The Immigrant’s Journal - Vol. 128 by IQ INC.

The Immigrant’s Journal Vol. 128

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ICE Reactivates in New York: Advocates Demand Investigation BY DANIEL PARRA, CITYLIMITS.ORG

t was about 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, when Andrea’s oldest son woke up to the loud knocking on his window and the shouts of “police open the door!” coming from someone wearing an NYPD jacket and walking down the fire escape. Andrea—her last name has been withheld—was feeding her youngest son in another room when her older son arrived, frightened, asking if he should open the door to the police. At that point Andrea remembered that the police could not enter an apartment without a warrant, so she told her son not to open the door because it might be ICE.

“He went up the fire escape and hit all the windows from the second floor to the fourth floor,” Andrea says on the phone. “Then he comes down shouts, ‘ICE police. Open up or we’ll knock your door down. I’m the police and I’m coming for you.’ He said it in English first and then in Spanish,” Andrea says. Andrea and her neighbors counted eight officers. As agents moved around the outside of the building and up to the roof, Andrea exchanged text messages and calls, whispering, with some neighbors. The officers were in the building for almost an hour. “It was a very ugly experience. Psychologically, you wonder if this is going to happen to us again?” Andrea

continued on page 9

Deeper Into the Darkness or a Chance for True Progress .... 2

Medical Abuse and Violation of Immigrant Women’s Reproductive Rights rights has become a significant area of achievement, with immigrants at the heart of policies, laws, and actions that have changed the persona of an average immigrant. As the years go by, the violations have increased, with unbelievable stories buttressing the administration's hostility toward immigrants. Keen political observers expect the situation to worsen. In 2017, a group sued Trump's

BY LINDA N

very human has an unreserved right to life, liberty, and freedom. Unfortunately, these rights violations make up the bane of man's inhumanity to another, especially among the powerful, including the United States, the acclaimed proponent of modern democracy. Unfortunately, with various incidents, since the beginning of Trump's administration, it seems like the violation of immigrants'

continued on page 15

Family Separation of Migrant Children Allowed U.S. Government to ‘Traffic in Kidnapping’ BY KRISH VIGNARAJAH

October 29, 2020

wo years ago, our country watched in horror as our own government literally ripped children from their parents' arms and locked them away behind chain-link cages. The images and recordings of children crying in the media were so disturbing, so alien

to who we thought we were as a free, civilized country, that politicians on both sides of the aisle called for its immediate end. The outcry was swift; the policy was ended. But for the 545 children who still haven’t been reunited with their parents, continued on page 2

Editorial credit: Eddie Hernandez Photos / Shutterstock.com

DOJ and DHS Publish Final Rule to Restrict Certain Criminal Aliens’ Eligibility for Asylum

he Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the publication of a Final Rule amending their respective regulations to prevent certain categories of criminal aliens from obtaining asylum in the United States. The rule takes effect 30 days after publication of the Final Rule in the Federal Register, which is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Asylum is a discretionary immigration benefit that generally can be sought by eligible aliens who are physically present or arriving in the United States, irrespective of their status, as provided in section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1158. However, in the INA, Congress barred certain categories of aliens from receiving asylum. In addition to the statutory bars, Congress delegated to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to establish by regulation additional bars on asylum eligibility to the extent they are consistent with the asylum statute, as well as to establish “any other conditions or limitations on the consideration of an application for asylum” that are consistent with the INA. To ensure that criminal aliens cannot obtain this discretionary benefit, the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security have exercised their regulatory authority to limit eligibility for asylum for aliens who have engaged in specified categories of criminal behavior. The new mandatory bars prevent convicted felons, drunk drivers, gang members, and other criminal aliens from receiving asylum. Aliens who have committed certain domestic violence offenses, even if not convicted, will also be barred from asylum.l

IMMIGRATION MATTERS

Kidnapping/from page 1 it was only the beginning of a three-year nightmare with no end in sight. Though it made national headlines in the summer of 2018, “zero tolerance,” or family separation, actually began with a 2017 pilot project along the Texas border, during which at least 1,000 families were separated. The pilot was ultimately expanded across the entire border and led to the separation of more than 5,400 migrant children from their parents — 300 of which were under the age of 5. The organization I lead, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, was one of only two national nonprofits the government called upon to reunite separated families. Our specialists in the field have seen many difficult cases, but even they were shocked to see children and toddlers, separated from their parents and visibly shaken from the trauma of losing their only pillar of stability after a long, dangerous journey to the U.S. Our staff never imagined we would be charged with providing care for breastfeeding infants torn from new mothers' arms. I have a 3-year-old daughter. I can’t imagine being separated from her for longer than a night at her grandparents' house, let alone for weeks and months. The thought that she could have been torn from my arms when she was an infant and I would not, to this day, have seen her again is unfathomable. So much

Editorial credit: Stephanie Kenner / Shutterstock.com

happens in those first three years of life: first steps, first words, first hugs. Ninety percent of a child’s brain develops before age five. The loss of those formative years is unrecoverable, and unconscionable. To make matters worse, we have recently learned that top administration officials were aware and deliberate in their support of the separations. According to New York Times reporting on a Justice Department investigation, top officials in the department like former Attorney General Jeff Sessions rebuked prosecutors in border states who had objections to separating children of a tender age from their parents. Administration leadership was also unanimous in its support for the practice.

