The USCIS announced recently that the new "Green Card" (representing an immigrant’s legal permanent resident status in the U.S., also referred to as the I-551 card), has been redesigned. The so-called Green Card, which was green in color many years ago, has not actually been green for some time; instead it has been the color white, pink and beige. However, all new cards issued since May 11th are now green and contain a new security and tamper-resistant design.

U.S. Permanent Residents, whose current cards have expired or will be expiring within six months and those with the older type green cards without expiration dates, should replace these cards with the new version. The new cards have holographic images, optical variable ink, a laser engraved fingerprint, high resolution micro-images and utilize radio frequency identification (RFID) that can be read from a distance and linked to personal file information that will be used by Customs and Border Protection at the ports of entry.

Dream Act supporters stage peaceful “Sit-ins”, get arrested

On May 17th, three young undocumented pro-immigration reform youth leaders entered Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) office in Tucson, Arizona and staged a “sit-in”, to protest the new restrictive Arizona law and calling on McCain and other congressional leaders to take action and pass the DREAM Act Bills pending in Congress since last year. After nearly eight hours, the protestors were arrested, jailed and detained by the ICE, then later released. They not only face federal trespassing charges, but also deportation proceedings. The group spoke with reporters asking that leaders within both the Senate and community “take the same stand we did and push for the DREAM Act to become a reality this year…Senator Stabenow (D-MI), you are one of these leaders, recognize my dream and my friends dreams and co-sponsor the DREAM Act. Enough is enough... It is imperative for all to continue to push the DREAM Act, to work like we’ve never worked before and make this a reality this summer. We’ve surpassed the days of sitting idly by while others make decisions for us, while others tell us to wait. We cannot wait. Waiting is no longer an option. The DREAM Act must pass and it must pass now.”

The student’s detention sparked solidarity vigils, hunger strikes, and civil disobedience actions across the country focused on pushing legislators to make the DREAM Act a reality. Inspired by the Arizona sit-in, on May 20th student supporters of the DREAM Act marched to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office to demand a push for the DREAM Act. As the rally went on, 60 students entered the federal building and seven students linked arms refusing to leave, demanding passage of the DREAM act. The students were later arrested, given citations, then released. No immigration charges were ever filed. These and other protests across the country serve to illustrate the level of frustration experienced by innocent immigrant children and others in their peaceful push for immigration reform.

Perhaps in response to this outcry, on May 20th, Senator Durbin (D-IL), sponsor of the Senate version of the Dream Act, addressed the Senate regarding immigration, stating in part, “…we have to deal with people who are here and do it in an honest and humane way, making certain we don’t allow anyone who is a danger to America to remain but also say to those who have obeyed the laws and are willing to pay taxes and fines that they will be given a chance—a chance…The DREAM Act says if you were brought here to America as a child, if you have lived in this country without a criminal record that would disqualify you, if you graduate from high school, if you have no moral flaws that might disqualify you otherwise, you have an opportunity to reach legalization one of two ways: You may volunteer to serve in our military or you may complete two years of college…We are not a nation that penalizes children for the crimes of their parents. The tens of thousands of young people who have never known another country but the United States and only want to be part of our future deserve a chance. We cannot, we should not, deport them…”. Durbin urged his fellow senators to sponsor the Dream Act now and save the big immigration reform debate for another time.

*This column is published for the purposes of providing a general understanding of immigration legal issues, as a public service and is not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Consideration given to any immigration issue is not intended in any way to substitute for individual legal consultation with a licensed attorney. Readers should understand that this column and the foregoing illustrations are subject to different interpretations in each particular immigration case that may arise and no one reading this column should attempt to apply his own particular situation to the principles described herein. Readers with specific legal immigration issues should consult their attorney. If you have an immigration issue and do not know an attorney, you may call your state’s attorney Bar Association.