Legal immigration - screwed again?

For some strange reason, around the time the Senate blocked CIR employment-based GC became current in the visa bulletin. After that, suddenly it was reversed. All the people that scrambled, cancelled vacations, and paid to have lawyers assemble I-485 got duped. It is quite interesting what a wreck of legal immigration system the US has, or what political games go on. While it does not affect me personally, another lesson learned.

For now CIR is dead (June 28 - IT STILL IS!!!)

And I am so glad. How some Senators bowed over to demonize all legal immigration for the Latino voters! Senate tried wiping out rights of families to be together, they snuffed out legals having patiently waited.
Senator Sanders, why don't you go to Rostock protesting globalization - can't do that, right, because in the US you are a part of government yourself. You were blaming H1B for all that is wrong in the US, ridiculous! "If an American is fired then all H1B must be too". That would for sure have driven jobs overseas.
Legals at best got lip-service from anyone and perhaps corporations want the cheap labor only.
Meanwhile, they will have 20 million illegals next time they try ...
IN SHORT:
most Democrats - do not care for legal immigrants and will sacrifice them for illegals
most Republicans - do not care for either and will go either way so that economy has cheap labor

On some e-mail connection

Mr. Theroux of the Libertarian think tank Independent Institute was so nice to express his support for my efforts. I stumbled across their 2006 Open Letter On Immigration which was signed by representatives of many international universities. I especially like their anti-protectionist position that America is big enough an economy to create work for everyone as long as the markets are free.

Please check out their own Open Letter addressed to President Bush here.

Senate amendment 1199

Last week, I received a nice response from AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association). They too are concerned about the elimination of family reunification, asking me in response to alert any American friends I may have to call in to Senate offices supporting a particular amendment. Prompted by them, I followed yesterday's Senate presentation on C-SPAN2 by Senator Menendez concerning amendment 1199 (Dodd and Menendez) and S.A. 1194 (backlog in family reunification) and rebuking other senator's claims that preservation of family reunification is a killer to the CIR.

I completely agree that US citizens and permanent residents should continue to have their right to sponsor close relatives being honored.

I do not completely understand why it would have made a difference to General Powell's and Edison's (or to any other VIP example) contribution to US history had they not been able to sponsor their immigrant parents. Is that what you have so eloquently said, Senator Menendez: adult citizens are considered worthy sponsoring relatives? Worthy of having established family bonds? I think an adult presumably does not NEED their parents anymore to make it in life and make their contributions to the US. It is just that the United States wants to construe they have "earned" that privilege that they may sponsor relatives, as much as they have "earned" the privilege to fight and die in war for the US. These were your words, Senator Menendez: "worthy to fight, worthy to sponsor". But I just think that it is not only adult citizens who should have certain rights.

What about children of international divorce? They are citizens, but haven't earned that first right - having two parents. They also will not receive that loving attention by the divorced parent that was shut out of the US immigration system. Of course, THEY will not be able to become the future Powell's Mr. Menendez spoke about. There is a very fundamental flaw in thinking that only adults deserve their parents unless it is all about strategy. There is a fundamental flaw in all family-based immigration as practized by the United States and many countries. There also is a flaw in the merit system if the presence of a parent in the US gives points to an adult would-be immigrant, but the presence of a minor US citizen gives none to the parent - when also attempting to set barriers on all other ways to immigrate far higher in the future.

Senator Menendez used this word "worthy" so much. This seems to mean solely the inherent right of an adult US citizen to petition for immigration benefits on behalf of his relatives. This is smart, yet without any additional consideration all non-Americans, and all children, would not be worthy, they would be unworthy. In Germany, we once had the position that certain lives are worthy, and others unworthy. Other cultures stamp the unworthy label on infidels. Would the god-fearing nation USA need a reminder of that?

Nevertheless, I would support amendment 1199 as a first start, because it would not completely eliminate all immigration by family relationships and retain the basic thought that the fabrics of relationships are the base of individual and national success and important qualifiers for immigration.


