May 2010

Obama Nominee Finds Himself in I-9 Hot Water

A recent Washington Post report has succeeded in highlighting one of the more confusing compliance requirements for small business owners: the I-9 verification. It seems that Alan Bersin, the Administration’s nominee for (and current recess-appointed) Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, the agency charged with protecting the nation’s borders, …

The list of lawsuits challenging Arizona’s Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (Senate Bill 1070) continues to grow. On May 17, 2010, 14 civil and immigrant-rights groups, along with 10 individuals, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1070. At least five separate lawsuits have been filed…

While Arizona’s controversial new immigration law, Senate Bill 1070, continues to garner national attention in the months leading up to its July 29 effective date, employers in Arizona must not forget their obligations under the already effective Legal Arizona Workers Act (“LAWA”). LAWA imposes severe penalties on employers who either “knowingly” or “intentionally” hire unauthorized…

The Department of Labor has released a new online tool to help employers and employees understand how to comply with the H-1B visa program. This is part of the agency’s new compliance initiatives.

As background, the H-1B non-immigrant visa classification was created under the Immigration and Nationality Act to help U.S. employers who cannot obtain workers …

During the I-9 verification process, foreign-born employees often present a variety of Permanent Resident cards, commonly called “Green Cards.” However, for the last few decades, no version of the Permanent Resident card has been the color green.

USCIS announced on May 11 a new version of the Permanent Resident card will be issued. The card…

The city councils of two major Arizona cities – Tucson and Flagstaff – have announced their intentions to file lawsuits to challenge the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (Senate Bill 1070). The Flagstaff City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution authorizing the lawsuit. The Council described the move as an…

The Arizona legislature has already made several changes to its recently enacted immigration statute, Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (Senate Bill 1070). On the legislature’s last day in session, it passed changes to the law, which the Bill’s sponsor, Senator Russell Pearce, stated were intended to clarify that “the bill prohibits racial…

The fervor surrounding Arizona’s new immigration statute, Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (Senate Bill 1070), has grown in the days since Governor Jan Brewer signed the Bill into law on April 23, 2010. The Arizona legislature adjourned on April 29, 2010, which means the Act will become effective 90 days later, July…