By Brandon Gillin

The Hill reports that House Speaker Boehner has hired Rebecca Tellent, a former John McCain staffer, as an immigration reform aide.  This move has many speculating that Boehner wants to pass immigration reform, which is in line with Boehner's statements from late November that immigration reform is "absolutely not" dead.

Brandon Gillin is an immigration lawyer with Genesis Law Firm, PLLC in Everett, Washington.

By Brandon Gillin

Talk Radio News Service reports that earlier this week immigration reform activists delivered 6,000 letters to 60 House Republican lawmakers from children of individuals who have been deported or face deportation from the U.S.

Last year USCIS created a program to allow young undocumented individuals the ability to request Deferred Action and two-year work authorization.  The program has seen success, but reports show that of the people who are eligible, only about half have applied.  Proponents of immigration reform home that a new law (the Senate's version is what many hope for) will enable the parents of these children to gain what may be called Provision Resident Status, which could lead to Permanent Resident Status and perhaps U.S. citizenship if certain eligibility criteria are met for a number of years.

Brandon Gillin is an immigration lawyer with Genesis Law Firm, PLLC in Everett, Washington.

By Brandon Gillin

Yesterday a group of Seattle-area immigration lawyers fasted at the Federal Buildings in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington in protest of Congress failing to make any progress on immigration reform.  Across the country other fasts related to the failure of congress to pass immigration reform have occurred and are still occurring.

The immigration lawyers each had an empty dinner plate, which symbolized Congress' empty promises on fixing a broken immigration system.  The sponsors of this event were the American Immigration Lawyers Association - Washington Chapter, and One America.

Brandon Gillin is an immigration lawyer with Genesis Law Firm, PLLC in Everett, Washington.