FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF "DO YOU FEEL SAFER?"

Detaining Polish grandmas? Really?

Comments

[Tundra/Desert]

Having lots and lots of experience through various U.S. points of entry over many years as a nonimmigrant, it was apparent to me that there was some kind of heightened-enforcement action going on specifically at Newark (not JFK) in November. I won't say more about what I saw, I still have to get my GC.

[USC]

"USC - It is hardly important to have access to one's file. So what if they take a long time. Besides aren't you exagerrating when you say 20 years?"

OK. Let's give the benefit of the doubt to the INS wherever we can. Let's assume that they received all the 3,257 applications that precede mine on June 19, 2007. Let's also assume that as of yesterday they had processed all the 3,257 FOIA's that precede me and that my application will be processed first thing this Monday morning.

What does that tell us? That in 1.5 years they have processed about 3000 applications or that they process 2,000/year. If you were to make a FOIA request tomorrow there would be approximately 60,000 people ahead of you. At 2,000/year it will take 30 years to get to your request!

Apparently, INS has 3 tracks. Track 3 is for folks who are in Court. Presumably, they process those faster. My request was a simple one (ie, give me whatever you got) but INS considers it complex and thus it is in Track 2 and not Track 1.

Now, you are right to the extent that this is not important to me (if it were I would bring a legal action against INS), however, INS, is always whining about immigrants breaking the law, yet, they themselves are wantonly disregarding the law. By refusing to process my FOIA request (which is in effect what they are doing) the INS and the current Administration prove that they have no respect for the law!!

USC - It is hardly important to have access to one's file. So what if they take a long time. Besides aren't you exagerrating when you say 20 years?

[USC]

Back in June 2007 I had made a FOIA request to the INS (USCIS) for whatever information they had on me. Today, I received a form letter from them stating that I could check the status online at their website. This is what I found:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.8d416137d08f80a2b1935610748191a0/?vgnextoid=f3a2ba87c7a29110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f3a2ba87c7a29110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

"Your request is currently number 3258 of 62310 pending requests in Track Two.
Date received: 06/19/2007"

At this rate it will be another 20 years before they get around to my request. What excellent customer service!!I must admit that the INS has really outdone itself!!

[USC]

"It all comes down to duplication of activities..too many clowns in the visa issuing and approving process. There is a need to streamline the process. It has become an employment exchange for incompetent people."

I might point out that that is the case for most if not all countries. Take India, for instance. The visas are issued by the Embassies/High Commissions which are under the Ministry of External Affairs. Extensions and renewals in India are performed by the Foreigners Registration Offices which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. As regards the Immigration inspectors though they work for the Bureau of Immigration (under Home Affairs) they are drawn from the ranks of the local police.

Having DHS issue US visas would not be a good thing.

[ILW]

"Chell": So you'd support handing over consular adjudications to DHS?

[George Chell]

It all comes down to duplication of activities..too many clowns in the visa issuing and approving process. There is a need to streamline the process. It has become an employment exchange for incompetent people.

[hmm]

USC: thanks for the correction, I was sure Poland is a VWP country.

[USC]

"US-VISIT non-eligible countries"

Firstly, I assume you are referring to the VWP. Secondly, Poland is not a VWP country and hence all Polish citizens are required to have a visa.

I don't know if this is part of Junior's parting gift to Obama or if these folks had issues with their immigration status. What I find unforgivable and barbaric is to send our guests (some of them are senior citizens while others are teenagers) to the local jail.

One of Nixon's henchmen once said "watch what we do not what we say." That applies to Junior and his henchmen as well.

Today's NY Times has a lead editorial on immigration and I hope that this will be the path forward:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/opinion/26fri1.html

[hmm]

As a practical matter the people from US-VISIT non-eligible countries are better protected from complications at the border, because they require a visa and those with past violation simply do not get a visa.

[George Chell]

"Representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw stress that visas obtained in Poland do not guarantee that the visa-holder will be admitted to the U.S. The decision is up to CBP officers upon arrival to America."

There is a need to streamline the process. Too many cooks involved. The US government has become an employment exchange for many and for those who cannot get jobs elsewhere especially in the privat sector they end up in the state department or CBP...utter incompetence is a book by Tom Oliphant..it can well describe the CBP employees and consular officers...we need one organization to handle everything!