Arizona Against Immigration
A controversial Arizona law has caused grave concern to immigrants
Dr. Uttam Kumar Das writes from Minneapolis, USA
The US immigration system has been an area of interest during my program here. I am taking a full-course on Immigration Law as part of my LLM (Master of Law) program this Spring Semester 2010.
The topic has dominated much of the discussions starting from the academic debates to professional conferences. Much has been in debate following the filing of an Immigration Reform Bill in the US Congress last December. However, when this law is going to be passed or implemented, no one could say.
In another development, a new legislation adopted in the southern border state of Arizona has sparked new debates.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed an immigration bill into law for the state on April 23. This is considered as the “toughest law against the illegal immigrant.”
Legal and judicial questions have also emerged whether a state could adopt such a law overruling the federal position with regard to immigration.
Though immigration is a federal matter, Arizona has challenged that principle. The Department of Justice is reportedly to challenge the legality and validity of the Arizona law.
The much debated law will take effect on July 29 unless its implementation is blocked by any legal or judicial intervention, i.e., court injunctions etc. So far, there have been three pending legal challenges already filed by a Hispanic clergy group, a police officer and another individual.
The law is likely to make it a crime if an immigrant doesn’t carry his or her immigration documents with them apparently at all times.
It also empowers the police to detain anyone who are “suspected of being in this country illegally.” The law’s reported aim is to “identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants.”
It has provisions that in enforcing law, police might question anyone about his or her “immigration status” if there is "reasonable suspicion." However, there is no definition in the law what this “reasonable suspicion” means. The Arizona law also makes it a state crime to be in the US illegally.
The critics of the law comment that the law will result in “racial profiling of Hispanics.” Some are opposing the new law because it seems to encourage “racial profiling” which is prohibited by numerous existing laws in the country.
The New York Times/CBS poll finds that only 0.51% of the public opinion is in favor of this new immigration law. Opposition is overwhelming.
On May 5, Mayor of Boston Thomas M. Menino and Boston City Council asked the residents of Boston to protest against Arizona’s new immigration law by “cutting ties with companies based in Arizona that agree with the new law,” according to Boston-based Irish Immigrant Newspaper. Mayor Menino whose grandfather was an immigrant comments that Arizona has opted for isolation adopting such as law.
This has a cost as well. Phoenix, a major city in Arizona has already reports loss of $90 million due to “immigration law boycott,” as the New York Daily News reports on May 11. Professional and other organizations are shifting their scheduled events out of Arizona.
However, there are other moves as well: at least 10 States are reportedly looking to copy Arizona’s law. Those States include Utah, Oklahoma, Colorado, Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas and Maryland, according to the Huffington Post.
According to Minneapolis-based Senior Immigration Attorney Scott M. Borene who has been advocating for the reform process, it (immigration reform) is in the top three priorities of President Obama administration. The Attorney acknowledges that U.S. economy is benefited both from the legal and illegal immigrants. “We need immigrants to meet up the deficit in the workforce,” says Attorney Borene at a presentation at the Minnesota State Bar Association on April 19.
The reform aims to pave the way for legalization of an estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants among others.
However, President Obama administration is now likely stuck with other priorities. After the battle over the health care reform bill, the administration has likely been busy with Afghan war, “home-grown terrorism” issue and at the latest fire in the oil reserve in the Mexico Gulf.
That is why observers see that it is very unlikely to pass the federal immigration reform by this year.
However, professional bodies like the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) have come up with bunch of recommendations. According to a release of AILA, it “…believes any effective, long-term solution to the immigration problem must: 1) require the undocumented population to come out of the shadows and earn legal status; 2) ensure that American businesses are able to hire the workers they need to help grow our economy while protecting U.S. workers from unfair competition; 3) reduce the unreasonable and counterproductive backlogs in family-based and employment-based immigration by reforming the permanent immigration system; and 4) protect our national security and the rule of law while preserving and restoring fundamental principles of due process and equal protection.”
I find no other recommendation but to support AILA’s ones to cover the issue as a whole. It is true that without a specific plan of action by President Obama and the Congress (especially support of the members from the opposition Republic) this new immigration reform bill may also embrace the reality of “no vote” like previous ones as happened in 2008 and 2009. And that is the fear of the related professionals and observers.
Dr. Uttam Kumar Das is a Bangladeshi human rights lawyer currently affiliated with the Human Rights Center and Law School at the University of Minnesota, U.S.A. as a Humphrey Fellow. E-mail: udas1971@gmail.com.
