BREAKING NEWS: LOFGREN GIVES USCIS THREE DAYS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee, sent Secretary Chertoff a list of questions and a request for documents from USCIS to get to the bottom of the whole Visa Bulletin fiasco. The letter is very interesting not just because it puts a heck of a lot of pressure on DHS right now, but also because Lofgren's folks imply from the questions that USCIS was short circuiting established security clearance procedures to "pre-request" visa numbers from DOS. If it turns out full security clearances were not carried out, USCIS will either need to say that they had the legal justification (which would be a public relations disaster for the agency) or that they intended to complete the checks after the fact (which would be a direct violation of their own regulations). The only way to avoid answering the questions and to make this go away would be to eat crow and start working the case July cases.

Download letter_to_chertoff_re_visa_bulletin_issues_july_9_2007.pdf

Comments

[USC]

Legal:

Of course, I agree with you that the USCIS should be brought to Justice (to use George's language). So, I would encourage you to fight it out. Lawsuits are unpredictable and you might win or lose, I HOPE YOU WIN, however, if you lose it is not the end of the world.

The point that I make is that Zoe is someone who will fight for the rights of all immigrants. That is a great sight to behold after seeing for the past 13 years all the anti-immigrant legislation emerge from the House. We should all ACTIVELY support her and ensure that the House remains in Democratic hand.

Also, one other point, I believe that those undergoing Consular Processing should benefit from Visagate becuase the State Department requests visa numbers a month or so before the Visa interviews so those Immigrants who had interviews scheduled for July should be able to get their Green Cards!!! Perhaps, Greg will correct me if I am wrong.

[legal]

USC -- Of course Visagate is an important thing, and no, we won't wait in line while we're getting screwed all the time. The important thing is that somebody (DOS and DHS) broke the law, and there is someone to stand up to them and demand they took responsibility. If you or your family got robbed, would you just sit and wait?

As to those folks who got their green cards (if they really did!), I say good for them -- but they should've gotten them a long time ago. If they were stuck in namecheck for five or more years, we shouldn't be celebrating the fact that by some sheer coincidence (DOS messing up bulletins) their turn finally came. We should be demanding an explanation why it took them so long. After all, it's human beings -- not cattle -- that we're talking about here. Just because they aren't US citizens yet doesn't make them less human.

Sorry for the rant...

[USC]

Way to go Zoe!! The important thing here is not Visagate but that finally we have a chairwoman who cares about Immigration. I am a USC so don't have a dog in this fight, however, while you folks have been disappointed the silver lining is that the State Department was able to force USCIS in approving a lot of folks for their GCs. I am sure these folks are celebrating the receipts of their GCs in the mail after many years of waiting. As for you folks, wait in line and your turn will come.

[Hardworking]

I hope we get answers soon and some relief as well. I did read some skeptics on your thread and would like to comment on that. People should know that getting these documentation is not easy and money neither grows on trees nor lawyers charge pennies and nickels. Just like everybody we work hard to make ends meet. The amount of money people spend in getting this application prepared and filed ranges from 10K - 15K USD, as in some cases people had to fly back from business or pleasure trips to get their signatures. The documentation is time-sensitive and would not mean anything after a 6 months/year, we have to redo the whole thing spending maybe more money.

We see frivolous lawsuits where dry cleaners are taken to court, but this happened to hundreds and thousands of people who are hoping to get freed from the clutches of their employers and find new jobs, open new companies, be innovative etc. If we do the math, its really a lot of money that went down the drain, and to top it this money is hard-earned money made spending sleepless nights at work and saving it to just have a decent life. Waiting for years in the hope that someone will put a very efficient process in place.

We apply for green cards because we like this country, our aspirations are encouraged, good higher education. Looking at last week's bill, it looks like people are eager to make illegal immigrants as citizens rather than people who are building this country, the engineers, scientists, doctors, etc. You are a true citizen when you really help for the better of this country and not otherwise.

I am really surprised to see people sending flowers. It is a good gesture, but in the end we are under-privileged and will be ignored. Finally, it is really surprising that senators and presidential hopefuls do not want to champion this cause, why? It is simple because by the time we get voting priviliges it will be a long long time..It is these legal immigrants who will help raise standards and competition in schools and colleges that will help produce highly qualified americans and the need for off shoring will eventually subside.

[In Immigration Limbo]

Greg,

I read on another Immigration Attorney's website the following:

"This is leading many to speculate that the CIS may reverse course and re-re-amend the July Visa Bulletin; whether the Visa Bulletin actually reopens remains to be seen. HLG normally refrains from commenting on rumors, but we have talked to several Washington insiders and believe that this is seriously being considered."

