Well... I wont re-hash my arguments about why a full-page ad in an elite publication (Washington Post/ NYT/TIMES/Economist) will be beneficil. The reasons are too obvious.
Instead I will focus on the content of such ads. The content should cover some of the inequities and injustice in the political and legal engine:
1) The cornerstone should be to give light to the plight of "Legal" immigrants.
2)Maybe show a comparison of how "easy" it is for illegal immigrants and compare to how law-abiding and hardworking legal immigants are
3) Yet how (historically) illegal immigrant are the ones granted blanket amnesty (like in 1986, sometime in 1990 and in 2001). Currently a legal immigrant would be in this country for 15 years or so and can get deported on some mere techniclaity. An illegal immigrant can stay....well....for ever.
4) How no one hears any complaints (or cries of help) of illegal immigrants since they are not as large a group as illegal immigants and dont have a big direct or indirect electorate base (like latinos).
5) How drawn out the legal immigration process is and how patient legal immigrants are and how they are squeezed by unfair requirements (e.g., inability or change employers and/or careers for years) and how it is an invitation for employers to "legally" violate all the precepts of labor laws and hold "legal immigrants" in literal indentured labor. Make an open call for the department of labor and as what provisions they have made in the labor laws to address potential exploitation arising out of such issues. What are the rights (if any) of an "legal" Immigrant. from what I know he cant even sue the employer since he will be deported due to lack of status (due to his employer firing him) before he even files the lawsuit.
5a) How the long waits does not allow "legal" employees to change careers or jobs or even go back to full time school, effectively discriminating against them by holding their life in limbo.
6) Highlight the fact that "illegal immigrants" are granted amnesty at the cost of legal immigrants. LIke the 245i initiative that allowed illegals to apply for work permits and they ate up the quota for legal immigrants creating serious backlog issues (especialy for EB3).
7) Cite opinions lof people like Bill Gatesand otheres who have spoken in favor of (legal) immigration and its importance to the countrys economy
8) Highlight some of the "self-perpetuating" inefficiencies in the legal process. One e.g. is the issuance of EAD and AP for pending applications and the requirement of their yearly renewal which in turns creates a tremendous workload for every pending application which in turn results in more pending applications.
9) Highlight some of the waits int he "secirity clearance" or "name check" process and how it can cause inordinate delays while at the same creating a security risk by giving questionable applicants the luxury of time to do their dirty deeds.
10) The insensitivity of the immigration machine and their lack of customer service to the plight of legal immigrants whose fees (mostly) keep the machine running. Maybe show some of the actual rude responses people have received from the immigration officers.
11) How legal immigrants have to suffer from having to live apart from family member because of technicalities in the immigration process.
9) Put some faces t our plight. People who are willing to volunteer. Or people who have got their green card after VERY long waits or a diffcult struggle caused by deficiencies nt he immigration process. Ho faces of family membrers who have had to live apart.
10) Lastly but most importantly hghlight the retrogression and how it can create additonal waits over the years that people have already waited, now allow people to file for EAD/AP, not allow family members to look for employment, letting people get trapped in jobs for years. And suggest solutions for retrogression: recapture of visas, not counting family members, no "smilar job itle and job description" requirement, etc. etc.
Well know I have written all this but it will fall on deaf ears. Guys, we dont have an electorate base to persuade the politicians BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE IS MONEY (I THINK). Lets say some 1000 people in the forum are affected by and care about the effects of retrogression. Even if we contribute $50 each, we will have $50000 which I think can cover the cost of an advertiselment. If the number is not 1000 and 500 instead, I am willing to pay $100 (or more) if I can get my voice heard). And we can persuade others who are not on the forum to join and then contribute. This is a small price to pay for removing years of wait.
what do you think? Shoudl we set up a fund on this site, ask for Rajivs cooperation and then maybe find an Indian working in advertisement field to draft a nice sensational ad?
We shuld select someone with good leadership skills. Like Berkeleybee to head the efforts.
Comments?
Santosh