Dear Readers:

Immigrants have learned to roll with the punches over the last year and a half. Procedures change every day. The agencies that regulate immigration have been carved up and moved around. Rights have been curtailed. Now we have a major war. Already we're seeing more major changes. Asylees are automatically being detained. The FBI has been granted the power to arrest people for immigration violations. Iraqis are being rounded up. Twenty consulates around the world are closed and visa processing has ground to a halt. And this is all in the last few days!

Immigration in a time of war is clearly not the same as at other times. This week we provide an overview of the changes in our ABC’s of Immigration feature. We can all hope that the conflict ends quickly and with as little carnage as possible. I am also hopeful that a quick end to the war, further progress in the war on Al Qaeda and steady improvements in the US economy will also contribute to an improvement in the lot of immigrants in this country. Maybe we are turning a corner? Let's hope that is the case.

We occasionally report on immigration developments in other countries. This week we're pleased to report on an important victory in the courts in Canada by our own Leonard Pearl. Leonard practices in our Toronto affiliate office and writes this week on the finding that the Ministry that handles visas has been dragging its heels in issuing visas. Well done Leonard!

For immigration lawyers out there, be on the look out for your next Immigration Law Today magazine from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. I'll be co-writing a technology and the law column with David Jones, an attorney at our Memphis office. The first story contains a review of our favorite immigration research sites on the web.

Finally, as always, we remind readers that we're lawyers who make our living representing immigration clients. We would love to discuss becoming your law firm. Just go to http://www.visalaw.com/intake.html to request an appointment or call us at 800-748-3819 or 901-682-6455.

Regards,
 
Greg Siskind