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According to the same reporting, 11 out of 12 senior Trump officials raised their hand in support of family separation in a May 2018 meeting — the only dissenter, former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Neilsen, caved to pressure and signed the order the next day. Revelations of political palace intrigue are of little consolation to these hundreds of children who have been robbed of the basic human right to grow up with their parents. They will go to bed tonight, as they have for nearly 1,000 nights, not knowing where their parents are. How could this happen? According to court filings from the American Civil Liberties Union and other immigrant groups, many of the parents had already

been deported to their home countries before a federal judge ordered the reunification of families. Egregiously insufficient record-keeping left hundreds of children behind; in its deliberate haste to implement what ultimately amounts to a failed deterrence strategy, the administration put no thought into creating a meaningful system to reunite families after they had been separated. Court-appointed researchers on the ground working to locate parents have been stifled by the lack of actionable government data, turning instead to airing radio spots throughout Mexico and searching through rural communities in Central America. While they continue to look for parents, we as citizens must look at ourselves in the mirror. Because we have no other choice but to demand our government reunite these families once and for all, and grant them legal status so that they might find peace and protection. Beyond that immediate priority, we must hold accountable each and every official who forsook basic decency, core American values, and humanitarian law to allow our government to traffic in kidnapping. In the Land of the Free, families belong together. l Krish Vignarajah (KVignarajah@lirs.org) is the president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. This piece originally appeared in the Baltimore Sun

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TIME FOR ACTION

Deeper Into Darkness or a Chance for True Progress: The

Publisher I.Q. INC.

Stakes on Immigration

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip

Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq.

Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman

ASHINGTON, DC: On Oct 28, FWD.us released the final report in a four-part installment, Deeper Into Darkness or a Chance for True Progress: The Stakes on Immigration, a prospective look at what the next four years could look like under either a second Trump term or a Biden presidency. Authored by FWD.us President Todd Schulte, the report outlines the stark contrast the election presents to the American people for two dramatically different potential paths ahead on immigration policy depending on the results of the presidential election. The report makes clear how a second Trump term would allow President Trump to escalate his attacks on immigrants dramatically, and further weaponize the U.S. immigration system at the expense of all Americans, inflicting likely irreparable harm to our nation’s economy and damaging our ability to rebuild from the devastating coronavirus pandemic. The report also outlines why a Biden presidency could chart a new path on immigration with a true chance for progress, starting with the chance to build a humane, modern immigration system, centered on a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented. “We have seen as stark a contrast as has existed in modern times on immigration policy. The stakes could not be higher,” said FWD.us President Todd Schulte. “We hope this report outlines the various potential policy trajectories.” Schulte predicts that four more years of continued anti-immigrant policies would likely “see America abandon the role as any semblance of a welcoming nation perhaps permanently, and [would further revert] to some of the worst moments in our history.” If elected to a second term, President Trump would also escalate the deportation of millions of people enmeshed as the fabric of this country, where instead a Biden presidency could and must prioritize a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented. Immigrants of all backgrounds have helped keep everyone living in the U.S. safe and healthy in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic — this includes the

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farmworkers putting food on our tables, the healthcare workers caring for our sick loved ones, and the researchers dedicating countless hours to finding a vaccine, among millions of others. The report outlines the devastating potential consequences of President Trump winning a second term, such as: •Ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) completely — two programs that offer protections from deportation and work authorization to more than one million individuals who have built their lives in the United States. •Making permanent large portions of their historically unprecedented cuts to legal immigration •Escalating widespread ICE raids that already keep millions of people living in fear. •Pushing to eliminate the basic rights of immigrants to be counted at all — constructing the census to under count immigrant communities, stripping citizenship of immigrants who have been naturalized, overturning Supreme Court decisions that allow all children access to K12 education, regardless of their immigration status, pushed ahead with the likely support of a 6-3 Supreme Court on apportionment by citizenship, and fundamentally reshaping who is considered American by the federal government. •Isolate and deny immigrants basic life necessities by threatening their eventual ability to earn a green card.

These terrible harms — and more — would compound President Trump’s relentless assaults on immigrants over the past four years. Put simply: the fabric of America and our role in the world would drastically change for the worse, with deep harms echoing for generations to come. In contrast, the report outlines why it would be critical for a Biden Administration not only to reverse President Trump’s worst offenses, but finally to overhaul a system that has too easily been weaponized, and instead create a pathway for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the U.S. to become citizens. The American public is broadly supportive of immigrants and immigration, and this support has only grown stronger over President Trump's first term — including among his own supporters.l

About FWD.us: FWD.us is a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential. For too long, our broken immigration and criminal justice systems have locked too many people out of the American dream. Founded by leaders in the technology and business communities, we seek to grow and galvanize political support to break through partisan gridlock and achieve meaningful reforms. Together, we can move America forward.

