Immigration Services

In her singsong voice, Sarah Moses asked the nervous 22-year-old Colombian man questions about American civics and culture: What is the name of the national anthem? At what age may a citizen vote? Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Juan Sebastian Bustamante Sanchez, who took the naturalization test at the G.H. Fallon Federal Building last week, had more in common with Moses than he realized. Moses, an officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, also had to pass the examination to become an American citizen.

Employers in Maryland and across the United States face a deadline Wednesday that some may not know exists but that could prove costly if ignored. That's when all employers will be required to use an updated version of the federal I-9 form to prove the eligibility of new workers. The form appears to be short and simple, requesting an employee's name, address, Social Security number and citizenship status. But immigration and business experts say it's more complex than it looks.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tens of thousands of immigrants - record numbers for this decade - are scrambling to file applications, pay fees, and take the English and civics classes that will prepare them to become U.S. citizens. The surge in petitions for U.S. citizenship and permanent residency comes as Congress reconsiders immigration laws and federal officials finalize plans to raise application fees. Nationwide, at least 118,600 immigrants took the first step to request U.S. citizenship in March, compared with about 74,200 for the same period a year earlier, figures from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show.

In her singsong voice, Sarah Moses asked the nervous 22-year-old Colombian man questions about American civics and culture: What is the name of the national anthem? At what age may a citizen vote? Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Juan Sebastian Bustamante Sanchez, who took the naturalization test at the G.H. Fallon Federal Building last week, had more in common with Moses than he realized. Moses, an officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, also had to pass the examination to become an American citizen.

WASHINGTON - A former prosecutor of headline terrorism cases began work this week as acting chief of the nation's troubled immigration agency, prompting a debate among advocates over whether enforcement will overshadow immigration services. As acting commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Michael Garcia takes a job that will last less than a year. By September, the INS will be divided into its two functions - enforcement and services - with separate bureaus integrated into the new Homeland Security Department.

Employers in Maryland and across the United States face a deadline Wednesday that some may not know exists but that could prove costly if ignored. That's when all employers will be required to use an updated version of the federal I-9 form to prove the eligibility of new workers. The form appears to be short and simple, requesting an employee's name, address, Social Security number and citizenship status. But immigration and business experts say it's more complex than it looks.

After an unprecedented 3 million new citizenship applications last year, federal immigration officials said yesterday that they are scrambling to meet the demand, though critics noted that several hundred thousand potential voters would not see their applications processed in time for the November election. During a congressional hearing in Washington, Emilio Gonzalez, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said his agency has extended its hours and plans to bring in 3,000 new and retired employees to help cut into an estimated average wait time per application of 18 months over the next two years.

Though much of the recent debate on immigration reform has been focused on whether Congress should grant legal status to the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in this country, the Senate immigration bill approved late last month wisely includes measures that will also benefit legal immigrants. The Senate proposal increases the annual limit on family unification visas to nearly half a million, allowing more relatives of legal immigrants to come and live in the U.S. The legislation also raises the cap on employment-based visas used by American companies to hire mostly highly skilled and educated immigrants as permanent residents.

WASHINGTON -- Passing the test to become a U.S. citizen will soon require more than knowing the number of states or Supreme Court justices. Instead of memorizing facts and details about American government and history, new immigrants will be assessed on their grasp of the nation's ideals.

A customer service telephone system run by immigration authorities is frustrating and inefficient, and in some cases has provided such bad advice that clients have been detained or deported, according to immigration lawyers, who are pressing to have the service scrapped. Last June, the Department of Homeland Security cut off telephone access to immigration offices around the United States, where most applications for citizenship or changes in immigration status are decided. Instead, the department's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services directed the public to use a toll-free National Customer Service Center telephone system to resolve immigration-related problems.

When Sarita Santillan moved from Peru to Maryland with her family in 2003, she was just 11 years old — and had little clue how hard it would be to stay here. This week, Santillan, 20, an illegal immigrant who lives in Greektown, will be among more than a million undocumented residents who are expected to apply for a reprieve from deportation. The new program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is being offered by the Obama administration starting Wednesday. "I should be able to work and help pay my way through college now. This is a wonderful opportunity for me and for others like me," said Santillan, a 2009 graduate of Digital Harbor High.

