EveryJoe » immigration

American Apparel Employs Illegal Workers

Mark Ellis — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:42:49 +0000

In a bold move that many other companies would probably shy away from, clothing manufacturer and retailer American Apparel announced, in a news release, that the government found about 1,600 company employees that may not be authorized to work in the United States. Furthermore, about 200 employees were found to have discrepancies in their employment records.

The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency conducted an inspection of the company last year, leading to this development. Their findings included many employees using fake social security numbers in order to secure the job. These social security numbers were found to be either not real or belonging to someone else.

A spokeswoman for the immigration agency confirmed that American Apparel is facing a fine and that it is only a matter of how much money the company will have to pay. The punishment will be much more severe if the immigration agency discovers that American Apparel was participating in a scheme to work past immigration laws.

Image: Flickr

Post from: EveryJoe

American Apparel Employs Illegal Workers

Immigrants Might Save the Housing Market

Mark Ellis — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:33:22 +0000

According to a new report by Harvard researchers, immigration might be the factor that keeps the housing market on the path to recovery. If immigration were to slow down, the resulting lack of customers would hurt the real estate market further on down the line, meaning that the group of researchers recommends no dramatic changes to immigration policy.

The same Harvard economists cite the current unemployment crisis as the major factor keeping the housing market from recovering more quickly. On a more optimistic note, the economists concluded that the housing market continues to correct itself as more and more home prices fall and fewer homes are produced.

Right now, the impact of immigration in the future remains a big question mark, mostly because researchers cannot accurately predict the number of immigrants to the United States many years from now. However, the report does account for the fact that subsequent generations of U.S. citizens are more populous than before, which means that a drop in immigration may be cushioned by a larger number of Americans.

Ellis Island (Image: Flickr)

Post from: EveryJoe

Immigrants Might Save the Housing Market

Entering without a computer II

Chris — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:16:34 +0000

Earlier I mentioned the new on-line registration system the US has come up with, which may well make things difficult for people who don’t have a computer. I’ve also mentioned efforts to make getting your laptop through security less burdensome. Increasingly, those who travel internationally with a computer may want to rethink bringing their laptop with them at all, or at least consider which data should really be on there.

According to recent reports, US border officials have increasingly been “inspecting” laptops of US citizens and non-citizens alike, and holding those laptops for, in some case, an extended period of time. Courts have thus far been unwilling to stop border officials from perusing pretty much whatever they want on those laptops, which is a bit of a frightening prospect for even those of us who are otherwise law-abiding folk.

If you, like me, carry most of your work with you on a laptop when you travel that’s a bit disconcerting to say the least.

Post from: EveryJoe

Entering without a computer II

Entering without a computer

Chris — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:24:18 +0000

The visa waiver program makes it relatively easy for citizens of certain (mostly developed) countries to enter the United States without a visa (see map above). Travelers simply fill out a paper form on the airplane before deplaning and, assuming they have a valid passport and are eligible for entry, are admitted to the United States.

Under a new rule promulgated in June, however, travelers wishing to use the visa waiver program will be required to submit certain personal data electronically prior to entering the US on the waiver program. Those who wish to do so may start using the online program voluntarily by accessing the ESTA website. The rule is subject to comment, but is expected to become mandatory in January 2009. More details are available here, although it’s not clear how potential visa waiver travelers without access to a computer or the internet are to fulfill the registration requirement.

image courtesy of Wikipedia, public domain

Post from: EveryJoe

Entering without a computer