Volunteering at THE IMMIGRANT'S JOURNAL LEGAL & EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Internship positions available throughout the year. The Immigrant's Journal Legal & Educational Fund, Inc. is an organization dedicated to the educational and economic empowerment of all immigrants and immigrant organizations here in the United States. We at the Journal recognize the enormous contribution of immigrants to this country economically, socially and politically. Since September 11, 2001, however, immigrants have increasingly been discriminated against and Congress has passed legislation curtailing the rights of immigrants here in the U.S., broadly claiming that immigrants are a threat to ''National Security.'' We at the Journal believe that these charges are unfounded, unsubstantiated and exaggerated. The Immigrant's Journal Volunteer Intern Program was introduced to give our volunteers the opportunity to work in an immigrant friendly environment while developing the necessary skills for college or law school. They assist our staff in resolving immigration and other legal concerns through personal interviews, radio, email and telephone contact. They also assist the public with citizenship applications and in researching whether or not children of naturalized U.S. citizens have derived citizenship from their parents. Some of our volunteers assist our legal staff by engaging in legal research and writing letters on other legal issues. Volunteer interns are also assigned various other jobs in our Youth Programs. Hours are flexible. Email your cover letter and resume or any questions to immjournal@aol.com Tel: 718-243-9431 Fax: 718-222-3153

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CIVIL RIGHTS

Trump Administration Must Offer Humanitarian Protections to Cameroonians

ASHINGTON: The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and 79 other civil rights groups today urged President Trump and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Wolf to immediately provide the maximum protection possible through a Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Cameroonians. The move is necessary to ensure that the United States does not return anyone to a country, like Cameroon, that has become temporarily unsafe for its residents. The groups called on Trump and Wolf to honor the foundational American values of offering safety and security to those in need by granting the designation right away. “Offering help, safety, and security to those in need is foundational to U.S. values. With Cameroon rapidly descending into multiple crises with devastating human consequences, it is imperative that the United States ensure nationals and those who habitually last resided in Cameroon are able to remain here,” they wrote. The groups said that providing

Overpaid Your Utility Bill? That’s Probably a Scam BY LISA LAKE, FTC

Y Cameroonians with these specific designations aligns not only with the humanitarian values of the DED and TPS designations, but also American foreign policy interests: “In recent months, the Department of State as well as Congressional officials, have called for the government in Cameroon to comply with human rights norms and laws. If we expect allies in Cameroon to heed our calls for calm and human rights, then we, too, must comply with international norms, including not deporting persons to conflict zones during a global pandemic.”

In addition, the Center for Constitutional Rights is representing Cameroonian nationals, currently held under horrific conditions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who would benefit from a TPS or DED designation. “The granting of TPS status will provide our clients, and the many thousands of vulnerable Cameroonians, with much needed reassurance in their quest to find safety,” said Aya Saed, a Bertha Justice Fellow at the Center for Constitutional Rights. l —www.civilrights.org

ou get a robocall saying you paid too much on a utility bill. To make up for this mistake, they say, you’ll get a cash refund and a discount on your future bills. All you have to do is press a number to get your money and discount. You say to yourself: “What luck!” You might think this strange surprise will help you save some much-needed money. Sorry but…not so fast. This is probably just another utility scam — or, at best, a marketing trick — to get your money. In the unlikely event you really did pay more than you owed on your bill, utility companies don’t usually give cash refunds. Instead, they credit the extra money to your account. As for the future discount on your bill, not likely. At best, this could be a third-party service provider claiming you’ll save money if you switch to their service. But some-

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continued on page 5

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Temporary Stop of COVID-19 Evictions: What You Need to Know BY SHAMEKA WALKER, FTC

ast month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a temporary order to stop evictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the order provides relief to a large group of Americans, there are some important things to remember. First, the order only protects renters who meet certain requirements and who sign a form and give it to their landlord. Second, landlords can still charge late fees during the temporary relief period. Third, if you break certain terms of your lease, you may still be evicted. Fourth, the CDC order doesn’t apply to homeowners facing foreclosure, so contact your lender or servicer for options. And finally, the CDC protections don’t apply if you live in an area that already has the same or better eviction protections, so you should check on your local housing policies. Remember: the relief is temporary. Right now, evictions are put on pause, but only until December 31. If you’re like millions of other Americans who may not be able to afford to pay your rent in January, here are some things you

should know about the eviction process: •Your landlord can take you to court if you don’t pay. Even if you don’t have the money to pay the past-due rent, your landlord can ask a judge to force you to pay or have the right to evict you. •If you’re facing eviction, you still have rights. The first step in most evictions is a written notice. Check with your local court system for more details about the eviction process. You also may qualify for free legal services and be able to speak to a lawyer to learn about your rights.

And here are some tips for what you can do next if you missed rent payments because of the pandemic: •Find out more about rental assistance programs. There may be local programs that offer rental assistance and other help. •Watch for people who say they can help you pay your rent. If you spot a scam please tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.l

Shameka Walker is an Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC

Overpaid Utility Bill Scam /from page 4 times these services come with catches that could actually have you paying more on your bill — or even two bills at once: your utility company’s and the service provider’s. So if you get one of these calls, here’s what to do: •Hang up. Don’t press any numbers or respond to any instructions. If you press or respond, you’ll probably wind up getting more unwanted calls like this. •Never give the caller your Social Security number, account details, or...well, just don’t tell them anything. Scammers can use almost any information you give them to make a buck at your expense. •Call your utility company, using the number on your bill. Tell them about the call and — if you still wonder— ask if the call was for real. •If you want to consider using a thirdparty utility company, check with the utility regulatory agency in your state to understand your rights and how these companies are supposed to work. •Tell the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint if you spot this or any other scams. l Lisa Lake is a Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

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5/29/2020 3:10:22 PM 5/29/2020

