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ISSUE 63 VOLUME 16

It’s Happening: Trump’s Immigration Raids Are In NY VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.CAWNYC.COM

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BY JANET HOWARD

resident Donald Trump’s attack on immigrants has arrived in New York. Trump has vowed to deport at least 3 million undocumented people who, he says, have criminal backgrounds. Fact checkers have found that the number Trump cites for undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds is inflated. Immigration authorities have already arrested hundreds of undocumented immigrants in at least six states in raids, pursuant to an executive order (EO) Trump signed in January.

That EO expanded the category of immigrants lacking proper paperwork that federal authorities would target for arrest

Trump’s Next Attack On Immigrants ...see page 6

continued on page 10

Stopped by ICE Agents: Know Your Rights

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f you are stopped by police officers, immigration agents or other public authorities, you have rights.

It does not matter if you entered the country by crossing the border in Mexico, if you are an overstay, green card holder or citizen. As long as you are within the borders of the United States, you have rights. Know them.

Use them.

The first step is to call your immigration law and deportation defense attorneys at Figeroux & Associates. The Law Firm team has represented clients across the United States and has a 24/7

Confirmations of DeVo and Sessions: A Grave Mistake ...see page 4

Scared? Nervous

about Presidentelect Trump’s Immigration Plans?

CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION:

Call 855-768-8845

continued on page 12

Brian Figeroux, Esq.

Crackdown on Domestic, Sexual and Child Abuse in Jamaica ...see page 2

Spring Cleaning Your Closet & Life After Divorce ... see page 19

Congresswoman Clarke Working to Protect Haitians ...see page 12

Become a Paralegal.. see page 13

Get Rihanna’s Grammy Look... see page 19

Bolt Wins 4th Laureus Award... see page 2

Self-Employment Tax Wrinkes... see page 16

Detecting Physical and Sexual Abuse In Children ... see page 9

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Caribbean Consulates

Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200

Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117

The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420

Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325

Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999

Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853

Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478

Grenada 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400K New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301

Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119

Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767

Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000

Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887

Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200

Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450

St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521

St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278

St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272

For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

Crackdown On Domestic, Sexual And Child Abuse In Jamaica

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amaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced a zero tolerance approach to domestic violence, sexual abuse and the sexual grooming of minors, saying existing laws will be enforced and at least one other piece of legislation will be revised.

Addressing the press, he said the police force has been charged with intensifying its response to these crimes through the use of measures such as preventative detention.

“The government will be using existing laws, which include preventative detention in live and imminent situations of domestic violence, sexual abuse and grooming of minors to remove aggressors from the scene, thereby de-escalating the situation,” Holness told reporters.

He added that aggressors in these circumstances will be required to partake in counseling or educational sessions as a condition of their release, following an assessment by the police.

Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte, explained that preventative detention, which is lawful under the Jamaican Constitution, requires that the police have reasonable grounds for detention and that there is fair procedure.

“There is a need for it…In the context in which domestic violence is taking place, it will allow the police to lawfully take someone whom they have reasonable grounds for believing is likely to commit an offense away, in order to prevent that person from committing the offence,” she explained.

That individual can be detained for up

Prime Minister Holness

to 24 hours. And if there is cause to extend the detention beyond that time, a Justice of the Peace can provide an order for the period to be extended.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said his Cabinet has given instruction for a revision of the Domestic Violence Act “to ensure that domestic abuse crimes are treated as serious crimes and attract serious penalties.”

Holness said the government is also moving to intensify engagement with international partners to ensure that all appropriate information is provided about Jamaican deportees, particularly relating to sexual offences the person may have committed.

He said the measures announced are in response to increasing reports of violence against women and children and follow extensive discussions by the Cabinet and the National Security Council.

Police have arrested and charged 1,442 perpetrators of crimes against women and children over the past 13 months.l

CARICOM and Cuba Agree On Duty-Free Trade

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he Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Cuba have reached agreement for the expansion of preferential access to each other’s markets.

The agreement was reached at the 10th Meeting of the Joint Commission Established Under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement Between CARICOM and Cuba, held in Guyana at the end of last month, according to a statement from the CARICOM Secretariat.

“A significant number of items from the Community, including beer, fish and other agricultural products, and manufactured goods, have been approved for entry into the Cuban market free of duty once both sides formalize the agreement,” it said.

“CARICOM member states have also agreed to grant duty-free access to Cuban goods, including pharmaceuticals. More Developed Countries (MDC) in the Community will also determine the level of preference they will grant to

Cuba on a number of other items.”

CARICOM said the agreement also includes a number of items on which each MDC will determine the level of preference it will grant to Cuba.

Exploratory discussions on trade in services were also held.

The two sides agreed to continue to exchange information on trade in services, and to make efforts to advance cooperation in this area, particularly in tourism, CARICOM said.l

IN THE NEWS Bolt wins 4th Laureus Award

T Bolt

he Laureus World Sports Awards took place in Monaco, with Usain Bolt and Simone Biles claiming the two major prizes.

Usain Bolt has won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award for a record-equalling fourth time, after cementing his status as the greatest Olympic sprinter in history with three gold medals at Rio 2016.

The 30-year-old Jamaican was victorious in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay in Brazil — achieving that treble for the third Olympics in succession, although he has since been forced to hand back his relay gold from Beijing due to team-mate Nesta Carter being retrospectively punished for doping.

Bolt received his latest honor at a glamorous ceremony in Monaco, having beaten off competition from fellow nominees Stephen Curry, Mo Farah, LeBron James, Andy Murray and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Also the World Sportsman of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2013, Bolt joins tennis stars Roger Federer and Serena Williams as a four-time Laureus award-winner. l

New World Bank Appointment

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ahseen Sayed Khan is the new Country Director for Caribbean countries. She will be responsible for maintaining a solid partnership with the countries to address their development and financial challenges.

“It is an honor for me to be working in the Caribbean,” she said. “I look forward to deepening our engagement with governments, development partners, civil society, and the private sector, to boost inclusive growth and reduce poverty in the Caribbean.”

Khan, a Pakistani national, was previously Country Manager for Albania in the Europe and Central Asia region.

She joined the Bank in 1997 as a social sector specialist in South Asia and has since held various positions, including as Lead Education Specialist, Operations Adviser, and Country Manager for Nepal.l

For more Caribbean www.cawnyc.com

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CONVERSATIONS

The Economic Costs of Ending DACA

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BY WALTER EWING

he President has left the public in suspense as to what he will do with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, which grants young immigrants a temporary reprieve from deportation, as well as work authorization. The President has made a variety of comments about what he will do, ranging from ending DACA outright to finding a more humane solution for current DACA beneficiaries. Many are hoping for the latter option given that abolishing DACA would be extraordinarily cruel—taking away the work permits and driver’s licenses of 740,000 immigrant workers and students.

However, beyond the humanitarian implications, ending DACA would have a negative impact on the U.S. economy.

That is because DACA enables its beneficiaries to earn higher wages and therefore pay more in taxes and purchase more goods and services from U.S. businesses.

