California Immigration Attorney Blog

California immigrant rights advocates are regrouping in the face of an announcement by the Obama Administration that another $500 million will be spend to deploy National Guard troops to the Mexico border, the Washington Post reported.

Our Los Angeles immigration lawyers reported on the announcement last month on our California Immigration Attorney Blog. Advocate groups have long argued that border enforcement is futile. But, with that message falling on deaf ears, advocates from across 2,000 miles of southwestern borders gathered for two days last weekend in San Diego to brainstorm a new message.

"It was a summit, of sorts," said Andrea Guerrero, policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego. "We had a strategy session for all of us to come together and think about how we can push back on the ideas" coming from Washington.

Members from California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona were among about 45 delegates to attend the meeting. At the top of the agenda: figuring out how to counter Obama's message that more border protection is needed, including 1,000 more border agents and 1,200 National Guard troops.

"At this point, we're looking at George W. Bush longingly," joked Louie Gilot of the Border Network for Human Rights, based in El Paso. "We were promised change by the administration. But we're not only getting the same enforcement-only policy, we're getting even more of it."

Administration officials countered that assertion but saying that Obama will address the need for more comprehensive reform during a speech scheduled for later this week in Washington.

Meanwhile, arrests at the border are at the lowest levels since the 1970s and troop strength has increased from 11,000 in 2004 to more than 20,000 today.

As our Santa Ana immigration attorneys continue to report, the economic downturn has had a greater impact on the number of Mexican citizens crossing the border in search of work. And rogue states enacting their own legislation, such as the recent Arizona immigration law, threatens to start a border war between states as immigrant families are uprooted by fear and racism.

Continue reading "California immigrant rights groups regroup in face of Administration's emphasis on border security" »

Mexico has joined a legal challenge to Arizona's controversial new immigration law, Reuters News Service reported. The announcement comes in the wake of action by the Obama administration, which said it will challenge the Arizona law in federal court.

As our Los Angeles immigration lawyers have reported on our California Immigration Attorney Blog, the measure has been compared to California's Proposition 187. That measure attempted to refuse educational and social services to illegal immigrants and was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the federal courts. We think the Arizona law could well suffer the same fate but, by then, much of the damage will have been done.

Authorities continue to report that residents of Mexican decent are leaving Arizona in droves. Border states, including California, will likely receive much of the influx. Kids will be taken out of school, jobs will be lost, financial boycotts will take their toll on the economy, and families will be uprooted. The Arizona law permits authorities to request identification from anyone suspected of being in the country illegally and to turn those found to be in violation over to federal authorities for deportation proceedings.

The law takes effect July 29. It is also being challenged in five separate lawsuits filed in federal court in Arizona by civil rights and religious organizations, as well as two police officers. Opponents argue the law is unconstitutional and is nothing more than mandated racial profiling.

The Mexican government has filed legal briefs in support of one of the lawsuits, saying the law "raises substantial challenges to the bilateral diplomatic relations between Mexico and the U.S." Mexico officials say more than 20 million Mexican workers, tourists and students were legally allowed in the United States throughout 2009 and it is concerned its citizens could be discriminated against based on racial profiling.

"Mexico is gravely concerned that (Arizona's law) will lead to .. detentions of Mexican citizens without regard to whether they have taken any actions or exhibited any behavior indicating they are guilty of a crime," the brief says.

The Latin America News Dispatch reports a challenge from the U.S. Department of Justice could be filed as early as next week. The federal lawsuit is expected to argue that Arizona doesn't have the constitutional right to make immigration policy and that the law could foster racial discrimination.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said a legal defense fund has brought in $48,000 thus far and that those funds will be earmarked to defend the state against legal action. "I will ensure the immigration laws we passed are vigorously defended all the way to the United States Supreme Court if necessary," Brewer said.

Meanwhile, immigration reform advocates say lawmakers in the nation's capitol continue to expose the nation to independent actions taken by states to address immigration reform because the federal government has failed to enact legislation despite decades of debate.

On Monday, voters in Lincoln, Nebraska passed a measure that will penalize employers and landlords who hire illegal immigrants or allow them to rent apartments. The Journal Star reported that the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations plan to fight the measure.

Continue reading "Mexican and U.S. governments fight Arizona's new immigration law " »

President Obama is asking Congress for an additional $600 million is emergency funding to increase border security with Mexico, CNN reported.