IN THE COMMUNITY

Undocumented Immigrants May Actually Make American Communities Safer – Not More Dangerous – New Study Finds BY BETH DALEY, THE CONVERSATION

ndocumented immigration does not increase the violent crime rate in U.S. metropolitan areas. In fact, it may reduce property crime rates. These are the key findings from our recently published article in the Journal of Crime and Justice, co-authored by Yulin Yang, James Bachmeier and Mike Maciag. Research shows that the American communities where immigrants make their homes are more often improved by their presence than harmed by it. Immigrants bring social, cultural and economic activity to the places they live. That makes these places more vital and safer, not more dangerous. Why it matters People from all social groups and backgrounds commit crimes. But undocumented immigrants, and immigrants more generally, are often baselessly blamed for increasing crime rates – including, repeatedly, by President

Donald Trump. In the second and final presidential debate, Trump again claimed undocumented immigrants are rapists and murderers. This notion has existed and been studied since the early 20th century, including in a 2005 analysis we conducted with a number of colleagues that concluded immigration did not increase crime rates in U.S. metropolitan areas. But this research is often dismissed

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because most empirical studies cannot separate undocumented immigrants from the total immigrant population. That level of analysis is necessary to draw conclusions about the relationship between undocumented immigration and crime. For example, we found in a 2017 study with colleagues that from 1970 to 2010 metropolitan areas with greater concentrations of immigrants, legal and undocu-

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mented combined, have less property crime than areas with fewer immigrants, on average. Critics suggested that our findings would not hold if we looked at only the subset of undocumented individuals. So we decided to find out if they were right. Our new study is the result of that effort, and it confirms our original findings: Undocumented immigration, on average, has no effect on violent crime across U.S. metropolitan areas. In statistical models that did identify a significant relationship between undocumented immigration and crime, we found undocumented immigration reduces property crimes, such as burglary. How we do our work Using two different estimates of the undocumented immigrant populations for 154 metropolitan areas in our most recent study – one from the Pew Research Center and one from the Migration Population Institute – we examined the effect of undocumented immigration on homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and larceny crime rates. Crime rate data came from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report program. Other data were from the U.S. Census Bureau. Using a statistical method called regression analysis to examine the data, we found that as the size of the undocumented population increases, the property crime rate decreases, on average. And the size of the undocumented population in a metropolitan area tends to have no impact on the violent crime rate. These findings build on the conclusions of a large 2018 study in which researchers Graham Ousey and Charis Kubrin examined 51 studies on immigration and crime published from 1994 to 2014. What still isn’t known Our analyses looked at broad metropolitan patterns, not the relationship of undocumented immigration and crime rates in distinct, specific places such as New York City and Los Angeles. Nor does our study address the reasons that immigration reduces crime, although there is plenty of other scholarship on that issue.l

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ELECTIONS 2020

Early Voting Starts October 24: Vote Safely & Know Your Rights

lection season is upon us and in these unprecedented times, we need to ensure that we don’t waste our vote. Make sure to vote on or before Election Day: •Vote early between October 24 and November 1 •Vote-by-mail ASAP •Vote on Election Day on November 3 Your vote is your voice. Be heard this election. Learn more about early voting, vote by mail, and finding your polling place at voting.nyc. What is early voting (EV)? Early voting happens 9 days in a row before the election and allows you to vote in-person on weekdays, weekends and evenings, from October 24 through November 1. What interpretation services are available? Interpretation services will be provided on the weekend before election day (October 31st and November 1st) across 25 sites in at least two languages per poll site. There also will be language assistance at 52 poll sites on Election Day. Check which poll sites support which languages at: nyc.gov/wearevoters In-person voting precautions If voting in person, follow simple precautions to protect yourself and others from COVID-19: •Wear a face covering. Face coverings are required to enter all polling sites. Protect those around you and wear a face covering correctly (over your nose and mouth). •Practice healthy hand hygiene. Polling sites will provide hand sanitizer, and you can also bring your own. Use hand sanitizer before and after touching any

shared surfaces, and wash your hands with soap and water immediately after you get home. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. •Practice physical distancing. Polling places will be set up to ensure physical distancing. Follow instructions and stay at least 6 feet away from others while at your polling site. •Avoid long lines and crowds. If you can, vote early (before Election Day) or go when your voting center is less busy, usually mid-morning or early afternoon. Stay home if you are sick. Voting is important, but it’s more important that you get well and keep New Yorkers safe!

Alianza Americas Denounces the Confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett

HICAGO: Senate Republicans confirmed the lifetime appointment of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. The following is a statement from Mony Ruiz-Velasco, Alianza Americas’ associate director, on this development: “By having confirmed Justice Barrett, without a single vote from the minority party, Republican senators have contributed to the deep polarization that is dividing the nation. This confirmation demonstrates the Senate’s abuse of power and complete disregard for the will of millions of voters across the country, 60 million of whom have already voted early. By voting for a lifetime appointment to the highest legal body in the nation just days away from Election Day, Republican senators are doing the opposite of what they did in 2012 when they denied President Obama his constitutional prerogative to appoint a Supreme Court justice. Justice Barrett has been appointed for a lifetime position, setting her up to shape the lives of millions in the U.S. for generations to come. Unfortunately, Justice Barrett has a concerning history that places the rights and

lives of vulnerable populations at further risk. Justice Barrett’s record demonstrates her lack of support for reproductive rights, immigrant justice, and the rights of LGBTQ communities. Her confirmation to the Supreme Court threatens to take the U.S. back in time by potentially reversing past landmark decisions. Without the legitimacy of bipartisan support for such a trascendental appointment, Justice Barrett will make decisions in the upcoming weeks and months regarding access to healthcare, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and, potentially, the outcome of this election. Justice Barrett has refused to acknowledge climate change as a real threat to humanity, has made statements against gun regulations, and has voted against corporate accountability. This confirmation is a loss to democracy, women, and our communities in the most vulnerable situations.” l Alianza Americas is the only transnational organization rooted in Latino immigrant communities in the United States focused on improving the quality of life of all people in the U.S.-Mexico-Central America migration corridor which includes a network of Latino and Caribbean immigrants.

