A recent study by Professor Harry J. Holzer from Georgetown University, indicates that low-skilled immigration has little impact on the wages of US citizens.

The question is raised as to why the impact of the large influx of less-educated workers on the labor market of US workers is so small.

Professor Holzer suggests three possible answers for this:

1.     Immigrants are not only producers, but consumers as well. They generate additional product demand and therefore labor demand.

2.     Immigrants are not perfect substitutes for native-born workers and mostly compete with other immigrants within the same industry.

3.     Most low-skilled jobs would likely be replaces by capital and technology if the work force was not available, instead of being filled by low-skilled native born workers.

Professor Holzer goes into further detail and analyses the costs and benefits of low-skilled immigrants for US employers, consumers and the economy at large.

He emphasizes the many positive impacts that the immigrant work force makes on the US economy.

Professor Holzer then analyses various immigration reform policies and raises the question, what his study means for them. He offers modifications to the provisions included in the mentioned bills that would raise the net benefits they provide to both native-born Americans and immigrants.

The study is very interesting and throws light on many immigration issues. I invite you to reed it here: Does Low-Skilled Immigration Hurt the US Economy

This year, many US Senators and Congressmen have been pushing for immigration
reform. The president has been lobbied, rallies have been held, debates are ongoing
but immigration reform is still a concept and not a reality. The recent incidents in
Arizona have caused a lot of discussion and activity in the San Francisco Bay area
and Sacramento, where I consul clients on immigration.

Arizona

As an immigration lawyer, I’ve been interested and concerned with the
controversial Arizona law that recently went into effect. That Arizona law
focusing on undocumented immigrants has caused a lot of debate. A federal
judge has blocked the most controversial aspects of the law. The law has caused
vigorous protests from people on both sides of the issue in various states.

The Message of Arizona’s Immigration Controversy

The important thing to realize is that this entire scenario—the law, putting it
into effect, the protests, the federal judges stay, etc.—all combine to say a few
things about our country and immigration. Here are three important points:

• There are problems with the law.
• Fixing it won’t be easy.
• Someone needs to take leadership regarding this issue.

I’ve written many times about immigration reform in this blog and will continue
to do so, including providing information articles, my viewpoint blogs and
updating recent developments. As an immigration lawyer in the San Francisco and
Sacramento area, it’s amazing how the recent incidents in Arizona hit home. That
one state and their new law represent the overall immigration reform dilemma that
faces this country.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices serving San Francisco, San Jose,
and Sacramento, California, at info@ranchodlaw.com or at 800-753-1399 if you
have any questions regarding immigration law.

In my Sacramento office where I practice as an immigration lawyer, I’m constantly surrounded by news regarding the growing debate around the reform of our immigration policies. This is an issue that affects millions of Americans directly and all Americans indirectly. Arizona has a new state law regarding immigration and it is raising a lot of eyebrows.

State Law

Although immigration has been something that has been governed by the federal government, the Arizona law changes that by making it a state issue. The State of Arizona will soon be regulating immigration within its borders. That means that undocumented immigrants will be breaking state law.

Additionally, the new state law allows police who have stopped people for other suspected violations to investigate their immigration status. If someone is violating a municipal ordinance, they could find themselves behind bars as an undocumented individual.

Biggest Concern

Many view the controversial law as a bad one, while others think it’s needed. The Justice Department may bring suit against Arizona in order to stop the law from going into effect. It is due to become the law on July 29, 2010.

One thing this new law may do, as I’ve discussed with other immigration lawyers in California, is simply derail reform or cause further confusion over immigration reform. The Arizona law also could result in racial profiling. If anything, the fact that a state has decided to supersede the federal government in this area is a clear indication that people are frustrated and concerned about this issue.

Concerns Should be Addressed

If you have a concern over this law and require clarification or understanding, then consulting an immigration lawyer might be the thing to do. Although my office is located in Sacramento, CA, I work with immigration cases from all around the country. This law could certainly have an affect on some of my clients.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices serving San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento California, at info@ranchodlaw.com or at 415-986-6186 if you have any questions regarding immigration law.

What are the real issues surrounding immigration reform? As an immigration attorney, any type of reform is bound to have an effect on my Santa Clara office from which I work with people and organizations from all over the country. The phrase “immigration reform” means many different things to many different people.

Policing the Borders

For many, immigration reform means one thing and one thing only—keeping people from entering the US illegally by policing the borders. One major question concerns our ability to secure our borders. As has been discussed many times over and over, the cost and manpower issues are massive. We do want to make sure that workers are documented but for many the solution seems to be building a US version of the Great Wall of China.

Streamlined Process for Entry

Some have suggested that the US have a streamlined process for entry. This is, once again, a manpower issue. This time it involves paperwork and people processing that paperwork. Additionally, streamlining raises issues regarding what the standards should be for entry?

Would streamlining the process allow us to better determine who’s in the country? It probably would.

Affects on Those Here

There’s also the issue of how immigration reform will affect those who have been here as undocumented workers. Many in congress and other groups around the nation want them to be granted visas. Others are against such a situation.

As a Santa Clara immigration attorney, these workers are a primary concern.

