persecution, illegal departure, discrimination, economic reprisals, distinguishing persecution from prosecution, forms of political opinion including imputed

opinions based on family associations, new theories of particular social group membership, and gender and sexual orientation as bases for asylum.

For the first time, the book contains an extensive chapter on relief under the Torture Convention, including recently adopted U.S. procedures and detailed discussion of interpretation by international and European human rights institutions and authorities.

A detailed appendix includes statutes, forms, flow charts, and sources for doing country-condition research."

The book costs $79.00 and $69 for non-profits. Add $7.50 for shipping and handling, (and $2.00 for shipping and handling additional copies in the same order). Orders can be placed by sending a check or credit card information (Master card and visa only) to: Law of Asylum in the United States, Boston Book

Company, 705 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA. 02130. Faxed orders can be sent to 617 522-9359. For more information, call (617) 524-8400, email at jwillshire@refugeelawcenter.org, or visit the Refugee Law Center web page at www.refugeelawcenter.org.

- Job Opening: ProBar in Harlingen, Texas

As a new member of the ABA's Coordinating Committee on Immigration Law, I have had the pleasure of learning about ProBar, a project providing vital legal assistance to immigrants at the US-Mexican border in Texas. ProBAR is a joint project of the ABA, the State Bar of Texas and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Steve Lang who heads up ProBar in Harlingen is in immediate need of a bilingual (Spanish/English) paralegal or new attorney to conduct rights presentations at PISPC Los Fresnos. The Steve can be reached at 956-425-9231.

- Advocacy Group Seeks Assistance with DNA-Testing Question

William Cohen, President and Chief Counsel of the Center for Human Rights Advocacy in Boulder, Colorado is requesting information on DNA testing. The CHRA is representing a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine who has been denied US refugee status by the INS in Moscow because she cannot document her relationship to her sponsoring sister in the US. The CHRA would like to use DNA testing to establish the sibling relationship and they are seeking assistance from anyone who has used DNA testing in an immigration case. Contact Mr. Cohen at 303-444-0970 or e-mail him at chra@ucsub.colorado.edu.

- Job Opening - Washington Alliance for Immigrant and Refugee Justice (WAIRJ)

The WAIRJ in Seattle, Washington is seeking an Operations Administrator. The WAIRJ is a non-profit alliance of organizations and individuals who seek to advance the civil and human rights of immigrants and refugees. The position is full-time, pays $28,000-$34,000 plus benefits. The duties for the position include helping to administer daily operations, working with the director and technology advisor to manage a web site and mailing list, assisting with membership goals, overseeing purchasing of supplies, and working with the director and treasurer to maintain the accounting system. For more information, contact Soya Jung, WAIRJ, 909 Eighth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 wairj@speakeasy.com.

- Job Opening - Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

This Seattle-based non-profit organization is seeking a staff attorney to provide legal representation to individuals in immigration proceedings, provide legal assistance to INS detainees, provide immigration-related legal advocacy to survivors of domestic violence eligible for immigration benefits and to supervise the work of accredited representatives, legal advocates, law students and administrative office staff. The position will pay $31,795 to $40,321 depending on experience.

- Information on Secondary Inspection Abuses Needed

The law firm of Arnold and Porter in Washington is working with the Lawyers Committee on Human Rights in a project investigating the new INS expedited removal system. They are seeking information relating to abuses of power, physical or otherwise, by INS officials during the secondary inspection process. The Lawyers Committee intends to issue a report based on the accounts that will hopefully be used to lead to changes in both INS procedures and the underlying legislation. Unfortunately, the INS has refused to permit anyone, including academicians, attorneys, and advocacy groups, to observe the secondary inspection process. Therefore, the report's collection of evidence will depend on networking with immigration advocates, immigration attorneys and others who may come into contact with people who have "passed" secondary inspection or people who were sent back to their home countries after failing such inspections. Persons with information on this matter should contact

Flora Szilagyi (flora_szilagyi@aporter.com)

C. Randolph Ross (c._randolph_ross@aporter.com)

Hilary Adel (hilary_adel@aporter.com)

- Job Opening - Catholic Social Services Immigration Project in Anchorage, Alaska

CSS in Anchorage is looking for a bilingual (Spanish/English) staff attorney to assist with representing underserved immigration clients. Contact Robin Bronen at 37210 E. 20th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99508.

[Many thanks to Dan Kowalski for passing on much of the above information to me]