An analysis from the Cato Institute takes a stab at quantifying the negative economic impact of ending DACA. As the analysis notes, DACA recipients do not fit the profile of the typical unauthorized immigrant. They tend to be younger, better educated, and to earn higher wages. In that sense, they resemble the recipients of H-1B temporary visas for highly skilled professionals more than they resemble other unauthorized immigrants.

And so, using studies of the economic costs and benefits associated with H-1B visa holders, Cato estimates that eliminating DACA and deporting all DACA recipients would cost the federal government more than $60 billion and reduce economic growth by $280 billion over the course of 10 years.

Not only would ending the program would come at a high cost, it would yield precious little in return. DACA recipients have already been screened for criminal records. They are eligible for neither means-tested welfare benefits nor subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. They pay their own application processing fees, so the program has

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My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 Publisher I.Q. INC.

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman

no administrative costs that are borne by the federal government. In fact, says Cato, any conceivable cost is far outweighed “by the benefits that come from immigrants who are able to work openly and legally, pay taxes, support entitlement programs, create jobs, innovate, and sire children who will one day do the same.”

DACA has been an extraordinarily

successful program by any measure. It has enabled its beneficiaries to contribute more to the economy and tax coffers. And it has done this without imposing any net costs on the federal government. To end this program would not only be a gratuitously cruel act, it would also be economically selfdestructive.l

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CIVIL RIGHTS

Senate Confirmations of DeVos and Sessions: A Grave Mistake

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BY PATRICK McNEIL, CIVILRIGHTS.ORG

he Senate on Tuesday confirmed Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education and on Wednesday confirmed Sen. Jeff Sessions to be U.S. Attorney General — despite overwhelming opposition to each from the civil rights community. They will now both lead federal agencies responsible for enforcing civil rights laws.

DeVos’ confirmation required a tiebreaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence. It was the first time a vice president broke a tie to confirm a Cabinet nominee, and spoke to the widespread concern about her qualifications and commitment to civil rights enforcement raised by civil rights groups, concerned parents, and educators across the country.

“The Department of Education has a legal obligation to protect the civil rights of all students, and we, along with our coalition partners, will be watching to ensure that Secretary DeVos fulfills that responsibility,” said Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference. “Our children are entitled to, and deserve, a quality education regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexuality, first language, family income

Betsy DeVos

or immigration status. While a setback, this vote is not a defeat. Working with partners at the federal, state and local level, we will hold this new Secretary accountable to faithfully executing our nation’s education and civil rights laws.

Our Constitution, economy, future and children deserve no less.”

After Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine announced their opposition to DeVos, Sen. Sessions’ vote was necessary to confirm her. Immediately after her confirmation, the Senate moved to begin debate on Sessions’ nomination.

As they did on the DeVos’ nomination, Senate Democrats held the Senate floor overnight to assert their opposition to Sessions’ confirmation. On Wednesday evening, after 30 hours of debate on the

Jeff Sessions

floor, the Senate voted (52-47) to confirm him. Henderson called the Senate’s vote a “grave mistake.”

“Confirming Sessions has jeopardized the equal and fair treatment of people of color, women, the LGBT community, people with disabilities, immigrants and refugees. Sessions has an extreme 30year record of demonizing these communities and has built his career on disregarding the rule of law and fueling hostility towards the protection of civil rights. Sessions, an early cheerleader for Donald Trump, also failed to prove that he would serve as the people’s lawyer, not the president’s,” Henderson said in a statement. “Sessions’ nomination has been so toxic that Senate Republicans shamefully silenced Senator Elizabeth Warren Tuesday night when she tried to

read a 30-year-old letter from Coretta Scott King on the Senate floor that opposed Sessions’ previous unsuccessful nomination for a federal judgeship. King had written that, as a federal prosecutor, Sessions used his power to ‘chill the free exercise of the vote by black citizens.’

Three decades later, nothing in Sessions’ record disproves her words.”

Sessions’ nomination was met with strong condemnation from civil rights organizations and advocates. The Leadership Conference sent a letter to the Senate on behalf of more than 430 national, state, and local civil and human rights organizations, groups that don’t normally take positions on nominees felt compelled to oppose, and Sen. Cory Booker, D. N.J., became the first sitting senator to testify against another senator’s Cabinet nomination. Rep. John Lewis, who nearly died fighting for voting rights in Selma in 1965, and Rep. Cedric Richmond, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, also testified against him.

“Despite today’s vote,” Henderson said on Wednesday, “our values and our quest for equality and justice will prevail. And the civil and human rights coalition will continue to fight for the rights and liberties of every person in America.”l

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DIASPORA CONCERNS

Mass Deportations Under President Trump Would Devastate U.S. Families, Economy

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nThe entire U.S. housing market would be at risk since many undocumented immigrants live in households with mortgages—2.4 million loans could default and lead to foreclosures.

BY TORY JOHNSON

n the wake of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on immigration enforcement, research reveals that carrying out a massive deportation plan would have devastating social and economic effects on the United States.

Trump’s Executive Order effectively makes all undocumented immigrants in the country an “enforcement priority.”

The Center for Migration Studies’ (CMS) report found that pursuing immigration enforcement on such a large scale would directly impact 6.6 million U.S.-born citizens—5.7 million of whom are children under age 18—living with someone who is undocumented.

This is because there are at least 3.3 million mixed-status households (U.S. households with undocumented and citizen residents) in 2014—69 percent of the undocumented residents in these households have been in the United States for over 10 years.

Deporting undocumented residents with such deep ties to the United States would devastate millions of U.S. citizen children. Studies have documented the

negative impact that the deportation of a parent has on a child’s psychological, developmental, and overall health. The CMS report argues that mass deportation will “generate immense hardship for millions of U.S. citizen residents who are entitled to a level of security and opportunity consistent with their rights as citizens.” Specifically:

nThe U.S. would carry a financial burden of $118 billion to raise just onethird of the citizen children remaining in the country after their parents were deported. nMedian income for mixed-status families would drop 50 percent, from

$40,000 to $20,000, pushing millions of U.S. families and citizen children into poverty.

The repercussions of mass deportation would extend beyond citizen children and other family or household members with legal status. The country as a whole would face broader economic consequences, including the following described in the report. nAccording to a 2016 estimate, gross domestic product (GDP) would decrease by 1.4 percent in the first year after implementing mass deportation, and over 10 years GDP reduction would total $4.7 trillion.

These statistics run counter to the narrative that undocumented immigrants are hidden from society. On the contrary, most “undocumented residents are indistinguishable from the general population” according to the report. The nation’s labor force includes 7.6 million undocumented residents, many of whom are self-employed and have created jobs in their communities.

Trump’s executive order and fervor for mass deportations runs counter to the nation’s values. Carrying out mass deportations would have severe economic and social consequences for the nation as a whole, countless communities, and millions of U.S. citizens— including children. As this report concludes, the best policy for America “is to keep mixed status U.S. families intact, whether through executive action or, far better, a legalization program for their undocumented members.”l

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HOT TOPIC

Trump Preparing to Open New Front in His Dangerous, Misguided War on Immigrants

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class immigrants are significantly less likely than U.S.-born individuals to access public assistance.