Hence here my response to Senator Menendez, posted on his web form:

Dear Honorable Sen. Menendez -
I have just listened to your comments on the CIR on C-SPAN and was asked by AILA to hope for your amendment to pass.
Please also consider that children need two parents to provide for them. I do not understand why family reunification is only about the right of adult citizens to sponsor their parents. How about the right of little children to have a divorced parent provide for them? I am a former H1B who after divorce legally left the US and may perhaps never see my daughter (a citizen) again with some of the amendments to the CIR. Is that what is right - to make somebody a citizen but deny parents to work and see their child? Please read my story on http://immigrationparentsreform.blogspot.com/, including an idea on a bill at http://immigrationparentsreform.blogspot.com/2007/05/draft-bill-international-divorce.html . I apologize that I take myself the freedom to contact a US Senator as a father of a citizen. I know you are also not the senator for Wisconsin, where my daughter resides, but since you addressed family reunification, you should know.

Am I desperate about this? I have also e-mailed oprah.com about my issue here.

Globalization

From Rostock, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania where I am from, battles between hard-core leftwing demonstrants and the police are reported, while there and elsewhere many other groups, including even the extreme right wing, are also demonstrating against the G8 summit.
I personally don't like one particular aspect of globalization. This is that the rich nations push for the free global movement of money, goods, and relocation of jobs, yet when it comes to allow the free settling of people even within this G8 or any other nation involved, they are the old protectionist school. This means, they can allow their nation's businesses to relocate production and services abroad, but they will not allow people to follow. Germany won't simply let Americans live freely in Germany, the US won't allow Germans to do that. India might take the jobs, but it probably also would not let foreigners in. Perhaps, within the EU this is now relaxed. Thus, I think the whole globalization serves only two interests in the rich nations: that of the shareholders to make more money, and that of politicians, to keep the population calm with cheap goods from far away. There is nothing noble about globalization.

Some reflections upon who looks at my posts

Both the US and Germany had long weekends. After looking at my counters, I saw that someone at a nearby German university looked at my posts. And the one next on the list gives me some hope. n021.dhs.gov = somebody at the Department of Homeland Security. Perhaps, one of my attempts to reach a politician had led to this, and I am glad it did. If that somebody looks back here, I would like to address that person directly.

Dear DHS Staffer -

I am really glad you made it here. Perhaps you work for USCIS or some other unit dealing with immigration. I can assure you I am a real person, yet I am no threat to the US. If you were asked to look at my credibility, you may wish to report this. Of course, I trust that if you need to find out more about me such as phone numbers and other details, this should not be too difficult.

20 years ago, back in the days of East German communism, I stepped into the US embassy's library / cultural center in East Berlin to have a look at forbidden books promoting freedom of thought and democratic values. I am sure that the East German Stasi secret service knew about it, and there might still be some documentation in their files. Back then, I already liked the United States as a country of freedom. I would never have thought where this would lead me to. Dear DHS Person, if you have access to the Stasi files, maybe you can even find me there.

Ironically, it might now be more difficult visiting a US embassy than under the watching eye of the Stasi, how times have changed ....

Obviously, I am aware that visitors from n021.dhs.gov frequent many websites, and there is already speculation about that to be found when typing the domain name into Google.

---

Just asked AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) for a position or help.

Senate comes closer to abolishing H1B

digg.com The United States Senate has yesterday taken aim to effectively destroy the H1B, slapping a 5000 Dollar fee on all new H1B as well as renewals and adjustments. While I can now be glad I will never be again an H1B slave, I can now also be sure that there is no way back to the US to my daughter through any legal immigration path. No H1B means no employment-based GC anymore either. No Green Card lottery anymore. Decreased family immigration. The US is looking ahead to a bright agricultural future as millions of skilled immigrants will now be forced to abandon the US. All in exchange for amnesty for illegals. Illegals will at the most pay a one-time penalty fee ($5000) and can then stay in the US and work in any job. H1B applications will be tagged at $5000 a shot each. I wonder why are they not honest and just say: closed door = no more foreigners can work or live for any reason in the United States from now on?
Democrats and Co have proven they are only for past illegal immigrants, and nobody is for legal immigrants.
Watch out USA for me taking aim at your human rights record even further.
--
I used the online contact form of Sens. Sanders, Cornyn, and Kennedy to oppose this CIR and ask for relief for international divorce families.
--
Michelle Malkin®, are you sleeping?

