NEWS ITEM ONE:  NOTICE TO EMPLOYERS-- USCIS Continues to Accept FY 2011 H-1B Petitions. 

NEWS ITEM TWO:  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano assures Hispanic political leaders on Thursday that the president remains committed to overhauling the nation's immigration laws.   

COMMENTARY

1.  NEWS ITEM ONE:  NOTICE TO EMPLOYERS 

USCIS Continues to Accept FY 2011 H-1B Petitions.  As of June 18, 2010, approximately 22,900 H-1B cap-subject petitions were receipted. Additionally, USCIS has receipted 9,700 H-1B petitions for aliens with advanced degrees.

2.  NEWS ITEM TWO:  Immigration Reform Update

Napolitano, in a speech this week (June 24, 2010) to Hispanic Leaders provided no details of what an immigration bill would look like, but said that it would be a "big goal" requiring bipartisanship.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/24/AR2010062404460_pf.html

Napolitano stressed that the administration was committed to tough enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico border while working to formulate a bill.  "And the word secure really becomes, effectively, 'seal' the border," she said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/24/AR2010062404460_pf.html

Whether it is Napolitano or Obama, we are getting the same speech over and over from Washington.  I have 3 main questions here:

1.  WHERE ARE THE DETAILS OF THIS IMMIGRATION BILL? 

Many people are asking this question.  Here is a quote from one of the Hispanic leaders who listened to Napolitano’s speech:  Nicolas Dominguez, 54, a trustee at El Paso Community College, said he was satisfied with Napolitano's speech, but added, "I think these speeches need to be followed up by actual actions." He also said he wanted more details about what an immigration bill would look like.

2.  WHY DO WE NEED HUGE, COMPREHENSIVE REFORM?

If the Administration is aiming for an amnesty-like program, it should prepare for trench warfare.  This will be a healthcare equivalent type fight.  Why not concentrate on passing some small reform measures that could have a very positive impact?  Why not pass either the Dream Act or the Start Up Visa Act?  Both of these potential laws seem popular in Congress.  Instead of tying these to some huge, complicated reform package, why not pass them now?    

3.  BORDER SECURITY AS A PRE-CONDITION