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The dream of jobs in Europe is attracting tens of thousands of Africans each year. With the open-border policy of the European Union and a similar philosophy affecting the European Economic Area, desperate migrants imagine they can enter and live well without a work permit or visa.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is advocating what it calls a "compassionate" approach to immigration reform that de-emphasizes harsh penalties in favour of more rational and long-term solutions. Three months earlier, Cardinal Roger M. Mahony strongly condemned anti-immigrant sentiment as "hysterical." In a Lenten address, he urged that policy be reformed in a way that balances the nation's security needs against rights of immigrants.
As previously reported, all of the 66,000 H-1B visas for the Fiscal Year 2007 (FY 2007) have been allocated and further applications have not been accepted since 26 May, 2006. Holders of an H-1B may begin work on the first day of the new fiscal year, which starts on 01 October.
There has been steady growth in the E2 visa over the past few years. An option open to people with substantial money, basically it is a way to buy entry into the U.S. without actually "immigrating." Due to technical definition, an E2 visa is considered a non-immigration visa. However, once an investor is able to qualify and enter into the U.S. in this category, they are able to look for other opportunities and to apply for green cards and eventually citizenship.
Over the past several weeks while debate has raged over immigration reform, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been engaged in a "massive operation" to identify, locate and arrest illegal immigrants. From Boston to Mexico, more than 2,100 illegal immigrants have been arrested and detailed pending deportation proceedings in the past three weeks, and U.S. officials indicate that the current effort will be sustained throughout the summer, at least.
The Home Office has not ruled out an amnesty for illegal immigrants, despite previously denying one would go ahead.
Home Office minister Liam Byrne said it is too early to tell whether he will allow the controversial move, adding he wants more information before he makes a decision.
Estimates put the number of people living in Britain without permission at about 500,000.