New York, May 2006
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A Day without Immigrants
 LOS ANGELES, CA
- May 1, 2006: More than one million immigrants marched through the streets in
order to fight for more rights of undocumented aliens in more than 50 US cities.
In a huge protest wave from the East Coast to the West Coast, people protested
against federal legislation that is about to criminalize an estimated 11 million
illegal immigrants. The purpose of the “Day without Immigrants” was to emphasize
how important illegal immigrants are for the U.S. economy. Major demonstrations
were reported in Florida, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans,
Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other locations. The majority of the
demonstrators were originally from Mexico, Central and South America. Throughout
the entire country, May 1st meant a day of boycotting work and school in favor
of rallies and marches to legalize illegal immigrants. “More rights for
immigrants” or “No human being is illegal” was written on banners that were held
up by legal and illegal protestors, while Bruce Springsteen’s song “Born in the
USA” was played everywhere.
Several schools reported up to 50% of their students not showing up for class,
and hundreds of companies and factories were shut down for the day because their
employees were taking part in the demonstrations and did not show up for work.
Nannies and gardeners informed their wealthy employers that they would not show
up for work, and farmers’ markets came to a standstill. However, the atmosphere
among the demonstrators was overwhelmingly joyous and peaceful, and there was
little or no tension with the police. "We have far exceeded our expectations,"
said Mahonrry Hidalgo, chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Latino
Leadership Alliance of New Jersey. "The events were intended to show solidarity
and, at the same time, send a message that injustice against the immigrant
community is unacceptable. This is not the end of our struggle. It is the
beginning.”
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Bush: Paving the Way for Naturalization
 WASHINGTON, DC
- According to the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, an estimated 7.2 million
of the 11 million illegal immigrants are working in the United States. Most
illegal immigrants work in the farming industry and construction jobs. This
corresponds to approximately 4.9% of the entire U.S. working population.
However, illegal immigrants earn considerably less, and most of them have no
health insurance and fewer rights in general. Protestors in the May 1st marches
across the country want to increase awareness of social issues and civil rights.
One of the Denver protestors, Maria Chavez (34) from Nicaragua, moved to the
United States eight years ago and became a U.S. citizen. She has participated in
all of the immigrant marches in the last few weeks, because she believes that
too many employers exploit undocumented workers. “I want the employers to treat
our people better — pay them better, support them," she said. "Most of the
people don't know they have rights, vacation pay or sick time, and that's
because employers are taking advantage of them."
The immigrant protests have sprung up across the country this spring due to
plans in Congress to tighten immigration laws. The House of Representatives
announced their intentions to treat and punish immigrants like criminals and to
deport them. Companies that hired illegal workers and activists groups that
support them should be punished. The Senate is still debating. However, Liberal
senators want to pave the way for illegal immigrants by making them pay a fine
before they can apply for
United States
Citizenship. Paying back taxes, learning English, remaining employed, be
crime-free, and getting in line for
naturalization would also be conditions of
that compromise. While the House of Representatives is ready to block illegal
immigrants the right to U.S. citizenship, President George W. Bush argues for a
guest worker program that also allots fines but will ultimately give most
illegal immigrants the opportunity of becoming U.S. citizens. |
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Controversy about National Anthem in Spanish
 WASHINGTON, DC
- A fierce controversy has erupted about a Spanish version of the U.S. national
anthem recorded by Latino pop stars.
The new rhythmic variant of the Star-Spangled Banner, which celebrated its
premiere on April 28, is called "Nuestro Himno". The song has been played
non-stop on the Latin radio stations nationwide ever since. According to the
initiators and participating musicians, the anthem was written to support the
millions of illegal immigrants in the United States in their fight for
legalizing their status. "Nuestro Himno" was recorded, among others, by stars
such as Gloria Trevi, Carlos Ponce, Tito El Bambino, Frank Reyes and the band
Aventura. The melody and structure of the original anthem mainly remain the
same. However, the rhythm and parts of the original lyrics have been changed.
One passage for example says: "We are the same, we are brothers."
Radio and TV stations have been flooded with emails expressing either outrage or
sympathy and support. Conservative radio stations have expressed harsh
criticism. President Bush himself argued against the Latino variant of the
sacred national anthem. He explained to journalists that people who intended to
become U.S. citizens should learn English and that they “ought to learn to sing
the national anthem in English.” |
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O-1 Work Visa for persons with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
 General
Information: The
O Visa
classification consists of three visas: O-1, O-2, and O-3. The
O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary abilities within science,
arts, education, business, or athletics at the national or international level.
Individuals with a record of extraordinary achievements within motion picture
and/or television can also apply for the O-1 visa as long as the work performed
is in an area of extraordinary achievements. O-2 visas are for supporting
individuals of the O-1 visa holder, and the relationship between the O-1 and O-2
visa holder must have been long lasting. The spouse and unmarred children of O-1
visa holders are
entitled to O-3 visas to come to the Unites States with the main O-1 visa
holder.
Eligibility Requirements: The work performed must be temporary. The
individual must possess skills that are extraordinary within the field of
sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or within the field of motion
picture or television industry. Examples of proof of extraordinary ability can
be contracts, awards, nominations, prices, published material, or similar
documentation reflecting the nature of the individual’s achievement.
Application Procedures: The "O-1
Work Visa for persons with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement" package has
been developed to help a person complete and file his or her own application for
a O-1 Work Visa. The process of submitting an application for a
O-1 Work Visa can
be both costly and confusing. It is highly recommended that all
applicants follow carefully the instructions on the
O-1 Work Visa
application package in order to successfully submit their applications. |
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Measure would require IRS and Social Security Administration to divulge details of illegal workers
 WASHINGTON, DC
- Two federal agencies, the IRS and Social Security Administration, are refusing
to disclose details of illegal workers. They routinely gather evidence that
investigators could use to indict the nation's burgeoning workforce of
illegal
immigrants and the firms that knowingly employ them - including the millions of
people using fake or stolen social security numbers. The agencies do not analyze
their data to root out likely immigration fraud and say that privacy laws and
federal tax codes prohibit them from sharing their files with anyone, except in
rare criminal investigations. To be more precise: IRS does not fine even the
most egregious employers who repeatedly submit inaccurate data about their
workers. The IRS wants to protect the privacy of its records because disclosing
them might cause companies and employees to stop reporting income and paying
taxes. "At least now," IRS commissioner Mark Everson told Congress in February,
"we are collecting some taxes in these areas, and we are working to collect even
more”. Social Security does virtually nothing to alert citizens whose
Social
Security numbers are being used by others. One internal study found that a
restaurant company had submitted 4,100 duplicate
Social Security numbers for
workers. Other firms submit inaccurate names or numbers reports for nearly all
of their employees. One child's Social Security number was used 742 times by
workers in 42 states. An estimated 7 million unauthorized workers are gainfully
employed in the United States. They are picking crops, building homes, and
tending yards in a shadow economy at work every day. In some cases, they work
for the government on public projects that pay them with taxpayer money.
Now Congress is about to eliminate the legal barriers that currently prevent the
IRS and Social Security Administration from sharing information that could help
law enforcement identify illegal immigrants and their employers. A new push
toward busting bosses who hire unauthorized workers was announced at the end of
last month. One of the measures is introducing bills requiring Social Security
to notify immigration officials – and any American citizens affected – whenever
more than one person uses the same
Social Security number. Another bill would
end federal funding of highways and other projects if contractors knowingly
employed illegal immigrants. The contractors also would not be eligible for
other federal contracts for two years. A third measure would bar North Carolina
and five other states – West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, New Mexico and Utah –
from allowing workers to use drivers licenses as identification for employment. |
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