2011

We will have some litigation news for you later this week. Please watch this space…

Over the weekend there was a fantastic profile in the Wall Street Journal on Anna D., Stuart, Dieudonne, Alejandro, and Ugoo.  Please read it when you have an opportunity: http://online.wsj.com/public/page/news-lifestyle-arts-entertainment.html?mod=WSJ_topnav_lifeculture_main

As I understand an additional Facebook resource has opened in support of our cause: http://www.facebook.com/dvlottery?sk=wall This is in addition to http://www.facebook.com/dv2012 I am so grateful that we have such dedicated individuals applying their talents and energies to this enormous challenge we are facing.  Just the other day, a correspondent asked me – “How is it that you managed to find plaintiffs from more than 20 countries in only a couple of weeks?  That’s incredible.” I said: “It’s not difficult when you have the support of 22,000 people. Anything is possible.” And that is the truth.  Anything is possible. Thanks again for all of your help.  

Please see the attached press release on the filing of the lawsuit in Washington, D.C. Please forward this to media outlets in your home countries.  Thank you.

We have filed our lawsuit with the US District Court for the District of Columbia.  The case is Ilya Smirnov et al. v. Hillary Rodham Clinton et al.  There are 36 named plaintiffs from more than 20 countries. Government defendants include the Department of State, USCIS and senior government officials, including Mr. Donahue. The lawsuit is styled as a class action, meaning, if the court approves the request to certify, it will go forward as a class action, with the 22,000 victims making up the class. We will be posting more details in the next day or two. Thank you all once again for your encouragement and support!

Please look for an announcement in this space on Sunday night (Pacific Time).  Thank you for your patience.

Thank you all for your patience. The lawsuit will be submitted to the court this week.  I will inform you once it has been filed and registered.

In response to many of your questions, please see the attached faq Thank you.

You may recall that on May 25, 2011, we requested that the Office of Inspector General at the Department of State launch an investigation into the invalidation of the DV-2012 results.  We have now received a reply from the General Counsel within the Office of Inspector General at the Department of State: Mr. White: Deputy Inspector General Geisel asked me to reply to your letter to him, dated May 25, 2011.  Thank you for your letter and your interest in this matter.  The Department has asked the Office of Inspector General to review the Diversity Visa Lottery matter and we have agreed to do so. Sincerely, Erich O. Hart Erich O. Hart General Counsel Office of Inspector General Department of State While no additional details were provided, one can surmise that this is an encouraging sign. Nevertheless,  this should in no way detract from our resolve to proceed with our lawsuit;…

It is readily apparent that the Department of State does not wish to engage in a constructive dialog on this problem. Therefore, we must prepare for the next step. I will be contacting individuals who filled out our questionnaires.  I will continue to periodically update this blog and send out e-mails to those who have written to me.  If you have not contacted me yet and wish to receive e-mails, please send me a note at white@bridgewest.com In the meanwhile I would encourage you and your relatives/friends to continue to contact congressional offices and tell your stories.  It is so very important. The Department of State is counting on you going away, to forget about this, to go back to your normal lives.  Don’t let it happen… Thank you.    

Thank you to everyone for your support. I would ask that you please redouble your efforts in contacting the US media and news outlets in your home countries.  Please share my letters to Mr. Donahue and the Office of Inspector General with the media; translate them into your local languages and publish them, or forward them to your national newspapers.  Please relate your stories; they are poignant and heartbreaking. It is imperative that your stories are told  so that US government officials and the public understand the scope of this tragedy. Please send me (white@bridgewest.com) links to any DV-2012 newspaper articles and videos.  Thank you.

If you have a US citizen or permanent resident relative or friend, please contact them and request that they contact their senator and congressman.  Here are the links to the offices of senators and congressmen: http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm http://www.house.gov/representatives/ Please forward to your friend/relative in the US our two letters to the Department of State (posted on this blog – to David Donahue and to Office of Inspector General), and have them send those letters to the senators and congressmen. Please keep me posted on any progress by e-mailing me at white@bridgewest.com (request: please indicate Congress in the subject line). Thank you for your help!

Attached is our letter to the Office of Inspector General at the Department of State calling for an investigation into the DOS decision to invalidate the results. OIG is the “watchdog” in the Department.  It ensures that action by DOS officials is not wasteful; does not result from mismanagement; and is not detrimental to American policy goals. As detailed in the letter, the Department’s decision to invalidate the results will come at great expense to the American taxpayer; is a result of DOS mismanagement of the situation; and will irreparably harm US image abroad.  Therefore, an investigation is warranted, with a view towards rectifying this malfeasance by permitting the 22,000 selectees to remain winners and holding a drawing for the remaining slots. oig letter final final signed  

If you were selected in the DV-2012 Lottery, are currently studying or working in the US, and have not contacted me yet, please send me an e-mail at white@bridgewest.com Thank you.