Watertown, NY, Sep 17, 2010 — One wrinkle in the immigration picture has been particularly difficult for foreign students and professionals working in the U.S.

There are two agencies within Homeland Security that handle visas. The one that issues them is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It says a foreign national may reapply or change a visa status "in a timely manner" before its expiration date. The visa itself may take weeks or months to process. The U.S. Border Patrol however, only looks at the expiration date.

If a person's visa has expired, that person is subject to detention. Immigration lawyer Hilary Fraser of Ithaca has defended clients caught between these two interpretations of the law. She told David Sommerstein one was a Filipino national living in Watertown.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Sep 17, 2010 — Across the North Country, border patrol road checkpoints where agents stop cars and ask passengers their citizenship have become a part of daily life. Today we have a story about another step in the creeping influence of homeland security inside the border.

It's now become commonplace for federal agents to board buses and trains across Upstate New York and ask passengers for proof of citizenship. The checks are sweeping up some drugs and illegal immigrants, but also people who are here legally. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Sep 13, 2010 — North Country apple growers say it's been a good season, but they had to fight U.S. Immigration officials to harvest their crop. For decades, orchards in northern New York have relied on experienced workers from Jamaica. Many of these laborers make the trip from the Caribbean several times a year to prune trees, tend them throughout the season and pick the fruit.

Debbie Everett is part of the family that has owned and run the Everett Orchards, near Plattsburgh, since the Revolutionary War. She says problems getting H2A visas for farm workers delayed apple picking even as the fruit was ripe, ready and nearly falling from the trees:

"The remainder of our workers just came in Tuesday," she said. "It was pretty touch and go there. But they are here. That's the good news."

As Jonathan Brown reports, an apparent misunderstanding by U.S. Immigration officials nearly prevented the Jamaican workers from making their harvest trip to the North Country.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Aug 10, 2010 — Congressman Bill Owens says he supports a guest worker program for farms. And he thinks it should be separated from the broader debate over immigration. The Democrat from...  Go to full article

Jul 29, 2010 — Canada and the Netherlands forged deep ties over the past century. Members of the Dutch Royal Family took refuge in Ottawa during the Second World War, and it was largely...  Go to full article

Alexandria Bay, NY, May 06, 2010 — Alexandria Bay businessman Matt Doheny came into the race for the 23rd Congressional district with a liability. His main competition for the Republican primary, Douglas...  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Apr 21, 2010 — The Senate Agriculture committee voted down a highly polarizing farm labor bill Tuesday. Six of nine senators voted against the legislation, including committee chairman and...  Go to full article