NEXT MEETING:
Our NEXT MEETING iwill be held on Monday, March 9th at the Congregational Church, 1154 Great Plain Ave, Needham. (ICYMI: Based on a policy adopted by the Task Force, I am only using first names when attributing information. If you wish to contact any of these individuals, contact me and I’ll supply contact information.)
HELP: Certainly there is one more brave soul to join Tabby and me to do battle at the LWV Civics Bowl on March 22d. I promise I’ll exert my good offices with the Exchange Club to get you a good seat for the fireworks on July 4th. Two seats if you join before Feb 19th !!
FROM DHS:
The Associated Press (https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/homeland-security-suspends-travel-programs-yorkers-68793420?utm_)reports on DHS’s decision to suspend new enrollment and re-enrollment in CBP’s Trusted Traveler programs for New York residents in response to the state implementing the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act (Green Light Law), which prohibits immigration agents from accessing motor vehicle records. New York state officials dismissed the move as a political stunt, noting that the Trusted Traveler programs don’t require a driver’s license.
(My Comment: We have been here before. In Printz v. United States (1997),The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that part of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act violated Article I, S.1 of the Constitution. Since the act “forced participation of the State in the actual administration of a federal program that was not provided for in the bill as passed by the Congress, it was unconstitutional. The Court ruled that the Executive cannot change laws passed by Congress. Only if the law sets forth criteria for requiring a certain action or inaction can it impact whether a benefit can be applied or withheld.)
Boston Globe reports that Border Patrol agents will have a pronounced presence in Boston for immigration enforcement in coming weeks. Local officials and advocates are condemning the decision by the Trump administration to send federal border patrol agents to Boston and other so-called “sanctuary” cities in coming weeks, calling the move an intimidation tactic that could harm public safety.
OTHER GROUPS WELCOME YOUR JOINING THEIR EMAILS
The BRAZILIAN WORKERS CENTER info@braziliancenter.org
METROWEST IMMIGRATION SOLIDARITY NETWORK: Cynthia reports that Liz has offered members of the Needham Immigration Task Force can be added to the list to receive the MISN newsletter and updates. Send an email to Liz at framcompaneras@gmail.com if interested. PLEASE NOTE: Information received via that email should not be published anywhere else with specific authority form Liz.
MORE LITIGATION FYI
Feb 6, 2020 ACLU MASS reports ( https://www.aclum.org/en/news/asylum-seeking-family-reunited-after-aclu-lawsuit-challenging-unlawful-return-mexico-policy ) a family of asylum-seekers were reunited yesterday, after they were separated as a result of a Trump administration policy that has led to widespread chaos and suffering at the southern United States border. After the government agreed to settle an ACLU lawsuit, a father and young son are now safely in Massachusetts with their family. Susan Church’s office was co-counsel.
Health Care Staffing Company Files Lawsuit Against USCIS for Unreasonable Delay in Adjudicating H-1Bs for Medical Profession The health care staffing company Management Health Systems LLC, d/b/a MedPro, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that USCIS’s 311-day delay in adjudicating 156 H-1B petitions filed for medical professionals has become untenable. MedPro contends that USCIS’s failure to adjudicate its H-1B petitions within a reasonable time has significantly harmed the company, including by causing it to lose highly skilled employees and client goodwill. MedPro seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, including a judgment compelling the defendants to adjudicate the petitions within 15 days. (Management Health Systems, LLC v. DHS, et al., 2/6/20)
Gerry Rovner
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