Prashant
09-10 12:04 PM
Thanks bud!, it changed me from red to green :)
Let me give you a green buddy and see if it changes something for you.
Folks please call it all counts.
.................................................. .
$470 + made calls to all congressmen/women on the HR5882 list.
Go IV Go.....
Let me give you a green buddy and see if it changes something for you.
Folks please call it all counts.
.................................................. .
$470 + made calls to all congressmen/women on the HR5882 list.
Go IV Go.....
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l1fraud
06-14 12:07 AM
I understand your point. But this is exactly what anti-immigrants complain about H1Bs. ( depressing wages, outsourcing etc)
It is interesting that we are using anti-immigrant's arguments to pin L1s.
Thats NOT the key here ... its about violating current laws and regulations, do what ever you want offshore/outsource/onshore ...what ever, violating the rules and act of fraud is NOT ACCEPTABLE in any circumstances and we are pretty sure that ICE/USCIS and other agencies would have the same view.
It is interesting that we are using anti-immigrant's arguments to pin L1s.
Thats NOT the key here ... its about violating current laws and regulations, do what ever you want offshore/outsource/onshore ...what ever, violating the rules and act of fraud is NOT ACCEPTABLE in any circumstances and we are pretty sure that ICE/USCIS and other agencies would have the same view.
badluck
05-17 11:01 AM
who gets the EAD/AP attorney or applicant at his home address. Please tell me if anybody knows
Thanks
Thanks
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camarasa
07-10 01:19 AM
Don't know if anyone noticed but Mr. Emilio's statement nowhere indicates any acknowledgement of the hardships caused by the fiasco. If he (and USCIS) knows about "flowers", I am sure USCIS knows about the scramble, hardships and frustration caused by the fiasco. A simple acknowledgement through something like " ....while we regret unintended consequences of following our internal procedures, we have made arrangements to forward the flowers to ..." would have demonstrated leadership or honesty of intent which I guess is in short supply
I think he is trying to say if anybody needs flowers its our men in uniform and not us (USCIS). I hope I am wrong but thats my perspective. Have sent the flowers anyway ;)
Two things quickly...
1) He was probably advised by their lawyers not to mention anything about the visa bulletin for legal reasons.
2) I didn't realize this until this evening when I mentioned the whole flower thing to my wife and she reminded me that government officials and agencies aren't meant to accept gifts from anyone. I believe this may have been considered a gift, or at least a grey area and perhaps they believed that discretion was the better part of valor.
I work for a government department, not as a State employee but as a vendor, and they aren�t allowed to accept anything from us that may be construed as a gift. Even when we have our annual golf days, ours are paid for by the vendor company but the State is forced to pay for themselves.
I think he is trying to say if anybody needs flowers its our men in uniform and not us (USCIS). I hope I am wrong but thats my perspective. Have sent the flowers anyway ;)
Two things quickly...
1) He was probably advised by their lawyers not to mention anything about the visa bulletin for legal reasons.
2) I didn't realize this until this evening when I mentioned the whole flower thing to my wife and she reminded me that government officials and agencies aren't meant to accept gifts from anyone. I believe this may have been considered a gift, or at least a grey area and perhaps they believed that discretion was the better part of valor.
I work for a government department, not as a State employee but as a vendor, and they aren�t allowed to accept anything from us that may be construed as a gift. Even when we have our annual golf days, ours are paid for by the vendor company but the State is forced to pay for themselves.
more...
immi2006
07-09 10:11 PM
This they cannot send there.... they have to take this :D
sroyc
08-07 11:23 AM
As I've mentioned in Rolling_Flood's thread, this issue has some merit and needs to be discussed. My personal take on this is that if you were eligible for an EB2 position at the time of filing the EB3 petition, you should be allowed to interfile.
I'm probably not going to participate in the lawsuit because I don't want to divide an already weakened community. Neither will I try to stop it because I think it raises some valid questions.
