gccube
09-12 10:12 AM
but it is pending with FBI since Aug 1st. Looks like they also check for fragmented names.
This is my opinion, not an advise. Use it at your own risk.
This is my opinion, not an advise. Use it at your own risk.
wallpaper David Duchovny celebrating his
ganesha
08-20 12:33 PM
Dear IV friends,
One news, call to india free for 24.99 from vonage plan starts today.
Thanks.
Just changed my plan from Premium Unlimited to World Plan at no extra cost....
One news, call to india free for 24.99 from vonage plan starts today.
Thanks.
Just changed my plan from Premium Unlimited to World Plan at no extra cost....
anotherone
01-29 06:41 PM
your ad shows a company that has advertised for no EAD, GC h1b etc., which is legal, AFAIK.
It is not a small difference, but not interviewing someone based on whatever is probably their prerogative (even this may have certain limitations like -you cannot say "no women" et6c.,), visa status is not considered a protected class... again AFAIK. They probably cannot say no GC, but CAN say only citizens because of some clearance required etc.,
This is different from getting someone through the interview loop, making an offer and THEN saying sorry we ont hire you now because of EAD. That is BS. As for saying no to H1B, we have all been there, a company that does not want to sponsor cannot be MADE to do it.
I was asking for a list of companies that have refused to work with EADs and have been cited for it or fined etc.,
It is not a small difference, but not interviewing someone based on whatever is probably their prerogative (even this may have certain limitations like -you cannot say "no women" et6c.,), visa status is not considered a protected class... again AFAIK. They probably cannot say no GC, but CAN say only citizens because of some clearance required etc.,
This is different from getting someone through the interview loop, making an offer and THEN saying sorry we ont hire you now because of EAD. That is BS. As for saying no to H1B, we have all been there, a company that does not want to sponsor cannot be MADE to do it.
I was asking for a list of companies that have refused to work with EADs and have been cited for it or fined etc.,
2011 David Duchovny and Tea Leoni
alisa
06-24 07:00 PM
if we pursue independent applications (so both spouses have the option to stop working if they want to); is this the way it works:
- file independent I-485s.
- whoever stops working changes status to H4 or F1 (depending on what they want to do)
- if one gets approved, the other withdraws the application made as a primary and files one as a dependent (since the other persons PD would be current at that point). Some lawyers say you can interfile the spouses I-140 at this stage, others say you cant.
Can you add a dependent after your 485 is approved?
Also, if I become a beneficiary on my wife's application, will I be able to maintain my H-1 status, and keep on renewing it?
My wife and I are now leaning towards independent filing, with no beneficiary for now.
- file independent I-485s.
- whoever stops working changes status to H4 or F1 (depending on what they want to do)
- if one gets approved, the other withdraws the application made as a primary and files one as a dependent (since the other persons PD would be current at that point). Some lawyers say you can interfile the spouses I-140 at this stage, others say you cant.
Can you add a dependent after your 485 is approved?
Also, if I become a beneficiary on my wife's application, will I be able to maintain my H-1 status, and keep on renewing it?
My wife and I are now leaning towards independent filing, with no beneficiary for now.
more...
ItIsNotFunny
11-17 11:39 AM
I have sent the 4 letters.
Nice. Guys please keep it up. We need to be consistent and persistent.
Nice. Guys please keep it up. We need to be consistent and persistent.
garika
07-10 12:00 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 ;)
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 ;)
more...
dixie
02-21 07:27 PM
Not so. There are no quota caps for spouses of US citizens, hence no retrogression.
You can do that. But the Family based immigration is very slow too
You can do that. But the Family based immigration is very slow too
2010 Duchovny#39;s wife Tea Leoni
royus77
07-09 09:55 PM
This is awesome even before getting the flowers we have achieved what was intended.
I request members to refrain from making personal comments.
Everyone has got their opinion but if that is against our idea and thoughts we should tackle it fairly.
Anyways KUDOS to Everyone participated in this cause.
The message was reched to whoever it needs to ( Media) and USCIS make it easy by posting the same in www.uscis.gov website. This is a big victory for IV and the next step is to have a big rally to carry the message forward. Please vote to join rally in DC for the week end
I request members to refrain from making personal comments.
Everyone has got their opinion but if that is against our idea and thoughts we should tackle it fairly.
Anyways KUDOS to Everyone participated in this cause.