Can I bring an interpreter with me into the voting booth? In any election, you have a right to be assisted by any person of your choice (except your employer or union representative), including a trained poll worker, if you need help to vote. If you need an interpreter, interpreters are available to assist voters at selected sites. Which languages is interpretation offered in? The New York City Board of Elections provides language assistance in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Bengali, Punjabi, or Hindi at select City poll sites. Call 866VOTE-NYC for information about which poll sites have language assistance available and for which languages. The Civic Engagement Commission is providing language assistance in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, Urdu, Yiddish at selected poll sites on October 31, November 1 and November 3. To check which poll sites and languages, go to: nyc.gov/wearevoters l

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MONEY MATTERS

Will Filing For Bankruptcy Negatively Impact Your Credit? It's also important to know that bankruptcy score deductions aren't uniform to the debt amount or your starting score. In general, you will come out with a higher post-bankruptcy score if the discharged debts were individually smaller and spread out rather than one or two very large accounts.

BY MARY CAMPBELL, 311DIVORCE.COM

onventional wisdom on bankruptcy is that it ruins your credit for a decade. That's far from true, however. That belief stems from the fact that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy remains on your credit report for exactly 10 years, which is the standard for closed accounts that did not have any negative activity. However, this is the *only* type of bankruptcy that is on your credit report for that long. Other types of bankruptcies last for seven years, the standard for a closed account that had late payments. Your credit also cannot be totally ruined by a bankruptcy alone. It is true that a bankruptcy is a hard hit to your score, but letting outstanding debts go to collections and accumulate late payments or charge-offs is just as bad if not worse. Let's Talk Points —How Much Will A Bankruptcy Hurt? Generally speaking, bankruptcies disproportionately hit higher credit scores harder. A realistic expectation for a FICO score over 750 is to lose a little over 200

points just from the bankruptcy. However, credit more in the moderate-togood range of 600 to 750 will usually only drop by about 100 to 150 points. While you can expect bankruptcy to take you out of the "excellent" credit category for at least a couple of years, your credit can still remain in a good range if you are not experiencing other significant financial issues that drag it down.

Why Does A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Stay On Longer? Chapter 7 is viewed as the "last resort" bankruptcy option, if your means are too low to be eligible for the structured payments of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy (or a Chapter 11 or 12, which are basically Chapter 13 variants for specific business types). The cost of having most debts completely forgiven under Chapter 7 is the longer negative impact to your ability to borrow. Naturally, a Chapter 13 is more favorable to your credit if you have the means to make at least partial payments on your existing debts. Does A Bankruptcy Eliminate The Negative Credit Impact Of Discharged Accounts? Unfortunately, it does not. If a discharged account had negative payment informa-

tion prior to being discharged, that will continue to be a drag on your credit for the standard seven years.

Can I Rebuild My Credit While A Bankruptcy Is On My Report? Absolutely! Having a bankruptcy on your credit report won't negate positive contributions from other accounts. A popular option for rebuilding credit in the wake of a bankruptcy is a secured credit card. With these, you put down the amount of your credit line in the form of a security deposit. Since the full amount of the credit line is on hand, banks will issue these cards even to customers with low credit scores. After a year of good payment history, the security deposit is usually returned and the card becomes a standard credit account, often with a significant limit increase. Of course, making timely payments on your remaining accounts will also continue to build good credit, and keeping your total debt load to no more than one-third of your available credit will also help to bolster your FICO score.l

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IMMIGRANTS’ CONCERNS ICE Reactivates in New York/ continued from page 1 says. The next day, a Thursday, agents in NYPD jackets managed to enter the building shortly after 5 a.m., but this time they stayed in the mailbox area, where there is no camera, and were there for about 15 minutes. After a slowdown on account of the pandemic, federal immigration enforcement activity appears to be increasing again. In California, ICE has captured 125 people between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, and across six sanctuary cities (Baltimore, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, DC) 172 immigrants were arrested between Oct. 3 and 9. “In the New York City area alone, officers arrested nearly 50 unlawfully present individuals,” reads the statement. This reactivation comes after the Washington Post reported in late September that ICE was preparing for a surprise operation in so-called sanctuary cities. A message sent Some see these operations more as a political messaging campaign than an enforcement operation for ICE. According to Jorge Muñiz-Reyes, an organizer with Sunset Park Emergency ICE Watch, “One thing I’ve noticed is that immigration is hitting swing states like Pennsylvania, Illinois. Florida. But more alarming things are coming right