I personally think that IV needs to make some changes and the first step would be to stop quoting figures like "we have 25K members" when the reality is that hardly 200 people participate in the call campaigns and it was due to random strangers that we were able to collect 5000 signatures for the administrative fixes. Most people come to IV to get some easy answers or to pass time by playing some games like the visa bulletin predictions game or the identify the TSC approval pattern game, etc. Only the core is working relentlessly for us besides a handful of volunteers. I think that there are enough agony aunts for immigration issues and IV should be exclusively for immigration related lobbying and legislation. It's the only way we can get rid of the 25K - 200 people who do nothing and then focus on the real issues.
I'm probably not going to participate in the lawsuit because I don't want to divide an already weakened community. Neither will I try to stop it because I think it raises some valid questions.
I personally think that IV needs to make some changes and the first step would be to stop quoting figures like "we have 25K members" when the reality is that hardly 200 people participate in the call campaigns and it was due to random strangers that we were able to collect 5000 signatures for the administrative fixes. Most people come to IV to get some easy answers or to pass time by playing some games like the visa bulletin predictions game or the identify the TSC approval pattern game, etc. Only the core is working relentlessly for us besides a handful of volunteers. I think that there are enough agony aunts for immigration issues and IV should be exclusively for immigration related lobbying and legislation. It's the only way we can get rid of the 25K - 200 people who do nothing and then focus on the real issues.
more...
SunnySurya
08-29 01:47 PM
Note:
This Lawsuit Idea is on hold for the following reasons:
a) Not enough interest in the affected parties
b) Cost of the litigation would be upwards of around 30K
c) The counsel has recommended to hold discussions with USCIS official first and give them sufficient time to respond to our concerns.
But we are following up on other avenues.
This Lawsuit Idea is on hold for the following reasons:
a) Not enough interest in the affected parties
b) Cost of the litigation would be upwards of around 30K
c) The counsel has recommended to hold discussions with USCIS official first and give them sufficient time to respond to our concerns.
But we are following up on other avenues.
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dilber
09-09 05:15 PM
In the process of calling all of them. Gone through a few already. Come on people it is really easy and effective.
more...
nk2006
10-29 02:45 PM
Hope I won't be a victim when I intend to use AC21 !
Thank you for sending the letters. This issue has potential to affect many - unless its fixed.
Thank you for sending the letters. This issue has potential to affect many - unless its fixed.
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WaldenPond
02-22 08:16 PM
JUDICIARY
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
CongressDailyPM
Specter And Frist Eyeing Each Other's Immigration Efforts
Signaling that the immigration issue faces a tough fight, the Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to produce a wide-ranging bill, while Senate leaders are poised to write their own legislation. A senior GOP leadership aide said Majority Leader Frist is operating on "two tracks" on immigration, waiting to see what the Judiciary panel produces "while being ready to act in lieu thereof to meet member interest of action on this bill."Judiciary Chairman Specter sounded confident that his panel would produce a bill that would wind up on the Senate floor. "The idea of having a leadership bill ... has been abandoned," he said last week. His panel will begin marking up immigration legislation March 2. A chairman's mark expected to be introduced this week will resemble the mark Specter circulated last year, which borrows components from various immigration proposals. It included the border security provisions in the plan introduced by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., as well as the guestworker plan introduced by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Specter has characterized the mark as a "starting point" for debate.
Frist has told colleagues he wants to begin floor debate in late March, likely March 27. Senate aides said whether the bill will be written by the committee or leadership depends on how the Judiciary Committee markup goes. "If the committee keeps the bill solid, and if it gets it done on time, Frist won't need to introduce anything," one GOP aide said.
