New Letter Writing Campaign on DACA and I-130 Processing Times

[thedude6752000 360]

I have written a new letter for a new campaign, which I believe should begin either next Monday after the end of the Memorial day recess. In addition to going after the usual suspects, I have written this letter for, and targeted it to, member of the media and members of congress who are opposed to the administration's so-called "immigration reform" attempts, as well as to House Speak Boehner and House Majority Leader Cantor, both of whom are on the record for "immigration reform." I will provide at the bottom of this post a list of member of the US House of Representatives who are known in their positions against "immigration reform." I believe that this letter should also be addressed to Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, Aljazeera, Russia Today, the NY Times, the Washington Times, and any other news media we can reach out to. Please feel free to suggest emendation and make corrections. Thank you!

__________________________

To whom it may concern,

I am a US citizen, my spouse is in a foreign country, we have broken no immigration laws, but I have not seen them in many months, and I am not likely to see them again soon.

Like millions of other American citizens, I have petitioned the government for the lawful and rightful entry of my spouse to this country to live with me through USCIS form I-130. I have done so in full accordance with the law, but instead of receiving the speedy and fair adjudication which I am and my spouse are due in accordance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), which prioritizes family re-unifcation for US citizens over all other types of immigration, I have instead been made to bear the burden of increased processing times by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), through no fault of my own, but instead owing to the illegal prioritization of unlawful immigration benefits under the Obama administration's extra-constitutional “Deferred Action for Child Hood Arrivals” (DACA) program. Because of this program, which grants de facto immigration benefits (the right to stay in the US without fear of deportation and a work permit) to people who have no legal right, according to the INA, to reside in the country, I have been made to wait many months without anyone reviewing my case at USCIS. Furthermore it should be noted the review and approval of form I-130 does not in and of itself grant any immigration benefit, but instead merely authorizes the petitioner to apply for their spouses visa from the US Department of State, a process which can take anywhere from 5 months to several years. All the while, thanks to the illegal policies of this administration, unlawful immigrants who should, according to the INA, be deported to their home countries, have been granted de facto residencies and official work permits, and the bureaucratic burden of the paper work for these unlawfully granted immigration benefits has been unfairly and illegally placed upon US citizens like me who are lawfully petitioning the government for the re-unification of our families

DACA began back in 2012, and during the 12 month period from August 2012-July 2013, 573,404 DACA requests were received and 430,236 were approved – a rate of 75%. By comparison, in the first two quarters of Fiscal Year 2013, 254,890 I-130 petitions were received at the National Benefits Center but only 2,755 were approved, a rate of about 8% (see 1^st table below). In October, USCIS began processing I-130's in earnest, but by then a backlog of more than 380,000 petitions had accrued. USCIS promised to bring their processing times of then 13 months (!) down to 5 months by May 2014, but although their published number reflect this, numerous calls to their “customer service” line have confirmed that in fact they are only now adjudicating November petitions, yielding a true processing window of 7 months.

(first chart, which is apparently not allowed on here, is the original from the 2nd letter showing where DACA began and then its affect on I-130 petitioners)

(my second chart, showing case load processing up to March 2014, won't load; it shows where DACA began to affect I-130's and where they finally picked up I-130's and began working on them in October of last year).

The prioritization of illegal aliens over the lawful intending immigrant spouses of US citizens is outrageous and, what's more, against the law. The Obama administration has flagrantly violated US law in allowing illegal aliens to reside in this country, and has further flouted that law by prioritizing illegal immigration benefits for them over the need of US citizens to be reunited with their families. Under his watch, the USCIS has further ignored the law in falsifying processing time numbers in order to make it appear that they are giving the proper priority to US citizens, when in fact they are not. Below you will find links to USCIS emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act which attest to the truth of this letter and provide damning evidence of incompetence and illegal actions at the USCIS under this administration. Also below in a New York Times article on this very subject, again attesting to the veracity of this letter. Both as a US spouse visa petitioner and a concerned citizen of this great country, I demand that an investigation be started into the criminal abuse of the immigration system by this administration for what appears to be purely political ends. A government which flouts its country's laws and hurts its own citizens for the gain of foreign nationals residing in its borders illegally cannot be trusted until such a time as these abuses are checked and all of its citizens can receive fair and just treatment under the law. Thank you, and God bless America.