Our Los Angeles immigration attorneys continue to report the frustration among immigrant rights groups over the lack of movement on comprehensive immigration reform. We reported last month on our California Immigration Attorney Blog that more troops have been ordered to the Mexican border even as immigrant rights advocates await movement by federal lawmakers on the promise of comprehensive and compassionate reform measures.

In recent weeks we have reported:
-California's backlog of immigration cases is the worst in the nation.
-Compassion for immigrants and anger over the Arizona immigration law has led to numerous boycotts.
-Ongoing problems in the renewal of E-2 visas are causing problems for California business owners.
-ID cards being handed out by the Mexican government in California have come under attack.
-Immigrants are being targeted by bogus law enforcement officers or scammers posing as attorneys.
-The high-profile immigration debate playing out in California's governor's race continues to increase the attention on the issue.

While some will be pleased with the announcement of additional border protection, movement on comprehensive nationwide reform is the only action that offers any real chance of addressing the many challenges.

In a letter Tuesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, of California, Obama said the money would hire 1,000 new border agents and 160 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Two unmanned aircraft systems and other equipment would also be part of the package.

Republican critics complain Obama has failed to devote proper resources to border security, which they contend has contributed to the flow of illegal immigrants into the country from Mexico. However, as our Riverside immigration attorneys reported here recently, the increase in border security over the years has reduced the flow of illegal immigrants to a trickle in California and the downturn in the economy has further reduced the number of Mexican citizens who are traveling here in search of work.

Ironically, it could be the government's utter failure to pass a rational immigration policy that could increase the challenges of immigration in California. Reports continue to show that residents of Arizona are fleeing that state in response to its tough new immigration measure. Border states, including California, will receive the influx. Immigrant rights advocates say the dangers of states taking action unilaterally have increased exponentially precisely because the federal government has created a vacuum by its failure to act.

Continue reading "Obama seeks more money for border security; California immigrant rights advocates plead for comprehensive reform" »

Federal prosecutors have charged a man and a woman with bilking immigrants of more than $100,000 through a bogus California legal services company in Pico Rivera.

Our Los Angeles immigration attorneys and San Bernardino immigration lawyers applaud the crackdown on these companies, which prey on the needs of immigrants. As we reported last week on our California Immigration Attorney Blog, the city of Los Angeles has launched an educational effort as part of a program aimed at warning of companies engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.

Our immigrant friends face many challenges; being ripped off when seeking qualified legal advice should not be one of them.

Courthouse News Service reports that the pair claimed to be immigration officers and immigration attorneys and took money in exchange for submitting fraudulent federal applications. They now face a 16-count indictment and up to 127 years in prison.

The couple could also face millions of dollars in fines and prosecutors are seeking $120,000 in restitution for the victims. The 58-year-old man and 47-year-old woman face charges of mail fraud and identity theft. The woman was arraigned in federal court in Albuquerque and will be brought to San Diego to face the charges, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

The arrests come after a year long investigation by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.

The defendants formed a company called California Legal Services in 2001 and operated out of Pico Rivera in Los Angeles County. They charged fees to immigrants seeking legal status. The immigrants thought they were being legally represented.

The government reports that at least 11 victims were scammed out of more than $120,000. There may be additional victims and anyone with information is asked to call (619) 550-5229.

Continue reading "Los Angeles immigration attorneys warn immigrants of dishonest legal services companies" »

Immigrants interested in learning English and becoming citizens can now obtain information at libraries and recreation centers throughout Los Angeles, the Times reported.

Our Los Angeles immigration attorneys applaud the move as a small step forward in providing immigrant families with the information, skills and other resources they need to be productive members of our society. HOWARD | NASSIRI also offers confidential appointments to immigrants throughout the Los Angeles area, including El Monte, Glendale, Long Beach and Palmdale.

The program is the first of its kind in the nation. The goal announced by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is to promote citizenship and strengthen outreach, education and civil participation. While these are worthwhile goals, we also believe true immigration reform will only come with action by the federal government to enact compassionate reform for hardworking immigrant families.

The resources are being provided in conjunction with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Los Angeles plans to reach out to immigrants through information sessions to increase awareness of the naturalization process and citizenship rights and responsibilities.

The program will also seek to educate the parents of public school students. Authorities hope the effort will cut down on notoarios, or unscrupulous legal services that prey on immigrants. Authorities also plan a new program aimed at addressing the unauthorized practice of law and other fraud targeting the immigrant population.

