Greg Siskind on Immigration Law and Policy

DHS GETS FUNDS TO OPERATE ANOTHER MONTH

The Senate approved a stop-gap spending bill that will allow the Department of Homeland Security to operate until the end of October while House and Senate conferees try to work out a final version of the agency's spending bill. The measure now goes to President Obama who is expected to sign the bill. ANd none to soon since the agency's funding will run out tonight at midnight. The bill also extends four major immigration program - the Conrad 30 J-1 program for doctors, the religious workers program, E-Verify and the EB-5 investor visa.

Why are the two houses of Congress taking so long to work out a deal on a final bill? According to Congress Daily, disputes over spending on a border fence are to blame:

One outstanding difference concerns an amendment in the Senate bill that would require the department to build 700 miles of reinforced double-layered physical fencing along the Southwest border, Obey's office said on Monday.

That amendment was added by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and would require the department to complete the fencing by Dec. 31, 2010. But the department and other lawmakers assert that 700 miles of double-layer fencing is unnecessary and prohibitively expensive. The GAO reported this month that one mile of fencing would cost about $6.5 million.

SCAMWATCH

The Oklahoman reports on various unsavory types targeting immigrants in the Sooner state for bilking in car sales, home repairs and legal services.

NATURE: US VISA NIGHTMARES

Nature, one of the world's best known science journals, takes note of the disaster that is our system for the immigration of scientists.

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?

The 2011 Diversity Visa lottery is about to start. From the country that gave the world Las Vegas, comes this unique immigration program. The entry period runs from October 2nd to November 30th.

SCAMWATCH

ABC News reports that the FBI is investigating CBP officers have allegedly been accepting bribes to admit immigrants at US border posts.

CRYSTAL WILLIAMS CHOSEN AS DIRECTOR OF AILA

The American Immigration Lawyers Association has announced that Crystal Williams has been chosen to replace the Jeanne Butterfield as the organization's new executive director. Crystal has served in a variety of positions at AILA and is well-known and well-liked by the membership. She also was a highly respected immigration lawyer for many years at Paul Hastings, experience that will no doubt provide her important insight. I wish you much success, Crystal!

MALDEF HEAD: DON'T BLOCK PIECEMEAL IMMIGRATION REFORM IF COMPREHENSIVE FAILS

This is really a contentious issue both in the pro and anti immigration communities and it is surprising that it has taken this long for one of the major advocacy groups to raise the issue publicly. . Pro-immigration groups are divided on the strategy question of whether allowing measures to go piecemeal will peel off support for some of the tougher measures like a legalization program. But if comprehensive reform fails this year, it will be the third failure since the comprehensive movement began in 2004 and it could mean waiting until 2011 or even after the next presidential election before a serious effort begins again. A lot of fixes to the system are desperately needed and the thought of waiting several more years is simply unbearable.

Anti-immigration groups have reasons to feel divided on this question as well. Throwing every needed immigration reform in to one bill means that there is something for every member of Congress to object to and it becomes easier to build support to stop the measure. One target is easier to hit than dozens.

SCAM WATCH

Lately, I'm seeing more and more reports of corrupt individuals bilking would be immigrants with false promises of visas and green cards. I'm going to try and highlight these stories to help increase consumer awareness and curtail some of this nonsense.

Another immigration scam bared - The Saipan Tribune reports on a scam where Chinese investors were asked to pay $100,000 in to a Saipan hotel project and a $20,000 "tax" in order to qualify for a green card. 

10 being charged in million-dollar scheme to sell driver licenses to at least 1,500 illegal immigrants -The Palm Beach Post reports on a scheme by driver's license examiners in Florida to sell licenses to illegally present immigrants.

Immigration attorney pleads guilty to conspiracy - The AP reports

Chicago immigration attorney has pleaded guilty to helping a Virginia Beach man make millions by bringing illegal immigrants to the United States to work.

Beth Ann Broyles pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy charges in Norfolk federal court.

Prosecutors say as an attorney for Viktar Krus, Broyles prepared and submitted fraudulent immigration petitions. Once approved, the documents allowed Krus to bring about 1,000 illegal immigrants from eastern Europe and Jamaica to the U.S. to work, earning him more than $35 million over six years.

Krus recently was convicted of conspiracy, visa fraud and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

Broyles faces up to five years and a $250,000 fine during a Dec. 14 sentencing.

USCIS GETTING CLOSER ON SCRAPPING HIV BAR?

One hint - they will now hold in abeyance cases that are deniable only because of the HIV ban. Next up - issuance of a final rule ending the ban.

IMMIGRATION REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS UP 110% IN LAST FIVE YEARS

When the antis claim this winter that we can't proceed with a legalization program until we can show we're enforcing existing laws, add this statistic to the list of facts supporting the argument that DHS has already shown it is effectively enforcing immigration rules.