The message was reched to whoever it needs to ( Media) and USCIS make it easy by posting the same in www.uscis.gov website. This is a big victory for IV and the next step is to have a big rally to carry the message forward. Please vote to join rally in DC for the week end
more...
drona
07-11 02:32 PM
I'd be surprised if Arnie is anti-immigration considering he is an immigrant himself.
hair David Duchovny and Tea Leoni:
SunJoshi
01-01 09:00 AM
Guys,
Any idea when the new proposals will be implemented if they become law :confused: Do we have to wait until Oct for these new proposals to take effect.
--MC
mchudi,
These are very tough and partisian bills (immigration bills). This also being an election year, some lawmakers will try to puch their own agenda. Don't expect a featherbed solution. This will be a dogfight.
Any idea when the new proposals will be implemented if they become law :confused: Do we have to wait until Oct for these new proposals to take effect.
--MC
mchudi,
These are very tough and partisian bills (immigration bills). This also being an election year, some lawmakers will try to puch their own agenda. Don't expect a featherbed solution. This will be a dogfight.
more...
kalkix
08-13 12:45 AM
Lets find out who waited the longest, and felicitate him/her.
14 years of wait is over......
Came to USA in 1996 on H1....
... almost exactly 14 years after I came to the US as a student....
I found 3 umar kaidis. (14 yrs is a life term in indian penal system).
Who is the senior most of these 3?
14 years of wait is over......
Came to USA in 1996 on H1....
... almost exactly 14 years after I came to the US as a student....
I found 3 umar kaidis. (14 yrs is a life term in indian penal system).
Who is the senior most of these 3?
hot Actor David Duchovny, right,
prinive
07-09 08:33 PM
he and his some of his staffs are member of IV. {shhhhh that is a secret}
How did he came to know about this, where as many big media heads are unaware of this........any idea?
How did he came to know about this, where as many big media heads are unaware of this........any idea?
more...
house David Duchovny and Tea Leoni
Winner
10-23 09:40 PM
As I had mentioned earlier in this thread - I had received 3 referral credits through IV. (actually I had sent out more invitations - but not everybody accepted/used my invitations).
For this, as I had promised earlier in this thread - I will contribute $75 to IV once I start using these referral credits (which will happen from next month once my own sign up referral bonus runs out).
Two of the three referrals who used my invitation also promised they will contribute $25 to IV for the referral.
To me, this appears to be an acceptable use of the IV message board. Anybody benefitting from IV by getting referrals may want to do the same.
OTOH, I think it is unfair to abuse the IV platform for personal gain. No other respectable message board allows that. Try these referral spam or other trolling activities in fatwallet of SD, and see how fast you get banned for it even though they are explicitly for deal hunting. Online anonymity is a great thing since it masks a trolls true identity. But think again - your identity is not really as secure behind online anonymity as you think unless you are a professional troll and have taken elaborate measures to obfuscate things. Trolling may come back to bite you.
Now, a question for mods - I went in to sign up for another recurring contribution for 3 months for $25 today (in addition to my normal subscription). However, I cant find any option for $25 recurring contribution now.
just when I thought I came up with an innovative idea to get more funds to help us, I see you already thought about this before I did.
I'm planning on sining up for vonage. Please send me an IM and I'll respond back.
Because both of us are saving $50 each, I expect you will donate at least $25, and I'll will donate $25 for my part.
Thanks for supporting IV.
For this, as I had promised earlier in this thread - I will contribute $75 to IV once I start using these referral credits (which will happen from next month once my own sign up referral bonus runs out).
Two of the three referrals who used my invitation also promised they will contribute $25 to IV for the referral.
To me, this appears to be an acceptable use of the IV message board. Anybody benefitting from IV by getting referrals may want to do the same.
OTOH, I think it is unfair to abuse the IV platform for personal gain. No other respectable message board allows that. Try these referral spam or other trolling activities in fatwallet of SD, and see how fast you get banned for it even though they are explicitly for deal hunting. Online anonymity is a great thing since it masks a trolls true identity. But think again - your identity is not really as secure behind online anonymity as you think unless you are a professional troll and have taken elaborate measures to obfuscate things. Trolling may come back to bite you.
Now, a question for mods - I went in to sign up for another recurring contribution for 3 months for $25 today (in addition to my normal subscription). However, I cant find any option for $25 recurring contribution now.
just when I thought I came up with an innovative idea to get more funds to help us, I see you already thought about this before I did.