Frist, while touring immigration detention centers Tuesday in Long Beach and Los Angeles, said he opposes giving illegal workers amnesty, but said it was too soon for him to take a position on a guestworker program, which is likely to be the most contentious component of an immigration bill and has divided Republicans. The House passed legislation last year toughening border security and requiring companies to verify the legal status of their employees. Unlike the House bill, the Senate bill is widely expected to include some version of a guestworker program. The program included in the Kennedy-McCain bill would allow illegal workers to join a temporary guestworker program, after which they could be eligible for permanent citizenship if they meet criteria and pay a fine. Under the Cornyn-Kyl plan, guestworkers ultimately would have to return to their home countries.-- by Emily Heil
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
CongressDailyPM
Specter And Frist Eyeing Each Other's Immigration Efforts
Signaling that the immigration issue faces a tough fight, the Senate Judiciary Committee is planning to produce a wide-ranging bill, while Senate leaders are poised to write their own legislation. A senior GOP leadership aide said Majority Leader Frist is operating on "two tracks" on immigration, waiting to see what the Judiciary panel produces "while being ready to act in lieu thereof to meet member interest of action on this bill."Judiciary Chairman Specter sounded confident that his panel would produce a bill that would wind up on the Senate floor. "The idea of having a leadership bill ... has been abandoned," he said last week. His panel will begin marking up immigration legislation March 2. A chairman's mark expected to be introduced this week will resemble the mark Specter circulated last year, which borrows components from various immigration proposals. It included the border security provisions in the plan introduced by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., as well as the guestworker plan introduced by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
Specter has characterized the mark as a "starting point" for debate.
Frist has told colleagues he wants to begin floor debate in late March, likely March 27. Senate aides said whether the bill will be written by the committee or leadership depends on how the Judiciary Committee markup goes. "If the committee keeps the bill solid, and if it gets it done on time, Frist won't need to introduce anything," one GOP aide said.
Frist, while touring immigration detention centers Tuesday in Long Beach and Los Angeles, said he opposes giving illegal workers amnesty, but said it was too soon for him to take a position on a guestworker program, which is likely to be the most contentious component of an immigration bill and has divided Republicans. The House passed legislation last year toughening border security and requiring companies to verify the legal status of their employees. Unlike the House bill, the Senate bill is widely expected to include some version of a guestworker program. The program included in the Kennedy-McCain bill would allow illegal workers to join a temporary guestworker program, after which they could be eligible for permanent citizenship if they meet criteria and pay a fine. Under the Cornyn-Kyl plan, guestworkers ultimately would have to return to their home countries.-- by Emily Heil
more...
nosightofgc
01-08 07:58 AM
Let's do it.
Bump.
Bump.
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desi3933
08-11 09:57 AM
....
I am not worried about the three companies I know of , I am worried about other 3000 companies that I don't know of.
I also believe, it is not the companies that are evil. It is the system that provides the incentive. And I am trying to take away that incentive.
Any update on lawsuit, SunnySurya?
Also, would you mind sharing your PD with us? This has been asked by couple other folks as well.
Thanks and Good Luck.
I am not worried about the three companies I know of , I am worried about other 3000 companies that I don't know of.
I also believe, it is not the companies that are evil. It is the system that provides the incentive. And I am trying to take away that incentive.
Any update on lawsuit, SunnySurya?
Also, would you mind sharing your PD with us? This has been asked by couple other folks as well.
Thanks and Good Luck.
more...
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abuddyz
01-03 09:33 AM
hi NSABAVALA and KAMDARD,
thank you for posting your information.. I am also planning to schedule appointment in february but looking at this I also feel it might be better to come back on Advance parole...
please post more details when you receive some information from US consulate.. I will really appreciate it..
did they keep your possport with them? If yes, you can't even come back on Advance parole?
whether you had submitted your documents before 3 to 4 days of interview date to VFS center?
.. thanks a lot in advance..
thank you for posting your information.. I am also planning to schedule appointment in february but looking at this I also feel it might be better to come back on Advance parole...
please post more details when you receive some information from US consulate.. I will really appreciate it..
did they keep your possport with them? If yes, you can't even come back on Advance parole?
whether you had submitted your documents before 3 to 4 days of interview date to VFS center?