Los Angeles was chosen for the citizenship outreach effort because if its diversity -- immigrants from 140 countries live within the city and more than 200 languages are spoken. The mayor hopes the city's status as the program's pilot site will encourage more immigrants to become voters. He also said that integration is the key to the city's economy and workforce.

Continue reading "Los Angeles immigration lawyers applaud city's immigrant integration and education effort" »

California residents traveled to Arizona over the weekend to protest that state's tough new immigration law. About 55 protesters packed a bus early Sunday morning and traveled from Orange County to the Arizona capitol of Phoenix, Channel 13 News reported.

As our Orange County immigration attorneys reported on our California Immigration Attorney Blog, many local governments, including the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, are boycotting the state in protest of its new immigration measure.

The Arizona law permits authorities to request identification from illegal immigrants and to detain and begin deportation proceedings against those lacking appropriate documentation.

The protest was organized by Los Amigos of Orange County; participants spoke out against the law and said they hope there is a federal intervention aimed at stopping it. The Arizona Republic reported that protesters included an Orange County real estate broker of Mexican descent, who said he feels a new sense of discrimination in Arizona.

"Times have changed in California," Joe Yanez said. "They're just starting in Arizona."

Alfredo Amezcua, a mayoral candidate from Santa Ana, said protesters included people from all walks of live, including doctors, business owners and students.

Yanez, who said he was born in the United States and speaks good English, was not prepared for the reception he received. "I could almost feel the hostility," he said. "I feel there is something wrong here."

Continue reading "Orange County residents participate in Arizona protest over immigration law" »

The National Ledger is among the media outlets reporting the potential influx of immigrants into California and Texas as a result of Arizona's tough new immigration law.

Our Mission Viejo immigration lawyers and Costa Mesa immigration attorneys are monitoring the fallout of the Arizona law, which allows law enforcement to request identification from anyone suspected of being an undocumented immigrant. Violators can face detention and deportation.

The first sign that immigrant families may be leaving Arizona in large numbers is the drop in Arizona school enrollment among Hispanic students. While some argue enrollment is anecdotal, it followed a similar pattern after passage of an Arizona law in 2007. That law, which included sanctions against employers who hired illegal workers, resulted in about 100,000 immigrant workers leaving the state.

Thaindian News reports California, New Mexico and Texas are likely to see the largest uptick in immigrant families.

These same states have often been critical of the Arizona measure. As we reported on our California Immigration Attorney Blog, both Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles have passed boycotts of Arizona businesses in protest of the new law.

FOX News reports the data is unclear when it comes to gauging the exodus of Hispanics from Arizona. However, one Phoenix principal reported that 95 students have left the school system since the law was signed in late April.

The Arizona Republic reported another area school system was anticipating as many as 300 students would leave the district over the summer because of the new law.

Continue reading "Arizona law could lead to influx of Hispanic immigrants into California" »

Now that former eBay chief Meg Whitman has won the Republican primary for California's governor's race against anti-immigration opponent Steve Poizner, the real immigration debate is about to begin.

Our Anaheim immigration attorneys continue to fight on behalf of hardworking immigrants and families as California politics and the heated debate over Arizona's new immigration law have fueled the debate over immigration in California.

The Washington Post reports the fact that Poizner's anti-immigration attacks led to a gain in the polls makes it a virtual certainly that both sides will attempt to seize the immigration issue heading into the fall election. Having been forced to talk tough on immigration, Whitman many now have to backpedal to avoid alienating those who opposed Proposition 187 in the 1990s.

That law sought to prevent immigrant families from receiving public education or other social services but was ultimately ruled unconstitutional by the federal courts.

California immigrant rights groups will also be watching Whitman's next move.

"With Poizner we knew he was a lost cause," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "Whitman is trying to sound like a tough Republican but she's gone back and forth so you can't really believe her."

Continue reading "California immigration rights to play key role as governor's race begins in earnest" »

Research from the Centers for Comparative Immigration has been used to publish a book, "Mexican Migration," which takes a fascinating and troubled look at the immigration issue from the Mexican perspective. The book blames the U.S. economy -- and not immigration enforcement -- for the reduction in the number of Mexican immigrants crossing the border into the United States.

Our Orange County immigration attorneys continue to meet with families concerned about the new Arizona immigration law and the increased attention the California governor's race has brought to the immigration issue.

A review of the book published by the Huffington Post, argues that the lack of jobs in the U.S. has postponed immigration. But that the migrant way of life is ultimately unhealthy for the Mexican people.

