Ocean Campaign #5 to Congressperson : Don Neufeld's Shameless Excuse and Foul Act

[kashmir]

This is the first NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN against CSC Director Don Neufeld.

1) Send your letter to YOUR Representative (Congressperson)
by FAX to Washington DC office
and/or by E-MAIL

2) Post your letter at this thread.

TARGET NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS : 20

If you have a good idea or comment, please post, too.

[kashmir]

ImmigrationPortal.Com
5225 N. Wilson Blvd. Arlington VA 22205
Phone: (703) 908-4800
United for Dignity, Equality and Acceptance

February 24, 2004

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
205 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515-0514
Fax: (202) 225-8890

RE: Don Neufeld's Shameless Excuse and Foul Act

Dear Congresswoman Anna Eshoo;

I'd really appreciate your hard working on the I-485 backlog issue at the California Service Center (CSC).

On 12/22/2003, CSC Director Don Neufeld excused, Because of the competing need to adjudicate approximately 60,000 El Salvadoran applications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) prior March 9, 2004, we do not anticipate assigning any additional staff to process I-485s until the latter half of this fiscal year.

According to USCIS official processing time report, the processing dates at the CSC are:

Form                     date-> 02/20/2004  01/07/2004 days
-------------------------------^-----------^-----------^---
I-824 TPS El Salvador initial   12/08/2002  11/30/2002  8
I-824 TPS El Salvador extension 12/08/2002  11/30/2002  8
I-765 EAD on TPS El Salvador    09/03/2003  08/30/2003  4
I-485 Employment based AOS      12/16/2001  12/16/2001  0

Obviously, the CSC has scarcely processed not only I-485 applications but also TPS El Salvador related applications. This means that Don Neufeld has been cheating not only I-485 applicants and ImmigrationPortal.Com but also unbelievably even Congressional offices !!

I know that you have been notified that he cannot comment any more due to pending litigation. However, we should never forgive his shameless excuse and foul act. Please talk with your colleagues and other Congressional members, and keep putting pressure on CSC Director Don Neufeld so that he would keep his promise to significantly increase resource allocations to I-485 adjudications beginning April 2004.

Sincerely,
(my signature)
(my address)
(my contact information)
WAC-02-124-***** (EB I-485)
pending at CSC for over 2 years since February 2002

[kashmir]

To: Congresswoman Anna Eshoo <annagram@mail.house.gov>
Subject: Don Neufeld's Shameless Excuse and Foul Act

*******************************************
ImmigrationPortal.Com
5225 N. Wilson Blvd. Arlington VA 22205
Phone: (703) 908-4800
United for Dignity, Equality and Acceptance
*******************************************

February 24, 2004

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
205 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515-0514
Phone: (202) 225-8104
Fax: (202) 225-8890

RE: Don Neufeld's Shameless Excuse and Foul Act

Dear Congresswoman Anna Eshoo;

I'd really appreciate your hard working on the I-485 backlog issue
at the California Service Center (CSC).

On 12/22/2003, CSC Director Don Neufeld excused,
"Because of the competing need to adjudicate approximately 60,000
El Salvadoran applications for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
prior March 9, 2004, we do not anticipate assigning any additional
staff to process I-485s until the latter half of this fiscal year."

According to USCIS official processing time report,
the processing dates at the CSC are:
Form                     date-> 02/20/2004  01/07/2004 days
-------------------------------^-----------^-----------^---
I-824 TPS El Salvador initial   12/08/2002  11/30/2002  8
I-824 TPS El Salvador extension 12/08/2002  11/30/2002  8
I-765 EAD on TPS El Salvador    09/03/2003  08/30/2002  4
I-485 Employment based AOS      12/16/2001  12/16/2001  0
-------------------------------^-----------^-----------^---
Obviously, the CSC has scarcely processed not only I-485 applications
but also TPS El Salvador related applications.
This means that Don Neufeld has been cheating
not only I-485 applicants and ImmigrationPortal.Com
but also unbelievably even Congressional offices !!

I know that you have been notified that he cannot comment any more 
due to pending litigation.
However, we should never forgive his shameless excuse and foul act.
Please talk with your colleagues and other Congressional members,
and keep putting pressure on CSC Director Don Neufeld
so that he would keep his promise to significantly increase resource
allocations to I-485 adjudications beginning April 2004.

Sincerely,

(my name)
(my address)
(my contact information)
WAC-02-124-***** (EB I-485)
pending at CSC for over 2 years since February 2002

[lareds]

As much as I agree with letting congress know about issue at CSC and Don Neufeld, I am not comfortable on personal attack. I will tone it down and will send the fax / postal mail in a day or two.

