A Note from the Editors:

What's In A Name?

For the past several months, several bureaus of the DHS (BCIS, BICE AND BCBP) began using the following names: USCIS, ICE, and CBP in press releases that had been released by the various bureaus. A letter to the Editor today on this issue kindly points out an AILA posting on this matter (see below). Despite all of this, we were reluctant to adopt the new names since the statutory authority for the name changes was not clear. However, the recently signed Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004 uses the new names: USCIS, ICE, and CBP. That is sufficient authority for us. Going forward, Immigrant's Weekly will begin to refer to these DHS agencies by the new designations.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas with us by writing to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Articles

USCIS Says 231,030 H-1B Petitions Received In FY '03
The Citizenship and Immigration Services released an H-1B fact sheet that stated in FY 2003, the Congressionally-mandated cap of 195,000 beneficiaries was not reached and about 78,000 individuals, mostly initial beneficiaries, were counted against the cap.

EB-5 Immigrant Investors
Gregory Siskind writes "In the next few weeks, Congress is expected to pass legislation, S. 1642, calling for the continuation of the Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, a part of the EB-5 category of immigrant investors."

DHS Proposes $100 Fee On F, J, or M Visas
The Department of Homeland Security proposed levying a $100 fee on students applying for the F, J, or M nonimmigrant visas to cover the costs of administering and maintaining the SEVIS system.

Assessing The New Normal: Immigrants, Refugees and Minorities
Eleanor Acer et al of The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights document the continuing erosion of basic human rights protections under US law and policy since September 11 in an excerpted chapter on immigrants, refugees, and minorities.

DHS Unveils US-VISIT Program
The Department of Homeland Security unveiled the capability of its US-VISIT Program which will be in place at airports and seaports on December 31, 2003, to process visitors holding visas as they enter the US.

USCIS Modifies List of Recognized American Institutions of Research
The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services promulgated a final rule effective October 28, 2003, modifying the list of Recognized American Institutions Of Research.

Fall 2003 Update On Immigration Policy And Procedures
Romulo E. Guevara, Esq. provides an update on legislative immigration policy and procedural issues.

The Ten Dumbest Marketing Mistakes Law Firms Make
Larry Bodine writes "In my experience advising law firms across the country, I consistently find ten dumb mistakes the law firms make. See if you can recognize your firm in this parade of horribles, and get your marketing back on track."

28 Irish Soldiers Posthumously Awarded US Citizenship
The USCIS posthumously naturalized twenty-eight Irish soldiers who were in the service of the US military during the Korean War.

How Do I Get My Spouse or Children Derivative Asylum Status in the US?
Read a detailed response from the USCIS on how to obtain derivative asylum status for your spouse or children.

ILW Highlights

Processing Times Updated

Missouri, DOL processing times were recently updated.

Letters to Editors

To write to Editors, send emails to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

Dear Editor:
I read with interest the Presidential Papers article regarding President Truman's appeal for the immediate and limited purpose of admitting post-war refugees. Is this the basis for our admitting asylees/refugees ever since?

Name Not Provided

Dear Editor:
The Truman directive of December 1945 which appeared in your October 27, 2003 issue was an important milestone in the evolution of American refugee policy. The now notorious failure of the United States to respond adequately to the refugee crisis of the 1930s and World War II was accurately characterized by Vice-President Mondale as "a failure of civilization." Truman's directive did not have the effect the president intended. Only about 5,000 Displaced Persons were able to enter the country because of it. Realizing this in late 1946 he began the push for the first congressional refugee legislation, the controversial Displace Persons Acts of 1948 and 1950. Under the Displaced Persons Acts, for the first time, refugee immigration became a major factor in American immigration. The 400,000 immigrants admitted as refugees during fiscal years 1949 through 1952 represent nearly half of the 900,000 legal immigrants of those years. The best and fullest account of the Truman policies is in Leonard Dinnerstein. America and the Survivors of the Holocaust. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1982).

Roger Daniels, Charles Phelps Taft Professor Emeritus of History
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Dear Editor:
In response to your recent editiorial on anti-immigrationists' worst enemy, there are too many arguments against pro-immigration and none of them are a real solution. I agree with ILW.COM that a proposal of massive legalization is the only way to increase security in the US, and also to increase the living standards of millions, and through them increase business all over America. We will see a better understanding between comunities as they will feel and think as if they are a part of America, will create a stronger country that's able to fight without the resentment that we have now and which will be reflected in our economy and in our foreign policy. We won't see people struggling, and thinking if we cannot manage our own country, why we are trying to rule other's people countries.

c.c.

Dear Editor:
I am all for doing what you can to help immigrants. However there seems to be a focus on rewarding illegal immigrants for overstaying in the country. There is never a lobby for those who have sat patiently abroad separated from family for years waiting on their filing to come through.

Name Not Provided

Dear Editor:
Yes, deport all illegal aliens, a better idea to have some freedom lost than have the country continue its decline into third world status. The work illegal does not equal legal. All of them are lawbreakers. They do not deserve to be here and included with legal immigrants. That is an insult to the law-abiding, of which I am one. In other words, How dare they be treated like they have done no wrong. If anyone should break into your own home, remember your beliefs: the mere fact someone wants to be in your home is a good enough reason to let them stay (and don't forget to serve them dinner, provide a home and medical care, etc. and heavens, don't call the police because they want to be in your house and live a better life after all.

PTL

Immigrant Life

What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance means just what it says: it's a way to insure yourself against health catastrophes such as illness and injury. In return for payment of a monthly fee, called a premium, the insurance company agrees to pay the price of a set amount of medical expenses, minus any deductible you may choose. This amount depends on the type of health plan you purchase. In the USA, health insurance falls into three categories: Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations and traditional "fee-for-service," or "indemnity" plans.

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This week's chat schedule

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When	Attorney
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Wednesday, Nov 5 6:00 pm Eastern Time	Alice Yardum-Hunter, Esq.
Friday, Nov 7 6:00 pm Eastern Time	To be announced

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