BY SILVA MATHEMA, RACHEL WEST & SHAWN FREMSTAD CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS

resident Donald Trump is actively considering opening a new front in his war on immigrants through another hastily drafted and vaguely worded Executive Order. Drafts of this new order have been leaked to various press outlets and offer a worrying look into the administration’s complete disregard for commonsense immigration policy. If issued, the order would expand the focus of the administration’s anti-immigrant campaign beyond unauthorized immigrants, refugees, and Muslims— groups that Trump’s campaign and administration have already targeted extensively—to include green card holders—also known as lawful permanent residents, or LPRs—living in the United States. It would also affect potential immigrants seeking visas to lawfully enter the United States to reunite with family members.

Under the draft order, individuals who are otherwise eligible for green cards could be denied admission to the United

President Donald Trump

States if they could conceivably become eligible for any kind of means-tested assistance. What’s more, legal immigrants could be deported for needing to turn to public assistance.

The pretexts for the leaked order are the myths that the cost of immigration exceeds its benefits and that millions of green card holders are so-called public charges who are a drain on the government. The reality is that immigrants contribute massively to the nation’s econo-

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my and society. Furthermore, as the new Center for American Progress analysis in this article shows, working-class families headed by immigrants are Iess likely to access public benefits than working-class families headed by U.S.-born individuals.

This article walks through what Trump’s order would do and whom it would affect. The authors provide a new analysis showing that, contrary to Trump’s misleading rhetoric, working-

The order would radically expand Trump’s power The most sweeping component of the order would greatly expand the definition used to determine whether potential immigrants seeking a green card to lawfully immigrate to the United States can be denied because they are likely to become a “public charge.” Under longstanding U.S. law and policy, “likely to become a public charge” means that an individual is likely to become primarily dependent on “public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care.” Under the draft order, applicants who are otherwise eligible for a green card may be denied LPR status or admission to the United States if they are deemed likely to receive any means-tested public benefit. As currently drafted, the order would even allow federal officials to deport LPRs if they continued on the next page

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HOT TOPIC

simply because their parents were born abroad.

Trump Preparing New Front in War on Immigrants/ continued from previous page

receive such benefits during their first five years in the United States.

The order also contains several other provisions that would harm U.S. citizens, green card holders, and others. For example, it would prevent many U.S. citizen children of immigrants from getting the critically important Child Tax Credit, or CTC. All U.S. citizen children are currently eligible for the CTC, but the executive order would deny the CTC to citizen children who have taxpaying parents or guardians who are not eligible for a Social Security number. Besides being unfair, this cut is shortsighted because the CTC improves children’s long-term outcomes.

The pretext for the leaked executive order is false Immigrants make huge contributions to the U.S. economy and American society.

Their hard work boosts gross domestic product, or GDP; their purchasing power benefits U.S. businesses of all sizes; and the federal, state, and local taxes they pay help fund public services and sustain Social Security and Medicare. In 2015, immigrants represented 27.5 percent of all new entrepreneurs in the United States and played a significant role in local economies. Immigrants make tremendous contributions, but just like the general U.S. population—80 percent of whom will experience at least a year of significant economic insecurity during their working years—they are not superhuman. This order would block or strongly deter lawfully present families from legally accessing needed assistance, even if they meet other eligibility requirements. It would also discourage people from providing sponsorship to immigrants.

Immigrants access fewer public benefits than U.S.-born individuals Immigrants are subject to the same economic risks and labor-market realities as U.S.-born individuals. For millions of poorly compensated workers, public programs support work, re-employment, and social integration. Past studies have found that low-income immigrants use public benefits at lower or similar rates when compared to U.S.-born individuals and that they tend to rely to a greater extent on earned income.

New CAP analysis of the 2016 March Current Population Survey confirms these findings. The authors find that lowincome immigrant-headed households are less likely than households headed by those born in the United States to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, which protects families from hunger while also improving long-run outcomes—particularly for children—in the areas of health, educational attainment, and earnings and economic independence during adulthood. The same is true of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, which assists families with children facing extreme economic need.

Likewise, immigrants also access Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, and Medicaid at lower rates than U.S.born individuals.. SSI, which immigrants are half a percentage point less likely to access, provides modest assistance for basic needs to low-income seniors and disabled individuals. Medicaid, in which low-income immigrants are 7.8 percentage points less likely to participate, helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities access critical health care.

Public assistance programs promote economic mobility Immigrants and other foreign-born individuals are already severely restricted [20] in terms of the federal public assistance they can access during times of need. In fact, even green card holders are generally ineligible for federal meanstested programs—including Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and TANF—during their first five years in the United States.

Research shows that programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, and tax credits for working families do not simply improve short-term outcomes. They also lead to better outcomes in the long term, including better health, lower mortality rates, greater educational attainment, and government savings. Further restricting access to programs such as Medicaid and SSI would harm children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults with serious short- and long-term consequences, including for the future U.S. workforce.

to note that the average share of income from public-assistance programs is modest in practical terms for both groups.

The effects of the executive order would extend far beyond foreign-born individuals Trump’s executive order would not simply affect foreign-born individuals.

CAP’s analysis finds that the majority of immigrant-headed households, especially those receiving SNAP or TANF, include one or more citizens. More than 6 in 10 immigrant-headed households participating in SNAP and more than 8 in 10 participating in TANF include at least one citizen. Many of these citizens in the immigrant-headed households are children. In 2015, there were nearly 15.8 million U.S.-born minor children with one or more foreign-born parents. These U.S. citizen children should not be penalized

Conclusion President Trump’s anticipated Executive Order is the latest piece of his damaging agenda to dehumanize immigrants. It willfully ignores the reality that immigrants are not only valued members of American families and communities but also tremendous contributors to the nation’s economy and prosperity.

Moreover, by increasing barriers to public health and nutrition services, the Executive Order would threaten the wellbeing of immigrants and citizens alike, undermining families’ health and safety.

Such a policy is shortsighted and defies common sense. And given the large body of research showing that programs such as Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and tax credits for working families both mitigate hardship in the short-term and improve long-run outcomes —particularly for children—this order could have farreaching consequences for the next generation.

The American Dream is premised on the idea that anyone can come to this country with few resources, but a lot of potential, and make enormous contributions. President Trump’s radical proposal would upend this basic value and restrict even legal immigration. This proposed Executive Order is not only anti-family; it is also un-American.l

A greater share of immigrant households’ income comes from their earnings Additionally, working-class households—those with incomes less than twice the federal poverty line—headed by an immigrant rely to a much greater extent on their earnings from work and less on public programs than workingclass households headed by a U.S.-born person.

Among working-class households with children in 2015, those headed by a U.S.born person received 15 percent of their overall income from SNAP, TANF, and SSI, while those headed by an immigrant received only 9.3 percent of their overall income from these same public programs. In other words, on average, working-class households headed by U.S.born individuals received 1.5 times more of their annual income from these three public programs than those headed by immigrants. That said, it is also important

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AMERICAN DREAM

The Reality of a Dream Becoming a Nightmare

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ometimes when you hear of someone being deported back to the Caribbean, your first impression is that this individual is a criminal, and when I lived in the Caribbean that was always my belief; that if you are deported from the United States it was because you were a criminal.

