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  • President Declares Immigration Policy Change For Young People

    On June 15 President Obama announced changes to immigration policy that would allow a deferral of deportation to young people who came to this county as children.
    The announcement appeared in the White House Blog and the Department of Homeland Security website with a title of “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Who Can Be Considered?”

    The President’s Rose Garden remarks are available as a video.

    Details of the deferral action process is available online on the Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov/deferred-action-process.

    The White House and Homeland Security articles read as follows:

    Today, USCIS will begin accepting requests for consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals. Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal action of an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion. Under this process, USCIS will consider requests on a case-by-case basis. While this process does not provide lawful status or a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship, individuals whose cases are deferred will not be removed from the United States for a two year period, subject to renewal, and may also receive employment authorization. To be considered for this process, you must show that:

    • You came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday
    • You have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time
    • You were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012
    • You entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012
    • You are currently in school, have graduated or obtained your certificate of completion from high school, have obtained your general educational development certification, or you are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States
    • You have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat
    • You were present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS

    • If you meet the above guidelines, and want to submit your deferred action for childhood arrivals request with USCIS, you will need to:

    • Collect documents as evidence you meet the guidelines
    • Complete USCIS Forms I-821D, I-765 and I-765 Worksheet
    • Mail USCIS the forms and fees (total $465, accompanying Form I-765)
    • Visit your local USCIS Application Support Center for a scheduled biometrics services appointment

    After you file, you will be able to check the status of your request online. For more information, visit our website for the latest news and updates on this process at www.uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals.

    This policy change will have immediate impact for thousands of young people, often referred to as “Dreamers”, who came to this county at a very early age and consider themselves Americans.

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Application Support Centers in New Jersey are located at 285-299 North Broad Street, Elizabeth and 116 Kansas Street, Hackensack. Other centers are located at 201 West Houston Street, Room #1023, New York, New York or 10300 Drummond Road, Suite 100, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • Worried About Computer Hackers?

    Worried about computer security when you are at home or at work? You should be. To get a better understanding of the problem visit the SANS Institute’s
    Security Awareness Tip Of the Day webpage. You will learn alot.

    The SANS Institute is a website recommended by General Keith Alexander, the National Security Agency Director and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) Commander, in remarks made earlier this week at a conference in Washington, D.C. He also recommended government agencies visit the webpage on
    Twenty Critical Security Controls For Effective Cyber Defense.

  • From Yosemite to Acadia: Free Passes for Military Families

    Today, just one percent of Americans are fighting our wars, but we need 100% of Americans to be supporting our troops and their families – not just during Armed Forces Week, but all year long. That’s why we launched the Joining Forces Initiative last year to encourage all Americans to find ways to honor, recognize and support our veterans and military families.

    Starting on Armed Forces Day, this Saturday, May 19, we will be offering all active duty military a free annual pass that will grant access to service members and their dependents, to more than 2,000 sites across the country, including National Parks.

    The annual pass will be accepted at all public land sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees, including those managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps.

    From Yosemite to Acadia to the Grand Canyon, we are putting out a welcome mat for our military families at America’s most beautiful and storied sites.

    Service men and women from all five branches of the military – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, including the Reserves and National Guard – are eligible just by showing a current, valid military identification card. The pass is also available for the family members of active duty military, which is critical because we know that military spouses and children make sacrifices for our country every day too.

    Earlier today, the very first of these passes were distributed in a ceremony at Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, Virginia to members of the military – a small down payment on the debt of gratitude our nation owes our service men and women.

    Learn more about the Annual Pass for Active Duty Military and their Dependents.

    To learn more visit http://store.usgs.gov/pass/military.html. Thank you, our Veterans.

    Source: White House Blog – http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/05/15/rolling-out-welcome-mat-our-military-families-national-parks-and-public-lands?utm_source=051612&utm_medium=topper&utm_campaign=daily and a May 16 White House email.