The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) allows individuals to check on their case status at any time by phone.  In order to access information, a caller needs an alien registration number which can be found on any EOIR correspondence.  The automated system will notify an individual of their hearing date, time and location as well as the status of their cases.  It will also give information regarding the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The phone number for this service is (703) 305-1662 or 1-800-898-7180 .

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An estimated one hundred thousand people took to the streets in Chicago for an organized rally in protest of a new immigration bill that would punish employers and aid organizations for assisting or hiring immigrants.  The crowd, which consisted primarily of immigrants, marched through town in a line that reached two miles long.  According to the Chicago Tribune, the march stands as one of the largest pro-immigration rallies in US history.  The gathering attracted local, state and national politicians, including Governor Rod Blagojevich.  Police reported no incidents or arrests during the demonstration, despite the large number of people who took part.  Immigrants were joined by immigrant supporters who are grateful for the services that immigrants provide, especially to employers with blue collar jobs.  The rally lasted approximately two hours.

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After restructuring the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in August of 2002, a recent study done on the program has revealed that the change has not compromised the agency’s efficiency.  The changes, which were aimed at streamlining the process of immigration appeals without sacrificing the quality of decisions made by the organization, came after a prior attempt to expedite the process of immigration appeals had been implemented in 1999.   A review of the most recent restructuring has shown that backlog of cases has been cut in half, delays have been shortened in the administrative review process and cases are being efficiently prioritized.  Furthermore, feedback from the appeals courts has shown that the remand rate for BIA has remained consistent. 

A drawback from the new structuring is the number of appeals being made by individuals hoping to reverse their opinions.  The rate has grown from about five percent to thirty percent since the restructuring.  The review notes that the the increase in the number of appeals may not be directly linked to the new system.  According to the USDOJ release on the restructuring, appeals may be being used as a method to procrastinate being returned home rather than a legitimate channel for staying in the United States .  Despite this drawback, the evidence in favor of the new restructuring is overwhelmingly positive.

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Recent democratic elections in Liberia have ended the longstanding resettlement program which the United States has offered to Liberians seeking refuge.  According to the Bush Adminisration, the elections appear to be final evidence that Liberia is making a concerted effort at democratic change.  President Johnson Sirleaf, who is being supported by the United States , has issued a request for all displaced Liberians to return home to help in the rebuilding process.

After spending twenty-eight million dollars in repatriation and reintegration programs for Liberia in 2005, the United States has expressed support for wide scale repatriation of Liberians.  In response to the stabilizing nature of Liberia , the US will no longer designate any groups for resettlement.  The US will also suspend Affidavits of Relationship ( AOR ) in September of 2006.  Finally, in order to prevent detracting from Liberia ’s democratic movement, the US will suspend Priority 3 AOR ’s in order to aid in the repatriation process.  All cases filed before the September 30^th deadline will be processed, but, as of now, no date has been set for the resumption of case reviews.

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Canada ’s ambassador to Washington has expressed displeasure over Bush’s proposal to make Canadians carry a passport or other form of secure identification when crossing the American-Canadian border.  The plan, which Ambassador Michael Wilson feels is too expensive and will deter cross-border travel, will eliminate the old policy of allowing drivers licenses and birth certificates to serve as adequate forms of identification when traveling to the US .  In order to reduce the financial burden of the new policy, the United States has revealed plans for a less expensive PASS card to substitute as a valid form of ID in place of a passport.  Canada has not yet expressed plans for a similar ID.  In hopes of protecting Canadian-American travel, Wilson has expressed his desire to lobby congress to reject Bush’s plan in favor of a less expensive way to ensure border security.  

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In Cuba , 533 visa holders are waiting for exit permits in order to emigrate to the United States .  The Cuban government is withholding these exit permits for various political reasons.  About two hundred of the individuals have been claimed by relatives in the United States while the rest are entering through the normal channels.  A majority of the exit permits that were denied were withheld for people in the medical profession and individuals who held military and political positions.  According to an article in The Miami Herald, most medical professionals have a civil obligation to work for a number of years and so Cuban officials feel justified in denying their requests.  The majority of individuals emigrating are viewed as political or military defectors and therefore their applications are being denied under seemingly clear-cut political reasons.  Though Cuba allows documented individuals to leave, over a thousand individuals were denied their petitions in 2005.

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The Pew Hispanic Center plans to release a report on undocumented immigrants in the United States in the near future.  The report, which will estimate the number of undocumented immigrants, will also release information on the background of these individuals.  According to a press release by Pew earlier in the week, the report will explain immigrants’ nationalities, family characteristics, and work experience.  The report was written by Jeffery Passel by using information from the March 2005 Current Population Survey.  Anyone wanting to read a copy of the report can find one on the Pew website at www.pewhispanic.org.

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Renowned short story writer Yiyun Li plans to continue to fight for a green card after being denied her prior petition.  Li is a currently a writer and teacher living in Oakland , California .  Her accomplishments include the Frank O’Conner International Short Story Award and a Pushcart Prize.  Despite her qualifications, her petition to remain in the US was denied twice.  Li has said that she plans to keep fighting to stay in the United States .  Rather than filing again on the basis of her writing, Li will try using her job as a teacher to prevent having to return to China .

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A study released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that immigrants are healthier than those individuals who are born in the United States .  The study, which compares individuals within their own ethnic groups, reveals that the longer an individual stays in the United States , the higher chance that person will have to develop health problems.  An article by M. A. J. McKenna of The Atlanta Journal attributes this to the lifestyle that immigrants adopt as they become “Americanized.”  Exercising less and eating more fast food, immigrants who have been in the country for five years show a clear increase in health problems.  This percentage is even higher for individuals who are born in America .  The study states that immigrants become both physically and mentally more like Americans the longer they stay in the United States . 

McKenna’s article suggests the reason for declining health in immigrants is the heavy work schedule which many immigrants adopt.  Exercise cannot be practiced with the same frequency as it was prior to coming to the United States .  Immigrants also have less time to eat, and so they choose to consume unhealthy fast food.  Unlike McKenna’s article, the CDC study does not explain why the trends occur.  Rather than go into speculation on the results which they gathered through phone interviews, the study simply provides statistical evidence that proves immigrants are healthier than long term residents and American citizens.  

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According to a press release by the Tennessee Department of Safety, Tennessee has begun reissuing Certificates for Driving (CFD’s) for only those individuals who can prove that they have legal presence in the United States .  On February 24^th, the government halted offering CFD’s to individuals who could not prove their legal presence until the program could be reviewed.  Now, all individuals seeking a CFD will be unable to receive a CFD from a County Clerk and must go to a Driver’s License Bureau. 

Almost Fifty-two thousand CFD’s have been granted since the program began in 2004.  Unlike a driver’s license, CFD’s do not serve as valid identification for its bearer.  Though driver’s licenses are only offered to legal residents of the United States , the Tennessee Department of Safety is working with lawmakers in hopes of offering a temporary driver’s licenses to individuals who can prove legal presence.  These licenses would be valid for the duration of their stay.  In a statement regarding their ability to make such decisions, the Department of Safety maintains that Tennessee safety is a state issue and therefore their duty to protect.

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Condoleezza Rice recently released the State Department’s 2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in compliance with the requirements of the Foreign Assistance Act.  These reports will be considered while conducting diplomacy and reshaping foreign policy.  In the 2005 reports, one hundred and ninety-six countries are examined in relation to their commitment to democracy and human rights.  This information lets the United States know how each country is doing and if they are making progress toward or away from a stable human rights record.  The individual country reports can be found on the US Department of State Website. The reports are also critical in evaluation of asylum claims by USCIS officers and Immigration Judges.