Fast forward to years later—this year— and now living in the same United States, I have now found myself frightened of being deported and it is not because I am a criminal, but because I decided to believe that the U.S. was the place for me to make a better life for my children and myself.

Like many people from the Caribbean, I came to the United States hoping to build a better life for myself and my children back home in the Caribbean.

I believed in the so-called American Dream; that if you work hard you pay taxes and do not commit crimes you can live peacefully here, even though you are not documented, and that is what I stood on when I decided to overstay my visa and thereby becoming an undocumented immigrant.

It goes without saying that the hopes of the immigrant population in the U.S. especially undocumented immigrants

rested on the victory of the Democrats at the 2016 general elections, we all know what happened.

Now, I along with millions are literally living under the fear that any day now I could be detained and deported from this country; again, not because I am a criminal but because the new administration is portraying a Hitlerisque attitude towards immigrants. An attitude that I consider to be an intolerance of anybody who does not carry the same color or affiliation to the powers that be. Just like Hitler in the 1940s.

So the dream is now quickly becoming a hellish nightmare for me; what am I going back to the Caribbean to. How will I continue to support my children? I am literally at a crossroad and there are nights now when I wake up sweating that I have been deported. The nightmare is too real for comfort.

When I work, I pay taxes for the money I make just as an American would, or should, since many Americans do not pay their taxes. I do not cause the police any additional work. I assist the police in any way I can to continue safeguarding my community and generally I have a good moral conduct while here so that I would not be considered or rather should not be considered for deportation, but that is just a dream. As I am about to leave home now I am praying that God goes before me and scatter the ICE man, the immigration man who has been roaming like a vulture, up and down our streets and avenues looking for undocumented persons to deport. Because in this fight, I believe only God could help us get through this rough phase of our lives as immigrants in this country.

Most mornings now I wait for texts and phone calls from friends to know if there

are ICE agents outside so I could know where I could go and where I should not go to avoid being arrested and placed in detention.

Yes, this is real; it has become so real that there is a permanent knot in the pit of my stomach when I go out. I have cut back on the areas I usually hang out at, I have stopped going to bars for a drink now, I remain home instead of going out when I do not have to. The fear is real, the feeling is shared by all of us undocumented immigrants.

The American Dream that I believed in is now a nightmare of epic proportions and seems to be closing in on me like a deep dark fog.

I have sought help from lawyers and I have been told by Figeroux & Associates that I do not have to give them an ID, it is optional and if they stop me I should call his office so that is what I am going to do and I encourage you to do the same thing. Call your lawyer or better yet make sure your lawyer is an immigration lawyer and knows ALL the immigration laws and how they could save you from deportation.

In the meanwhile as undocumented immigrants, be careful of where you go and the activities you are involved in.l

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FAMILY MATTERS

Detecting Abuse In Children

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BY ANNA BELLA

y motto was: “Trust No One.” I stood frozen as I watched in horror as Christell grabbed Reshma by her wet hair, slapped her around, and then threw her wet emaciated, five-year-old body out of the bathroom. Reshma hit the wall head first in our room then fell onto the bed. Christell then turned her fury on me and beat me until she was breathless. Dragging me out the shower, she repeatedly bashed my head into the wall, her rage palpable with every vicious blow. Blood poured out of the gash on my forehead. I tasted the blood and it blinded me as it ran down my face and into my eyes. My head pounded and I felt faint.

One afternoon we were home alone, when Uncle Pedo came into the room where I was laying on the floor. He straddled me, pressed his genitals into mine, and began rocking back and forth. He kept staring at me without saying a word.

I covered my face out of fear, shame and not knowing what to do.

“Oh no, you’re not leaving here tonight,” were the words I heard right before I was raped by two guys. After all I had endured, I was in no way ready for what was about to happen upon my return home. A barrage of fists came from everywhere, then Mad Dog brandished a rusty cutlass attempting to chop

me into pieces.

Was my life destined to be filled with abuse? I wondered.

Corporal punishment was a form of punishment and a way of reprimanding children for their wrongs growing up in the Caribbean. Spare the rod and spoil the child, the elders use to say during my day. Once I migrated to the United States, this form of punishment is known as child abuse. I quickly realized children in America had a voice and had rights.

There were laws protecting children and services to help families in need.

Child abuse is the most serious harm committed against children by an entrusted person who are responsible for their care. A parent or guardian may also be considered abusive if they allow and are aware of another person inflicting harm to that child. Abuse can be in the form of physical, emotional and sexual harm to the child.

Physical abuse is purposeful physical harm inflicted on a child by a parent or entrusted caregiver. Injuries can include, but are not limited to, superficial marks, bruises, burns, fractures and internal injuries. In the most extreme of cases, death is the end result.

Sexual abuse entails touching a child’s private parts for the purpose of sexual gratification. Forcing or encouraging a child to touch or engage in any form of sexual activity. Exposing a child / nudity

or any form of exhibitionism is also under the umbrella of sexual abuse. The tell-tale signs of sexual abuse can include bleeding, bruising and swelling in the genital areas, difficulty sitting / walking, bloody, stained / torn under clothes, burning, itching and frequent genital infections. Emotional abuse includes the parent / caregivers actions that may have the potential to cause serious cognitive, affective, or other behavioral health problems. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, chronic use of verbally abusive language, harsh criticism, denigration, confinement and torture.

Below are a few signs that an abused child may exhibit: • Changes in hygiene, such as refusing to bathe or bathing excessively • Develops phobias • Exhibits signs of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder • Suicidal ideations, especially in adolescents • Frequent tardiness and absences from school. Poor grades • Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviors • Nightmares or bed-wetting • Overly protective and concerned for siblings, or assumes a caretaker role • Returns to regressive behaviors, such as thumb sucking • Runs away from home or school • Inflicting harm on themselves / self-

mutilation • Shrinks away or seems threatened by physical contact. Flinching whenever someone gets close.

As many as 93% of victims under the age of 18 know their abuser. Children who have suffered any form of abuse may suffer from PTSD. This can greatly impact their personal lives and their role in society negatively in their adult years, if the issues aren’t addressed early enough. We all have different coping mechanism skills where we are either able to overcome childhood atrocities or succumb to the negative effects.

Detecting children and families in need is key. The ultimate goal should be to stop / prevent the maltreatment of any form of child abuse. Unfortunately, in very recent times, we hear of incidents where the attempts of the authorities didn’t follow through or somehow let child abuse cases fall through the system. For whatever the reasons, we as a community are all responsible and must remain vigilant in caring and providing safe environments for our children. Healthy children will in turn become healthy productive adults.l Anna Bella is the author of Beneath My Smile. For more information visit: www.authorannabella.com. An excerpt of her book can be read at www.cawnyc.com

Family Law Practice Summarized

NEW YORK IS NOW A NO-FAULT DIVORCE STATE

nDIVORCE nSEPARATION nSUPPORT nCUSTODY The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

uContested &

Uncontested Divorces

uSeparation & Prenuptial Agreements

Has your spouse disappeared?

We can find your spouse!