The research was conducted in a small village called Tunkas, in the Yucatan's north-central region. Residents in the town of 2,600 began migrating to the United States in the last 20 years and before that worked at tourist communities on the Mayan Riviera, including Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Researchers visited every household in the community. Many families pawned jewelry and other valuables in response to the slowing economy and then lost those items as the economy failed to recover in times to retrieve them from pawn shops.

Among the largest contributions the book makes to the immigration debate is in examining the strain migration places on family relationships and the steps Mexican families take to remain close as members travel back and forth from the United States to seek work and help relieve the grinding poverty loved ones face in Mexico.

In many cases, families opted to find work in Mexico -- frequently by traveling to an American tourist destination several hundred miles away -- instead of facing the dangers and separation inherent in traveling across the border to find work in the United States.

Continue reading "California immigration offers no easy answers to Mexico's poverty" »

Police have arrested a 33-year-old man on robbery and kidnapping charges for crimes he allegedly committed while posing as an immigration agent in Southern California, FOX News reported.

Our Riverside immigration lawyers work with immigrant families throughout the Los Angeles area, including Anaheim and Santa Ana. California immigrants without legal status should not fear seeking the advice of an experienced attorney if they have been victimized by a crime or need legal assistance.

In this case, police say a suspect wore a shirt that read "Immigration" when he knocked on a door and told the homeowner to produce papers proving her legal status. He then allegedly followed her into the house and robbed her. In another case, police say a suspect ordered a man into his van and told the man he would be deported if he didn't produce bail money.

The latest incidents occurred on Saturday at the Valley Mall in El Monte. The man in the van told police that the defendant drove him to the bank so he could withdraw money. NBC reported that police are uncertain whether more than one person was involved in the crimes and believe other immigrants may have been victimized.

Authorities are looking for additional victims in the El Monte and Rosemead areas. Anyone with information is asked to call 626-705-1981.

Continue reading "Rosemead immigrants targeted by bogus immigration agent" »

Mexican officials and a California lawmaker are at odds over whether the Mexican government can establish an office on Catalina Island to issue ID cards to illegal immigrants, the San Francisco Examiner reported.

The debate over immigration has reignited nationwide in the wake of Arizona's tough new immigration law. Our Santa Ana immigration lawyers and Costa Mesa immigration attorneys continue to meet with immigrant families, those applying for work or student visas in the Los Angeles area, and others who are concerned about the impact the current debate will have on California immigration reform and immigrant rights nationwide.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., claims the Mexican government is abusing its authority to replace expired passports by issuing documentation to illegal immigrants. A spokesman for the Mexican Embassy in Washington denies the allegation.

"One of the aspects of our consulate is to provide (ID) cards in the same way the U.S. provides passports and other official documents to their citizens," said embassy spokesman Ricardo Alday.

On Thursday, the Mexican government moved their satellite consular office from the Catalina Island Country Club to St. Catherine's Catholic Church, claiming protection under the Vienna Convention. The club resisted having the cards distributed there after a media report. Rep. Rohrabacher then went as far as to attack the Catholic Church.

"If the Catholic Church insists on preventing immigration law from being enforced, then they should step up and pay the bill," she said.

Many banks and other U.S. institutions accept the cards -- called matricular cards -- as an official form of identification despite the contention from U.S. law enforcement that the card is unreliable. They contend legal immigrants have better forms of identification, while the cards are used almost exclusively by illegal immigrants seeking to obtain services in the United States.

Testimony before Congress by the Federal Bureau of Investigation claimed the Mexican government has no centralized database for the cards, making them rife for forgery and duplication. The Mexican government contends it is continually improving upon the security of the cards.

"You know that it is impossible to have 100 percent bulletproof documents just like your U.S. Social Security cards can be forged in the U.S. and abroad," Alday said.

Continue reading "California questions ID cards being issued to immigrants by Mexican government" »

The New York Times has published a report about the ongoing problems associated with the renewal of E-2 Visas.

Our Los Angeles immigration lawyers work on behalf of clients seeking to obtain or renew an E-2 Visa. The visas permit foreign citizens to invest and work in U.S. businesses and must be renewed every two years. While there is no limit on the number of times the visas can be renewed, there has been an increase in problems associated with renewing the visas in recent years.