I'm planning on sining up for vonage. Please send me an IM and I'll respond back.
Because both of us are saving $50 each, I expect you will donate at least $25, and I'll will donate $25 for my part.
Thanks for supporting IV.
tattoo Duchovny and wife Tea Leoni
eb3_nepa
07-11 10:01 PM
eb3_nepa,
The whole idea of this campaign was to get media attention and publicize this issue as much as possible, which we all know that it did just that quite effectively despite all the apprehensions and reservations expressed.
This campaing was never thought of as a panacea for all our problems, whether it will lead to a fruitful or POSITIVE result that is still unknown. What is known is that this drive has provided some much needed traction and attraction to our cause, which is the important RESULT at this point in my opinion.
All I am trying to say is that we should give some thought and imagination before discounting or discarding an idea even if it appears to be far fetched at first. Any idea proposed which is out of the ordinary will be meted with reservations and oppositions, after all its nature's law that there is always resistance to change,:rolleyes: good or bad.
I don't want you to be eating your words :D , I know for sure that you want this problem resolved as much as anyone else on the forum.:D
Everyone has right to be SKEPTICAL and even I am SKEPTICAL about the final outcome of our over all struggle, but I wasn't SKEPTICAL about the outcome of this campaign.
May the force be with you.:D
Green_Print, I agree we got a lot of media attention. However most of it was hidden beneath the depths of other more important news to the average american. Yes we got attention from the press and I hope we get even more. However if nothing comes out of this campaign, then is it not heart breaking to everyone who sent these flowers? :)
If you guys think this was a success, how about sending the same flowers to the Congressmen and Senators in thier DC offices?
The whole idea of this campaign was to get media attention and publicize this issue as much as possible, which we all know that it did just that quite effectively despite all the apprehensions and reservations expressed.
This campaing was never thought of as a panacea for all our problems, whether it will lead to a fruitful or POSITIVE result that is still unknown. What is known is that this drive has provided some much needed traction and attraction to our cause, which is the important RESULT at this point in my opinion.
All I am trying to say is that we should give some thought and imagination before discounting or discarding an idea even if it appears to be far fetched at first. Any idea proposed which is out of the ordinary will be meted with reservations and oppositions, after all its nature's law that there is always resistance to change,:rolleyes: good or bad.
I don't want you to be eating your words :D , I know for sure that you want this problem resolved as much as anyone else on the forum.:D
Everyone has right to be SKEPTICAL and even I am SKEPTICAL about the final outcome of our over all struggle, but I wasn't SKEPTICAL about the outcome of this campaign.
May the force be with you.:D
Green_Print, I agree we got a lot of media attention. However most of it was hidden beneath the depths of other more important news to the average american. Yes we got attention from the press and I hope we get even more. However if nothing comes out of this campaign, then is it not heart breaking to everyone who sent these flowers? :)
If you guys think this was a success, how about sending the same flowers to the Congressmen and Senators in thier DC offices?
more...
pictures Tea Leoni, David
21stIcon
05-17 12:02 PM
I am eligible to file 485 on June 1st, but my passport expires on July 1st week. what do you guys think , do I need to get new passport before I apply or USICS do not care about passport expiration date as long as I have valid passport on petition submission date?
dresses David Duchovny and wife Tea
nk2006
07-11 09:00 AM
This is about me. I was photographed yesterday!!
Great job...glus. Please send a link to the article to all your friends, family, collegues etc. I request all other members to do the same/similar. Its excellent that this campaign is working, we have to sustain it as long as its possible thru word of mouth/email/news etc.
Great job...glus. Please send a link to the article to all your friends, family, collegues etc. I request all other members to do the same/similar. Its excellent that this campaign is working, we have to sustain it as long as its possible thru word of mouth/email/news etc.
more...
makeup David Duchovny and wife Tea
camarasa
07-09 07:22 PM
We should send emails to Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brian, Jimmy Kimmel etc.
They have tremendous amount of viewership and seems like a perfect material for these shows. I will send email to these guys but if more and more peple can make them aware of this development, this news can potentially snowball. :D
Leave the late night comedians out of it.
Who do you think they will poke fun at? USCIS, Emilio Gonzalez or the people spending thousands of dollars on flowers that wont even reach the office of the intended recipient?
They have tremendous amount of viewership and seems like a perfect material for these shows. I will send email to these guys but if more and more peple can make them aware of this development, this news can potentially snowball. :D
Leave the late night comedians out of it.
