http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4736819.htm
INS holds up granting U.S. citizenship
Sept. 11 brings longer scrutiny
BY ELINOR J. BRECHER AND ALFONSO CHARDY
ebrecher@herald.com
Canadian Norman Sandberg was planning to raise his right hand, pledge allegiance to the United States and become an American citizen next Tuesday.
Friends and relatives from as far away as Israel were coming to share the Miami Lakes executive's proud moment.
But a terse notice from the Immigration and Naturalization Service notified Sandberg and an estimated 4,000 other South Floridians this week that their oath ceremony had been ''descheduled'' due to ``unforeseen circumstances.''
Those circumstances, according to INS spokespersons: the federal government is conducting more thorough background checks on some prospective citizens.
In addition to the Miami event, the new practice caused the cancellation of two swearing-in ceremonies in New York on Thursday, and the removal of several people from a ceremony in Los Angeles. In some cities, as many as 20 percent of the people scheduled to be sworn in have U.S. been notified that they were not eligible because their background checks were not completed.
The postponed ceremonies are among delays for many immigration benefits and petitions, including residence, naturalization and work permits for professionals.
Also delayed were visas for thousands of foreign students who had enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities for the fall semester. Many missed the start of classes. Those who got in now fear that if they return home for the holidays they will not be allowed to come back.
''Some of the processes in government are taking longer than before as a result of more thorough and heightened security checks since 9/11,'' acknowledged Ana Santiago, an INS spokeswoman in Miami.
The INS is trying to move quickly, she said, but applicants ``must also understand that we must comply fully with the set guidelines.''
VAGUE DETAILS
INS representatives were vague about what the more thorough checks entailed. However, the American Immigration Lawyers Association advised its members this week that the INS had decided not to authorize any permanent approvals until the FBI verified a foreign national's name and date of birth.
Previously, the statement said, the INS assumed that if it did not hear from the FBI within a given period of time it meant there was no problem with the foreign national and went forward with approval.
Tuesday's ceremony at the Miami Beach Convention Center will be rescheduled, said INS officials, but no date has been set.
Sandberg, 51, said his loved ones will come anyway because ''Miami in December is a happy time,'' but he is sad that they will miss a significant event in his life.
The Johnson & Johnson director has been living in the United States for 17 years. He completed his citizenship application because of the same event that led the INS to cancel the swearing-in ceremonies.
''The events of last year made many people realize it was time to set an example and commit,'' he said.
He and his visitors will make the best of it, he said.
``We'll go to Key West.''
Sandberg learned of the cancellation from his attorney, Michael Bander, moments before a Federal Express driver delivered the notice, dated Dec. 10.
''It's not nice,'' said Sandberg. ``The letter was not well written.''
The 59-word notice says, ``We will advise you of any further action taken on this case, including any rescheduled interview information, under separate notice.''
That wording, said Sandberg, might have frightened recipients who lack a sophisticated command of English, especially since it was sent in such a hurry.
Bander, a longtime Miami immigration specialist, said Friday that he had spoken to three affected clients who were ''disappointed and surprised. They were told that everything had been approved and there was no explanation given in the notice'' as to why the ceremony had been canceled.
MORE TRAINING
Danielle Sheahan, an INS spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said more training and equipment are needed to complete thorough background checks on all foreign nationals who request U.S. citizenship or a residency permit, known as a green card.
Though delays have resulted, she said that because the system is gradually becoming faster and more efficient, ``We are pretty well caught up.''
The delayed ceremony does not mean that the applicants will not become citizens, unless the background checks turn up derogatory information, Sheahan said.
Some immigration lawyers disputed the impression left by INS officials that delays were isolated and being resolved.
Immigration lawyer Tammy Fox-Isicoff said there was a freeze on all approvals for residence and citizenship. Other attorneys said asylum petitions were also delayed.
Fox-Isicoff said requests for work visas for skilled professionals were also taking longer to process -- in some cases up to 10 months. Prior to Sept. 11, such a visa was granted in two or three weeks, she said.
''All these requests are going into a black hole,'' Fox-Isicoff said.
She said the real reason for the delays was that INS was redirecting resources toward national security, taking personnel away from departments that process routine requests.
Mazen Sukkar, another immigration attorney, said that when he accompanied five clients to the Miami INS office on Thursday, he learned that an employee who was regularly assigned to adjudications had been reassigned to register foreign nationals from Middle Eastern and other countries ordered to report to INS.
