Arizona’s efforts to crackdown on public benefits for illegal aliens results in lawsuit

Arizona’s efforts to crackdown on public benefits for illegal aliens results in lawsuit

In an article by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, it was reported that Gov. Jan Brewer and top Republican leaders lashed out Tuesday at the League of Arizona Cities and Towns for its lawsuit challenging a new law designed to crack down on illegal immigrants getting public benefits.

“At a time when Arizona is suffering from budget deficits of unprecedented proportions and the state is struggling to meet the basic needs of its citizens, it is outrageous and shocking that the League of Cities and Towns would challenge legislation designed to protect the very entities that it was intended for,” the governor said. Brewer said Arizona voters have shown several times, starting with the 2004 election, that they do not want taxpayer money going to help those in the country illegally. She said changes approved by lawmakers in an August special session will plug holes in that law.” …Attorneys for the cities say the law is flawed because the language about illegal immigration was not enacted in a separate bill of its own, but included in a larger measure dealing with the state budget. That, the lawsuit claims, makes the maneuver unconstitutional. House Speaker Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, said that requiring cities to do more to crack down on services to illegal immigrants is related to the budget. See “GOP blasts league of cities for suit vs. immigrant law” published 11/25/2009.

New G-28 Attorney Representation Form

Attorneys should note that a new G-28 form has been approved by the USCIS. While the old form can be used “until further notice” and filings will not be rejected for failure to use the new form, attorneys and others using the G-28 should begin making the change.

H1B visas for current season about to go off.

Due to the cap on H1B specialty workers visa for nonimmigrants being exceeded in recent years, the result was a shortfall in filings for FY 2010. However, lately there has been a rapid increase and it is believed that H1Bs for FY 2010 will soon go off. Employers with current needs should act quickly and it is not too early to start planning for the FY2011 filing season which begins on April 1, 2010.