HORITSU BLOG

For up-to-date information on the H-1b cap for fiscal year 2007 (October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007) directly from the USCIS click here.

VSC Processing Time Report (05/22/06). Click here.

NSC Processing Time Report (05/22/06). Click here.

National Benefits Center Processing Time Report (05/22/06). Click here.

California Service Center Processing Time Report (5/22/06). Click here.

TSC Processing Time Report (5/22/06). Click here.

The State Department released its Visa Bulletin for June 2006. In order to obtain an immigrant visa, your priority date must be current according to this bulletin. Click here

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ICE Increases Sweep and Arrest Activity
Cite as “AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 06042660 (posted Apr. 26, 2006)”

Following on the heels of the employer raids last week that made national headlines and resulted in the arrests of over 1,000 alleged undocumented workers, and the arrest and criminal indictment of several corporate managers, further reports are reaching AILA that ICE is conducting additional sweeps in communities in various parts of the country. This is consistent with DHS’s announced intent to beef up enforcement of immigration laws within the U.S. as part of the Secure Border Initiative. It appears that there are two prongs to the interior actions: investigations of employers and sweeps looking for individual alien “absconders.”

Reports from New York and New Jersey indicate that sweeps and arrests have taken place in Brentwood, Bay Shore, and Farmingville on Long Island, and in Newark, Elizabeth, and Willowbrook, and at the Garden State Plaza. The AP reported yesterday 183 arrests in Florida last week related to enforcement of deportation orders involving aliens convicted of crimes.

AILA is also hearing that ICE is conducting employer actions, including multi-state raids on specific companies, with reports from AILA members of employer clients being raided in New York, Ohio and Illinois.

At a press conference Thursday, April 20, 2006, announcing that week’s raids and arrests, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff announced a crackdown on employers, saying: “We are looking at those people who adopt as a business model the systematic violation of U.S. laws,” Chertoff said. “We are continuing to investigate other companies.”

The following are non-exhaustive lists of information sources on: 1) Employer Sanctions; and 2) “Know Your Rights” material for workers and noncitizens from AILF. Click here