Utah Governor/Immigration Reform Bills

Utah Governor Signs Immigration Reform Bills

On March 15, 2011, Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert signed into law four immigration reform bills, which combined constitute what he calls "the Utah Solution":

 

• H.B. 116, the Guest Worker Program Act, which, in addition to establishing a guest worker program for Utah, outlines when a law-enforcement officer is required or permitted to request verification of immigration status

 

• H.B. 466, Migrant Workers and Related Commission Amendments, which, among other things, provides for the creation of a Migrant Worker Visa Pilot Program

 

• H.B. 469, Immigration Related Amendments, which, among other things, enacts the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act

 

• H.B. 497, the Utah Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, which, among other things, requires that an officer verify the immigration status of a person arrested for a felony or a class A misdemeanor and a person booked for class B or C misdemeanors and requires that an officer attempt to verify immigration status for a person detained for a class B or C misdemeanor; provides for transportation of an illegal alien to federal custody by a state or local law-enforcement officer; and amends peace officer arrest authority to include making an arrest when the officer has reasonable cause to believe the person is an alien subject to an immigration removal order, and regarding whom a detainer warrant has been issued, who has committed or been charged with a felony in another state.

 

Governor Herbert said, "Today I challenge our federal delegation and those who work alongside them in Washington, D.C.: It is time to get off the sidelines and have a meaningful dialogue about immigration in this country. ... [W]hat we have begun today is a framework for a national conversation about immigration and a means to engage the federal government."

USCIS Launches E-Verify Self Check

Another step towards a national ID system………

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On March 21, 2011, USCIS launches E-Verify Self Check, the first online E-Verify program offered directly to the U.S. workforce. E-Verify Self Check, a fast, simple, secure and free service, enables individuals to voluntarily check their own employment eligibility status. USCIS is releasing E-Verify Self Check in phases, with the first phase only accessible to users who maintain an address and are physically located in Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Mississippi, Virginia, or the District of Columbia. Click here to visit the E-Verify Self Check website and check your own employment eligibility status.

Utah Signs Immigration Measures Into Law

See below for information on Utah's immigration measures signed into law today, March 15, 2011. Again, this re-emphasizes the need for the federal government to deal with comprehensive immigration reform………

 

NEWS: For Immediate Release March 15, 2011 CONTACT: Adela de la Torre, 213-674-2832 or delatorre@nilc.org.

UTAH COMPROMISES VALUES AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WITH NEW IMMIGRATION SCHEME LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Utah Governor Gary Herbert today signed into law immigration measures that together create the nation's most broadly sweeping state immigration enforcement scheme.  Largely modeled on Arizona's SB 1070, HB 497 requires police to interrogate individuals and verify their immigration status in a wide array of situations, promoting harmful and costly incentives for law enforcement to racially profile.  The second bill, HB 116, attempts to create a "guest worker" program for undocumented workers currently in Utah.  Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, on HB 497 and HB 116: "Today, the first Arizona copycat legislation has been signed into law, and our fears of a patchwork immigration policy have been realized.  While Utah policymakers may have been striving to develop a different approach to Arizona, the new laws unfortunately suffer from the same fatal flaw as Arizona's SB 1070: they are fundamentally unconstitutional.  Taken together, the laws signify an even more sweeping state takeover of federal immigration regulation." "We share Utah's frustration with the federal government's failure to create a functional immigration system.  Decades of inaction in Washington have led states to attempt to come up with their own solutions.  However, state-led attempts to regulate and enforce immigration law are a costly, ineffective, and often unconstitutional answer. "One of the laws signed today correctly identifies immigrant workers as a vital part of Utah's society and economy.  However, states simply do not have the power to grant or deny work authorization to immigrants.  Therefore, this law does nothing more than create false hope for immigrant workers in Utah, as they will not have a viable path to legal status under this law and will continue to be vulnerable to federal immigration enforcement measures as well as the new state enforcement scheme enacted through HB 497. "The actions of lawmakers in Utah, Arizona, and other states threatening to follow down their path should serve as a clarion call to reluctant federal legislators to finally fix our broken immigration system.  Our country needs federal policymakers to step up to the plate and get serious about enacting humane and functional immigration reform.  Rather than marginalize immigrant communities and target people of color, states must focus on enacting laws that recognize immigrants' contributions and build stronger and more inclusive communities."   Click here for a summary of the legislation. # # # EL ESTADO DE UTAH  TRANSIGE LOS VALORES Y LA CONSTITUCION DE LOS EE.UU. CON SU NUEVO ESQUEMA DE INMIGRACION LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Hoy el Gobernador Gary Herbert de Utah firmó las legislaciones de inmigración que juntas crean el sistema estatal de inmigración más vasto del país.  En gran parte basada en la ley SB 1070 de Arizona, la HB 497 requiere que la policía interrogue a individuos y verifique su estatus migratorio en una variedad de situaciones, promoviendo incentivos perjudiciales y costosos para que los agentes de policía discriminen  por el perfil racial. La segunda legislación, HB 116, intenta crear un programa de "trabajadores huéspedes" para trabajadores indocumentados que vivan en Utah. La siguiente es una declaración de Marielena Hincapié, abogada y directora ejecutiva del Centro Nacional de Leyes de Inmigración (National Immigration Law Center o NILC, por sus siglas en ingles), sobre HB 497 y HB 116.   "Hoy, la primera imitación de la legislación de Arizona se ha convertido en ley, y nuestros temores de un mosaico de políticas de inmigración se han realizado.  Aunque los políticos de Utah quizás trataron de hacer un esfuerzo para desarrollar una alternativa a la ley de Arizona, desafortunadamente las nuevas leyes tienen el mismo defecto fatal como la SB 1070 de Arizona: son fundamentalmente inconstitucionales. Juntas, estas leyes significan una toma de control aun más profunda de los reglamentos federales de inmigración. "Nosotros compartimos la frustración de Utah con el gobierno federal que ha fallado en crear un sistema migratorio que funcione. Décadas de inacción en Washington han llevado a los estados a intentar de desarrollar sus propias soluciones.  Sin embargo, tales intentos estatales de regular y aplicar las leyes de inmigración son una respuesta costosa, inefectiva y casi siempre inconstitucional. "Una de las leyes firmadas hoy correctamente identifica a los trabajadores inmigrantes como una parte vital de la sociedad y la economía de Utah. Sin embargo, los estados simplemente no tienen el poder de otorgar o negar la autorización de trabajar a los inmigrantes. Por lo tanto, esta ley no hace mas nada que darle falsas esperanzas a los trabajadores inmigrantes en Utah ya que no tendrán acceso al estatus legal bajo esta ley y seguirán siendo vulnerables bajo las leyes de inmigración federales como también el nuevo sistema de inmigración bajo la nueva ley HB 497. "Las acciones de los políticos de Utah, Arizona y los demás estados que amenazan con seguir por éste camino deben de servir como un llamado de atención a los legisladores federales reacios para que finalmente compongan nuestro sistema de inmigración.  Nuestro país necesita que los políticos federales tomen en serio la necesidad de implementar una reforma migratoria humana e integral. En vez de marginar a las comunidades inmigrantes y a las personas de color, los estados se deben de enfocar en promulgar leyes que reconozcan las contribuciones de los inmigrantes y construyan comunidades más fuertes e incluyentes."  Haga click aquí por un resumen de la legislación en inglés. # # #