*Originally appeared in the PROBE News Magazine (Dhaka, Bangladesh), May 21-27, 2010; link: http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=6043.
Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Immigration. Show all posts
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
US to take 20,000 students each year
US to take 20,000 students each year*
This is good news, but the concerned authorities need to keep a watch against dubious consultants who may be out to make a quick buck at the expense of the aspiring students
Dr. Uttam Kumar Das writes from Minneapolis, USA
I wrote a column in the PROBE News Magazine in November last year exploring prospects of huge number of people’s immigration to the United States from Bangladesh. For its own national and economic needs and interests, the US needs migrant workers and immigrant population. At the same time, it will also look into whom to take in and whom not to, given its related laws and public policies, public opinions, security and other concerns.
Though immigration is normally a federal matter, there may be differences in terms of policy and public opinion from one state to another. Therefore, to succeed in supplying both migrant workers and immigrant populations, the sending countries need to strategize its steps to meet the demand.
In this backdrop, the visiting US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Policy Ms. Judith A McHale announced in Dhaka recently that her country would take 20,000 students each year from Bangladesh for higher studies. This is indeed good news for Bangladesh and for students who are looking for an opportunity for a standard overseas degree and professional development.
However, a mere announcement is not enough. It is important for the government of Bangladesh to monitor and ensure that the announced number of students are getting the opportunity each year, and negotiate to expand opportunities for scholarships and other financial support form the US government and other sources so that the meritorious students from comparatively non-solvent families could avail this chance. Also, there is a need to press for expanding the number in the years to come, given the requirements of our young generation.
At the same time, another issue comes to forefront -- to standardize the education (i.e. at a school, college and university level) as well as language skills so that our students could compete with their counterparts from other nations. No malpractice should mar this opportunity.
Studentship is one of the prospective ways to enter the US, which may give rise to future opportunities for an individual to adjust his status into a Legally Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or naturalization and get citizenship in the US, given the skill and interest of the individuals and necessity of the host country and government.
That does not mean that those who will be going for higher studies would settle in the US in future. The government of Bangladesh has to create an environment and infrastructure so that the students come back to home, armed with their new degrees, knowledge and expertise and can use those for the development and benefit of the country. This is what India and China have now started to implement.
US academic institutions have a sound reputation for standard and quality education. There are exceptions, of course, and students have to be careful about that. There is ample opportunity for foreign and international students for higher studies and research scholarships and funding, apart from self-funding ones.
Higher education is also a significant source of revenue for the US exchequer. During the 2008-2009 academic year the country earned about US$ 18 billion from the foreign and international students’ tuition and other fees.
The Washington DC-based Institute of International Education (IIE) projected that during 2008-2009 session, 671,000 international students came to the US. India tops the list with 103,000 students while China sent 98,500.
The area of higher studies and research is wide; curriculums are modern and practical, and renowned institutes have globally acclaimed academics and researchers.
Given my present affiliation, the University Of Minnesota Law School offers diverse ranges of specializations in different branches of law like business and trade, labor and employment, family matters, immigration, and human rights. At the same time, there is opportunity for dual degrees in public policy, business management, media, and health and ethics alongside a law degree.
It is encouraging to hear that the US is going to take a huge number of students for higher studies from Bangladesh yearly. At the same time, it is a matter of concern as well.
Considering the reality in Bangladesh, there may be a mushrooming of so-called advisory and consulting companies. They may give attractive advertisements on TV and in the newspapers.
Given my experiences, working in the migration area and coming to the US with a Fulbright Scholarship, I could say that those so-called consultants do nothing but fill their own pockets with money from aspiring students and their guardians. Therefore, the prospective students and their guardians need to be cautious about any malpractice. They should inquire about an institution through internet or the public affairs section of the US Embassy in Dhaka and contact accordingly.
The respective agencies of the Bangladesh government, the US Embassy, and the American Center in Dhaka need to take special measures to prevent any malpractice. Alongside the websites, national, regional and local newspapers would be effective instruments to disseminate related information. Also, notice boards at academic institutes and government offices at district and divisional levels could be used for disseminating information.
If needed the respective laws and policies need to be amended and their effective implementation would enable the Bangladesh government to prevent and prosecute any emerging malpractice with regard to students’ immigration to the US.