I am trying to not get my hopes up on this one, as it could just lead to more frustration and disappoinment.

Have you heard anything about this from your insiders?

[Legal and waiting]

I think keeping the preassure up is a very good thing. People in Washington are not dumb, they understand that the country needs a lot more skilled workers. Not just 'the best and the brightest', that's just storytelling for little kids. It needs regular hard working people with decent education who will pay into American coffers (Federal, SS, Medicare). So, bringing up the problems with legal immigration is absolutely the right way to go - and it will probably result with making it easier for all of us. I am glad that Lofgren is requesting information about name checks. It's about time someone looked what is going on in that black/rat hole. I am thinking an ammendment that increases the number of H1s and EB green cards is not a far stretch, either.

[Bhu]

Greg,
Are these things favorable ,answer for all our wait...or is it going to make things worse.

Thankyou very much for the updates-They are turning out to be true.

[Jay]

Hi Greg...This news is awesome. Thrilled to read this news..Thanks a bunch...Keep up the good work.

[A]

"going forward, no one will get GC's that easily. Especially Indians amd chineses who are pressing on USCIS with flower compaigns, lawsuits."

What are you basing this statement on ? Why would they make it difficult to get a GC for sending flowers ? I guess you are amongst those got approvals recently !!!

[sridhar kondoji]

After 3 days, 4th day dawns upon us with a request to extend the dead line.

[Legal and waiting]

Wow! I did not know it would get that interesting!

Kudos to EB immigrants for raising the hell!

[Alex]

What happens after 3 days?

[sridhar]

Answering these questions will definitely take more than 3 days.
However one thing that got missed is, why the USCIS employees were pro-actively working over the weekend?
What compelled them to eat all the available numbers (good till Sept 30 , 2007) in the final two weeks of June?
Thanks again

[steven]

The date was July 9, so USCIS should reply by July 12 (Thursday)?

[jamba]

Is this related to USCIS HQ notifying centers to hold on to the applications? Did they issue that notice after they received the letter from her????

[mrd]

Greg, thank you for the update!

This is also interesting in the sense that Zoe is asking them for the reason for their hurry and need for the weekend work. The real motive ("money" as you pointed out earlier) should be made public.

Thanks,
mrd

[alex]

Thanks for the reply, N.S.! I hope we see answers to these questions soon, and somebody take responsibility and correct these mistakes.

[N S]

Do you think that the issue is gonna go away if they start accepting the July applications? I don't think so. If DOS/USCIS decide to re-re-amend the visa bulletin or try to undo the changes they have done, they are accepting their mistake and can be definitely questioned for their dedication to the whole process. Its not like they can flip flop as and when they get pressured and get away without answering a Q. I see a committee hearing or some thing happening, if she does not get an answer or extension of time from either secretaries for her letter today.

Great. Thanks Greg

[seema]

Great!!!

[paskal]

All those who got GC's in May, June and July 07 may get cancelled, if it is really that messy regarding security checks. Not only will this put pressure on DHS, going forward, no one will get GC's that easily

don't think so. the security checks are being completed. it's just that the numbers were alloted prematurely. also the real numbers in question are from the final days- those approvals are only still going out- people are getting them today alsoa s we speak. so they did wait to finish everything and no one will lsoe a GC. but they did go against their own regulations to thwart the july filing, and that's going to raise a stink.

[KC]

"For just one goof up by uscis, everyone wants to pound on them.. "

" just one" goof up? "goof up"?

gimme a break.

yeah...innocent lambs are getting pounded.

[N S]

Alex,

Even though the Q was not for me, here is what I know.

AFAIK, She and any congress member does have a right to ask any agency to ask any sort of questions. They can even ask them to come and testify before a committee if needed. How ever, the committee/sub committee chairman, ranking members and members react to any scandals/scams/fiasco's if they relate to them. Similar to Senate Judiciary committee chair Patrick Leahy questioning the people involved with firing of US attorney's

Excellent article as always by you, first in the media to report. Keep it up

All those who got GC's in May, June and July 07 may get cancelled, if it is really that messy regarding security checks. Not only will this put pressure on DHS, going forward, no one will get GC's that easily. Especially Indians amd chineses who are pressing on USCIS with flower compaigns, lawsuits.

For just one goof up by uscis, everyone wants to pound on them..

[alex]

Greg, sorry if I'm repeating my question, and please excuse my ignorance on the issue, but does Lofgren have the authority to request this information and to force DOS and DHS to reply? I'm not familiar with how these things work, and her letter doesn't seem to reference FOIA or anything else. Thank you for your replies!