Immigrant advocates are warning people who plan to apply for a work permit under a new federal immigration policy to beware of scammers and hold off on taking any formal action until more details emerge about how the program will work. The policy shift, which President Barack Obama announced June 15, will allow some immigrants who are illegally in the U.S. to apply for work papers. But advocates say the Department of Homeland Security faces difficult questions in implementing the plan and is still months away from doing so. The groups, including Casa de Maryland and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, are also reaching out to Hispanic neighborhoods to warn of con artists who pose as lawyers offering to help immigrants navigate regulations - for a fee. The problem has become pervasive in immigrant communities across the country.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -For immigrants in this Rust Belt city, the doorway to America leads through the friendly building on Front Street. But on Friday, the American Civic Association - a place crowded with recent arrivals taking English classes and citizenship exams - became a killing zone. A gunman barricaded the back door of the immigration services center with a car, preventing escape, then entered through the front door. Opening fire, he killed 13 people and seriously wounded four others before apparently committing suicide.

WASHINGTON - The news that her oldest son had been killed in Iraq was more than Michelle Murphy could bear. Then she found out how he died. Army Spc. Kendell K. Frederick, a native of Trinidad who arrived in Maryland at age 15 and graduated from Randallstown High School in 2003, had left his base near Tikrit in October 2005 to get fingerprinted for his application for U.S. citizenship. The errand was necessary because the immigration service wouldn't accept the prints he gave when he enlisted.

After an unprecedented 3 million new citizenship applications last year, federal immigration officials said yesterday that they are scrambling to meet the demand, though critics noted that several hundred thousand potential voters would not see their applications processed in time for the November election. During a congressional hearing in Washington, Emilio Gonzalez, director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said his agency has extended its hours and plans to bring in 3,000 new and retired employees to help cut into an estimated average wait time per application of 18 months over the next two years.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is considering a proposal to eliminate hundreds of thousands of "green cards" issued years ago without expiration dates, a move that would help the agency track down individuals who have committed crimes and might be eligible for deportation. Requiring immigrants to reapply for new cards would enable the federal agency to update personal information, conduct background checks and electronically store their fingerprints and photographs. Authorities say that 750,000 such green cards are in circulation - some nearly 30 years old. They were issued from 1979 to 1989.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is considering a proposal to eliminate hundreds of thousands of "green cards" issued years ago without expiration dates, a move that would help the agency track down individuals who have committed crimes and might be eligible for deportation. Requiring immigrants to reapply for new cards would enable the federal agency to update personal information, conduct background checks and electronically store their fingerprints and photographs. Authorities say that 750,000 such green cards are in circulation - some nearly 30 years old. They were issued from 1979 to 1989.

The more than 40 immigrants who gathered in the ceremonial chambers of the U.S. District Court in Baltimore yesterday afternoon knew what to expect of their 15-minute naturalization ceremony - an event for which they had long been preparing. What they didn't know, however, is that they would share the experience with a group of 46 fourth-grade pupils from Chesapeake Academy in Anne Arundel County - the first such visit to the courthouse by academy students. "It's so special that they are here with us," said Anne Truong, 25, who immigrated from Vietnam four years ago and lives in Silver Spring.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Tens of thousands of immigrants - record numbers for this decade - are scrambling to file applications, pay fees, and take the English and civics classes that will prepare them to become U.S. citizens. The surge in petitions for U.S. citizenship and permanent residency comes as Congress reconsiders immigration laws and federal officials finalize plans to raise application fees. Nationwide, at least 118,600 immigrants took the first step to request U.S. citizenship in March, compared with about 74,200 for the same period a year earlier, figures from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services show.

WASHINGTON -- Passing the test to become a U.S. citizen will soon require more than knowing the number of states or Supreme Court justices. Instead of memorizing facts and details about American government and history, new immigrants will be assessed on their grasp of the nation's ideals.