Matrimonial Investigations

u Business & Degree Evaluations

u Spousal Maintenance

u Custody/Visitation

uBank & Asset Searches

u Paternity

uWire Transfers

uRelocation

uAlimony Reduction

uChild Support

uCo-habitation

uAbuse/Neglect

Investigation

uRestraining &

uDivorce/Dating/Fraud

uInternet Dating/Fraud

Protective Orders

uModification of Previous Orders & Awards

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

uVideo Surveillance

BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190 VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

10 ICE Raids Are ln New York/ #

IMMIGRATION

continued from page 1

and expulsion. Rather than focusing, as President Barack Obama did, on individuals with violent criminal convictions, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) now has a mandate to nab undocumented immigrants if they have ever been accused of any crime, even “where such charge has not been resolved.”

Immigration advocates say 40 people in and around the city have been arrested by federal authorities as part of a nationwide crackdown on immigrant communities.

ICE confirmed the number of arrests to the press. Raids were conducted in five states as well, including California where about 150 immigrants were seized.

Manuel, a taxi driver called into our radio program, Immigration & Caribbean (Cultural) Exposé (ICE) which airs on WVIP 93.5FM on Thursdays from 10pm to 11pm and Sundays from 11pm to 12midnight to share an incident in Bushwick, Brooklyn by immigration agents asking for documents and threatening to take the individual away in the van. The gentleman who was accosted by immigration agents had to call his wife to bring his documents to prove his legal status or suffer being taken into detention. The taxi driver also revealed that several of his friends were petrified about going to work or their normal day-to-day routines.

On Church and Flatbush Avenues in Brooklyn, there are confirmed reports of immigration agents on the prowl. Also,

there are confirmed reports of ramped up enforcements of raids in Staten Island.

Rosemary Boeglin, a Mayoral spokeswoman, said that the city will continue to support the nearly 40 percent of New Yorkers who are foreign-born—both documented and undocumented.

Roughly half a million residents of the five boroughs are believed to be undocumented. The Mayor's Office says it has received reports about immigration enforcement activity in the city, and that it is closely monitoring the situation. The Mayor says city officials and the NYPD will not act as immigration agents and will never ask New Yorkers about their immigration status. But what about the ICE agents descending on New York and creating havoc, despair and fear, Mr. Mayor? New York is supposed to be a sanctuary city. Get ICE out of New York, now!

In the wake of increased immigration enforcement, advocates say many of the city's immigrants are afraid of being detained. Immigrant advocacy organizations have been flooded with calls from immigrants who are fearful, nervous and freaking out. Many people are worried they'll be deported because they're here illegally. Some have enjoyed protection under President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; others are in the process of trying to obtain documentation, pro-immigrant organizers say.

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Senior Partner of the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates, states: “These are difficult and nervous times. We understand the nervousness and fear; it is real. We have been fighting for immigrants since 1996, and will continue to do so. One of the most important things to know is that, this is America

and everyone has rights. So it’s critical, if you are detained by federal agents to demand a lawyer. It is your right. The lawyer you hire does make a difference.

The ability to have a lawyer — quality legal representation, such as a lawyer who is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) — makes a huge difference in the outcome in your case. Do not open your door for ICE agents unless they slip you a warrant under the door. ICE agents are not your friends. With the new administration, they are now empowered even more. There are ways to protect yourself and your family. For example, being a U.S. citizen protects you and your family from deportation; children 17 years and under derive citizenship from just one parent being a U.S. citizen. We have been offering free citizenship assistance every week for over 10 years. If you have been a Green Card holder for 5 years or married to a U.S. citizen for 3, apply for American citizenship. For those who are undocumented, there are other legal options to legalization in lieu of Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

You have to explain your case to an attorney. We offer FREE legal consultations every week through our radio program on WVIP 93.5FM on Thursdays (10pm to 11pm) and Sundays (11pm to 12am).

Also, we have FREE Immigration meetings the last Thursday at 6pm and first Saturday at 12noon of every month at 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Now more than ever, is the time to fight back; know your rights, defend them and take action.”l

WE HELP IMMIGRANTS!

lGET THE FACTS

lBE SMART

lMAKE THE RIGHT DECISION

uHealth Care (RN/OT/PT/TSHH/SLP’S & IT Cases) uExtension of Status & Visa Renewals uWork Authorization uH-IB Professional Workers uF-1 Students Visa uJ-1 Exchange Visitor Trainees uO-1 Extraordinary Ability uR-1 Religious Workers uU.S. Citizenship uFamily-based Petitions and Fiancee Visa uGreen Cards/Labor Certification (RIR) uImmigration Visa Petitions:Employment Based uTemporary Work Visas uU.S. Citizenship & Derivative Petitions uLabor Certifications uU Visa - Crime Victimd uApplication for Asylum uPetitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus uAppeals to the Board of Immigration Appeal uLawsuits involving Eligibility and Processing for Citizenship uDACA, DAPA & Provisional Waivers uDeportation Defense, 601 Waivers, etc

lBEWARE OF IMMIGRATION FRAUD

LAW OFFICES OF FIGEROUX & ASSOCIATES

CALL 718-834-0190 26 Court Street, Suite 701 Brooklyn, NY 11242

lPERSONAL INJURY lACCIDENTS lFAMILY LAW lPOLICE BRUTALITY lCRIMINAL LAW lCIVIL LITIGATION lBANKRUPTCY lREAL ESTATE

Visit our website at: www.311immigration.com

BROOKLYN: 26 Court Street, Suite 701. Tel: 718-834-0190 VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

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12

Stopped by ICE/ continued from page 1

emergency line, 855-768-8845. It does not matter what day or time it is — pulled over or stopped by Immigration Authorities, call Figeroux & Associates today. Here’s what to do if you’re stopped by ICE Agents:

1) No ICE officer should stop anybody based on appearance alone; regardless of your ethnicity, the color of your skin, the way you dress or talk or the language you’re speaking. It’s the law.

2) If an immigration officer asks for proof that you are a legal resident of the United States and wants to see some identification, you have the right to refuse to give them your ID. You can also refuse to answer any of their questions. Unless they have a warrant, you have no obligation to interact with them at all. You can ask, “Am I arrested?” If the answer is no, you do not need to give them any information regarding your legal status in the U.S. Showing them ID is totally optional .

3) If you are being interrogated do not give false information, and do not give them false documentation. You can be charged with identity theft if you show them forged documents, or someone else’s documents, even if you have legal status. Remember that everything you say or do can be used against you.

4) If immigration officials (ICE) begin to

knock on your door, you have the right not to open the door. They only have the right to enter to your home if they have a warrant from a judge.

5) If you are arrested in an immigration detention center and you don’t want to return to your home country, you have the right to request a meeting with an immigration officer.

6) Do not sign anything you don’t understand. You might be signing a voluntary deportation order.

7) Some cases can be resolved with the help of an immigration attorney. The lawyer can request for a court date to meet with an immigration judge and help solve your case. You don’t have the right to an attorney provided by the state, but you do have the right to see your own attorney. Call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates, at 855-768-8845.

