U.S. President Barack Obama came into office with strong voter support among Hispanic Americans, while promising to make immigration reform a top priority. But many lawmakers in Washington oppose easing restrictions on immigration and instead demand a crackdown against illegal immigration.

Hundreds of pro-immigration activists gathered recently near the White House to send President Obama a message:

“We are here to collect on the promises he made to us,” said a female activist.

That promise was sweeping pro-immigration reform. The rally was equal parts political theater, voter outrage and dance party.

“Hey, hey, Obama, don’t deport my mama!,” chanted the protesters.

Such appeals against deporting mamas are not helping this mother. She says when she called police during a domestic violence dispute, she was arrested.  She now faces deportation.

“I am fighting not to be separated from my daughter and for justice for the millions of immigrants in this country,” she said.

Police detained Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois and other activists during the protest.  Gutierrez supports immigration reforms, including an end to deporting undocumented, immigrant college students.  These protestors say more than 1 million immigrants have been deported since Mr. Obama’s election.

Speaking to Hispanic activists recently, the president blamed Republicans for failing to enact immigration reforms.

“Let’s be honest, I need a dance partner here and the floor is empty,” said President Obama.

Political analysts say Mr. Obama needs Hispanic voters to win re-election in 2012.  But a recent Gallup Poll shows his approval rating among Hispanics has slipped.

At the rally, the anger was palpable.

“The United States is deporting veterans and that is not American,” said Vietnam war veteran Manuel Valenzuela.

Business leaders testifying on Capitol Hill also seek immigration reform.  But their interests are more narrow. They seek quick visa approval for high tech foreign employees. They say the United States is losing top workers because the immigration process is so cumbersome.

Microsoft attorney Brad Smith says other countries have friendlier immigration policies toward top talent.

“The world economy has changed,” said Smith. “It used to be that people would move in search of the right jobs.  Now jobs move in search of the right people.”

NASDAQ CEO Robert Greifeld says high-skilled immigrants in the U.S. create jobs.

“Among the Fortune 500 companies, we found at least 14 NASDAQ companies with foreign-born founders,” said Greifeld. “These companies have created over $522 billion in market capitalization and employ over 500,000 workers.”

With a sluggish economy, and a still unresolved debate over raising the debt ceiling, there’s much uncertainty in Washington.  But one thing is sure:  those waiting for comprehensive immigration reform are going to wait a little bit longer.

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Obama-Takes-Heat-from-Pro-Immigration-Groups-126290333.html

Making the decision to migrate to a new country is often difficult for the persons involved. The process of getting the legal residency status is even harder. With the increased levels of economic and social unrest in many parts of the world, many nations have tightened up their immigration laws. The requirements to be met in order to become a legal resident have become stricter than it used to be a few years ago.

The amount of paper work involved is overwhelming, especially for foreign individuals who have little knowledge of a country’s laws. This is obviously done deliberately to discourage those without a strong reason to move. However, it also frustrates those with good reasons.

So how do you get round all that? How do you achieve your aims with so many legal obstacles placed in front of you?

An attorney in immigration is the answer. The legal experts in immigration laws of the particular country you want to reside in. They’ll help you clear up all the bells and whistles, simplify all the legal jargon and help you make informed decisions on the processes you require to achieve legal immigration status.

Regulations on immigration are strictly adhered to and it seems they’ll only get worse with time. Improper documentation or any other “little” error would not be taken lightly by the authorities and could result in your application being denied.  The attorney in immigration would help you avoid such mistakes in your documentation.

They know the right channels through which to monitor your application status until the last stages when a decision is made.

There is too much at stake to NOT hire an attorney in immigration, as the application process is quite competitive. Countries usually only accept the most qualified applicants so there’s little room for error. The attorney in immigration would also know under which category your application would stand the best chance of being approved. For example, there are many kinds of visas to the United States for different purposes.  You might be technically eligible for more than one but you’ll have a better chance of being accepted for the one which you’re most qualified. The choice of which one to apply for has to be made with every clause in the law considered.

The attorney in immigration is in the best position to assess that and make a recommendation to you.

Even in the event of you immigrating to your dream country, there are still many laws to be obeyed so as to maintain your immigration status. Falling short of these standards might mean a reversal of the previously granted status. Also keep in mind the fact that these laws change regularly too, it’s the duty of your attorney in immigration to be aware of any changes that might have an effect on your case.

There seems to be so many do’s and don’ts, right?

Well, the more reason why you definitely need to invest in a good attorney in immigration. They are often backed by years of experience in handling cases like yours. I hope you’ll make the smart choice. The results they can help you get are worth far more than all the time, effort and uncertainty you might have to put up with otherwise.