[yih]

Kashmir,

The date in your table doesn't seem right. Is it 01/07/04?

[ErDr]

I am also one of those who received a reply from Congress Woman Anna Eshoo along with a copy of Don Neufeld's letter to her. Since Neufeld, in his letter, clearly states that he can't do anything on I-485 until April, I suspect that the Congress Woman can't do much either. His reason for the delay may not be completely true, but if we can show that no progress has been made on I-485 even after 9 March 2004, the Congress Woman will have much stronger grounds to take up our issue with Neufeld. So, I feel that it might be better to wait on "attacking" Neufeld until April. But if many of you feel otherwise, I shall also write to Eshoo.

Meanwhile, I have written about our hardships and our lawsuit to KQED's Pacific Time (http://www.kqed.org/programs/radio/pt/about-pactime.jsp). This might be of interest to them since many of the affected people are Asians and many of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are Asians. Let's see if they are willing to cover our story. If any others like this idea, please send a fax or an e-mail to Pacific Time.

[wittAAAA]

Agree with ErDr.

[140_takes_4ever]

Not in favour of starting the 'hate' campaign so fast. I would like to wait till March as suggested earlier.

Though my printer and fax machine are ready if so voted!

Also, Kashmir, I would tone down the language against Don Neufield. Just because we don't want this to seem like a nasty fight.

[rk4gc]

Not ready for FIRE yet. Lets concentrate on contacting/meeting our congresspersons, apprise them about the law suit and see if we can get their support. I'm trying to do that in CA-16th. Will update if there is any thing positive.

[kashmir]

Thanks for many feedbacks.
I think "tone down" is a good idea.

However, I believe it is the most important to put strong pressure on Don Neufeld before 4/1/2004,
otherwise we CSC applicants have no chance until 9/1/2004.

Also, it is not the only reason to attack Don Neufeld that he has not allocated resource for TPS El Salvador.
Other reasons are:
1) Lamar Smith talked to TSC Director, then TSC started I-485 processing.
2) CSC has updated I-485 processing date only once from 11/16/2001 to 12/16/2001 on 9/1/2003 since 1/15/2003 for last 13 months.
CSC is the worst among 4 service centers.
3) Don Neufeld had totally ignored our 42 e-mails.

The goal of this campaign is not personal attack against Don Neufeld but to let him allocate enough resource to I-485 at CSC before 4/1/2004.

[HR_in_AZ]

I think toning down the context is not a bad idea. However, I have serious doubts with regards to this campaign having any effect on expediting the I-485 processing at CSC. Also there are a few grammatical errors in the letter which we should fix, if there is a decision to go ahead with the letter as planned. Thanks.

[140_takes_4ever]

HR_in_AZ,

I can definitely understand where Kashmir is coming from, if we wait till the last day to complain about the delay, then not just are we waiting till the last day, but also the amount of time it takes to redress our grievances. So now I am in two minds about sending the letter.

As far as grammatical errors are concerned, I was reading a NPS site where they talked about receiving responses and they seemed to feel that grammatical mistakes, typo's etc. Are all welcome since it is not the grammer, but the content they are interested in, besides it adds a very essential personal touch.

Also, we don't recommend you use the letters word for word, go ahead and write your own version, and put if up for everyone's perusal. While you are at it, please join in the other campaigns like Faxing a letter to Linda Sanchez, etc. if you haven't done so already.

Kashmir,

I am going to fax Anna Eshoo, a letter on similar lines about how Don Neufield should be held to his promise and how he has not implemented what he has said already, and hence the need to be more vigilant. Not a personal attack, but just expressing concern over his track record.

Can the rest of you guys also do the same? Stay away from personal attack, but just a reminder message saying "hey this guy hasn't been doing what he promised, can you please ping him on that".

Thanks

[HR_in_AZ]

I just sent a letter to the local Congressman in AZ and asked if I could meet him personally next week. He will be in town next Friday. Hope this helps.
Regards.

[sri3440]

I agree with Kashmir. we have data/evidence that Don did not do what is promised.

I am sending a toned down version.

sri

[ECGC]

The tone down should amount to "please urge/encourage Mr.Neufeld to live up to his words, starting April 2004. Previous promises by CSC have largely been unfulfilled"

This would convey the same message but somewhat politically correct.Is this agreeable to you, Kashmir?

[kashmir]

Mine is just an example and I know it is not a good one.
Also, I might be a little bit extreme.

Of course, you can write your own letter with your own words and I encourage it.
Please post your letter, too.

[kashmir]

Originally posted by yih
Kashmir,
The date in your table doesn't seem right. Is it 01/07/04?

Yes. Thanks, yih.
I have corrected.

[kashmir]

1. kashmir - CA 14th - Fax/E-Mail
2. HR_in_AZ - AZ ? - ?

