A Note from the Editors:

Santa's Visas

Have you ever wondered how Santa Claus would gain entry to the US to accomplish his annual pilgrimage of gift delivery? Today's Featured Article answers just that, from an immigration law perspective. Written as a collaborative effort by Sheela Murthy and her colleagues at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. and MurthyDotCom, the article reviews the visa options available to Santa Claus a.k.a. Kris Kringle. You'll sure to be entertained from this whimsical and humorous piece. For the original item, see below.

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

Articles

Statement by the President on the Republican Position on Immigration: Presidential Paper Historical Series
President Truman sent this message to Congress on October 20, 1952.

How Is Santa Claus Coming To Town?
Sheela Murthy et al. write "While scientists frequently discuss whether it is mathematically possible for Santa Claus to travel around the world in just one night, they generally overlook the legal implications of the jolly man's travels. Here, we explore his visa options in order to help him attain admission to the US this December 24th."

104 Year-Old Becomes US Citizen
The USCIS announced that a 104 year-old Russian immigrant became a US naturalized citizen, one of the oldest on record to have become a US naturalized citizen.

Assessing The New Normal: Immigrants, Refugees and Minorities
Eleanor Acer et al of The Lawyers Committee for Human Rights document the developments and explores the effects of post-September 11 counterterrorism efforts on the rule of law [ changed 12/04/03 Ed.].

DOL/ETA Draft Final Report For Centralized Processing Of Foreign Labor Certification BackLog
This final draft report presents findings and recommendations related to DOL/ETA's effort to eliminate the backlog of 300,000 applications for labor certs. This in connection with the proposed backlog reduction measures at DOL for which $100 million plus of government funding is to be appropriated in 2004 and 2005.

How Do I Apply to Get a New Nonimmigrant Arrival - Departure Document?
Read a detailed response from the Customs and Border Protection on how to apply for a I-94 card (arrival-departure document).

ILW Highlights

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Letters to Editors

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

Dear Editor:
Could you please also send Immigrant's Weekly to my work email (the return address of this email) as well?

Merrill Smith

Editor's Note: We can take care of this for you. If you would like to receive Immigrant's Weekly at another email address, just send us an email with your request to: webmaster@ilw.com or you can subscribe yourself on our homepage by submitting the email address where you wish to receive Immigrant's Weekly.

Dear Editor:
Please send the DOL/ETA request for proposal.

Pam Barnett

Editor's Note: You can use our search engine to find the item you're looking for. Type in "DOL/ETA", select search within Immigration Daily, select the natural language search, and sort by date. The DOL/ETA request for proposal (RFP) search result appears as the third search result: http://www.ilw.com/immigdaily/news/2003,1218-DFLC.pdf

Dear Editor:
As an American citizen strongly opposed to illegal immigration and or any amnesty proposals, I wish to submit my plan to your readers for their evaluation. Going on the premise that we need laborers (with our high unemployement and loss of jobs to foreign entities I question this), how about a "labor force." Strictly here to work, granted legal status for just that. No schooling for the children, no benefits whatever other than what the employer provides. After all, why should our infrastructure be undermined to increase the profits of the chicken processors, et al? Let them take care of their own. If these imported aliens become out of work, create problems with the display of foreign flags, operate vehicles without real driver's licenses and up to date insurance, or become a burden or criminal of any kind, out they go. Fingerprinted and advised that if they return illegally they will be placed on a work farm as prisoners of the US. With a program such as this many good things will result. As American citizens we would not begrudge the Mexicans sending billions of dollars "home" to Mexico. As laborers only, with no benefits, they could do as they please with their earnings, with no ill feelings created, since they would not be a burdon to US taxpayers. Another thing that would be eliminated would be statements by your readers such as the ND's letter in the Dec. 19th issue of Immigrant's Weekly, where the letter writer says, "I am an illegal alien, but I am not a criminal." Now, I ask you dear reader, what part of illegal does not denote criminal? It is my belief that crossing our borders illegally is indeed a criminal act, and since we are letting it continue without prosecuting these criminals, they are emboldened to commit other criminal acts. Figuring they are above our laws, which at the present time they are. Race is not an issue here. Violating the law of our country is the issue.

Ken Roberts
Springdale, Arkansas

Immigrant Life

Immigrant's Weekly Exclusive
Road to Citizenship Workbook & Computer Training for US Citizenship - A Book Review

Susan Schwartzkopf of the Center for New Americans, Inc. writes a review of the new combination workbook/CD: Road to Citizenship Workbook & Computer Training for US Citizenship.

Have an article or a story that you'd like to share with us? Send your story or article that you feel would be of interest to immigrants to weeklyeditor@ilw.com.

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