The Missouri Bar

IL Man Charged with International Parental Kidnapping

A Lockport, Ill., man is charged with attempting to kidnap his daughter and take her to Jordan. Thirty-six year old Said Ayesh faces up to three years in federal prison on the charges. A nationwide manhunt for Ayesh started last month after he failed to return his daughter after visitation. The Chicago Tribune has more details about the case.

International parental kidnapping is becoming more common place in the U.S., as Americans marry or have children with people from other nations. When the relationships dissolve, one parent tries to whisk their child away to their native country.

The Law in Your Life host Angela Wilson finds out your rights when it comes to international marriage and parental kidnapping from attorney Chris Schmidt with Bryan Cave.

Green Card Deadline Looms

The deadline to apply for the Green Card Lottery is just weeks away. Each year 55,000 permanent resident visas are issued to those from countries with low immigration rates. Excluded from this year's lottery are people from the following countries:

Brazil, Canada, mainland China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, South Korea, United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), and Vietnam.

Instructions for entering the lottery can be found here: travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html.

The Law in Your Life offers these podcasts on immigration law:

Missouri's New Immigration Laws

Immigration Law for Business Owners

Law in Your Life #53: Missouri's New Immigration Laws

The Show-Me State this year implemented some of the toughest immigration laws in the nation. What are they and what do they mean to Missouri business owners? Law in Your Life host Angela Wilson finds out from UMKC law school professor Kris Kobach. Kobach is a coauthor of the new law.

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Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

What Does Immigration Reform Cost Indiana?

Indiana lawmakers are searching for the cost of illegal immigrants to state agencies. At least $5 million is spent through Indiana's Medicaid program. Other services, including prisons and education, aren't certain. Read more at WTHI TV10.

This year, Missouri lawmakers passed one of the most strict immigration laws in the nation. This Friday, Law in Your Life host Angela Wilson will find out what the new law is and how it impacts businesses.

Guest Worker Shortage Worsens as Congress Debates Immigration

Tourists are flocking to Cape Cod for some sun and fun, but business owners are scrambling to meet their customers' needs. The guest worker program that provided up to 7,000 workers to help during Cape's busy season was not renewed this year as Congress debates immigration law.

The Boston Globe has an eye-opening story about the worker shortage and what impact it has on business finances.

Son of Illegal Immigrants Wins Gold in Wrestling

The 21-year old son of illegal American immigrants took home the gold in wrestling during the Beijing Olympics. Henry Cejudo said the medal was what he always wanted - something he strived for at the encouragement of his mother.

Immigration is a hot issue in the U.S. right now. In Missouri, lawmakers recently passed a law that toughened punishments for businesses that employed undocumented workers. Want to know what's happening in immigration legal news? Check out our Immigration Law posts.

EOIR Requires 9-Digit Alien Registration Numbers

Immigrants filing paperwork with the Executive Office for Immigration Review must now use a special 9-digit number to access all paperwork. The new rule went into effect on July 21. Here are the details from the Department of Justice:

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced today that, effective July 21, 2008, documents filed with EOIR’s immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) should indicate 9-digit alien registration numbers (A numbers).  For cases with a 9-digit A number, all digits must be provided.  For cases with an    8-digit A number, a zero (0) must be inserted before the 8 digits.  For example, A##-###-### should be provided as A0##-###-###.  No document filings will be rejected in the foreseeable future for mistakenly failing to do so.

Also, 9-digit A numbers will be required to access immigration case status information through EOIR’s automated telephone system, which can be reached by dialing (703) 305-1662 or 1-800-898-7180 (toll-free).   The system will direct callers to enter a zero (0) before the 8 digits of an 8-digit A number.

EOIR is implementing this requirement to be consistent with the Department of Homeland Security, which is currently issuing 9-digit A numbers.

Gov. Blunt Signs Immigration Legislation

A new law signed today requires anyone applying for public benefits in Missouri to prove their citizenship. It also requires businesses found to have illegals in their employ to use a federal database verifying legal residence.

Gov. Matt Blunt signed the legislation today at stops in Kansas City and Joplin, and will sign tomorrow during a ceremony in Springfield. He will also discuss the legislation on CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight this evening (July 7) from 6:30-7 p.m.

Up to 65,000 illegal immigrants live in the state.

Read more in the Joplin Globe

Immigration is a complicated area of law. What do you need to know about it? Attorney Angela Ferguson tells us in this Law in Your Life podcast.

 

Cities Get Creative to Find Seasonal Workers

In Vail, cities officials decided to network via YouTube to hire seasonal workers from Puerto Rico. Residents there are not subject to typical restrictions on nonagricultural workers in the U.S. on an H2B visa. (The Rocky Mountain News has more). The Bush administration is working to change the H2B process to allow nearly 70,000 temporary workers into the nation, according to The Associated Press.

Immigration law is incredibly cumbersome - and complicated. In this Law in Your Life podcast, attorney Angela Ferguson shares what you need to know as individuals, business owners and law enforcement.

Immigration Hot Topic in Senate

As the session wraps up, Missouri lawmakers are debating a sweeping immigration bill. If approved, the bill would create fines for businesses that mislabel employee statuses. (Read more)

Immigration is a complicated area of law. What do you need to know about it? Attorney Angela Ferguson tells us in this Law in Your Life podcast.