INS holds up granting U.S. citizenship
Sept. 11 brings longer scrutiny
BY ELINOR J. BRECHER AND ALFONSO CHARDY
ebrecher@herald.com
Canadian Norman Sandberg was planning to raise his right hand, pledge allegiance to the United States and become an American citizen next Tuesday.
Friends and relatives from as far away as Israel were coming to share the Miami Lakes executive's proud moment.
But a terse notice from the Immigration and Naturalization Service notified Sandberg and an estimated 4,000 other South Floridians this week that their oath ceremony had been ''descheduled'' due to ``unforeseen circumstances.''
Those circumstances, according to INS spokespersons: the federal government is conducting more thorough background checks on some prospective citizens.
In addition to the Miami event, the new practice caused the cancellation of two swearing-in ceremonies in New York on Thursday, and the removal of several people from a ceremony in Los Angeles. In some cities, as many as 20 percent of the people scheduled to be sworn in have U.S. been notified that they were not eligible because their background checks were not completed.
The postponed ceremonies are among delays for many immigration benefits and petitions, including residence, naturalization and work permits for professionals.
Also delayed were visas for thousands of foreign students who had enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities for the fall semester. Many missed the start of classes. Those who got in now fear that if they return home for the holidays they will not be allowed to come back.
''Some of the processes in government are taking longer than before as a result of more thorough and heightened security checks since 9/11,'' acknowledged Ana Santiago, an INS spokeswoman in Miami.
The INS is trying to move quickly, she said, but applicants ``must also understand that we must comply fully with the set guidelines.''
VAGUE DETAILS
INS representatives were vague about what the more thorough checks entailed. However, the American Immigration Lawyers Association advised its members this week that the INS had decided not to authorize any permanent approvals until the FBI verified a foreign national's name and date of birth.
Previously, the statement said, the INS assumed that if it did not hear from the FBI within a given period of time it meant there was no problem with the foreign national and went forward with approval.
Tuesday's ceremony at the Miami Beach Convention Center will be rescheduled, said INS officials, but no date has been set.
Sandberg, 51, said his loved ones will come anyway because ''Miami in December is a happy time,'' but he is sad that they will miss a significant event in his life.
The Johnson & Johnson director has been living in the United States for 17 years. He completed his citizenship application because of the same event that led the INS to cancel the swearing-in ceremonies.
''The events of last year made many people realize it was time to set an example and commit,'' he said.
He and his visitors will make the best of it, he said.
``We'll go to Key West.''
Sandberg learned of the cancellation from his attorney, Michael Bander, moments before a Federal Express driver delivered the notice, dated Dec. 10.
''It's not nice,'' said Sandberg. ``The letter was not well written.''
The 59-word notice says, ``We will advise you of any further action taken on this case, including any rescheduled interview information, under separate notice.''
That wording, said Sandberg, might have frightened recipients who lack a sophisticated command of English, especially since it was sent in such a hurry.
Bander, a longtime Miami immigration specialist, said Friday that he had spoken to three affected clients who were ''disappointed and surprised. They were told that everything had been approved and there was no explanation given in the notice'' as to why the ceremony had been canceled.
MORE TRAINING
Danielle Sheahan, an INS spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said more training and equipment are needed to complete thorough background checks on all foreign nationals who request U.S. citizenship or a residency permit, known as a green card.
Though delays have resulted, she said that because the system is gradually becoming faster and more efficient, ``We are pretty well caught up.''
The delayed ceremony does not mean that the applicants will not become citizens, unless the background checks turn up derogatory information, Sheahan said.
Some immigration lawyers disputed the impression left by INS officials that delays were isolated and being resolved.
Immigration lawyer Tammy Fox-Isicoff said there was a freeze on all approvals for residence and citizenship. Other attorneys said asylum petitions were also delayed.
Fox-Isicoff said requests for work visas for skilled professionals were also taking longer to process -- in some cases up to 10 months. Prior to Sept. 11, such a visa was granted in two or three weeks, she said.
''All these requests are going into a black hole,'' Fox-Isicoff said.
She said the real reason for the delays was that INS was redirecting resources toward national security, taking personnel away from departments that process routine requests.
Mazen Sukkar, another immigration attorney, said that when he accompanied five clients to the Miami INS office on Thursday, he learned that an employee who was regularly assigned to adjudications had been reassigned to register foreign nationals from Middle Eastern and other countries ordered to report to INS.