USCIS Advisory Regarding Those Impacted By Earthquake/Tsunami

The USCIS just announced this advisory for Japanese and other foreign nationals from the Pacific stranded in the United States due to the earthquakes and tsunami devastation in the Pacific.  If you have exceeded or are about to exceed your authorized stay in the U.S. you may be permitted up to an additional 30 days to depart.

Visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP):

• If you are at an airport, contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office at the airport. 
  
• All others, please visit the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office.
  

 Visitors traveling under a nonimmigrant visa:

• Visit the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office.  
  
• Bring your passport, evidence that you are stranded (such as an itinerary for the cancelled flight), and your I-94 departure record.
  

For additional immigration relief options, please visit the Special Situation page.

USCIS/E-Verify Connection

See below from USCIS. It is likely that any comprehensive immigration reform proposals will include some kind of mandatory sign-up in E-Verify…..

 

Dan

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E-Verify Connection

March 2011

Issue 2

 
 

Welcome to E-Verify Connection, an e-newsletter from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Each issue will bring you updates about E-Verify's advances and activities. A pdf version of E-Verify Connection is available online.

 
 

What's Hot in E-Verify

 
 

E-Verify Scores High on Customer Satisfaction

E-Verify earned an exceptionally high score in the 2010 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI). E-Verify's overall score of 82 far surpassed the federal government's score of 69. E-Verify Customer Support scored 89. Other key findings are that the overwhelming majority of users are likely to recommend and continue using E-Verify, and are confident in E-Verify's accuracy. You can read the ASCI survey report online.

 
 

One New Card Authorizes Two Benefits

On February 11, 2011, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began issuing a card that authorizes both employment and travel authorization. This card is issued to those who file applications to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485). This card is an acceptable employment authorization and identity document for Form I-9. See our website for more information.

 
 

Now Available! Revised Handbook for Employers

The revised M-274 Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing I-9, released on January 5, 2011, has updated instructions for completing Form I-9, useful information about documents, and more guidance.
Download your free copy.

 
 

E-Verify Existing Users...A New Webinar for You!

The free live webinar designed for E-Verify users has been updated to include a discussion about immigration-related hiring practices that are common triggers for Department of Justice investigations. The E-Verify for Existing Users webinar includes advanced reviews of new features, Form I-9 and tentative non-confirmations. USCIS also offers free E-Verify Overview, Federal Contractor E-Verify, and Form I-9 webinars.
Just go to our website and register for the webinar of your choice.