before the election, and we know it.” After ICE scaled back its operations in the city during the pandemic, ICE agents have again been seen roaming around neighborhoods such as Sunset Park, Red Hook, Bay Ridge, Fort Greene in Brooklyn where Andrea lives, as well as Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, according to advocates. On that Wednesday, Oct. 7 alone, the Immigrant Defense Project’s ICE raids map recorded three reports in New York City. As of Oct. 9, the last day the database was updated, there were two more reports, an increase in the number of incidents compared to September when three ICE surveillance reports were filed during the entire month. Cops or agents? As can be seen in Netflix’s Immigration Nation, a six-part documentary series on immigration, immigrants sometimes open their doors after ICE agents identified themselves as NYPD. Now, people like Andrea and her children are on alert and are not opening their doors as easily as in previous years. “I haven’t done anything wrong,” says Andrea. But hunkering down has its costs. “That day [Wednesday] we didn’t work, the children did not go to school. We went to the 88th precinct and they said they had no operations in the area,” says Andrea. Multiple videos show agents had NYPD jackets and the officers used the fire escape to knock on the windows and ask

for it to be opened. Attempted raids reported in both Fort Greene and Red Hook on Oct. 7 in Brooklyn did not result in arrests, activists said. “ICE agents routinely rely on chaos and confusion through early morning arrests and deceptive tactics,” Genia Blaser, IDP Senior Staff Attorney, said via email. “Sometimes they dress in civilian clothing and sometimes they wear a vest that says ‘Police.’ Often, they purposefully pretend to be NYPD officers, tricking those at the home into thinking they are investigating some fake crime or fake suspect.” In a letter sent to ICE on Oct. 9, for example, Mayor Bill de Blasio described how ICE officials once allegedly claimed to be members of a “narcotics squad” and claimed to be investigating crimes or suspects. Calls for a stronger sanctuary The Mayor’s office is asking ICE to stop compromising the willingness and comfort of immigrants to interact with the NYPD on crucial public safety issues. De Blasio demanded that ICE “immediately issue guidance to your agents prohibiting them from stating or implying that they represent the NYPD.” However, for immigration advocates and people who have been through this situation, a letter to ICE is insufficient. “The city uses the rhetoric that we’re a sanctuary city,” says Good Shepherd pastor Father Juan Carlos Ruiz, “but it doesn’t invest the resources to be so.”

“For us, a letter is useless, we need action. We need an investigation. Is the NYPD working with ICE, or are police officers acting illegally? Isn’t it a crime to impersonate an NYPD officer? There are also videos of ICE [HSI] agents entering precinct 88,” says Andrea. According to Ruiz, “having ICE agents on the streets adds up to the pandemic’s cruel dimension. The virus externalizes problems like xenophobia, but having active agents adds more to our people’s vulnerability.” These actions by ICE in New York, “are to intimidate our people and that is having an impact. This adds to the insecurity, affects the quality of life. Our homes become traps because they go after us there. The criminalization of the immigrant doesn’t stop,” says Ruiz. Both Ruiz and Muñiz-Reyes believe that the situation is about to get worse as the Nov. 3 elections approach. “We have to use what we have learned, the importance of recording, advocating for immigrants, and uniting with the community. Trump is coming with everything before the election and we have to demand our rights,” Muñiz-Reyes says on the phone. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) says it doesn’t want the community to panic and it doesn’t want people to retreat into the shadows. According to Meryl Ranzer, an activist with the group New Sanctuary Coalition, not only the city has to face this issue but also organizations. “This situation [with ICE] is not new to us. We know that ICE

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FAMILY MATTERS

Healthy Sleep is Vital for School Success

ealthy sleep is vital for student success. Yet, a new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) shows that many students are not getting enough sleep, according to more than half of American parents surveyed. No matter where classes are held â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in-person, online or in a hybrid format â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the group is highlighting the importance of healthy sleep for students. "As many parents and caregivers try to create a routine for their kids, incorporating the right amount of healthy sleep is an important component," said AASM President Dr. Kannan Ramar. What's keeping kids up on school nights? From classwork to social media use, there are many things competing for the attention of school-aged children and teens, interfering with their nightly sleep. According to 90% of parents, homework and early school start times are the top barriers impacting the healthy sleep students need each night, followed by time with friends (87%), social media/electronics use (86%), hobbies (86%), sports (85%), chores or jobs (83%), and

band/music/clubs (78%). COVID-19 impact on sleep consistency Another disrupter to sleep? The COVID19 pandemic. One of the biggest challenges students have been facing during the pandemic has been maintaining a consistent and healthy sleep/wake schedule. According to the survey, four out of 10 parents acknowledge that remote learning affects their children's bedtime and/or waketime consistency. "Even though students may not need to

catch the bus or carpool this school year, they should continue with morning and bedtime rituals, including getting up and going to bed at regular times so they get enough sleep," added Ramar. Parents are aware of impact of sleep About 94% of parents acknowledge that sleep impacts their children's mood, and 93% understand its correlation to performance in school. Impacts on physical health (92%), mental health (90%), and performance in sports or other activities

(90%) are also widely reported by parents. Getting the recommended hours of healthy sleep on a regular basis is associated with better outcomes, including improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. Sufficient sleep also helps students: * Excel in the classroom by maximizing attention, memory and learning abilities * Perform better in sports by being faster, stronger and more accurate * Feel their best and have a more optimistic attitude toward life * Look their best and maintain a healthy weight * Have fun and enjoy life by making better decisions and staying safe The benefits of healthy sleep require not only adequate sleep duration, but also appropriate timing, daily regularity, good sleep quality and the absence of sleep disorders. The AASM recommends children 6-12 years of age sleep nine to 12 hours on a regular basis to promote optimal health, while teenagers 13-18 years of age should sleep eight to 10 hours per night. (BPT) l

