Archive for 2008

Los Angeles praise retracted

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

A few months ago I posted an observation about the USCIS  inquiry process in Los Angeles as compared to San Diego. San Diego had had a marvelous attorney inquiry system where problems were brought to the attention of USCIS officers and then solved. San Diego did away with this service. At the same time Los Angeles initiated one.  I inquired about a case in Los Angeles and got very quick and positive feedback. Since that posting, Los Angeles did away…

A not so generous welcome to the United States.

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

In several postings I have mentioned that when an asylum seeker approaches a U.S. Port of Entry, the alien is detained. [See my September 1, 2008, posting.] ICE’s recent policy, in the vast majority of cases, is to keep the alien detained until his case is resolved — which takes a minimum of four to six months, but can last years. What I have never discussed is what happens when the case is resolved; when the alien is granted asylum….

What if she was a foreigner?

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Cindy McCain Numerous newspaper and magazine articles have written that Cindy McCain, second and current wife of Senator John McCain, entered a federal first offender drug diversion program in 1993 or 1994 after becoming a addicted to pain killers she obtained illegally through a charity she ran. According to these reports, the program required community service, drug treatment and reimbursement to the Drug Enforcement Agency for investigative costs. There is a Federal First Offenders Act [FFOA], found at 18 U.S.C….

The Ninth Circuit changes course regarding Visa Waivers and adjustments

Saturday, September 20th, 2008

The Courts of Appeal makes some bad decisions, some very bad decisions, and then it makes decisions like Momeni v. Chertoff [1], so devoid of analysis and so contrary to existing precedent and immigration laws, that it is unfathomable how a three-judge panel would do it. Sadly, despite the case’s being plainly contrary to existing precedent and so deeply flawed in several respects, a petition for rehearing and suggestion for rehearing en banc was denied. The decision leaves the vast…