The Times tells the story of a British couple that has been forced to close their Maine restaurant after a decade in business as they seek to renew their visas and remain in the United States legally. Our immigration attorneys understand how devastating this can be to business owners in Southern California. In these tough economic times, the last thing we need to be doing is forcing the closure of businesses.

If you are facing the renewal of your E-2 Visa in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino, we encourage you to contact our Southern California immigration attorneys to discuss your rights.

In the Maine case, the couple's renewal application was denied because the government had determined their restaurant was a marginal business. Their business profit had fallen from $50,700 a year to $38,800 amid the recession.

Over the last two years, 8,468 E-2 extensions have been filed, and their approval rate has dropped, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. So far this year, about 82 percent have been approved, compared to 91 percent in 2008.

Authorities cite the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the increased focus on immigration reform and the downturn in the economy as primary reasons for the increased scrutiny of visa applicants.

Continue reading "Renewal of California E-2 Visas best left to experienced Los Angeles immigration attorney " »

California ranchers are seeing fewer signs of immigrants crossing illegally into California since the U.S. Border Patrol erected 18-foot barriers and increased patrols, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Our Riverside immigration attorneys and San Bernardino immigration lawyers understand the frustration immigrants face in seeking legal status in the United States and remain dedicated to the push for compassionate immigration reform measures that offer justice and hope to California's immigrant population.

Authorities are concerned that Arizona's tough new immigration law could push more immigrants to begin crossing into California again. However, the California border is now fortified with some of the greatest concentration of barriers and patrols that exist along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Times reports that the California-Mexico border is quieter than it has been in years, while Arizona remains the primary gateway for Mexican immigrants seeking entry into the United States. Arrests of immigrants crossing into California have also declined in recent years.

In the past two years, the number of border agents in California has increased from 3,200 to 3,594. Agents staff 11 checkpoints on highways leading to San Diego and Los Angeles.

Stopping drug smugglers is a primary motivation. Unfortunately, that emphasis only serves to increase the dangers for honest immigrants who come hoping to find work and make a better life for their families.

Many residents believe the sagging economy has more to do with the declining number of immigrants than the increase in enforcement.

The Times tells the story of Robert Maupin, a rancher from Tierrra del Sol, who arrived in the 1940s when a small, rickety fence at the border was designed to keep cattle from straying. Mexican cowboys would enter and leave the country unabated, providing labor for the ranching industry before returning home to Mexico.

He said the torrent of illegal immigrants began in the 1980s, when bands of Mexican immigrants would cross his ranch to seek a better life in the United States. By the 1990s, he had recruited friends to help patrol his ranch and would regularly detain groups of immigrants until authorities arrived.

Even he was touched by a young family that knocked on his door one night; feeding the girls hot chocolate in his warm kitchen.

Last year, border agents fortified his barbed-wire and rebar fence with an 18-foot-high barrier. It has been eight months since the fence had to be repaired because of damage caused by crossing immigrants.

Today, border agents patrol his property and maintain an outpost on a rocky mountain overlooking the border.

Continue reading "California immigration enforcement makes for a quieter Mexican border" »

Los Angeles County is the latest government entity to announce a boycott of Arizona over that state's tough new immigration measure, the Associated Press reported.

Our Los Angeles immigration attorneys applaud the move by local governments. As we reported last month on our California Immigration Attorney Blog, the City of Los Angeles passed a boycott of Arizona, which is expected to cost the state some $50 million.

Arizona's new law permits law enforcement to question those suspected of being in the country illegally, even if they have committed no crime, and to turn those in noncompliance over to federal authorities for deportation proceedings. Not only do the boycotts send a clear message, supporters believe they could help Southern California's economy, as money spent in Arizona returns to local businesses.

Los Angeles County's board of supervisors voted 3-2 to ban new contracts with Arizona-based companies and to review those contracts that could be canceled. More than $26 million in contracts could be impacted.

Oakland and San Francisco have passed similar measures.

Meanwhile, President Obama is scheduled to meet Thursday with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and the U.S. Justice Department has drafted a legal challenge to the Arizona law, claiming it is unconstitutional because it intrudes on the federal government's authority to guard the nation's borders.

Critics also argue the law could lead to racial profiling.

The Los Angeles County boycott also calls on the county's pension system to liquidate any Arizona state or municipal bonds. And the Los Angeles Unified School District also voted on Tuesday to condemn the Arizona measure and to seek ways of curtailing district travel or other economic involvement with Arizona.

Continue reading "Los Angeles County becomes latest to boycott Arizona over immigration law" »