.. thanks a lot in advance..
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nkavjs
09-25 12:35 PM
ok. did your attorney mark a copy of your I-485 application along with I-131 applications. They shd have Alien numbers on it.
Holdon. I am checking my copies to share details.
BRB
Holdon. I am checking my copies to share details.
BRB
more...
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VMH_GC
07-10 08:05 PM
are you kidding? are you kidding? CNN become anti immigrant channel. ask mr.LOU DOBBS
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hearthorbeguy
01-16 10:23 PM
Can some one please clarify what this case number is. Do we get the case number when we apply for visa, or this is just the approval notice number.
I am going for my interview on 23rd January to Mumbai. I was just trying to find out whether I can call KCC before leaving US to find out if my approval notice is in the PIMS system or not.
Did you call KCC to check if your approval is in PIMS system?
I am going for my interview on 23rd January to Mumbai. I was just trying to find out whether I can call KCC before leaving US to find out if my approval notice is in the PIMS system or not.
Did you call KCC to check if your approval is in PIMS system?
more...
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malaGCPahije
08-08 09:38 AM
You can't move to EB2 if both employer and position remain the same. I was promoted after working with them for 3 years!:rolleyes: Plus I have a Masters in Computer Science. My new position required more experience and a Master's Degree, hence qualified for an EB2.
Similarly, you can change employers and look for a better job. Then you can use the experience gained at the previous employer. But, ALWAYS, the job requirement has to state the need for years of experience or Advanced degree.
This helps answer my question. I am a little unclear about promotions and whether that will qualify one for a new labor, etc. I personally am not planning to change anything at the moment. My promotion, etc is not being stalled because of my status. So I am OK. Thanks again for your answer.
Similarly, you can change employers and look for a better job. Then you can use the experience gained at the previous employer. But, ALWAYS, the job requirement has to state the need for years of experience or Advanced degree.
This helps answer my question. I am a little unclear about promotions and whether that will qualify one for a new labor, etc. I personally am not planning to change anything at the moment. My promotion, etc is not being stalled because of my status. So I am OK. Thanks again for your answer.
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usertt123
02-28 02:58 PM
I agree calabor well said ;), but realy its frustrating when you have a family to look after and a house. The worst thing is no one is accountable for this mess. Specialy when you have been in US for such a long time.
Veeru123, so in your case did you call DOS and then things worked out or consulate themselves send you the email/passport on 25th. Let me also know is it an automated response system at DOS or we have to speak to someone and give our EAC# as case reference. Your advice would be of great help.
Veeru123, so in your case did you call DOS and then things worked out or consulate themselves send you the email/passport on 25th. Let me also know is it an automated response system at DOS or we have to speak to someone and give our EAC# as case reference. Your advice would be of great help.
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Lisap
10-03 04:11 PM
i dont think the country makes a big difference, i have two friends stuck in name check (one was born in canada with an english first and last name). i think its the combination of the name, DOB and a crappy system
Thank you for your response. I filed on July 2nd. Spoke to uscis imm officer this week and they said my criminal check cleared but my name check was still pending.... Just a waiting game I guess
Thank you for your response. I filed on July 2nd. Spoke to uscis imm officer this week and they said my criminal check cleared but my name check was still pending.... Just a waiting game I guess
eb3_nepa
06-29 08:29 PM
I dont understand why DOS/DHS/USCIS will not do anything RIGHT NOW and wait till July 2nd or 3rd??
H1B-GC
02-02 04:03 PM
eb_retrogression,
Can you post the article here? I'm not able to get to it.
Admin,
Here you go ::p
President Takes Dual Tack on Immigration
White House Seeks Tougher Enforcement,
While Pushing Idea of Guest-Worker Program
By JUNE KRONHOLZ
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
February 2, 2006; Page A8
WASHINGTON -- President bush drew big applause during his State of the Union address with a renewed call for "a rational, humane guest-worker program" to keep the economy humming.