 
 

GAO Cites E-Verify Improvements

A new
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report
analyzed 2009-2010 E-Verify data and reported significant improvements, such as a 5.4% decrease in tentative non-confirmations (TNCs), better safeguards for securing employee information, and improvements in monitoring employers' compliance.

 
 

Higher Worker Authorization Rates

In fiscal year 2010, E-Verify automatically confirmed 98.3% of employees as authorized to work instantly or within 24 hours—an increase of nearly one percent over the previous year.
See the updated statistics online at E-Verify Statistics and Reports.

 
 

E-Verify Testifies

On Feb 10, 2011, USCIS Associate Director for Enterprise Services Theresa Bertucci testified before Congress about E-Verify. Read the Testimony.

 
 

Why Don't They Use E-Verify?

An independent study of E-Verify non-users, The Practices and Opinions of Employers Who Do Not Participate in E-Verify, reported that more than half of all employers have not yet heard of E-Verify, and many others have misconceptions about the program. Learn the facts about E-Verify – it's free, it's easy, and users rate it highly.

 
 

¿Ha visto "The Reporter"?

La edición de invierno 2010 de "The Reporter", boletίn de SSA/IRS para los empleadores y patronos, tiene un artίculo informativo acerca de E-Verify. Vea la página 4 de "The Reporter."

 
 

 
 

E-Verify Outreach

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify experts will be available at the following events:

• Arizona Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference
  Phoenix, AZ               March 2, 2011
  
  
• Health Care Benefit New York Show and Conference Expo
  New York, NY             March 7, 2011
  
  
• American Payroll Association Capital Summit
  Washington, DC        March 8, 2011
  
  
• Alliance Mid-Atlantic Small Business Procurement Fair
  Atlantic City, NJ         March 10, 2011
  
  
• SHRM Employment Law and Legislative Conference
  Washington, DC        March 14-16, 2011
  
  
• Greater New York Chamber of Commerce/Brooklyn Trade Show
  Brooklyn, NY              March 15, 2011
  
  
• Annual Reservation Economic Summit
  Las Vegas, NV          March 16-17, 2011
  
  
• Aerospace & Defense Contract Management Conference
  Glendale, AZ              March 17-18, 2011
  
  
• New England Food Show
  Boston, MA                March 20-22, 2011
  
  
• Employers Association Employment Law Conference
  Perrysburg, OH         March 25, 2011
  
  
• College and University Professionals (CUPA)-HR Western Regional Conference
  Lost Pines, TX           March 27-29, 2011
  
• National Small Business Contracting Week Summit
  Washington, DC        March 29 – 31, 2011
  
• American Council of Engineering Companies Convention
  Washington, DC        March 29-April 1, 2011
  
  

H-1B Registration System

See below that was just announced today. This appears to be similar to the current PERM system for labor certification. Given how many problems there have been with the electronic filing system so far, it is unclear how much money actually will be saved if it results in additional processing delays……….. Clearly, we are moving towards a national identification system. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, in particular how the USCIS selection system proposed below would actually be managed………

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USCIS Announces Proposed H-1B Electronic Registration System to Reduce Costs for U.S. Businesses March 2, 2011 WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing tomorrow a proposed rule that could save U.S. businesses more than $23 million over the next 10 years by establishing an advance registration process for U.S. employers seeking to file H-1B petitions for foreign workers in specialty occupations. The proposed electronic system would minimize administrative burdens and expenses related to the H-1B petition process—including reducing the need for employers to submit petitions for which visas would not be available under the statutory visa cap. USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas today announced the opening of a 60-day comment period that will allow businesses and the general public to provide input on the proposed system in order to ensure it best meets the needs of employers that rely on H-1B visas to bring in foreign workers for specialty occupations.  "The proposed rule would create a more efficient and cost-effective process for businesses interested in bringing workers in specialty occupations to the United States," he said. "Improving the H-1B petition process is part of USCIS's ongoing efforts to leverage new ideas and innovation to streamline our operations and enhance customer service." Under the proposed rule, employers seeking to petition for H-1B workers subject to the statutory cap would register electronically with USCIS—a process that would take an estimated 30 minutes to complete. Before the petition filing period begins, USCIS would select the number of registrations predicted to exhaust all available visas. Employers would then file petitions only for the selected registrations. The registration system would save employers the effort and expense of filing H-1B petitions, as well as Labor Condition Applications, for workers who would be unable to obtain visas under the statutory cap. The proposed rule, which posted to the Federal Register today for public viewing, contains complete details about the registration system and estimated cost savings. USCIS encourages formal comments on the proposed rule through www.regulations.gov. The comment period runs for 60 days, beginning March 3, 2011, and ending on May 2, 2011. For more information on the proposed H-1B rule, please see the accompanying Fact Sheet. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov.     Last updated:03/02/2011