Connerly to speak at Law School tomorrow

Breaking Legal News

Ward Connerly, an outspoken critic of affirmative action and a key player in the campaign to ban the practice in Michigan, will appear on campus tomorrow.

This will be Connerly's first visit to campus since Proposal 2 passed in November 2006, banning the use of race- and gender-based affirmative action in state public institutions, including the University of Michigan.

Connerly, a former University of California regent, successfully spearheaded efforts to pass ballot initiatives banning affirmative action in California and Washington, before bringing his campaign to Michigan.

Connerly will be speaking as part of a three-person panel called, "Kelo, Grutter, and Popular Responses to Unpopular Decisions" during this weekend's 2008 Federalist Society Student Symposium. The panel, which will be moderated by Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert Young, will discuss controversial ballot measures - including Proposal 2.

The panel will begin at 9 a.m in Hutchins Hall.

Event organizer Michael James Ruttinger said he expects about 500 people to attend tomorrow's event.

Ruttinger said organizers have not heard of any planned protests surrounding Connerly's visit and have not arranged for additional security specifically because of Connerly's presence.

He added that he didn't expect the panel to come under fire because it is meant to be "an even-handed debate discussing all sides of the issues."

Ruttinger said organizers Ruttinger said he was unsure when Connerly accepted the invitation to appear on the panel, but said the majority of the event's speakers were finalized in December.

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USCIS Issues Clarifying Guidance on NAFTA TN Status Eligibility for Economists

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it is clarifying policy guidance (PDF, 71 KB) on the specific work activities its officers should consider when determining whether an individual qualifies for TN nonimmigrant status as an economist.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) TN nonimmigrant status allows qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to temporarily enter the U.S. to engage in specific professional activities, including the occupation of economist. The agreement, however, does not define the term economist, resulting in inconsistent decisions on whether certain analysts and financial professionals qualify for TN status as economists.

TN nonimmigrant status is intended to allow a limited number of professionals and specialists to work temporarily in certain specifically identified occupations in the United States. This updated guidance provides USCIS officers with a specific definition of one such category – economists – allowing them to adjudicate applications in a way that complies with the intent of the agreement. This policy update clarifies that professional economists requesting TN status must engage primarily in activities consistent with the profession of an economist. Individuals who work primarily in other occupations related to the field of economics — such as financial analysts, marketing analysts, and market research analysts — are not eligible for classification as a TN economist.

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