New York Times Article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/us/program-benefiting-some-immigrants-extends-visa-wait-for-others.html?_r=0

FOIA Emails on DACA and the I-130’s:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/145514197/2013-HQFO-00304-Combined-Redacted-Part1

FOIA Emails on the Transfer of the Backlog back to the Service Centers:

https://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/759470e4-b1ac-4325-aac0-15ebc2e9275b

_____________________________

List of US House Members on the record as opposed to or not in support of so-called "reform."

NO

Michele Bachmann, Minn.

Lou Barletta, Pa.

Andy Barr, Ky.

Jim Bridenstine, Okla.

Mo Brooks, Ala.

Paul Broun, Ga.

Bradley Byrne, Ala.

Michael C. Burgess, Texas

Tom Cotton, Ark. (“Opposes amnesty”)

Rick Crawford, Ark.

Ron DeSantis, Fla. (Asked 2/25 to be moved from “Yes” to “No”)

Scott DesJarlais, Tenn.

Jeff Duncan, S.C.

John Fleming, La.

Cory Gardner, Colo.

Phil Gingrey, Ga.

Louie Gohmert, Texas

Tom Graves, Ga.

Tim Griffin, Ark.

Ralph M. Hall, Texas

Jeb Hensarling, Texas

George Holding, N.C.

Walter B. Jones, N.C.

Steve King, Iowa

Jack Kingston, Ga. (Moved 2/25 at request of his office from “Declined to comment” to “No”)

Tom McClintock, Calif.

Tom Price, Ga.

Tom Rice, S.C.

Dana Rohrabacher, Calif.

Steve Scalise, La.

John Shimkus, Ill. (Moved 2/25. His office told us he “does not support amnesty or citizenship for those who broke the law. … believes we should address the issues of border security and streamlining of agriculture and technology worker visas before discussing any legal status for illegal immigrants.”)

Lamar Smith, Texas (Asked 2/25 to be moved from “Did not respond” to “No”)

Steve Stockman, Texas

Randy Weber, Texas

“WORK IN PROGRESS”

Robert W. Goodlatte, Va.

“IN PART”

Doug LaMalfa, Calif.

NOT RIGHT TIME

Raúl R. Labrador, Idaho

UNDECIDED/NO POSITION YET

Larry Bucshon, Ind.

Kevin Cramer, N.D.

Rodney Davis, Ill.

Kay Granger, Texas

Vicky Hartzler, Mo.

Tim Huelskamp, Kan.

Duncan Hunter, Calif.

Doug Lamborn, Colo.

Blaine Luetkemeyer, Mo.

Thomas Massie, Ky.

Luke Messer, Ind. (Moved 2/25 from “Declined to comment” to “Undecided” because his office says he is still reviewing the principles.)

John L. Mica, Fla.

Randy Neugebauer, Texas

Kristi Noem, S.D.

Robert Pittenger, N.C. (Moved 2/26 from “Possibly yes” to “undecided” at request of his office. He initially had told us any plan “Must focus on border security first.”)

Tom Petri, Wis. (Added 2/25, was left off the list in error)

Martha Roby, Ala.

Harold Rogers, Ky.

Pete Sessions, Texas

Aaron Schock, Ill.

Christopher H. Smith, N.J.

Lee Terry, Neb. (Added 2/25, was left off list in error. His office said he hasn’t seen the plan but that “any plan must have border security and e-verify components.”)

Pat Tiberi, Ohio

Lynn Westmoreland, Ga.

