Openers

Dear Readers:

Maybe it is because I’m an optimist, but I’m starting to get a sense that we’ve turned a corner in the immigration debate and commonsense may be returning. We’ve cleared out all the most strident anti-immigrant presidential candidates. We’ve seen several recent elections where anti-immigrant candidates lost. State legislatures a few months ago were passing anti-immigration legislation with barely any debate and now we’re starting to see some real discussion. Some of the worst bills have been modified and other states have defeated measures.

And now we’re starting to see some progress in Congress. The House has recently moved several immigration measures. They’re modest, but the fact that they’re passing at all is a good sign. And just this week Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, the chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee co-sponsored a bill with Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner, a former House Judiciary Chair known for being anti-immigrant. The bill would reclaim hundreds of thousands of previously unused green cards.

These are, of course, just modest signs. But at least the atmosphere seems to be improving.

*****

Finally, as always, if you are interested in becoming a Siskind Susser Bland client, please feel welcome to email me at gsiskind@visalaw.com or contact us at 800-748-3819 to arrange for a telephone or in person consultation with one of our lawyers.

Regards, 

Greg Siskind