Draft Bill: International Divorce Immigration Relief Act (IDIRA)

Since nothing ever happens without taking initiative, here a draft bill.

Sign this as a petition!!


Digg it!


Draft Bill Proposal

International Divorce Immigration Relief Act (IDIRA)

The purpose of this law is to allow children regular, meaningful contact to both parents, also where families become separated over international boundaries in times of globalization. It also improves the ability of parents to financially support children legally residing in the United States, for example, allowing a parent living in a underdeveloped country with low pay to help in the upbringing of the minor child.

Definitions: Eligible Visa Applicants are:

Biological or adoption parents of a minor child, if
a) the child, as well as the custodian or parent living with the child, are US citizens or long-term permanent residents or non-immigrants lawfully present in the United States
b) the child was born to, or adopted by the applicant while the applicant was lawfully present in the United States as a long-term permanent resident or non-immigrant visa holder
c) the marriage resulted in divorce or separation with the child legally remaining in the United States
d) the applicant left the United States according to immigration law and was not deported

The parent or custodian residing in the United States with the minor child may not have to be a US citizen.

In addition, a parent of a minor child if the child was born or adopted into the family outside the United States but where one custodial parent (whether US citizen or not) has since lawfully relocated with the child to the United States, is also eligible.

Terms of the visa:
The visa is for three years, indefinitely renewable until the minor child reaches age 21. It allows unrestricted, yet temporary work in the United States and the accumulation of social benefits. Child support as ordered by family courts will have to be paid or the visa may be revoked. The visa holder is considered a potential legal immigrant and may switch to other visa categories and apply for Green Card, e.g by self-sponsoring. If the minor child has left the United States permanently or reached age 21, renewal is not possible.

When the applicant files for this visa, immigration officials will check the immigration or citizenship status of the US-residing custodian and the minor child, as well as divorce documentation. If the parent or custodian lawfully residing in the United States has unlawfully taken the minor child to the United States (kidnapping) and if that person is not a US citizen all immigration benefits may be revoked and that person may have to be ordered to leave the United States to the country where the applicant resides. This may be waived if not in the best interest of the child. In the latter case, the new parent visa shall be granted to the applicant.

Roller coaster goes on

So from far away I read that the Senate has passed the bill to be debated for 2 weeks. I hope this will not mean closed doors for future return to the US. Immigrationvoice.org is opposing, I oppose it for some of the same, some unique reasons. It plainly is not fair to reward those ignoring the laws if penalizing those who followed the law, and if cementing human rights violations with either.
Nothing in for people who failed but have good reason to want to try again.
What is in store for future H1B people, who knows. Also wonder what happens to people waiting for GC just a short time, whether they will have to start again. Hope that the Wisconsin senators (Democrats) do something good.

New contacts

Today I contacted the most prestigious German news magazines, DER SPIEGEL, STERN, FOCUS, DIE ZEIT, as well as several leading father's rights organizations. This is a first step in two more directions. Soon I will follow up on calling Senate offices.


I also posted on a newspaper forum in Rochester NY: Democrat & Chronicle

I welcome the visitors from Reuters and from the US Census Bureau! Hope you can make something of it!

.... Contacted ACLU ....


Another postcript. I called the local offices of Senators Kohl and Feingold in Wisconsin. Couldn't reach my contacts, but especially calling in Middleton which was my home for so long and where my daughter lives makes me so sad. I wish they would do something for people like me. Can anyone imagine how it is to constantly live in fear on H1B because there is always no research grant to keep going much longer, then lose child and wife and home, and then legally leave, and then the country closes the door further? These were my past 4 years or so of life.