Dr. Uttam Kumar Das is an Advocate in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, presently affiliated as a Humphrey Fellow (Fulbright Scholar) with the Human Rights Center and Law School at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He is a specialist in Human Rights. E-mail: udas1971@yahoo.com, udas1971@yahoo.com
*Originally appeared in PROBE News Magazine (Dhaka, Bangladesh), Feb 19-Mar 4, 2010; link: http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=5844
This is good news, but the concerned authorities need to keep a watch against dubious consultants who may be out to make a quick buck at the expense of the aspiring students
Dr. Uttam Kumar Das writes from Minneapolis, USA
I wrote a column in the PROBE News Magazine in November last year exploring prospects of huge number of people’s immigration to the United States from Bangladesh. For its own national and economic needs and interests, the US needs migrant workers and immigrant population. At the same time, it will also look into whom to take in and whom not to, given its related laws and public policies, public opinions, security and other concerns.
Though immigration is normally a federal matter, there may be differences in terms of policy and public opinion from one state to another. Therefore, to succeed in supplying both migrant workers and immigrant populations, the sending countries need to strategize its steps to meet the demand.
In this backdrop, the visiting US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Policy Ms. Judith A McHale announced in Dhaka recently that her country would take 20,000 students each year from Bangladesh for higher studies. This is indeed good news for Bangladesh and for students who are looking for an opportunity for a standard overseas degree and professional development.
However, a mere announcement is not enough. It is important for the government of Bangladesh to monitor and ensure that the announced number of students are getting the opportunity each year, and negotiate to expand opportunities for scholarships and other financial support form the US government and other sources so that the meritorious students from comparatively non-solvent families could avail this chance. Also, there is a need to press for expanding the number in the years to come, given the requirements of our young generation.
At the same time, another issue comes to forefront -- to standardize the education (i.e. at a school, college and university level) as well as language skills so that our students could compete with their counterparts from other nations. No malpractice should mar this opportunity.
Studentship is one of the prospective ways to enter the US, which may give rise to future opportunities for an individual to adjust his status into a Legally Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or naturalization and get citizenship in the US, given the skill and interest of the individuals and necessity of the host country and government.
That does not mean that those who will be going for higher studies would settle in the US in future. The government of Bangladesh has to create an environment and infrastructure so that the students come back to home, armed with their new degrees, knowledge and expertise and can use those for the development and benefit of the country. This is what India and China have now started to implement.
US academic institutions have a sound reputation for standard and quality education. There are exceptions, of course, and students have to be careful about that. There is ample opportunity for foreign and international students for higher studies and research scholarships and funding, apart from self-funding ones.
Higher education is also a significant source of revenue for the US exchequer. During the 2008-2009 academic year the country earned about US$ 18 billion from the foreign and international students’ tuition and other fees.
The Washington DC-based Institute of International Education (IIE) projected that during 2008-2009 session, 671,000 international students came to the US. India tops the list with 103,000 students while China sent 98,500.
The area of higher studies and research is wide; curriculums are modern and practical, and renowned institutes have globally acclaimed academics and researchers.
Given my present affiliation, the University Of Minnesota Law School offers diverse ranges of specializations in different branches of law like business and trade, labor and employment, family matters, immigration, and human rights. At the same time, there is opportunity for dual degrees in public policy, business management, media, and health and ethics alongside a law degree.
It is encouraging to hear that the US is going to take a huge number of students for higher studies from Bangladesh yearly. At the same time, it is a matter of concern as well.
Considering the reality in Bangladesh, there may be a mushrooming of so-called advisory and consulting companies. They may give attractive advertisements on TV and in the newspapers.
Given my experiences, working in the migration area and coming to the US with a Fulbright Scholarship, I could say that those so-called consultants do nothing but fill their own pockets with money from aspiring students and their guardians. Therefore, the prospective students and their guardians need to be cautious about any malpractice. They should inquire about an institution through internet or the public affairs section of the US Embassy in Dhaka and contact accordingly.
The respective agencies of the Bangladesh government, the US Embassy, and the American Center in Dhaka need to take special measures to prevent any malpractice. Alongside the websites, national, regional and local newspapers would be effective instruments to disseminate related information. Also, notice boards at academic institutes and government offices at district and divisional levels could be used for disseminating information.
If needed the respective laws and policies need to be amended and their effective implementation would enable the Bangladesh government to prevent and prosecute any emerging malpractice with regard to students’ immigration to the US.
Dr. Uttam Kumar Das is an Advocate in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, presently affiliated as a Humphrey Fellow (Fulbright Scholar) with the Human Rights Center and Law School at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He is a specialist in Human Rights. E-mail: udas1971@yahoo.com, udas1971@yahoo.com
*Originally appeared in PROBE News Magazine (Dhaka, Bangladesh), Feb 19-Mar 4, 2010; link: http://www.probenewsmagazine.com/index.php?index=2&contentId=5844
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)