30 January 2003
INS Seeks Eligible Individuals to Apply for Permanent Residency
(Majority of applicants under LIFE Act are Hispanic, INS says) (790)
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) announced a
public outreach campaign on January 27 to encourage thousands of
eligible individuals to apply for permanent residency status.
According to an INS press release, more than 200,000 long-term U.S.
residents are eligible to apply for legal status under a provision of
the Legal Immigration and Family Equity (LIFE) Act.
"This public outreach campaign provides a golden opportunity for
eligible individuals to apply for Life legalization benefits," INS
Acting Commissioner Michael Garcia said. "It reflects the agency's
commitment to assist individuals who want to come into compliance with
U.S. immigration laws."
The INS estimates that the majority of the potential applications
under the Life Act are Hispanic, with the largest number being natives
of Mexico.
In order to reach its intended audience, the INS is airing 30-second
radio and television spots, including spots in Spanish.
More information on eligibility for Life Act benefits is available at:
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/questsans/lifelegal.htm
Following is the text of the January 27 INS press release:
(begin text)
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2003
INS Campaign Seeks Out Applicants for LIFE Legalization Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
today announced a public outreach campaign to encourage thousands of
eligible individuals to file applications that could adjust their
status in the United States to that of permanent residents.
"This public outreach campaign provides a golden opportunity for
eligible individuals to apply for Life Legalization benefits," Michael
Garcia, INS Acting Commissioner, said of the nationwide program, which
features television and radio spots in Spanish. "It reflects the
agency's commitment to assist individuals who want to come into
compliance with U.S. immigration laws."
The public outreach campaign aims to reach more than 200,000 long-term
U.S. residents who are believed to be eligible to apply for legal
status under a provision of the Legal Immigration and Family Equity
(LIFE) Act. The deadline for filing such applications is June 4, 2003.
To reach its intended audience, the INS is taking to the airwaves with
30-second radio and television spots urging potential applicants to
protect their futures ("Arregla tu Futuro") by filing applications
before the June 4 deadline. Similar messages appear on posters and
fliers distributed in Hispanic communities. In addition, INS managers
in the agency's 33 district offices are taking the message to local
news media, through interviews and public appearances.
The public outreach program is national in scope but concentrated in
four metropolitan areas that the INS believes are home to about
two-thirds of the eligible LIFE Legalization applicants who have yet
to file. Those metropolitan areas are: Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston
and New York City.
To be eligible for this LIFE Act benefit (known as "LIFE
Legalization"), an individual must have entered the United States
before January 1, 1982 and resided in continuous unlawful status
through May 4, 1988, including being physically present in the United
States from November 6, 1986, until May 4, 1988. Among other
requirements, they must also have filed a written claim for class
membership in one of three class action lawsuits arising from the 1986
Legalization, or Amnesty, program for illegal immigrants. The three
lawsuits are entitled Catholic Social Services, Inc. (CSS) v. Meese,
the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) v. INS, and
Zambrano v. INS.
Individuals who meet the U.S. residency requirements and who, before
October 1, 2000, filed a written claim for class membership in any of
the lawsuits, are eligible to apply for adjustment of their legal
status under the LIFE Act Legalization provision.
The LIFE Act provides eligible applicants with work authorization, and
even a stay of removal or deportation proceedings or orders, while
their adjustment applications are pending. It also protects from
removal and provides employment authorization for certain spouses and
minor children of eligible applicants for the period of time in which
they are afforded Family Unity protection.
The INS estimates that the majority of potential applicants under this
provision of the LIFE Act are Hispanic with the largest number being
natives of Mexico. As of October 31, 2002, about 55,000 individuals
have filed applications under this provision of the LIFE Act.
Additional information about the LIFE Legalization is available
through the INS website
(http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/services/residency/LIFE.htm), or
through its toll-free National Customer Service Line,
(1-800-375-5283). The necessary forms can be obtained at INS district
offices or downloaded from the INS website. In addition, several major
community-based organizations can assist applicants.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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