But that appeal came only after Mr. Bush issued a much sterner one first -- for tougher enforcement of immigration laws, more vigilance on the border and an immigration policy that "reflects our values."
The message Mr. Bush delivered to lawmakers is the same one an increasingly vocal anti-immigration chorus is sending to him: First get tough; then we'll talk.
Mr. Bush was cheered by an unlikely alliance of pro-business Republicans, Democrats, unions and immigrant groups when he called for a guest-worker program in his State of the Union address two years ago. But the idea has hit a wall of opposition from the party's cultural conservatives and security hawks who first want to stop the flood of illegal immigrants into the U.S. (See related article.)
In December, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would, among other things, extend a short wall on the border with Mexico to 700 miles. The Senate, which had planned to overhaul immigration laws when it takes up its own bill in a few weeks, now also is under pressure from some Republicans to toughen border controls first.
As immigration soars to an all-time high, that get-tough argument is gaining political steam. With the 2006 elections still 10 months away, a half-dozen candidates are running for national office on pledges to stop illegal immigration. Bills on the issue, many denying benefits to illegal immigrants, have been introduced in 31 state legislatures.
STATE OF THE UNION REVIEW
• Can President's Plan Keep America Competitive?
• Bush's Energy Plan Faces Hurdles
• Industry Cheers Cleaner-Coal Push
• Full Text: Read the complete prepared text of the address.
• Question of the Day: Which topic should the Bush administration make its top priority this year?
And polls show mounting voter unease about immigration: A December 2005 Wall Street Journal-NBC poll found that 57% of those questioned think the U.S. is "too open to immigrants."
"It's astonishing how much this has become an issue across the country," says Brian Bilbray, a San Diego Republican who hopes to return to the U.S. House of Representatives this year after spending the past six years as a lobbyist for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which wants to restrict immigration.
But for all the emotion immigration is stirring up, political operatives in both parties warn that it isn't an issue that rallies voters. "Will this impact your electoral ambitions?" asks Ryan Ellis of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, who has studied the role immigration played in recent elections. "All history has indicated 'no,' whether you're in Arizona or Maine," he answers.
It didn't prove a successful strategy for the Virginia governor's race in November. Republican Jerry Kilgore seized late in the campaign on the issue of taxpayer-funded job centers for illegal immigrants, and in a stinging television ad asked of his Democratic opponent, "What part of illegal does Tim Kaine not understand?" Although immigration was only one issue in the campaign, Mr. Kaine won with 52% of the vote.
Likewise, in December, in a special House election in California's Orange County -- where illegal immigration is a flashpoint -- Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, a volunteer border-patrol group, won just 25% of the vote.
Mr. Ellis of Americans for Tax Reform also points to seven 2004 Republican primaries where immigration-restriction candidates never won more than 46% of the vote. Among those beating back challenges: Arizona Congressmen James Kolbe and Jeff Flake, who are sponsors of a House bill that would let illegal immigrants earn legal residency in the U.S.
Candidates who want to restrict immigration seem not to fare well because very few people worry enough about immigration to vote on it -- even though many of them tell pollsters they're worried. In the Wall Street Journal-NBC poll, 78% of those questioned favored "tightening" the border with Mexico -- but only 7% said illegal immigration was their biggest national concern.
Immigration is "a loud debate that produces few voters," says Frank Sharry, director of the National Immigration Forum, a Washington immigrants-rights group.
But that doesn't mean immigration won't be talked about this campaign season. Most prominently among 2006 candidates, Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, is toying with a symbolic run for the White House. Among other things, Mr. Tancredo wants to deport the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the U.S. and deny citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.