Please post your letter once you have sent.

[solarise]

Where can I find data supporting the argument that Don Neufeld hasn't allocated enough resources to reduce the I-485 backlog?

[kashmir]

Hi, solarise,
> Where can I find data supporting the argument that Don Neufeld hasn't allocated enough resources to reduce the I-485 backlog?

It's a good question.

Official data
1) USCIS processing dates report
- I-485 processing date at CSC has been 12/16/2001 since 9/1/2003 for last 7 months.
2) Don Neufeld's letter to Anna Eshoo 12/22/2003

Unofficial data
3) Project Kashmir scan result

[solarise]

I've adapted my original letter to respond to Senator Barbara Boxer and an aid at her office. Feel free to change/modify to your needs.

***

Dear Senator Boxer and [name],

I am responding to you regarding a letter sent by [name] dated January 12, 2004 addressing my concerns with delays in adjudication of Employment-Based I-485 Adjustment of Status application at the California Service Center (CSC) of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). My EB I-485 receipt number is WAC-##-###-#####. My alien registration number is ###-###-###.

First of all, I would like to thank you and [name] for contacting the CSC on my behalf. However, Congress has expressed repeatedly that the reasonable adjudication period is 6 months for immigrant benefit cases. Looking at CSC’s current progress report, it is adjudicating I-485 cases received on December 16, 2001. I must submit to you that the lag of 26 months to today’s date has already failed Congress’ standard of reasonable adjudication period. Apropos, it is unfathomable to me for the CSC to claim that I-485 applications are being processed within the current processing time.

My research of published USCIS/BCIS/INS’ monthly reports in the year 2003 also revealed another alarming fact the CSC may have neglected to present to you. During the year 2003, the CSC had only processed I-485 applications from November 16, 2001 to December 16, 2001. This evidence suggests that the USCIS has again failed to comply with legislations and Congress’ wish. Because of its unjust activities, a class action lawsuit has been initiated in the District Court of the District of Columbia (Complaint for Mandamus, Declaratory, and Injunctive Relief, Civil Action 03-2606, Judge James Roberson, Filed 22 December 2003).

Even though the USCIS is a government agency, it should never be above the law. Thus, I urge Senator Boxer to enforce legislations passed by members of the Congress and hold the USCIS to higher standards of service. I would also like to remind Senator Boxer of words by Thomas Jefferson, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The unreasonable delay at the USCIS is unequivocally infringing upon my career and my pursuit of happiness. As a champion of human rights, I believe the Congresswoman will take appropriate actions to rein the USCIS.

Through the internet, I was able to find a group of concerned immigrants whom also filed their I-485s but find themselves in quagmire. Many of us have contacted members of the Congress for assistance. One of us was lucky enough to reach Representative Anna Eshoo and her assistant contacted Don Neufeld, Director of CSC for the USCIS on our behalf. I am submitting the correspondence between Congresswoman Eshoo and Don Neufeld for your review. In his response, Don Neufeld mentioned the El Salvadoran receiving Temporary Protected Status (TPS) immigrant benefits before I-485 applications. It is revolting to think that many legal immigrants such as myself pay taxes and contribute to the American economy and yet we are regarded as low priority by the USCIS. I also would like to bring to your attention that starting from April 2004, Don Neufeld is promising to appropriate more resources to reduce the processing time for Adjustment of Status applications (I-485) to 12 months or less by the end of September 2004. I encourage the Congresswoman to hold Don Neufeld to his words and improve the service at the CSC. Any further delays and broken promises would only create distrust among government agencies, its elected officials, and the people, whom the elected are supposed to represent.

In summary, I would like to request for Senator Boxer’s help to 1) contact the CSC of the USCIS and express her constituents’ frustrations with the I-485 processing delays; and 2) hold Don Neufeld to his promise and obtain specific plans to reduce the I-485 backlogs without more de-prioritizing of I-485 immigrant benefits.

I’m available for any comments at (###) ###-####. Thank you for your attention and your time.

***

[kashmir]

Hi, solarise,
It's so nice !!
I'd appreciate your posting your beautiful letters !!
I will send a letter with minor modifications to several Congressional members early next week.
You had better drive this kind of campaigns instead of me.

Originally posted by solarise
I've adapted my original letter to respond to Senator Barbara Boxer and an aid at her office. Feel free to change/modify to your needs.

***
...

***

[solarise]

kashmir - I think you're doing a great job making connections with Congressional Leaders and Aides. It's great we all have different skills to contribute to Project Ocean. Let us hope that our efforts will not be futile.