8) Who should you call: Your family member to contact an immigration lawyer. When you enter an immigration center, they will assign you an A#, which is your alien number. Make sure you give your A# to the people you talk to on the outside helping with your case. If you have no one else to call you should call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845.l THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. CONSULT AN ATTORNEY. CALL 855-

DIASPORA CONCERNS

Congresswoman Clarke Works to Protect Haitian Nationals in the U.S.

C

ongresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement on the Haiti Emergency Relief Act of 2017, a bill she introduced which would dramatically expand the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program to include all Haitian nationals who were in the United States prior to November 4, 2016. The bill would grant eighteen months of TPS to every eligible individual.

“Temporary Protect Status for Haitian nationals living in the United States was established after the devastating earthquake in 2010 to allow Haiti to start the process of recovery and to provide invaluable support in the form of remittances to family members there. The program was created -- and extended -based on need. Those needs have increased since Haiti suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Matthew last year, when hundreds of people were killed and thousands of families were displaced. Unfortunately, despite the difficulties in Haiti, the Department of Homeland Security previously refused to grant TPS to Haitians who reached the United States after 2011, excluding thousands of people who would deservedly

benefit. Therefore, Congress must act. If enacted, the Haiti Emergency Relief Act of 2017 would allow Haitian nationals to maintain their remittances, which amount to about twenty-five percent of the nation's gross domestic product, and the people of Haiti to continue the process of recovery. I urge my colleagues in Congress to work together to aid the people of Haiti at this crucial time.”l

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13

JOBS & EMPOWERMENT

5 Great Things about Being a Paralegal

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career as paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profession. Paralegals perform legal, regulatory and business-related research for lawyers working at their organization. Most of the time paralegals work for law offices, corporations' legal departments or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing materials such as motions, memoranda, pleadings and briefs in various court systems, as well as accompany lawyers to see clients and/or to go to court. Here are 5 great things about being a paralegal:

1. Rise In Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade, despite a bump in the road in the depths of the 2009-2010 recession. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), paralegal earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year but paralegals often make more through bonuses.

Overtime hours can also add significant

cash to a paralegal's paycheck.

2. Explosive Employment Outlook The paralegal field is one of the fastestgrowing professions on the globe. The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, predicts the employment of paralegals and legal assistants to grow 28 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Among the factors driving this growth is client demand for cheaper, more efficient delivery of legal services.

Since hourly rates charged by attorneys are typically double or triple the rates of paralegals for the same task, law firm economics mandates the increased use of paralegals to minimize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.

3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.

4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challeng-

and developments while interfacing with attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients and others. The work is varied and each day brings new challenges.

5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they are assuming management roles in corporations, leadership roles in law firms and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretary to become respected members of the legal team.

ing and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers.

Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty area and master legal procedure, research, drafting and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends

A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally. A career as a paralegal offers a unique opportunity to help others. These opportunities vary, depending on the paralegal's practice area.Paralegals in the public interest sector help poor and disadvantaged segments of the population with legal issues ranging from protection from domestic abuse to assistance preparing wills Ready to take the leap? l Next Track: Sat, April 1/17 @10am

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

14

JOBS & EMPOWERMENT

Nanny Training Certificate Program

I

BY MARILYN SILVERMAN

n today’s economic landscape, twoincome families are increasingly the norm as parents struggle to put food on the table and pay rent. They don’t just need someone to sit in their apartment and watch their children while they are at work. Nannies are now required to possess a degree of training in child care and in some instances, must be certified or even have a formal academic degree in the field of child development. So, as you can see, there is more to childcare than playing games, baking cupcakes and watching tv together

Make a Difference Interestingly, a nanny may spend more time with her charges than their parents.

As a nanny, you have the ability to shape their small minds and allow parents to focus on their jobs comforted that their children are safe and happy at home.

Very often, in addition to taking care of the child, nannies are now mandated to sit next to the children at their desks and lend a helping hand with their homework assignments as well as prepare nutritious meals for both the children and their families and perform housekeeping duties.

Vocation

As a nanny, you have the ability to shape

their small minds and establish lifelong habits, such as manners and

organizational skills, that will aid them in

succeeding as adults.

If you feel your mission in life is to work with children, working as a nanny gives you the ability to do just that. But the bonus of working as a personal nanny as opposed to a temporary babysitter or a childcare worker in a day care center, is that you truly get to know them. Like school, children in a daycare center move from teacher to teacher until they enter elementary school when they leave their daycare days behind them. You may stay with the same family for years and watch your charges grow from babies to young adults and recognize your contribution via your role as nanny.

Being a Bridge Beyond caring for the children, you are responsible for acting as a liaison

between the children and their teachers and parents. For example, as a nanny you may work with the parents to establish a routine for the children and you will have to keep track of the children’s after school activities, scheduled television time and medication schedule if any.

You will be responsible for observing any abnormal developmental delays, health issues or the achievement of milestones.

Training If you have experience working with children, a career as a nanny may be a good match for the skills you already possess. Then combine this with patience, maturity, exceptional organizational skills and a sense of humor. It must

be emphasized that some families will also require a background check before they will hire you since you will be entrusted with their most valuable commodity--their children. They want to ascertain that when they insert that key into their homes in the morning before going to work, that they can have peace of mind knowing they can trust you.

Nannies provide a valuable service in the nurturing, care, social, emotional and academic development of their charges.

Understanding cognitive as well as emotional development empowers nannies to understand the rationalization behind choices, behavior and actions even when the child does not fully grasp their full import.

A good place to start is with the New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) Nanny Training Certificate Program. The Chamber’s mission is to empower nannies to start nanny businesses utilizing the skills developed, from our Nanny Training Certificate Program and our Small Business Boot Camp (Starting a Daycare Edition). We establish through our Nanny Training Certificate Program, knowledgeable, nurturing and loving nannies, who are dedicating their careers to challenging children to achieve greatness. Call us at 718-722-9217.l

Nanny Training Certificate Program

Enhance Your Child Care Skills!

Our mission: The Chamber’s mission is to empower nannies to start nanny businesses utilizing the skills developed from our Nanny Training Certificate Program and our Small Business Boot Camp. We establish through our Nanny Training Certificate Program, knowledgeable, nurturing and loving nannies, who are dedicating their careers to challenging children to achieve greatness.

Classes begin Sat, April 1, 2017 @10am sharp!

Deposit of $500 5 payments of $200

To schedule an apppointment to process your application or for orientation:

Telephone: 718-722-9217

Who should attend?

Great for new parents, practicing and entry level nannies!

Location: 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

Register at www.nannytraining.nyc

Program includes 5-week Small Business Boot Camp: Starting Your Day Care Business

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Car Accidents: Proving Fault

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s with other types of accidents, figuring out who is at fault in a traffic accident is a matter of deciding who was careless -- or "negligent," in legalese. In many cases common sense will tell you that a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian acted carelessly, but you may not know what laws or rules that person violated. Your argument to an insurance company that another person was at fault for an accident can be strengthened if you find some "official" support for your conclusion. Here are a number of places to look for such support.

Police Reports If the police came to the scene of your accident, particularly if they knew that someone was injured, they probably made a written accident report. Ask the traffic division of your local law enforcement agency how to get a copy.

