This bill will be expensive and requires Americans to purchase insurance.

If they don’t purchase insurance, they will have to pay a fine.  How are many Americans going to pay for insurance, or the fine, if they can’t even pay their mortgage? These are questions many hope the administration will have the answers to. However, the US health care system was in a mess and requires urgent attention. According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the US is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system.

The number of people in America without health insurance coverage totaled about 16% of the population, or 47 million people. Of these 47 million uninsured people, nine million or roughly twenty per cent, reside in households whose income totals greater than $75,000.

In addition, many or most of those with insurance are not sufficiently insured, with high-deductible policies, policies that do have limits on what they will pay for or policies that cost a significant percentage of their income.

Despite its shortcomings, the new health care bill is a step in the right direction to fix a system that never cared about the health of most American. However, under the new bill, health care insurance companies cannot turn away anyone with a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies will be reigned in, and Medicare spending will become more efficient.

Republicans are conservative and believe that government should have less control over citizens’ lives. On the other hand, Democrats are more liberal and advocate for more government participations. They are always in disagreement with each other. We are however, urging the Republicans to give the Obama’s health care bill a chance. Only a healthy American can grow the economy and produce the jobs.

If you are an illegal immigrant and are married to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and have been a victim of abuse, you may be able to get help.

If you’ve been the victim of emotional, verbal, physical, or sexual abuse at the hands of your spouse, you may qualify for immigrations benefits or a valid work authorization. Under The Violence Against Women Act, abused immigrants may obtain permanent residency and other immigration benefits that will allow them to leave their abusive situation.

For more information about free and confidential legal services call the Texas Civil Rights Project’s VAWA Program at 1- 888-364-8277.

NJ Supreme Court says bail can be higher for illegal immigrants

The state Supreme Court has ruled that county prosecutors may seek bail increases on illegal aliens charged with crimes who they believe face imminent deportation.

In a unanimous ruling by the state’s highest court, the opinion sanctioned the actions of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in January when it asked for, and received from a Superior Court judge, a bail increase from $75,000 to $300,000 for Manuel Fajardo-Santos. Fajardo-Santos, an illegal alien from Honduras, was charged in August 2008 with molesting a child in Wharton.

Bail was set at $75,000, and the complaint against him stated there was reason to believe he was here illegally. But it wasn’t until Dec. 18 that the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer against him at the county jail, which indicated they wished to start deportation proceedings against him.

Woman pleads guilty to running marriage immigration scheme

DALLAS (AP) – A 71-year-old woman accused of recruiting family members to marry foreigners seeking green cards pleaded guilty Wednesday to taking part in an immigration fraud conspiracy.

Federal prosecutors say Maria Refugia Camarillo of Fort Worth faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced in September. She also must provide a $35,000 lien on her home.

Investigators said that from the 1980s until last year, Camarillo and others ran a scheme in which U.S. citizens would marry foreigners willing to pay up to $12,000. Once married, the U.S. citizen could petition for their foreign spouse to receive U.S. permanent residence, also called a green card, and later U.S. citizenship.

Citizenship for Permanent Residents

You may be eligible for naturalization if you have lived in the United States for at least 5 years as a permanent resident or 3 years if married to and living with a U.S. citizen (if you meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen).

How long can an alien be in H-1B status?

Under current law, an alien can be in H-1B status for a maximum period of six years at a time. After that time an alien must remain outside the United States for one year before another H- 1B petition can be approved.