Dear Readers, I am sorry I have not given you detailed information and guidance yet. I have seen your questions and comments, esp. on family-based matters. I will start writing details that you are looking for as soon as I can. But I first need to tell you about this amazing week and the build up to the historic moment of immigration reform through executive action. Stayed tuned for legal details soon!
Wrap-up of an amazing week #ImmigrationAction
It has been a whirlwind of a week for me (and of course for my friends, colleagues and the nation). It has been emotional and exciting to say the least. Here is a diary of my events:
Monday- As news of executive action becomes more and more imminent but without a date of announcement, two of my articles are published in two prominent online publications– Seattle Globalist and ILW. One advocating to recapture unused visas from the 1990s and the other advocating for immigrant entrepreneurs. Both receive much interest and I am contacted by many with support.
Tuesday: Learn that the President will make his announcement on immigration executive action at the end of the week, likely Friday. Thrown into anxiety about time of announcement as I am supposed to be in Washington DC attending meetings all day (I thought I was going to complain about not having executive action when scheduling these meetings!). I didn’t want to miss the live speech and details.
Wednesday: Learn that the announcements in fact will be made on Thursday. I get into a tizzy as I would be flying into DC on a red-eye tonight and am anxious not to miss it live. I then learn I will already have landed in DC so the next anxiety is whether I can attend wherever the announcement will be held in person. After many inquiries, I learned that the announcement would be made from the White House so it is not an event I can attend.
Thursday: Arrive in DC. Stomach fluttering with excitement. Go to AILA national office and learn that AILA Executive Director Crystal Williams has already attended a briefing at the White House. Learn of new provision “Entrepreneur Parole in Place” – thrown in a tizzy again that immigrant entrepreneurs are definitely included and that I couldn’t wait to see what the details will hold. Right at that moment, CNN Money publishes article quoting me. Return to hotel to attend a conference call with the White House to get the low-down on details. Anxiously read materials of what is included specifically for skilled immigration and entrepreneurs. Watched the speech with dear friend and went to dinner with her. Return to the hotel to read more details and write on blog. Blog going haywire. Need to sleep. Don’t want to. Fall asleep while reading memos.
Friday: Busy day of pre-arranged meetings. Attend Congresswoman Delbene’s office, have lunch with Edward Alden from Council of Foreign Relations, meet Ryan Mace from Senator Murray’s office- had a great chat. Meet with Mark Colwell, Sen. Moran’s office to discuss next phase of the Startup visa. Then meet with Aneesh Chopra former White House CTO. Quoted in CNN Money re. Startup Visa alternative.
The finale of the exciting day and week was to receive the Immigration Minority Lawyer of the Year award from the Minority Chamber of Commerce. Thank you so much Minority Chamber of Commerce! Thank you for including me in the distinguished group of awardees that included the Mayor of DC and the Director of USCIS, I am speechless. I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive the award and share the award with every lawyer who has fought for immigration reform. But I am even more grateful that by sheer fate, the day of the award ceremony coincided with the day President Obama signed the historic immigration executive order.
What more can a passionate immigration lawyer, advocate and policy junkie ask for?