Immigration restrictionists also have announced runs for governor in Colorado, for the U.S. Senate from California and for a smattering of House seats. San Diego's Mr. Bilbray is running in an April primary to succeed former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham while also pursuing a class-action lawsuit that would prevent California public colleges from offering in-state tuition to illegal aliens.
Some state legislatures are considering extending in-state tuition, health benefits and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, even while others want to ban such benefits. In Ohio, a statehouse Republican has said he is considering an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to exclude illegal immigrants from the census counts that are used to apportion Congressional seats.
Bills in New Hampshire and North Carolina would require local policemen to enforce federal immigration laws, and one in Virginia would require proof of legal residency to obtain a marriage license.
With Republicans largely leading the anti-immigration charge, the issue is causing heartburn for the national party, which was hoping that its generally pro-immigration stand would help it pick up Hispanic voters. Twelve years ago, California's Republican Gov. Pete Wilson won re-election in part by campaigning for a ballot measure that would deny benefits to illegal aliens -- a rare instance where an anti-immigration stand won the day.
But a decade passed before Republicans won the governor's office again, and they still haven't won back Hispanic voters. "It was a metaphor for short-term gain, long-term loss," says the National Immigration Forum's Mr. Sharry.
Republican pollster Ed Goeas says he urges his clients to talk about solutions to illegal immigration instead of focusing on emotion-charged issues like immigrant job centers if they want to win. His firm, the Tarrance Group, does polling for several immigration-restriction candidates, including Mr. Tancredo, he says.
But in anticipation of the 2006 elections, he's also running voter focus groups to help candidates handle such volatile issues as amnesty for illegal immigrants and whether to allow guest workers to eventually stay in the U.S. After voters let off steam, he says, focus groups show that immigration "becomes a very reasoned conversation very quickly."
Write to June Kronholz at june.kronholz@wsj.com
Source : Wall Street Journal : 02/01/2006
Can you post the article here? I'm not able to get to it.
Admin,
Here you go ::p
President Takes Dual Tack on Immigration
White House Seeks Tougher Enforcement,
While Pushing Idea of Guest-Worker Program
By JUNE KRONHOLZ
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
February 2, 2006; Page A8
WASHINGTON -- President bush drew big applause during his State of the Union address with a renewed call for "a rational, humane guest-worker program" to keep the economy humming.
But that appeal came only after Mr. Bush issued a much sterner one first -- for tougher enforcement of immigration laws, more vigilance on the border and an immigration policy that "reflects our values."
The message Mr. Bush delivered to lawmakers is the same one an increasingly vocal anti-immigration chorus is sending to him: First get tough; then we'll talk.
Mr. Bush was cheered by an unlikely alliance of pro-business Republicans, Democrats, unions and immigrant groups when he called for a guest-worker program in his State of the Union address two years ago. But the idea has hit a wall of opposition from the party's cultural conservatives and security hawks who first want to stop the flood of illegal immigrants into the U.S. (See related article.)
In December, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would, among other things, extend a short wall on the border with Mexico to 700 miles. The Senate, which had planned to overhaul immigration laws when it takes up its own bill in a few weeks, now also is under pressure from some Republicans to toughen border controls first.
As immigration soars to an all-time high, that get-tough argument is gaining political steam. With the 2006 elections still 10 months away, a half-dozen candidates are running for national office on pledges to stop illegal immigration. Bills on the issue, many denying benefits to illegal immigrants, have been introduced in 31 state legislatures.
STATE OF THE UNION REVIEW
• Can President's Plan Keep America Competitive?
• Bush's Energy Plan Faces Hurdles
• Industry Cheers Cleaner-Coal Push
• Full Text: Read the complete prepared text of the address.
• Question of the Day: Which topic should the Bush administration make its top priority this year?
And polls show mounting voter unease about immigration: A December 2005 Wall Street Journal-NBC poll found that 57% of those questioned think the U.S. is "too open to immigrants."