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JOBS & RECESSION

Three New Lawsuits Challenge Trump’s H-1B Worker Restrictions BY KATE GOETTEL IMMIGRATION IMPACT

hree new lawsuits have been filed challenging the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new rules impacting the H-1B visa category, with one also challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new H-1B rule. The complaints argue that the new H1B rules will make it near impossible for many U.S. businesses to hire foreign workers—particularly those in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. The timing of these rules—with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging in the United States—could not be worse. All three lawsuits challenge the way in which the agencies enacted the rule. The agencies did not provide the public notice and an opportunity to comment. The lawsuits also claim the rules are not supported by adequate reasoning and evidence. The new DOL rule raises the minimum salaries companies must pay to qualify to sponsor a worker in a specialty occupa-

tion, the H-1B category. This makes hiring foreign workers with an H-1B visa largely out of reach for most companies. The DOL rule also impacts two immigrant visa categories, which will increase shortages in such critical occupations as nursing. The DHS rule redefines what jobs will qualify as specialty occupations when compared with existing law and places unreasonable limitations on the placement of H-1B workers at third-party sites.

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The H-1B is a temporary (nonimmigrant) visa category that allows employers to petition for highly educated foreign workers in “specialty occupations” requiring at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent—typically in STEM fields. DOL and DHS published simultaneous rules on October 8, 2020. The DOL rule became effective immediately, while the DHS rule takes effect on December 7 The first lawsuit to challenge DOL’s rule—IT Serve Alliance, Inc. v. Scalia—

was brought on behalf of a membership organization of information technology companies and seven member companies. Plaintiffs argue that DOL will require “exponentially higher rates” with no notice. They also take aim at the rule because it is based on “outdated, incorrect, or limited empirical data.” The second lawsuit to challenge DOL’s rule, Purdue University v. Scalia, was brought on behalf of Purdue University, Indiana University, the University of Michigan, as well as several trade associations. A third lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Stanford University, Cornell University, the California Institute of Technology, and several business associations in the Northern District of California on October 19. The lawsuit, U.S. Chamber of Commerce v. DHS, challenges both the DHS and DOL rules. The lawsuits attack the way in which the rules were issued as “Interim Final Rules.” That means that the public and advocates don’t have an opportunity to inspect and comment on the rules before they go into effect. A rule can only be issued as “interim final” if the agencies can show “good cause,” which DHS and DOL fail to do. The lawsuits also challenge the economics – or lack thereof – that inform the DOL rule and in the case of the Chamber of Commerce lawsuit, the DHS rule as well. Both lawsuits claim that the agencies did not adequately explain why they were adopting the rules or consider the interests of various constituents who would be affected by the rules. Without explanation, employers “now must pay dramatically higher wages for foreign national employees as compared to similarly situated Americans; in some case the required wages increased 50% overnight,” according to the Purdue University complaint. The consequences “are extraordinary,” according to the Chamber of Commerce lawsuit: “If left unchecked, they would sever the employment relationship of hundreds of thousands of existing employees in the United States, and they would virtually foreclose the hiring of new individuals via the H-1B program.” The lawsuits seek preliminary injunctive relief, which would mean a fast decision to halt the new rules and keep the status quo in place. Now more than ever, the status quo for highly skilled workers cannot be disrupted. The U.S. needs highly skilled workers, especially in the fields of science and medicine, to wage the war on COVID19. These lawsuits act as a check on the administration’s efforts to stop the flow of foreign workers by any means necessary.l

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IN THE NEWS

NPNA Condemns Historically Low Refugee Resettlement Allotment for FY2021

ASHINGTON: Today [Oct 28], the Trump administration signed a Presidential Determination slashing refugee admissions to the United States to just 15,000 individuals for Fiscal Year 2021. This historically low number is unprecedented during any presidential administration, even undercutting the Trump administration’s previous record low of 18,000 for FY2020. To date, the Trump administration has failed to meet its own goal, having only admitted approximately half of the 18,000 people allotted. In response to the announcement, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), Nicole Melaku stated, “NPNA is deeply concerned by the all-time low refugee admission cap of 15,000 individuals for FY2021 announced by the Trump administration today. We join our colleagues in the resettlement and refugee advocacy community in sharing our extreme disappointment with our government’s callousness in turning away thousands of families facing persecution and harm across the world. We are outraged by this administration's open endorsement of Stephen Miller's hateful and xenophobic agenda to gut our refugee resettlement

program, dismantle the asylum process, and conflate the issue of global migration with national security.” Basma Alawee, a former refugee and current organizer with the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), an NPNA member organization, stated, “While the administration continues to put up barriers and postpone refugee admissions, over 70 million displaced people globally are experiencing unthinkable suffering and hardship that has only been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Their struggles vary and include food and housing insecurity; homelessness; lack of access to adequate health care and employment; fear of deportation or loss of legal protection; and more. These are families that are constantly living in a state of limbo with no clear path for their futures. We cannot leave refugees and other marginalized groups behind as we work together to fight against the pandemic -- it is both cruel and foolish.” Kayse Jama, executive director of Unite Oregon, an NPNA member organization, said, “This is not a refugee admissions goal. Clearly the real goal here is to continue dismantling the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. We know this does not represent the majority sentiment