Who do you think they will poke fun at? USCIS, Emilio Gonzalez or the people spending thousands of dollars on flowers that wont even reach the office of the intended recipient?
girlfriend David Duchovny and Tea Leoni
gc_buddy
10-28 02:48 PM
I will send the letters.
Request to core/web site admin: can you please add a link to this thread on the IV main page to get better coverage to this campaign - thanks.
Request to core/web site admin: can you please add a link to this thread on the IV main page to get better coverage to this campaign - thanks.
hairstyles David Duchovny celebrating his
Saralayar
01-15 12:29 AM
Some ideas are good. In order to implement them, we need support from members. Pls volunteer and take up the ideas to lead them. For example I have mentioned about poster and banner campaign. If each one of us, prints them and post them in various places, we can get good publicity.
We have to make do with such low cost volunteer work. Someone pointed out that we should contact newspapers and get articles published. Wish it was so easy. We have written tons of mails but that alone does not work. You need to issue press releases and publish them online. Publishing them each online costs a couple hundred dollars by publishing services who distribute, and there is no guarantee it will be picked up. Thus you need a focussed campaign for it. There are services where you can contact reporters and media on a specific topic and send them email, press release directly. If they are already writing article you can know the deadline. If you have an idea, you can pitch a story idea to the reporter directly. A good service I know costs 5K for non profits for one year. If you need access to International reporters database add 2k to it. All this is possible only if we have these kinds of resources. When we can hardly get contributions of 5k in 4 months after collecting $5 each, it is tough to plan a big media campaign. The reason why other big organizations and big anti immigrant orgs can get so much publicity is that they probably can spend their huge resources on such services. They can also afford a full time staff. We do not have all that and run IV along with our full time day time jobs. So the first thing we need to do before we run any campaign is to get more members and more contributions and monthly signups. Without that ideas may only remain on the forums.
Today, I have posted the idea of this thread in Change.gov site. All members please visit the site and vote for this idea.
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/ideaList.apexp?lsi=1
We have to make do with such low cost volunteer work. Someone pointed out that we should contact newspapers and get articles published. Wish it was so easy. We have written tons of mails but that alone does not work. You need to issue press releases and publish them online. Publishing them each online costs a couple hundred dollars by publishing services who distribute, and there is no guarantee it will be picked up. Thus you need a focussed campaign for it. There are services where you can contact reporters and media on a specific topic and send them email, press release directly. If they are already writing article you can know the deadline. If you have an idea, you can pitch a story idea to the reporter directly. A good service I know costs 5K for non profits for one year. If you need access to International reporters database add 2k to it. All this is possible only if we have these kinds of resources. When we can hardly get contributions of 5k in 4 months after collecting $5 each, it is tough to plan a big media campaign. The reason why other big organizations and big anti immigrant orgs can get so much publicity is that they probably can spend their huge resources on such services. They can also afford a full time staff. We do not have all that and run IV along with our full time day time jobs. So the first thing we need to do before we run any campaign is to get more members and more contributions and monthly signups. Without that ideas may only remain on the forums.
Today, I have posted the idea of this thread in Change.gov site. All members please visit the site and vote for this idea.
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/ideas/ideaList.apexp?lsi=1
JaiHo
09-24 02:59 PM
I am not considering any spill over etc...
here is what says on visa bulletin
Visa Bulletin October 2009 (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4575.html)
The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second
preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".
worldwide level = 140000
EB3 = 28.6% of 140000
can you please clarify ?
no...
You are assuming that the spillover from remaining countries in EB3 will be allocated to EB3 I/C/P/M. The spillover rules that changed in 2007 will ensure that those visas will first go to E1 -> EB2 and then fall to us if there is an overflow. Unfortunately that will not happen because there are many retrogressed individuals in EB2 and they will get the visas first.
here is what says on visa bulletin
Visa Bulletin October 2009 (http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4575.html)
The worldwide level for annual employment-based preference immigrants is at least 140,000.
EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCES
First: Priority Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required for fourth and fifth preferences.
Second: Members of the Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability: 28.6% of the worldwide employment-based preference level, plus any numbers not required by first preference.
Third: Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers: 28.6% of the worldwide level, plus any numbers not required by first and second
preferences, not more than 10,000 of which to "Other Workers".
worldwide level = 140000
EB3 = 28.6% of 140000
can you please clarify ?
no...