"It's astonishing how much this has become an issue across the country," says Brian Bilbray, a San Diego Republican who hopes to return to the U.S. House of Representatives this year after spending the past six years as a lobbyist for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which wants to restrict immigration.
But for all the emotion immigration is stirring up, political operatives in both parties warn that it isn't an issue that rallies voters. "Will this impact your electoral ambitions?" asks Ryan Ellis of the conservative group Americans for Tax Reform, who has studied the role immigration played in recent elections. "All history has indicated 'no,' whether you're in Arizona or Maine," he answers.
It didn't prove a successful strategy for the Virginia governor's race in November. Republican Jerry Kilgore seized late in the campaign on the issue of taxpayer-funded job centers for illegal immigrants, and in a stinging television ad asked of his Democratic opponent, "What part of illegal does Tim Kaine not understand?" Although immigration was only one issue in the campaign, Mr. Kaine won with 52% of the vote.
Likewise, in December, in a special House election in California's Orange County -- where illegal immigration is a flashpoint -- Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, a volunteer border-patrol group, won just 25% of the vote.
Mr. Ellis of Americans for Tax Reform also points to seven 2004 Republican primaries where immigration-restriction candidates never won more than 46% of the vote. Among those beating back challenges: Arizona Congressmen James Kolbe and Jeff Flake, who are sponsors of a House bill that would let illegal immigrants earn legal residency in the U.S.
Candidates who want to restrict immigration seem not to fare well because very few people worry enough about immigration to vote on it -- even though many of them tell pollsters they're worried. In the Wall Street Journal-NBC poll, 78% of those questioned favored "tightening" the border with Mexico -- but only 7% said illegal immigration was their biggest national concern.
Immigration is "a loud debate that produces few voters," says Frank Sharry, director of the National Immigration Forum, a Washington immigrants-rights group.
But that doesn't mean immigration won't be talked about this campaign season. Most prominently among 2006 candidates, Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, is toying with a symbolic run for the White House. Among other things, Mr. Tancredo wants to deport the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the U.S. and deny citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.
Immigration restrictionists also have announced runs for governor in Colorado, for the U.S. Senate from California and for a smattering of House seats. San Diego's Mr. Bilbray is running in an April primary to succeed former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham while also pursuing a class-action lawsuit that would prevent California public colleges from offering in-state tuition to illegal aliens.
Some state legislatures are considering extending in-state tuition, health benefits and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants, even while others want to ban such benefits. In Ohio, a statehouse Republican has said he is considering an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to exclude illegal immigrants from the census counts that are used to apportion Congressional seats.
Bills in New Hampshire and North Carolina would require local policemen to enforce federal immigration laws, and one in Virginia would require proof of legal residency to obtain a marriage license.
With Republicans largely leading the anti-immigration charge, the issue is causing heartburn for the national party, which was hoping that its generally pro-immigration stand would help it pick up Hispanic voters. Twelve years ago, California's Republican Gov. Pete Wilson won re-election in part by campaigning for a ballot measure that would deny benefits to illegal aliens -- a rare instance where an anti-immigration stand won the day.
But a decade passed before Republicans won the governor's office again, and they still haven't won back Hispanic voters. "It was a metaphor for short-term gain, long-term loss," says the National Immigration Forum's Mr. Sharry.
Republican pollster Ed Goeas says he urges his clients to talk about solutions to illegal immigration instead of focusing on emotion-charged issues like immigrant job centers if they want to win. His firm, the Tarrance Group, does polling for several immigration-restriction candidates, including Mr. Tancredo, he says.
But in anticipation of the 2006 elections, he's also running voter focus groups to help candidates handle such volatile issues as amnesty for illegal immigrants and whether to allow guest workers to eventually stay in the U.S. After voters let off steam, he says, focus groups show that immigration "becomes a very reasoned conversation very quickly."
Write to June Kronholz at june.kronholz@wsj.com
Source : Wall Street Journal : 02/01/2006
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