The Debate Continues

Immigration reform continues to be the ultimate hot button issue. In my office in Santa Clara, I work with many who have various concerns regarding reform. As an immigration attorney, I see that the extreme emotions connected with this issue work against achieving any sort of real progress. The complex nature of immigration reform demands logical, critical thinking and not emotional reactions.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices serving San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento California, at info@ranchodlaw.com or at 415-986-6186 if you have any questions regarding immigration reform or immigration law.

I’ve seen over and over in my role as an immigration lawyer that whenever the government institutes a new immigration policy or process there’s confusion, resistance and continued debate. E-Verify, the electronically based method whereby the USCIS determines if a worker is in the country legally, is one such new process that we’ve discussed in my Sacramento law office.

Ensuring Workers are Legal

The point of E-Verify is to find undocumented workers and to make sure that employers are adhering to the law. It’s required that all federal contractors use E-Verify. But the electronic verification process is not restricted to federal contractors. Any business may use E-Verify and many are.

The Underground Economy

Some are reporting that E-Verify is sending undocumented workers, who in the past have been tax-paying individuals, into the underground economy, creating a bad situation where they are unemployed or working but no longer paying taxes. There’s concern that an expansion of the E-Verify system could make this problem worse. As an immigration lawyer, however, I’m not sure if that is the real problem.

The Real Problem

There is an obvious need for immigrants who are undocumented but have been previously working and paying taxes to obtain a work visa under a special consideration – a legal path to immigration. In other words, perhaps there can be special criteria for these people. That may help keep them above ground and it could be a start in solving various problems related to undocumented workers.

Questions Regarding Your Situation

Although I can’t solve the problem here and now, I do believe that it’s important to raise questions and consider possible solutions. E-Verify is a good example of how technology is often ahead of our thinking and planning. Often when there’s a new technology released, it takes time to learn how to best use it.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices serving San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento California, at info@ranchodlaw.com or at 415-986-6186 if you have any questions regarding E-Verify or immigration law.

The USCIS is proposing a fee hike on the average of 10% for immigration benefit petitions and applications. They would not raise the fee for the application for naturalization, but other charges would go up. This is, of course, a big topic of discussion in my San Francisco office and amongst immigration lawyers.

USCIS Process

The USCIS is primarily funded by the fees it collects. In fact, a whopping 90% of its budget comes from the fees that people and organizations pay to the agency. Every two years, the USCIS is charged with reviewing its fees. This is part of a normal and formal process that designed to help keep the organization on track in terms of budget.

The Problem

The problem for the USCIS is that it has not met revenue projections for 2008 and 2009 and those for 2010 are also behind. There have been budget cuts of $160 million and the Congress has funded the USCIS. But this problem seems to be escalating and the agency does have to address it in some manner.

The Good News

As an immigration lawyer, I feel that the good news is that the USCIS is not proposing a hike in the naturalization application fee. There’s a very good reason for this. It has to do with the very nature of the naturalization process and it’s benefits.

To quote the agency, “The USCIS has determined that the act of requesting and obtaining U.S. citizenship deserves special consideration given the unique nature of this benefit to the individual applicant, the significant public benefit to the nation, and the nation’s proud tradition of welcoming new citizens.”

This statement is grounded on the very foundation of what has helped to make the US a powerful and influential country—its belief in the positive aspects of welcoming immigrants to the country as productive citizens.

What You Can Do

Here is the link to the proposal http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-13991.htm on which people are encouraged to comment. I was speaking with a colleague in my San Francisco office and it’s a simple fact that the deficit must be addressed, however, the USCIS previoiusly significantly increase their fees.

If you have any questions regarding these proposed changes or the immigration process, you may want to consult with an immigration lawyer. I will keep focused on this issiue and be writing about it again in the near future.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices serving San Francisco, San Jose, and Sacramento California, at info@ranchodlaw.com or at 415-986-6186 if you have any questions regarding the proposed USCIS fee hikes or immigration law.

This past week, there have been many developments that indicate that the move for immigration reform is being taken very seriously by proponents and that they are unhappy with what they perceive to be a lack of support from President Obama.

Various groups that support massive legislative changes in the immigration laws have severely criticized the President’s lack of support for rights related to immigrants and immigration.

An event held on March 21 in Washington, D.C. says a lot about just how serious some people are taking the fight to ensure that immigration reform happens sooner than later. A massive march called the March for America has been organized by the Center for Community Change and it is supported by five major groups and many more who are devoted to organizing people for that day.

There are other events, including Town Hall meetings with members of congress to be held about 10 days after the march and rallies in April in other parts of the country. Altough comprehensive immigration reform may not occur in 2010, this energy can eventually lead to reform.

The changing energies of the U.S. political arena are fluctuating daily. I can’t help but think that one way or another this will affect immigration lawyers as well as the law as we prepare to adjust to whatever changes will come from this movement. As this story develops, I’ll continue to monitor it and evaluate what it may mean to those not only in San Francisco but all individuals and corporations who are directly connected to immigration issues.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices in San Francisco, San Jose Bay Area and Sacramento California, if you have any questions regarding immigration reform or present immigration law. To schedule a consultation contact us at 415-986-6186 or at info@ranchodlaw.com.