You are assuming that the spillover from remaining countries in EB3 will be allocated to EB3 I/C/P/M. The spillover rules that changed in 2007 will ensure that those visas will first go to E1 -> EB2 and then fall to us if there is an overflow. Unfortunately that will not happen because there are many retrogressed individuals in EB2 and they will get the visas first.
Macaca
02-21 10:50 AM
Broken Borders and Dover Sole: My Lunch With Lou Dobbs (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/opinion/21thu4.html?ref=opinion) By LAWRENCE DOWNES | NYT, Feb 21
So I was having lunch at the Four Seasons with Lou Dobbs the other day, locked in disagreement over who cared more about working people, him or me.
Him: CNN host, biggest and loudest gun in the battle for tougher immigration policies, leader of a nightly crusade to expose the misdeeds of those he views as elitist fools and scoundrels.
Me: editorial writer whose views on immigration qualify, to Mr. Dobbs and many others on his side of the debate, as elitist, foolish and scoundrelly.
Meeting at the Four Seasons was his idea, to continue a long, civil and inconclusive phone conversation about immigration. I got there early and waited at Mr. Dobbs�s banquette. I looked around the hushed room, full of dark suits and a wintry glow. Mr. Dobbs appeared and settled in, his drink, cranberry juice and seltzer, materializing at his right elbow.
In the spirit of the occasion, I ordered strictly within our borders: lobster bisque, filet of bison and New York tap water. He had the Dover sole.
Among people whose immigration views I admire, Mr. Dobbs has a reputation as a hopeless blowhard. I did not dwell on that at lunch. I was his guest, and I had seen what happens if you try to skewer him with insult or accusation. Mr. Dobbs is unencumbered by self-doubt. The granite fortress of his certitude is smooth and featureless, and whatever boulders you hurl at it will end up on your head. Besides, I was looking for something better than an argument. I wanted to convert him.
An honest person must concede a lot when arguing immigration with Mr. Dobbs: Yes, the borders and ports are insecure, and poor countries like Mexico have done too little to solve their economic and migration problems. Yes, illegal immigration hurts some Americans, globalization causes many global problems and big corporations love to stick it to the little guy.
My point to Mr. Dobbs was that the little-little guy � the �illegal alien� crossing our �broken borders� � was the wrong target. His overriding emphasis on solving globalization�s many ills by urgently sealing the borders strikes me as populism gone astray.
First, it�s ineffective, because the country will never be ziplocked as tightly as he wants it to be. The price of trying is too high, and it ignores the millions who enter the country legally but overstay. Most shamefully, it does nothing to resolve the fates of the 12 million undocumented already here.
Second, the obsession with enforcement dovetails with the agendas of some nasty people: the nativists for whom immigration is a simple case of brown and white, of preserving �American� culture by keeping Latinos out.
Third, it does too little to attack the evil corporate elites that are Mr. Dobbs�s sworn enemy. What makes illegal immigrants so delectable to big, bad business is their illegality � their willingness to work cheap and under the table. So why not legalize and tax them? Assimilate the good guys, as this country has always done, and save law enforcement for the bad ones.
The idea is to confront abusive corporate power with worker power. If day laborers end up in our suburbs, where the money and jobs are, then give them safe places to gather and help them work together to keep from driving wages and working conditions down. If companies take advantage of workers, empower the workers to fight back: as union members, legal residents, citizens.
But that�s �amnesty,� a Dobbsian expletive. It�s the opposite of the crackdowns endorsed by him and the hard-liners he praises, like the Minutemen.
Mr. Dobbs listened graciously and budged not. He said he respected immigrants, even illegal ones, who he felt had gotten an unfair shake from their governments. He reminded me of his fondness for Cesar Chavez.
Then he repeated his immigration credo. It went like this: the 1986 immigration law was an amnesty promoted by corporate interests waging war on the middle class. Thus the 2006 and 2007 reforms were also amnesty, pushed by the same self-serving plutocrats. So nothing they want is worth doing � at least not until the border is sealed.
That could be a long time. While we wait, I am going to keep trying to convince Mr. Dobbs that a comprehensive solution � enforcement plus assimilation � is the best expression of the populism he espouses.
Mr. Dobbs admits that mass deportation would never work, although if you press him on what to do about the 12 million, he has no answer. He wants to hold that question �in abeyance� until the border is sealed. I find that oddly passive for someone so convinced of the dangers from the aliens in our midst.
