New Immigration Bill In AZ

Headline Legal News

AP is reporting that Arizona has inched closer to making all illegal immigrants in the state criminals.

The Arizona Senate voted 16-11 early today to expand its trespassing laws, making the presence of illegal immigrants a crime. The House must approve the bill and Gov. Jan Brewer must sign it before it would become law.

If passed, Arizona would be the first with such a law.

Supporters say this would provide law enforcement with another layer to combat illegal immigrants who slip past federal agents.

Opponents, on the other hand, believe this could lead to racial profiling and discrimination.

Related listings

  • John Hinckley Gets More Freedom

    John Hinckley Gets More Freedom

    Headline Legal News 06/17/2009

    The man who tried to kill President Ronald Reagan is now allowed to visit his mother more, to get a driver's license and spend more time away from the mental hospital where he lives, a federal judge ruled. John Hinckley shot President Reagan and woun...

  • Conrad Black Asks for Release from Prison

    Conrad Black Asks for Release from Prison

    Headline Legal News 05/29/2009

    Former media executive Conrad Black is seeking his release from prison, at least until the Supreme Court decides whether to uphold his fraud conviction. Black has served nearly 15 months of a 6 1/2-year prison term following his conviction in July 20...

  • Judge Sonia Sotomayor Accepts Nomination to Supreme Court

    Judge Sonia Sotomayor Accepts Nomination to Supreme Court

    Headline Legal News 05/26/2009

    President Obama on Tuesday nominated federal appellate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor "is an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice," Obama said at a White House announcement.She "has worked at almost ever...

USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it is adjusting the premium processing fee for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers beginning on Oct. 1, 2018 to more effectively adjudicate petitions and maintain effective service to petitioners.

The premium processing fee will increase to $1,410, a 14.92 percent increase (after rounding) from the current fee of $1,225. This increase, which is done in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, represents the percentage change in inflation since the fee was last increased in 2010 based on the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers.

“Because premium processing fees have not been adjusted since 2010, our ability to improve the adjudications and service processes for all petitioners has been hindered as we’ve experienced significantly higher demand for immigration benefits. Ultimately, adjusting the premium processing fee will allow us to continue making necessary investments in staff and technology to administer various immigration benefit requests more effectively and efficiently,” said Chief Financial Officer Joseph Moore. “USCIS will continue adjudicating all petitions on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards required under applicable law, policies, and regulations.”

Premium processing is an optional service that is currently authorized for certain petitioners filing Forms I-129 or I-140. The system allows petitioners to request 15-day processing of certain employment-based immigration benefit requests if they pay an extra fee. The premium processing fee is paid in addition to the base filing fee and any other applicable fees, which cannot be waived.