Rob Wittman, Va.

Steve Womack, Ark.

Don Young, Alaska

We need to find contact info for them all by next week. Let's go VJ!

[thedude6752000 360]

Contact list from the last letter:

1. The Honorable Bob Goodlatte - Chairman House Judiciary Committee

Fax#1: 202-225-9681

Fax #2: 202-225-7680

Phone: 202-225-3951

Some [possibly] useful email addresses and fax number for Bob Goodlatte and his staff:

1. talk2bob@mail.house.gov

2. Bob.Goodlatte@mail.house.gov

Bob's chief of Staff Pete Larkin's email: pete.larkin@mail.house.gov

In addition to above:

Send email to following and request them to forward your email to Mr. Goodlatte:

Carrie Meadows: Carrie.meadows@mail.house.gov

Kathryn Rexrode: KathrynRexrode@mail.house.gov

John Manning: john.manning@mail.house.gov

This fax is for Bob’s office in Roanoke, VA

Fax (Roanoke office): (540) 857-2675

2.
Director USCIS: Alejandro Mayorkas

Fax:
202-272-8118

Email:
alejandro.mayorkas@dhs.gov and alejandro.mayorkas@hq.dhs.gov and
uscisfrcomments@dhs.gov

Postal:
20 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20529

3.
Deputy Director USCIS: Lori Scialabba

Fax:
202-272-8118

Email:
Lori.Scialabba@dhs.gov and Lori.Scialabba@hq.dhs.gov

4.
Maria M. Odom - Ombudsman USCIS

Fax:
202-357-0042

Email:
cisombudsman@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@dhs.gov and maria.m.odom@hq.dhs.gov

5.
Brandi Blackburn, Assistant Center Director for NBC Division 8 in Overland
Park, KS

Fax:
816-350-5785

Email:
a. brandi.blackburn@uscis.dhs.gov; b. brandi.a.blackburn@uscis.dhs.gov (http://www.zoominfo....burn/1845657423)

c.
brandi.blackburn@dhs.gov; d. brandi.a.blackburn@dhs.gov

6.
Director: Nancy W. Guilliams - Office of Administration-USCIS

Fax:
202-272-1553 (did not work last time)

7.
Secretary DHS: Mr. Randy Beers

Fax: 202-282-84200

Email: rand.beers@hq.dhs.gov

8.
Washington Post - Letter to Editor

Email: letters@washpost.com

9.
AILA

Email:
executive@aila.org and newsroom@aila.org

10.
Sean Hannity - Fox News

Email: http://www.hannity.com/contact

11.
Senator John Cornyn - Ranking Member U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

Fax:
202-228-2281 OR 202-228-2856

12.
Senator Chuck Schumer - Chairman U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

Fax:
202-228-2281 OR 202-228-3027

[thedude6752000 360]

Senators who voted "Nay" on the Senate "immigration reform" bill:

NAYs ---32

Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
Cruz (R-TX) Enzi (R-WY)
Fischer (R-NE)
Grassley (R-IA)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (R-WI)
Lee (R-UT)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY) Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Scott (R-SC)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

Edited May 25, 2014 by thedude6752000

[Darnell 8,479]

You not cover the movement of casefiles to the local offices

and without that coverage IMO

you are not writing enough about the problem.

Aug 2012 to OCT 2013.

[thedude6752000 360]

You not cover the movement of casefiles to the local offices

and without that coverage IMO

you are not writing enough about the problem.

Aug 2012 to OCT 2013.

This is true, but I was afraid this would make the letter too long. I deliberately did not include it for these reasons. We could put that in though, but I am not sure how to incorporate it into the current flow of the letter.

[Darnell 8,479]

ok - i'll take a stab at it.

[bdrew612 1,071]

The contacts need updated. Alejandro Mayorkas is no longer the USCIS Director, I believe Lori Scialabba is the acting director until the new one is nominated (I have not seen nor heard of a new nomination yet).