Sometimes a police report plainly states an officer's opinion that someone violated a specific traffic law and that the violation caused the accident. It may even state that the officer issued a citation. Other times, the report merely mentions negligent behavior, without plainly stating that the violation caused the accident.

Regardless of how specific it is, any mention in a police report of a traffic law violation or careless driving by another person can serve as great support in showing that the other person was at fault.

State Traffic Laws Another place to look for support for your argument that the other driver was at fault is in the state laws that govern driving.

These rules of the road are contained in each state's statutes and are usually known as the "Vehicle Code."

A simplified version of these laws (sometimes called "The Rules of the Road") is often available at a local department of motor vehicles office. Look for listings that may apply to your accident.

For example, there may be listings for "speed limits," "right of way," or "roadway markings."

"No-Doubt" Liability If you're involved in certain kinds of accidents, the other driver is at fault 99% of the time, and insurance companies hardly bother to argue about it.

Rear-End Collisions If someone hits you from behind, it is virtually never your fault, regardless of why you stopped. A basic rule of the road requires a vehicle to be able to stop safely if traffic is stopped ahead of it. If it cannot stop safely, the driver is not driving as safely as the person in front.

The other sure-fire part of the rear-end accident claim is that the damage proves how it happened: If one car's front end is damaged and the other's rear end is; there can't be much argument about who struck

whom. Of course, the driver of the car that hit you may have a claim against someone who caused you to stop suddenly, or against a third car that pushed his car into yours, but that doesn't change his or her responsibility for injuries to you and damage to your car.

Keep in mind, however, that even if you have been rear-ended, in a few circumstances your own carelessness may reduce your compensation under the rule of "comparative negligence." A common example is when one or both of your brake or tail lights were out, especially if the accident happened at night. Another example is if you had mechanical problems but failed to do all you could to move the vehicle off the road.

Left-Turn Accidents A car making a left turn is almost always liable for a collision with a car coming straight in the other direction. Exceptions to this near-automatic rule are rare and

NEWS 15#

difficult to prove, but they can occur if:

nThe car going straight was going well over the speed limit. nThe car going straight went through a red light. nThe left-turning car began its turn when it was safe, but something unexpected made it slow down or stop. This is an extremely difficult exception to use because a basic rule of the road says a car making a left turn must wait until it can safely complete the turn before moving in front of oncoming traffic.

As with a rear-end collision, the location of the damage on the cars sometimes makes it difficult for the driver to argue that the accident happened in some way other than during a left turn.l

Source: nolo.com

This article is not a subsitute for legal advice.

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16

SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS

Self-Employment Tax Wrinkles

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BY ANITA CAMPBELL, SBA.GOV

ndividuals whose businesses are incorporated do not have to think about self-employment tax. Any salary they take from their corporations as owner-employees are subject to FICA taxes. In contrast, those with other types of business entities—sole proprietorships, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs)—are not employees; they are self-employed individuals. As such, they meet their Social Security and Medicare taxes obligation through the payment of selfemployment tax.

Self-employed individuals pay what amounts to the employer and employee share of FICA tax; the employer share is deductible. In other words, they pay 15.3% (comprised of 12.5% for Social Security tax and 2.9% for Medicare tax). The self-employment tax is applied to net earnings from selfemployment, although only net earnings up to an annual threshold ($118,500 for 2016; $127,200 for 2017) are taken into account for the Social Security tax portion. In basic terms, net earnings from self-employment are income minus expenses. It sounds simple enough, but there are some ins and outs that may impact your payments.

$400 threshold While FICA taxes apply to the first dollar of wages paid to an employee, there is no self-employment tax due if net earnings from self-employment are less than $400. So a self-employed individual with only losses for the year, or someone with a modest sideline business, may be below the threshold for self-employment tax.

However, if net earnings are $400 or more, then the tax applies to all net earnings. There’s no exemption for this amount.

Optional payments Self-employed individuals who have

GET MONEY FOR YOUR BUSINESS!

modest earnings may want to voluntarily pay self-employment tax. The reason: This enables such individuals to earn Social Security credits, which translate into higher benefits in retirement.

There are two optional methods. The farm optional method applies for 2016 returns if gross farm income was not more than $7,560 or net farm profits were less than $5,457. The nonfarm optional method can be used if net nonfarm profits were less than $5,457 and also less than 72.189% of gross nonfarm income ift you had net earnings from self-employment of at least $400

in two of the prior three years. The nonfarm income optional method cannot be used more than five times by a selfemployed individual

Determining self-employment income In most cases, it’s easy to know what is or is not self-employment income for purposes of the self-employment tax.

But there continues to be confusion about certain types of payments. Here are some recent matters concerning this issues: nPayments for past performance. nSeparate lines of work.

It should be noted that the IRS has yet to issue regulations explaining the extent to which a member’s distributive share from an LLC is subject to selfemployment tax. This issue is on the IRS’s Priority Guidance Plan for 20162017.

Final thoughts Self-employment tax must be taken into account in figuring estimated tax payments, and the first estimated tax payment for 2017 is due by April 18, 2017.

Self-employed individuals should work with a tax professional to make sure this tax obligation is being handled properly.l

Why Join Our Chamber?

Because membership in the local chamber offers numerous benefits and keeps business owners on top of important, ever-changing issues and trends within their community and local marketplace.

reasons to join: lBrings credibility to your business lIncreases your visibility in the community lCreates networking opportunities lGain a voice in government lMake business contacts lReceive Chamber newsletters lAcquire customer referrals lAttend Chamber events and programs lBenefit from promotion and publicity lFree small business consultations

Become a Chamber member today.

Call 718-722-9217 or visit www.chambercoalition.org

Ready to join our Chamber?

Keep in mind, however, that you can’t just be a member of the Chamber to reap the benefits of chamber membership.

Paying your annual dues just isn’t enough.

You must also make an investment of time and effort in Chamber activities and become involved. Simply put, what you get out of Chamber membership is directly relative to what you put in.

Time to take your business to the next level!

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAWNYC.COM FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION, FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS AND A CHANCE TO WIN A TV!

NEWS 17

NEWS

nHEALTH

nENTERTAINMENT

nRELATIONSHIPS

nRECIPES

nSPORTS

nHOROSCOPE

Get Rihanna’s Grammy Caribbean Tourism Arrivals Hit All-Time High Look

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Rihanna

f proof were ever needed of the gulf between success and critical acclaim, it came with Forbes magazine’s list of Top Paid Grammy Nominees 2017 and the eventual winners as determined by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States.

Barbados’ superstar, Rihanna was a good case in point, placing second on the Forbes list with a US$75 million fortune, yet failing to take home a single Grammy from the awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

The Work singer banked her money from generating US$1.6 million per tour stop, streams and sales of her album Anti and endorsement deals with companies such as

Kitchen Corner

Puma, Samsung and Dior.

Attending the Grammy Award Ceremony, Rihanna’s look was one of sexy and cool.

While you may not be able to agrab her earnings anytime soon, you can emulate her stunning look. Please do not blame me, if you do not look like Rihanna. We do newspaper here, not plastic surgery.

