IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Openers

2. ABC's Of Immigration: R-1 Religious Visas

3. Ask Visalaw.com

4. Border and Enforcement News

- DHS Announces New Immigrant Identification System

- Busiest Patch of US-Mexico Border Sees Dip in Crossings for 2008

- ICE Reports Record Numbers of Arrests of Violent Undocumented Immigrants in Urban Areas

- Agriprocessors Face Fines, Bankruptcy, Criminal Charges, After Raid Fallout

- Factory Managers Plead Guilty to Knowingly Hiring Undocumented Immigrants

- Study: New DHS-Issued ID Cards Subject to Data Vulnerabilities, Easy Duplication

5. News from the Courts

6. News Bytes

- Newly Declassified DHS Document Reveals Surveillance was Conducted using Racial Profiling

- US Eases Hiring Requirements, Spots now Open to First-, Second-Generation Americans

- Facing Criticism, EOIR Announces it Will not Close Reno, Nv.-Area Immigration Court

- Duo of Federal Court Decisions could Shape Pay, Fair Treatment of Immigrant Workers

- University Dean Suggests State Leaders Should Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Attend State Universities

- Yakima Nation First Native-American Tribe to Create Own License Program for Immigrants

7. International Roundup

8. Notes from the Visalaw.com Blogs

9. State Department Visa Bulletin for December 2008

10. FAQ on E-Verify Regulation for Federal Contractors Note: Legislative Update (Will Return in the Next Issue of the Bulletin)