I told him that, and he smiled. The lunch was over. I didn�t wrestle over the check because there was no check, just a goodbye from the staff. I got my coat and walked with Mr. Dobbs to his car. We shook hands and I thanked him for the discussion. He made me promise to continue it. I assured him I would.
So I was having lunch at the Four Seasons with Lou Dobbs the other day, locked in disagreement over who cared more about working people, him or me.
Him: CNN host, biggest and loudest gun in the battle for tougher immigration policies, leader of a nightly crusade to expose the misdeeds of those he views as elitist fools and scoundrels.
Me: editorial writer whose views on immigration qualify, to Mr. Dobbs and many others on his side of the debate, as elitist, foolish and scoundrelly.
Meeting at the Four Seasons was his idea, to continue a long, civil and inconclusive phone conversation about immigration. I got there early and waited at Mr. Dobbs�s banquette. I looked around the hushed room, full of dark suits and a wintry glow. Mr. Dobbs appeared and settled in, his drink, cranberry juice and seltzer, materializing at his right elbow.
In the spirit of the occasion, I ordered strictly within our borders: lobster bisque, filet of bison and New York tap water. He had the Dover sole.
Among people whose immigration views I admire, Mr. Dobbs has a reputation as a hopeless blowhard. I did not dwell on that at lunch. I was his guest, and I had seen what happens if you try to skewer him with insult or accusation. Mr. Dobbs is unencumbered by self-doubt. The granite fortress of his certitude is smooth and featureless, and whatever boulders you hurl at it will end up on your head. Besides, I was looking for something better than an argument. I wanted to convert him.
An honest person must concede a lot when arguing immigration with Mr. Dobbs: Yes, the borders and ports are insecure, and poor countries like Mexico have done too little to solve their economic and migration problems. Yes, illegal immigration hurts some Americans, globalization causes many global problems and big corporations love to stick it to the little guy.
My point to Mr. Dobbs was that the little-little guy � the �illegal alien� crossing our �broken borders� � was the wrong target. His overriding emphasis on solving globalization�s many ills by urgently sealing the borders strikes me as populism gone astray.
First, it�s ineffective, because the country will never be ziplocked as tightly as he wants it to be. The price of trying is too high, and it ignores the millions who enter the country legally but overstay. Most shamefully, it does nothing to resolve the fates of the 12 million undocumented already here.
Second, the obsession with enforcement dovetails with the agendas of some nasty people: the nativists for whom immigration is a simple case of brown and white, of preserving �American� culture by keeping Latinos out.
Third, it does too little to attack the evil corporate elites that are Mr. Dobbs�s sworn enemy. What makes illegal immigrants so delectable to big, bad business is their illegality � their willingness to work cheap and under the table. So why not legalize and tax them? Assimilate the good guys, as this country has always done, and save law enforcement for the bad ones.
The idea is to confront abusive corporate power with worker power. If day laborers end up in our suburbs, where the money and jobs are, then give them safe places to gather and help them work together to keep from driving wages and working conditions down. If companies take advantage of workers, empower the workers to fight back: as union members, legal residents, citizens.
But that�s �amnesty,� a Dobbsian expletive. It�s the opposite of the crackdowns endorsed by him and the hard-liners he praises, like the Minutemen.
Mr. Dobbs listened graciously and budged not. He said he respected immigrants, even illegal ones, who he felt had gotten an unfair shake from their governments. He reminded me of his fondness for Cesar Chavez.
Then he repeated his immigration credo. It went like this: the 1986 immigration law was an amnesty promoted by corporate interests waging war on the middle class. Thus the 2006 and 2007 reforms were also amnesty, pushed by the same self-serving plutocrats. So nothing they want is worth doing � at least not until the border is sealed.
That could be a long time. While we wait, I am going to keep trying to convince Mr. Dobbs that a comprehensive solution � enforcement plus assimilation � is the best expression of the populism he espouses.
Mr. Dobbs admits that mass deportation would never work, although if you press him on what to do about the 12 million, he has no answer. He wants to hold that question �in abeyance� until the border is sealed. I find that oddly passive for someone so convinced of the dangers from the aliens in our midst.
I told him that, and he smiled. The lunch was over. I didn�t wrestle over the check because there was no check, just a goodbye from the staff. I got my coat and walked with Mr. Dobbs to his car. We shook hands and I thanked him for the discussion. He made me promise to continue it. I assured him I would.
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