President Obama was, overall, vaguely supportive and that type of support may now hurt him when it comes to healthcare legislation. It’s been reported by the Chicago Sun Times that Representative Luis Gutierrez (D- Ill.), who is from the President’s home state, has said that he will vote “no” on the Obama health reform proposal.

When asked by a reporter, the representative said, “Am I going to vote for the proposal as it is currently formulated? No.”

It signals exactly how serious certain lawmakers and immigration rights groups are about ensuring that a comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration laws happens this year. Gutierrez, who has been instrumental in creating an immigration reform bill, met with the President on Thursday as part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the issue.

The entire caucus may vote against Obama’s healthcare measure. But the “no” vote is not just linked to the perception that the President is not supporting immigration changes. It is also founded on the fact that the health reform bill will not allow undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance.

This issue reveals what I have come to understand over the past few years in my practice as an immigration lawyer in San Francisco—that the issue of immigration and immigration reform is interconnected to many different situations and issues that one might never consider. It is extremely complex.

It also shows that Democrats who are devoted to the reform of the immigration laws are willing to play hardball. There are then many other issues and causes that are coming into play that threaten both healthcare and immigration reform.

I am constantly working in my immigration law practice with clients who feel the real effect of a lack of immigration reform. This developing situation may determine just when we will see immigration reform and what form it will take.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices in San Francisco, San Jose Bay Area and Sacramento California, if you have any questions regarding immigration reform or present immigration law. To schedule a consultation contact us at 415-986-6186 or at info@ranchodlaw.com.

On March 11, 2010, the President met with Senators Graham and Schumer, who are both very involved in immigration reform. Together they have a bill in the works. The issues include securing the border and establishing a biometric Social Security card. The biometric card is a high tech form of I.D. that all U.S. citizens may eventually carry.

Two other issues that would greatly affect immigration lawyers and those with whom they are working would be the creation of a temporary worker program and a method for dealing with undocumented immigrants who are already in the country.

The President, it’s been reported, was friendly but also noted that he needed time to review all of the issues. The reform legislation is sweeping and the Senators are concerned that with health reform being hotly debated and various groups opposing some of the immigration reforms that the process will slow down or immigration reform will be completely knocked off course.

This immigration lawyer sees that important immigration reform could be delayed a year or more. Obama also met with immigration supporters and labor leaders and with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and religious leaders on these issues. There are many different forces at work that will determine how those in the San Francisco area and other parts of California are affected.

President Obama noted, “Today I met with Senators Schumer and Graham and was pleased to learn of their progress in forging a proposal to fix our broken immigration system.” He added, “I look forward to reviewing their promising framework, and every American should applaud their efforts to reach across party lines and find common sense answers to one of our most vexing problems.”

If reform does go through, it will have an impact on just about every area of American life and it will give those who want to come to this country and those already here but undocumented, some new positive alternatives. It will certainly have an affect on my immigration law practice in San Francisco. I’ll continue to diligently monitor and report on developments in immigration law reform in this blog.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices in San Francisco, San Jose Bay Area and Sacramento California, if you have any questions regarding immigration reform or present immigration law. We represent clients throughout the fifty states. To schedule a consultation contact us at 415-986-6186 or at info@ranchodlaw.com.

Immigration reform is a huge issue in this country—emotionally, economically, culturally, etc. A part of Obama’s platform when he was running for president was immigration reform. So when he spent next to no time on it in his State of the Union there was concern.

Recently, it was reported by the Scripps News Service that “Democrats are weighing the risks and rewards of bringing to the fore an issue that has so divided the country, as a heated fall election season quickly approaches.” Then the article posed a big question.

“Would it be better to go forward on a bill that is among the highest priorities of Hispanic voters in hopes of propelling an increasingly important constituency to the polls? Or would the backlash from opponents, particularly those on the conservative right, with their high-volume vitriol over illegal immigration, be too heavy an attack for Democratic candidates to sustain?”

Recently, a lot has been written about and broadcast through the media about the pros and cons of immigration reform. There has been a major movement in congress towards reform facilitated by representatives such as Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) and Mike Honda (D-CA) and attempts at a bipartisan solution such as that being forged by Senator Lindsey Graham (R- SC) and Senator Charles Schumer (D- NY).

As an immigration lawyer, I’m concerned for my clients and their families in a few ways. First, I’m focused on how changes in the law may affect individual situations. Will they help my clients in their quest to bring their families to this country?

If reform does occur, there will most likely be a flood of undocumented immigrants seeking to become documented and going through legal channels to have their spouses and children join them. How will that affect the system and what affect will it have on those I represent?

As the reform debate continues, I’ll be featuring reports connected to the ongoing process, monitoring how it may affect those in the San Francisco Bay area, my working relationship with clients as an immigration attorney and the immigration system.

Please contact the Ranchod Law Group with offices in San Francisco, Santa Clara Bay Area and Sacramento California, if you have any questions regarding immigration and various aspects of the law. To schedule a consultation contact us at 415-986-6186 or at info@ranchodlaw.com.