“She could be a bit more relaxed because she wasn’t performing — not overthinking or overdoing,” says Rihanna’s longtime hairstylist, Yusef Williams. “We did decide prior to color her hair! Not for the Grammys per se, but for life.”

The lighter-brown locks the nominated singer debuted were a change from her latest black shade — “a little more natural, beautiful and young,” says Williams — but nothing was dramatically different about her look. Her Armani Prive orange sequined top, which put her midriff tattoo on full display, and ball skirt were, in manicurist Kimmie Kyees’ words, “both true statement pieces.”

Rihanna's hair was another exercise in restraint. Because the “ensemble was very airy and flowy,” says Williams, “her hair was a natural extension of that — playful, carefree and, of course, sexy!”

The final result was lush and glamorous, yet laid-back. After all, says Williams, “People notice dramatic hair and it creates conversation. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”l

Honeysuckle Pineapple

Pineapple wedges marinated in honey, brandy and lemon juice and grilled. A hot, sweet island-flavor treat! This recipe is from The WEBB Cooks, articles and recipes by Robyn Webb, courtesy of the American Diabetes Association.

Ingredients • 4 slices fresh pineapple •1 1/2 tablespoons honey •2 tablespoons cherry brandy •1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions To Marinate: Combine honey, brandy and lemon juice in a nonporous glass dish or bowl. Mix together and add pineapple; coat well with marinade mixture. Cover dish and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour.

C

aribbean tourism broke new ground last year, surpassing 29 million arrivals for the first time ever, and once again growing faster than the global average.

“Despite political, security and economic uncertainties and challenges in our main source markets, tourist arrivals to the Caribbean increased by 4.2 percent in 2016, better than the 3.9 percent overall internationally,” Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) High Riley announced in presenting the Caribbean Tourism Performance Report 2016, at a news conference held at CTO headquarters, and streamed to a global audience.

“Encouragingly, we welcomed over 1 million more visitors last year than in 2015, to reach 29.3 million, continuing our proud record of continuous growth for the seventh straight year.”

Visitor expenditure also hit a new high, growing by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach US$35.5 billion.

The United States remained the Caribbean’s primary market with an esti-

mated 14.6 million stay-over arrivals, up 3.5 percent on 2015.

However, it was Europe that recorded the highest rate of growth among the main source markets, led by strong increases from Germany (8.2 per cent) and the United Kingdom (4.1 percent).

Regarding the outlook for 2017, the CTO predicts increases of 2.5 and 3.5 percent in long-stay arrivals and increases of between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent in cruise passenger arrivals.l

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Preheat grill to medium heat and lightly oil grate.

Remove pineapple from dish or bowl, discarding any leftover marinade. Place pineapple wedges directly on rack or in a basket and grill for about 10 minutes, turning, until pineapple is hot and caramelized.l

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18

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

P

regnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood glucose (sugar) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. According to a 2014 analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of gestational diabetes is as high as 9.2%.

We don't know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows.

Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin.

She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the

HEALTH

insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

How Gestational Diabetes Can Affect Your Baby Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby's body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy.

However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels.

Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat.

This can lead to macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth.

Because of the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Keeping Worry in Perspective While gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, the good news is that you and your health care team — your doctor, obstetrician, nurse educator, and dietitian — work together to lower your high blood glucose levels. And with this help, you can turn your concern into a healthy pregnancy for you, and a healthy start for your baby.

Gestational Diabetes – Looking Ahead Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. But once you've had gestational diabetes, your chances are 2 in 3 that it will return in future pregnancies. In a few women, however, pregnancy uncovers type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is hard to tell whether these women have gestational diabetes or have just started showing their diabetes during pregnancy.

These women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy.

Many women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes.l Source: diabetes.org

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# LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

19

Spring Cleaning After Divorce: Cleaning Out Your Closet and Your Life

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BY CANDACE BAHR, CEA, CDFA AND GINITA WALL, CPA, CFP®

he season of spring is all about renewal, which is why it is the perfect time to clean out all that unsightly clutter in your home. If you have recently completed a divorce, then you may also have a lot of disorder in your soul and in your mind. Spring cleaning doesn’t just have to be a physical chore; it can also be a metaphorical cleansing.

Clean Out Your Home Let’s ease into the spring cleaning process by looking at your home. It is sometimes easier to toss out the physical reminders of your marriage than to sweep away the lingering emotional debris.

Physical items often trigger memories and emotions, even on an unconscious level. If those curtains you and your ex bought together are dragging you into the past, they need to go.

If you are on steady terms with your ex, then consider offering him any of the objects you no longer want in your house.

If even the thought of calling him sends your blood pressure spiraling, then you can always sell your unwanted items on Craigslist, Amazon, or Ebay and use the profits to purchase new décor. Another option is to box everything up and haul it to a local charity like Goodwill or the Salvation Army (some locations will pick

up from your home). Your possessions can have a second life and perhaps create new, better memories for someone else.

Clean Out Your Emotional Closet Your home isn’t the only place where unwanted junk is piling up. Divorce is almost always emotionally bruising, even in the best of circumstances. You may have survived your divorce, but emotions such as betrayal, anger, fear, and rejection could still be holding you back from embracing your new life. No matter what happened in the past, it is over now, and you have the ability to write a new chapter in your life.

Dr. Cynthia Thaik, a cardiologist and the author of Your Vibrant Heart, wrote, “Feelings of rage and hatred build up in the mind, body and soul, affecting the body’s organs and natural processes and breeding even more negative emotions.

In an article for the Huffington Post, she

$399 Divorces

wrote out a prescription for cleaning out your emotional closet in six steps: nAcknowledge your anger. nRealize why you are angry or feeling hateful. nStep back for a moment. nDeal with the issue. nTalk to people about what’s on your mind. nLet go of unhealthy thought patterns.

Clean Out Your Financial Expectations A divorce can set you free in many ways, but it will change your financial circumstances. First and foremost, divorce itself isn’t cheap. The legal organization, NOLO, surveyed its members and found that the average divorce costs $15,500 per person! This corroborates the saying, “Love is grand — divorce is twenty grand”. Additionally, though women have made great strides when it comes to

building a career, the Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for 2013 show that in 70% of two-income households, husbands earned more than their wives. So when you divorce, not only have you lost all the cost savings of combining incomes (i.e. one mortgage to pay), but it is likely that you are working with less than half the income.

This means that you have to clean out all of your old financial assumptions and start working off of your new financial realities. You may need to curtail your spending, (see our article archive on budgeting and planning) or possibly even sell your home if you cannot afford your mortgage on your own. In keeping with the symbolism of spring cleaning, don’t think about these changes as loses.

Think of it as clearing out the old clutter so you can look forward. You can’t put a price on the feeling of freedom and happiness that comes from escaping an unfulfilling marriage!

This spring, take the time to feel the sunshine on your face and listen to the birds chirp. Give your home, your soul, and your finances a good scrub and enjoy this beautiful new season in your life!l Reprinted with permission. Candace Bahr, CEA, CDFA and Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP® are the founders of WIFE.org, a nonprofit aims to teach females how to take financial control of their lives after major life transitions — like divorce.

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