Immigration Direct Newsletter   |   October 2011

When Alabama's immigration law, SB 1070, went into effect in September 2011, at least two dramatic things happened: Alabama schools saw a dramatic drop in Latino children attending and the state's farmers had no workers available to pick their crops. Under this new legislation, schools are required to check the immigration status of newly enrolled students. In addition, the new law also allows police, during a traffic stop, to ask for documentation to prove US Citizenship or legal immigration status of anyone they suspect of being here illegally.

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law California's version of the DREAM Act that will allow undocumented immigrants who enroll in college to be eligible for state scholarships and financial aid beginning stating in July 2012.

Registration for the Green Card Lottery will be ending at noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT -5), Saturday, November 5, 2011.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is an annual event that is congressionally mandated. The process is computer-driven and is completely random.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas joined the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness in Pittsburgh to announce "Entrepreneurs in Residence." This new innovative initiative will utilize industry expertise to strengthen USCIS policies and practices surrounding immigrant investors, entrepreneurs and workers with specialized skills, knowledge, or abilities. Mayorkas announced the initiative at the Jobs Council's High Growth Entrepreneurship Listening and Action Session at AlphaLab in Pittsburgh before the Council's quarterly meeting with President Obama.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Yo-Yo Ma, born on October 7, 1955 in Paris, France, is an American virtuoso cellist who has won multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. He is one of the most famous cellists of the modern age.

Ingredients:

6 small zucchini grated Salt as needed
1/2 lb feta crumbled
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup finely-chopped fresh parsley

"The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources--because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples."

- Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States