White House Press Biefing

The White House’s response to the question, “Does President Bush believe
any new Mexican President can stop the immigration problem
between these two countries?”

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 27, 2005
Press Briefing Scott McClellan
James S. Brady Briefing Room
2:12 P.M. EDT

[ ...]

Q According to published reports, Mexican President Vicente Fox has failed to reform Mexico. Does President Bush believe any new Mexican President can stop the immigration problem between these two countries?

MR. McCLELLAN: We’ve worked closely with President Fox. The President has known him for quite some time, going back to his days in Texas as governor. And we will continue working closely with President Fox for the duration of his term in office.

In terms of elections in any particular country, we don’t insert — we don’t insert ourselves into those internal political matters. That’s for the people of Mexico to decide. And in terms of immigration, I think the President has spelled out what our proposals are for moving forward on strengthening our borders, as well as moving forward on a temporary worker program to implement a more humane and compassionate immigration system, and to address an important economic need.

[ ... ]

[ End ]

L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2004

USCIS announced the new provisions to the L-1 temporary worker program (Intracompany
Transferees).

H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004

According to the USCIS, employers of H-1B1 Free Trade nonimmigrants from Chile and Singapore must file fees.

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Starting June 20, 2005, eligible Chinese national students (F-1) and exchange visitors (J-1) will be issued visas that are valid for 12 months and multiple entries.

H-1B Numbers Still Available

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service says that it has not reached the fiscal year 2006 cap for H-1B petitions.

Visa Bulletin for July 2005: EB-3 Category Is Unavailable

The July 2005 Visa Bulletin shows a retrogression in the family-based preferences for Mexico. The Visa Bulletin also shows a retrogression to “Unavailable” for employment-based third preference for all nationalities; this means no one will be able to get a visa in this category for the month of July.

Anti-Defamation League Press Release

Racist Groups Exploit Immigration Issues in Effort to Promote Anti-Hispanic Agenda

New York, NY, June 15, 2005 … With mounting public awareness and concern over illegal immigration in America, the issue is being co-opted and exploited by anti-immigration activists, some of whom are reaching out to racist and anti-Semitic hate groups, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The rhetoric of these activists is largely aimed at Mexicans, not other illegal aliens, and frequently does not distinguish between Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.

In the most recent effort by radical anti-immigration organizations and individuals to exploit mainstream immigration concerns, a three-day summit to “Unite to Fight Against Illegal Immigration” was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 27 – 29. More than 400 people gathered to hear speakers describe illegal immigrants as “the enemy within” and “illegal barbarians,” while suggesting that America was “at war” with illegal immigrants and calling for the need to “take America back.”

“These groups are hiding behind the mask of illegal immigration when their real concern is the growing Mexican-American population,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “While there are legitimate concerns for America regarding illegal immigration, the fact that border vigilantes, and in some instances racist and anti-Semitic hate groups, are exploiting these concerns to promote an anti-Hispanic agenda is very troubling.”

Immigration Procedure Update: Visa Waiver Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be required to have passports with digital photographs by October 26, 2005. By October 26, 2005, DHS is requiring a digital photograph of the passport holder’s face printed on the data page of the passport. DHS is also requing that all VWP countries report all lost and stolen passports to INTERPOL and DHS and all intercepted lost and stolen passports.

Effective June 26, 2005, any VWP traveler required to be in possession of a machine-readable passport to enter the United States.

Immigration Law Update: Asylee Adjustment Class Action Notice

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service has posted a notice relating to individuals that were granted asylum in the U.S. and applied for “green cards.” Click here.

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The Washington DC Ethiopian community organized a protest outside the State Department calling for U.S. intervention in the violence in Ethiopia.