Friends,
Today, the President met with Senator McCain and Senator Schumer to discuss commonsense immigration reform. In a statement released earlier, President Obama said:
“This afternoon, Senators Schumer and McCain briefed me on the bipartisan immigration reform bill that they have drafted with their colleagues in the Senate. This bill is clearly a compromise, and no one will get everything they wanted, including me. But it is largely consistent with the principles that I have repeatedly laid out for comprehensive reform. This bill would continue to strengthen security at our borders and hold employers more accountable if they knowingly hire undocumented workers. It would provide a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million individuals who are already in this country illegally. And it would modernize our legal immigration system so that we’re able to reunite families and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers who will help create good paying jobs and grow our economy. These are all commonsense steps that the majority of Americans support. I urge the Senate to quickly move this bill forward and, as I told Senators Schumer and McCain, I stand willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that comprehensive immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible.”
Read the President’s statement here.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on immigration reform at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 29, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
As this issue moves forward, it’s time to make your voices heard. Our voices are louder when we speak together, so we’re asking you to share your stories and highlight the work that’s being done in your communities. We are optimistic that together we can achieve commonsense immigration reform!
As always, please share this statement with your networks and make your voices heard in this important discussion!
Julie Chavez Rodriguez
Associate Director
White House | Office of Public Engagement
Agency Updates
CBP Announces Automation of Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
March 27, 2013
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published an interim final rule in the Federal Register to automate Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. The interim final rule, effective on April 26, 2013, streamlines the admissions process for nonimmigrants arriving to the United States. Affected nonimmigrants traveling to the United States by air or sea will no longer need to fill out a paper Form I-94. However, individuals who go through secondary inspection, such as asylees, refugees, and parolees, will be provided a paper copy of Form I-94 by a CBP officer.
USCIS Temporarily Suspends Adjudication of Most H-2B Petitions Following Court Order
April 2, 2013
Effective March 22, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is temporarily suspending adjudication of most Form I-129 H-2B petitions for temporary non-agricultural workers while the government considers appropriate action in response to the Court order entered March 21, 2013 in Comite de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agricolas et al v. Solis, which granted a permanent injunction against the operation of the portion of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2008 wage rule related to certain prevailing wage determinations and gave DOL 30 days to come into compliance with the Court order.
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Hondurans
April 3, 2013
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Honduras for an additional 18 months, beginning July 6, 2013, and ending Jan. 5, 2015. Current Honduran beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from April 3, 2013, through June 3, 2013. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to register as soon as possible once the 60-day re-registration period begins. Applications will not be accepted before April 3, 2013.
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Nicaraguans
April 3, 2013
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Nicaragua for an additional 18 months, beginning July 6, 2013, and ending Jan. 5, 2015. Current Nicaraguan beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS status must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from April 3, 2013, through June 3, 2013. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to register as soon as possible once the 60-day re-registration period begins. Applications will not be accepted before April 3, 2013.
Readout of Secretary Napolitano’s Visit to Texas
April 4, 2013
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Thomas Winkowski traveled to Houston to meet with state and local stakeholders to discuss the need for commonsense immigration reform and underscore the Administration’s efforts to secure the nation’s borders. Over the past four years this Administration has dedicated historic levels of personnel, technology, and resources to the Southwest border, and undertaken an unprecedented effort to transform our nation’s immigration enforcement systems into one that focuses on public safety, border security, and the integrity of the immigration system.
Blog Highlights
President Obama to New Citizens: “In Each of You, We See the True Spirit of America”
On March 25, President Obama spoke at a at a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members and civilians at the White House. He welcomed 28 new American citizens to our nation of immigrants and called for reforms to our immigration system that will help harness the talent and ingenuity of all those like them who want to work hard and find a place here in America.
Champions of Change: Organizing for Immigration Reform
The White House honors eleven people who embody the spirit of Cesar Chavez’s legacy and commit themselves to working in their communities to advocate and organize around immigration-related issues. Read their stories.
US Customs and Border Protection at 10 Years
A few questions on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), looking back at its history, and ahead to its future. CBP joins with our colleagues across the DHS enterprise in marking a decade of unprecedented achievement in serving our Nation and the American people.
Get Involved
USCIS Invitation: Immigration Relief for Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence and Other Serious Crimes
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cordially invites interested participants to a web-ex training session on April 17, 2013 from 2:00-4:00 pm (EST). During this training subject matter experts from the USCIS Vermont Service Center and Office of Policy and Strategy will provide an overview of the various forms of immigration relief available to victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes.
USCIS Invitation: National Spanish-Language Engagement
On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will conduct a national Spanish-language Enlace session as part of an ongoing series of quarterly public engagements. To participate:
USCIS Invitation: Business Representatives Engagement at the Texas Service Center
The USCIS Texas and Nebraska Service Centers invite you to attend the Business Representatives Engagement on Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (Central Daylight Time). Please submit agenda items to tsc.university@uscis.dhs.gov no later than April 25, 2013. If you would like to participate in the Business Representatives Engagement, please provide your full name, title and the office or organization you represent to Jennifer Kuylen at tsc.university@uscis.dhs.gov no later than April 30, 2013.