I'm researching the U.S. Constitution, namely the 14th Amendment and how the Supreme Court Justices have interpreted it. The 14th Amendment was designed to protect former slaves freed by the Emancipation Proclamation (Abolishing Slavery). I think it applies to us since the U.S. Constitution covers rights of its citizens and people on the U.S. soil. Seriously, some days I can relate our situation with the USCIS to the slaves who were trapped without any freedom. The 14th Amendment will make an effective argument and I just need to understand a little more to use it effectively.

There is another point I want to make. It is not true that Congressmen, women, and their aides can't help us because we can't vote. In order to have a successful career, politicians need 1) votes, and 2) money. We might not be able to vote, but all of us have friends who vote. There is also no laws prohibiting legal immigrants to make political contributions to support candidates during a campaign. If we bond together and pool our financial resources, we then become a special interest group, namely an "immigrant lobby" that can back a politican and influence policies. Money speaks volumes and if a Congressional aide turns down a request by us based on the fact that none of us can vote, he or she is making a grave mistake and definitely shouldn't be in politics. I have personally considered attending political dinners and smooze with politicans until I find someone to take care of the nasty USCIS, but I've found this forum and figured that collectively, we might have a shot to win or settle in our class action suit with acceptable results.

Bottom line is, we can't stop now and we should not hang our heads low. If we can unite through this forum, we will have a bigger voice and the Senators and Representatives will have to listen to us.

[140_takes_4ever]

Originally posted by solarise
There is also no laws prohibiting legal immigrants to make political contributions to support candidates during a campaign. If we bond together and pool our financial resources, we then become a special interest group, namely an "immigrant lobby" that can back a politican and influence policies.

Solarise,

Actually "immigrants" cannot contribute to the political process unless they have a green card or citizenship. If you contribute money the politician will be forced to give it back.

Your friends who are citizens or have permanent residence can contribute but not in your name.

[kashmir]

1. kashmir - CA 14 AE - Fax/E-Mail
2. HR_in_AZ - AZ ? - ?
3. solarise - CA BB - Fax
4. solarise - CA DF - Fax/Certified
5. solarise - CA 08 NP - Fax/Certified
6. solarise - all members of Subcommittee on Immigration - Fax
7. askgc - CA DF - Fax
8. askgc - CA 08 NP - Fax

[kashmir]

We have a couple of events in Bay Area in middle March.
Let's send FAX, E-MAIL, USPS Certified Mail, ... to:
Pete Stark (D CA 13)
Mike Honda (D CA 15)
Zoe Lofgren (D CA 16)
and also
Dianne Feinstein (D CA)
Barbara Boxer (D CA)

[140_takes_4ever]

Originally posted http://www.immigrationportal.com/sho...065#post708065
Kashmir,

Just to gain visibility, if you don't mind, I will open a new thread to track faxes to Pete Stark. Since his town hall meeting is coming up, it is essential to target him first.

Thanks!

[140_takes_4ever]

New Fax campaign thread posted at: http://immigrationportal.com/showthr...hreadid=115981

Please fax and post. (Same as usual)

Target 30 faxes.

[solarise]

140_takes_4ever - Thanks for clarifying my point. Yes you're correct that foreign nationals cannot contribute monetarily until they have become permanent residents. I try to craft my language to insinuate contribution during Senators and Representatives' re-election campaign once I become a permanent resident.

I have faxed and mailed to Senator Barbara Boxer. Will work on the other Representatives this afternoon.

#70031010000126164297

[ErDr]

Here is the body of my fax:

I am writing to seek your help in reducing the processing delays at the California Service Center (CSC) of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

My wife and I filed our employment based I-485 applications to adjust to permanent resident status (Receipt Numbers WAC-02-114-5xxxx & WAC-02-114-5xxxx) with the California Service Center of USCIS on 12 February 2002. It has been more than two years since we filed our applications, but USCIS is yet to adjudicate our application.

According to the processing time updates published by CSC, no significant progress has been made in adjudicating this kind of cases since 2002. This has resulted in a huge backlog at CSC and I am not sure if CSC has any viable action plan to clear the growing backlog in a reasonable period of time. This backlog is affecting the day-to-day lives of hundreds of thousands of green-card applicants waiting to hear from USCIS.

This problem is not unique to the California Service Center—The Texas Service Center (TSC) also has a huge backlog. However, because of repeated prodding by the Texas Congressman Lamar Smith and the Texas Congressional Delegation, the TSC has started processing the I-485 applications and is expected to reduce the backlog soon. I believe that a similar prodding of CSC by Congress members from California is the only way to get CSC to act on our applications. Therefore, I respectfully urge you to discuss this acute delay problem with the CSC director Mr. Don Neufeld and urge him to clear the I-485 backlog.

Thank you for your consideration.