Immigration and Legal

Worksite enforcement/legalization of undocumented workers

2008-05-01T11:30:00Z

Under existing legistlation (from the 1986 Immigration Reform Bill) US Employers have to fill out Form I-9 for employees and verify certain identity documents. Current Immigration Reform legislation would mandate (now only "voluntary") the verification of the indenticication documents against a government data base (REAL ID), and stiff penalties would be applied in the event the Employer violates these provisions ($5,000 for a first offense $75,000 repeat offenses, per employee).

HEY-OYE is developing IT solutions that would automate the record keeping and interface the software with exisitng USCIS and other government data bases. These tools would allow Employers to comply with exisitng verification programs, and prepare the firm to enter the potentially new mandatory regulatory environment of Electronic Employment Verification (EEV).

HEY-OYE is also developing software and interface tools so that Employers to enable Employers to assist undocumented workers with legalization provisions under the draft provisions of the current immigration bill.

Turning undocumented Latino Students in US into entrepreneurs

2008-05-01T11:30:00Z

Current immigration reform provisions ("dream act') might unlock the potential for undocumented Latino students to become candidates for permanent residency (visit our Blog Post of 5/23/07). Without this type of relief these students will continue without job opportunities that match their acquired knowledge, a significant potential loss to the individual student and the community.

HEY-OYE is exploring avenues to act on behalf of these students as "angel investor", and/or resource clearinghouse, to match students with entrepreneurial opportunities. Possible scenarios would allow firms (US or international) interested in of outsourcing tasks to contract a "corporate entity" (LLC formed to contract services or a sole proprietorship Doing Business As an incorporated entity). The US based student would use IT solutions to deliver the work product taking advance of his/her access to university/community college research facilities, and the obvious advantage of being physically present to undertake grass root marketing efforts. A firm wishing to penetrate the rapidly expanding Latino market in the US would enjoy the benefit of "plugged in" young student, eager to compliment his academic work with "internship" in the product or service the "client firm" is launching.

Social Vehicles to Cluster Services to Underserved Latinos

2008-05-01T11:25:00Z

In the mist of the most sophisticated financial market place (US urban centers) many Latino immigrants still operate on a “cash” basis (unbanked, and lacking access to credit). The costs to the immigrants (transaction fees, subject to muggings, exclusion from mortgages, small business loans) are very apparent. The higher cost to society at large in lost potential (Latinos operating in the margins) is evidenced in deteriorating communities on both sides of the US/Latin America divide.

HEY-OYE has been operating a “storefront” in the Columbia Heights Latino area of Washington, DC to counsel “marginalized” immigrants on financial, regulatory, housing and related concerns. Our findings of attitudes of these Latino immigrants in our “barrio” are as follows:

Latinos are leery of “institutions”: they trust certain family members, friends, “patron” (reliable employer), colleagues, “compadres” (individuals that are tied to the family by marriage or represent other close ties), and certain church and community organizations that have served them in the past.
For these “marginalized” Latinos, obtaining reliable “information” (financial, immigration, legal, regulatory, housing, health, schooling and related critical issues) is a challenge. Unfortunately, many of these Latinos are functionally illiterate (both in English and Spanish) and they have a hard time navigating all the available information sources (understanding the issues, and separating “infomercials” from objective news).
The Latinos who are most difficult to serve (also the biggest opportunity), are undocumented (without proper immigration status in the US), do not have a solid permanent employment, nor belong to a Union, and otherwise do not have a secure link to the economy or social safety nets.
A generalized profile of these undocumented Latinos is that they are hard workers (sometimes in more than one job), live in group housing, and are able to save and send cash to their relatives.

CHALLENGE: to find a “social vehicle” (cooperative, nonprofit entity) to serve as the “cluster” for these underserved, undocumented, underemployed, US-based urban Latinos, so they have better access to financial, legal, housing, health, education and related products and services. “Membership” in such an “affinity group” could entail: deposit and credit card services (remittance features); purchase of “embedded” products (cell phones with messaging services and future mobile banking); health group insurance; legal services; and in general “union” type collective services.

Obviously, there are numerous regulatory challenges at the Federal and State level for any such “social entity”. Perhaps, undocumented Latinos will have to settle for operating individually with Federal Tax Id #s and otherwise cluster informally through the services provided by NGOs, church or other community organizations. HEY-OYE is intent on engaging other organizations (including research and operating entities) in exploring best products and services to offer these Latino individuals.

Immigration Reform

2008-05-01T11:24:00Z

HEY-OYE's staff in Washington, DC is part of a series of formal and informal networks of "think tanks", congressional staff, institutions, nonprofits and NGO's that are monitoring the status of pending bills in the US Senate and House of Representatives. Interpretation of existing laws and regulations governing immigrants visa requirements and procedures and constantly in review and appraisal. HEY-OYE has filed numerous forms on behalf of clients and has developed expertise in PERM electronic filling (US Labor Certificates) and other pertinent procedures to evaluate, counsel and execute on appropriate applications on behalf of petitioners.

Covering both sides of social-economic spectrum

2008-05-01T11:23:00Z

HEY-OYE staff is uniquely aware that its programs focusing on serving immigrant communities have to be tailored to specific provisions in the law that might apply to Central Americans (TPS status); and those who are appropriate for Venezuelans, who might qualify for "executive transfers" (L1-A visas) or other highly specialized treatment (EB1 and EB2 visas for individuals with "Masters Degrees").

HEY-OYE is committed to serving immigrants in need, and to allocate costs of operation so that those unable to pay will obtain the same quality and care of counseling as those who would be in fact "subsidizing" less fortunate immigrants.