Update-Subcommittee on Immigration Hearing

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kuldeepc

Registered Users (C)
I just heard from Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren's office on the Subcommittee on Immigration hearing on the President's budget request for immigration related funding.

This was held yesterday.

For once in the Subcommittee, some of the most conservative Republicans agreed with the Democrats - the backlog is terrible and CIS is absolutely NOT responsive to petitioner concerns. That was great to see because it rarely happens.

Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren's office is helping to write and coordinate a bipartisan letter to USCIS in relation to the fee increase and backlog situation. Hopefully it will help.
 
Originally posted by kuldeepc
rk4gc,
I have been working with Mike Honda and Zoe Lofgren's offices for last 3 months.
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kuldeepc,

I've been trying to get a meeting appointment with either Zoe Lofgren or Her Chief of Staff to update them with Lawsuit details and get their support, but its not materialized yet.

I wonder if you can be any help here. There is a bay-area team from this forum to meet congress persons and attend townhall meetings to update congress persons with our problems and petition them to put pressure on CSC to reduce backlogs.

Whats your opinion on this?
 
Mike Honda's office won;t do anything more than following up your case with CSC on status and such issues as long as you are covered by the JIT.

However Zoe Lofgren's washington office immigration staff is very supportive of our efforts even though I do not live in Zoe's district. That person is coordinating the bipartison letter to CSC. Zoe Lofgren's office is fully aware of our situation. I can concentrate my efforts on Zoe Lofgren. Let me know what you need. I am very tied down at work so cannot get more involved but will surely pursue with these two congresspersons.
 
kuldeepc,

thanks for your help.

I'm trying to get an appointment with their staff and want to find out what is their stand and how they can help us in speeding I-485 process as whole. At the same time I want to keep in touch with them and if need arises, lets say if there is a bill that supports our cause proposed, I would like to request her office to support that bill.

But obviousely I'm naive in this area and dont know how to go further.

btw, even though, I say "I" in most cases, its not just me but few members in bay are doing the same and trying to contact different congress persons for the same purpose.

I'll ask other members also to post here their views.
 
Originally posted by rk4gc
kuldeepc,

thanks for your help.

I'm trying to get an appointment with their staff and want to find out what is their stand and how they can help us in speeding I-485 process as whole. At the same time I want to keep in touch with them and if need arises, lets say if there is a bill that supports our cause proposed, I would like to request her office to support that bill.

But obviousely I'm naive in this area and dont know how to go further.

btw, even though, I say "I" in most cases, its not just me but few members in bay are doing the same and trying to contact different congress persons for the same purpose.

I'll ask other members also to post here their views.
Click to expand...

rk4gc,

I was following the bayarea 485 mail thread and your effort,
good job, let me know if I can do anything.

kuldeepc,

Do you think a fax campaign to Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren's office will help? What do you suggest?

As you stated earlier I have received a standard message from
mike honda, I am from his district.
 
Do you think a fax campaign to Congresswomen Zoe Lofgren's office will help? What do you suggest?
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i believe fax campaign to Mike Honda;s office will hep turn him from being a sideliner to a player. send in as many faxes as possible here.

Though we are getting all cooperation from Zoe Lofgren's office, a campaign to Zoe Lofgren's office will motivate them further and firm their belief's in our cause. I would say if 20 - 30 people faxed them over next week it will help.
 
6/15/2004 Lofgren Joins Members of Congress to Address Immigration Petition Backlog

Congratulations and thanks a lot, kuldeepc !!
It's really a great achievement on our fight against the Government's injustice.
-kashmir


(Originally posted at Project Ocean main thread)

http://www.house.gov/lofgren/

6/15/2004
Rep. Lofgren Joins Members of Congress to Address Immigration Petition Backlog - Washington, DC- Congresswoman Lofgren today joined 43 members of Congress, representing 18 states, in sending a letter to Eduardo Aguirre, Jr., Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services, expressing concern over the immigration petition backlog and requesting a plan to eliminate the backlog.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/pres..._to_Address_Immigration_Petition_Backlog.html

Press Release

Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072

Rep. Lofgren Joins Members of Congress to Address Immigration Petition Backlog

Calls on Citizenship and Immigration Services to Develop PlanJune 15, 2004

Washington, DC- Congresswoman Lofgren today joined 43 members of Congress, representing 18 states, in sending a letter to Eduardo Aguirre, Jr., Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services, expressing concern over the immigration petition backlog and requesting a plan to eliminate the backlog.