Jeh Johnson, the Secretary of DHS should be added to the list, as well, I think. Jeh.Johnson@dhs.gov

[naam_2013 72]

I am in - just prepare the letter and let me know when you guys want me to fax it.

[dee&vee 79]

Their claims to be at 5 months are complete BS. it is completely ridiculous that still130 cases are not done in orderly fashion. VSC is all over with their approvals and does anyone knows how long it takes them to review RFEs and approve cases? I found so many cases with RFE review pending since 2 months.

[Kaylara 814]

I'm in

[thedude6752000 360]

Always good to have the matriarch of our movement with us Kaylara

[thedude6752000 360]

We have a lot of contact info to look up. I will look up

Michele Bachmann, Minn.

Lou Barletta, Pa.

Andy Barr, Ky.

Jim Bridenstine, Okla.

Mo Brooks, Ala.

On the Senatorial side I will take

Barrasso (R-WY)
Blunt (R-MO)

I think everyone who can should take 5 reps and two Senators. I will also add the info for my rep, Frank Wolf, who I know for sure is against "immigration reform."

[bdrew612 1,071]

We have a lot of contact info to look up. I will look up

Michele Bachmann, Minn.

Lou Barletta, Pa.

Andy Barr, Ky.

Jim Bridenstine, Okla.

Mo Brooks, Ala.

On the Senatorial side I will take

Barrasso (R-WY)

Blunt (R-MO)

I think everyone who can should take 5 reps and two Senators. I will also add the info for my rep, Frank Wolf, who I know for sure is against "immigration reform."

Michelle Bachmann is a lost cause (for several reasons), but mainly because she's not running for office again this year. Tom Emmer is running for her seat, and when he was in Minnesota House he tried to get the non-profit I work for completely de-funded so there is no way I could ever contact him lol

[thedude6752000 360]

Michelle Bachmann is a lost cause (for several reasons), but mainly because she's not running for office again this year. Tom Emmer is running for her seat, and when he was in Minnesota House he tried to get the non-profit I work for completely de-funded so there is no way I could ever contact him lol

Michelle Bachman is an absolute nut, but the point of this is that they all oppose Obama's "immigration reform" proposals so would be likely to make light of something like this. It does not even matter really if they are seeking re-election or not anyway, we all know most of these guys don't read this stuff, it's the staffers who will and the staffers who will talk about it. We want to contact as many people as possible to get as much talking as possible going on about this stuff. The more eyes lay sight of our letter and the more mouths talk about it, the better (even if they do happen to be crazy eyes like Michelle Bachman).

Edit:

Also those are my responsibility, you should choose 5 others to look up with whom you feel more comfortable, and of course, there's no compulsion to contact any one of them in particular as long as you contact someone!

Edited May 26, 2014 by thedude6752000

[bdrew612 1,071]

Michelle Bachman is an absolute nut, but the point of this is that they all oppose Obama's "immigration reform" proposals so would be likely to make light of something like this. It does not even matter really if they are seeking re-election or not anyway, we all know most of these guys don't read this stuff, it's the staffers who will and the staffers who will talk about it. We want to contact as many people as possible to get as much talking as possible going on about this stuff. The more eyes lay sight of our letter and the more mouths talk about it, the better (even if they do happen to be crazy eyes like Michelle Bachman).

Edit:

Also those are my responsibility, you should choose 5 others to look up with whom you feel more comfortable, and of course, there's no compulsion to contact any one of them in particular as long as you contact someone!

At the risk of veering off topic, do you think any legislative action will take place before November? I know the answer will be speculation, but I'm asking from the position of contacting people who are running for open seats OR better yet, hotly contested seats (I'm looking at you, Al Franken!)?

Maybe that's not the goal of this letter campaign, and I'm happy to discuss further in PM or another thread :-)

If Paul Ryan isn't on that list, I'm happy to try his office!