The bipartisan group of Congressional Members signing the letter represents districts in the following states, indicates that this issue concerns constituents across the country: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.

The following is the text of the letter:
June 15, 2004

Director Eduardo Aguirre, Jr.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington, D.C.

Dear Director Aguirre:

In a recent hearing before the House Subcommittee on Immigration, you stated that you are currently developing a new plan to eliminate the growing immigration petition backlog. The Los Angeles Times also reported that the plan will shortly be completed and sent to Congress. We write to you today to express our anticipation for that report and, more importantly, a report on any progress you have made in reducing and eventually eliminating the backlog.

As you know, CIS recently reported that more than 6 million immigration petitions awaited processing in 2003. This is a 90% increase over the backlog in 1997 and almost a 20% increase from 2002. In addition, the Los Angeles Times reported that processing times have doubled and tripled for "green cards," naturalization, and employer petitions between 2001 and 2003. The processing time for a "green card" was almost three years in 2003.

We understand that the President initiated a five-year plan in 2001 to eliminate the backlog and reach a six-month processing goal by 2006. We also understand the difficult consequences of increased security screening due to 9/11 and the recent transition of immigration services to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). We thus recognize that the five-year backlog reduction initiative developed before 9/11 needs to be revised.

Unfortunately, more than two years after 9/11 we have, as of yet, to see a new and/or revised plan of action on the backlog. Instead, all we see are increasing backlogs. Thus, we ask that you provide us with the details of such a plan, your new deadlines for reaching the six-month goal for processing petitions, and any progress you have made on that plan.

We look forward to working with you on this very important issue. As you know, each one of these backlogged petitions represent a citizen, U.S. employer, or legal permanent resident waiting years for a response from their government on behalf of a family member or employee. Our constituents shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

Sincerely,

Zoe Lofgren (CA -16) Marsha Blackburn (TN - 07)

Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) Adam B. Schiff (CA - 29)

Dennis Moore (KS - 03) Joe Baca (CA -43)

Jeff Flake (AZ - 06) Pete Stark (CA -13)

Robert Wexler (FL -19) Anna Eshoo (CA -14)

Lloyd Doggett (TX -10) Patrick J. Tiberi (OH - 12)

Mark Udall (CO - 02) Ed Case (HI - 02)

Hilda Solis (CA -32) Michael M. Honda (CA - 15)

Melissa Hart (PA - 04) Karen McCarthy (MO - 05)

Michael E. Capuano (MA - 08) Loretta Sanchez (CA - 47)

Jim Moran (VA - 08) Edolphus Towns (NY - 10)

Jerry Kleczka (WI - 04) Howard L. Berman (CA - 28)

Henry A. Waxman (CA - 30) George Miller (CA - 07)

Lynn Woolsey (CA - 06) Luis V. Gutierrez (IL - 04)

Howard Coble (NC - 06) Bob Filner (CA - 51)

David Price (NC - 04) Martin Frost (TX - 24)

Diane E. Watson (CA -33) Sam Farr (CA - 17)

Betty McCollum (MN - 04) Tammy Baldwin (WI - 02)

Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH - 11) Linda T. Sanchez (CA - 39)

Jim McDermott (WA - 07) Ellen O. Tauscher (CA - 10)

Grace F. Napolitano (CA - 38) Ciro D. Rodriguez (TX - 28)

William Delahunt (MA - 10) Jim Turner (TX - 02)
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Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is serving her fifth term in Congress representing most of the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. She serves as the ranking member on the Select Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Science, and Research & Development. She is also a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Science Committee. Congresswoman Lofgren is Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation consisting of 33 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California.
 
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