of the American public, as evidenced by state and local officials across the country pushing back on Trump’s executive order last year, from red and blue states alike. As a former refugee from Somalia who is now a proud U.S. citizen, I know we are a nation of refuge and opportunity. Let us work together to preserve these values.” Nejra Sumic, a former refugee and current We Are All America organizer in Arizona, added, “As a former refugee from Bosnia, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have resettled in the United States. It is because of this opportunity that I have strived to give back to my community and this country as a sense of pride, resilience, and gratitude. It is disheartening that during one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, the current administration is

choosing to shut its doors to those in the most vulnerable situations who are seeking a new opportunity in life for themselves and their families. This country was built on the backs of immigrants, and has a standing tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing persecution. In the midst of a global pandemic, it is even more critical that we continue to stand by these values.”l The National Partnership for New Americans is a national multiethnic, multiracial organization that represents 41 of the largest regional immigrant and refugee rights organizations in 37 states. Its members provide large-scale services for the communities, to leverage their collective power and expertise for a national strategy. More information about the New American Voters 2020 campaign is available at http://newamericanvoters2020.org/.

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IN THE NEWS

Reproductive Rights/ continued from page 1 Trump's Office of Refugee Resettlement over its anti-abortion policy, blocking pregnant underage immigrants from accessing abortion and forcing them to carry the pregnancy to term unwillingly. Evoking feelings of déjà vu, and a reminder of America's history of forcibly sterilizing people of color, an example of an unfortunate past and a threat to its return. Since then, the situation has declined, with new claims of abuse and violation of reproductive rights as filed on immigrants' behalf. In Georgia, the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC), managed by LaSalle Corrections, a profitmaking prison company that manages the facility is under investigation. The investigation follows a complaint filed by a whistleblower within the facility against the center for carrying out practices without patients' knowledge or consent, thereby violating their rights while in the custody of Georgia's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A nurse raised allegations of reckless medical practices of one of the center's OB/GYN practitioners, Dr. Mahendra Amin, and filed a report to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general prompted a chain reaction of inquiries and investigations at the national and federal level. As a response, a five-page report, compiled from the review of over 3,000 pages of medical records of the complainants, by the team of medical experts - includ-

ing certified doctors and nurses with affiliation to reputable academic medical centers, revealed that the primary gynecologist for the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Ga. Dr. Mahendra Amin recommended unnecessary medical procedures for 19 patients. The investigating medical team compiled the report in partnership with various legal experts in a Project South coalition. They are representing the women —Innovation Law Lab, the Southern Poverty Law Centers, and others. The acclaimed patient-victims', accused the expert of performing medical procedures under coercion, subtle intimidation, and without the patient's knowledge and sometimes without consent. Findings substantiated the allegations of medical abuse, finding medical procedures that removed the reproductive organs, and administering birth control procedures. In the report, both the doctor and the mentioned detention facility preyed on the women's vulnerability. They coerced the victims into various forms of inappropriate and unnecessary medical care. Unsurprisingly, most alleged maltreated patients are Blacks or Latinos, from Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. According to investigative findings from The Los Angeles Times, their reporters interviewed a few patients from the pool of reviewed cases during the medical investigation. All of them had similar experiences with Dr. Amin, his approach, methods, and aftermath. One of the patients, a now-deported Jamaican, claimed that she had misgivings about Dr.

Amin, having observed that so many women under his care had received similar surgeries. However, she needed his expertise because of her particular medical need from the report of 'abnormal pap smear 'her previous doctor had identified. However, she felt empty and unsure of his judgment after undergoing a procedure by Dr. Amin, who informed her post-procedure of removing her fallopian tubes because of damages, thereby reducing her chances of bearing biological children due to the procedure. Shereace claims she feels that the procedure might not have been the only option; however, her doubts remain unconfirmed for lack of a second opinion as she can't afford another expert's services. Another alleged patient-victim, a South American Immigrant, Amanda, cited a case of subtle threat/coercion when she at first opposed the proposed procedure Dr. Amin recommended. She was informed of a potential life-threatening ovarian cyst that needed a procedure. However, she remembered feeling pressurized into signing the paper for the draining of a cyst; but not a series of surgeries by Dr. Amin, who had scraped her uterus, removed her ovaries and other procedures without her consent. She recollects waking up, chained to the hospital bed, and getting into a panic. After spending over two decades in the U.S., another deported Jamaican described the Irwin hospital as degrading, citing she received a medical procedure she was not fully informed about and without consent and refused to remove

her uterus, which the medical team ruled as unnecessary upon review. The spokesperson for the immigration agency refused to provide any further comment on the case at the time of the interview; neither did the inspector general's office respond to the request for comments. On the accused side, Dr. Amin's counsel, Scott Grubman, informed the Times through email that he lacks permission to respond to any inquiries on the case without a release from his client. However, he mentioned that most of the allegations proved false based on investigations. A similar stand taken by the Irwin hospital's managing company, in an email from their spokesman, Scott Sutterfield, refused to make any comment on the case but confirmed their cooperation with the investigation. From the government side, the office of Homeland Security in September alluded to the invalidity of the allegations in their preliminary investigations. However, the office will be conducting a thorough audit in the future. No matter what the denials, defenses, and outcomes, the fact remains that women's reproductive rights are trampled, and for some denied, especially immigrant-women, whose lives' trajectory has changed. Through the manipulations of people in power, if confirmed, delivered through biased medical experts who have become instruments for systemic injustice. Hopefully, it will change sometime soon. l This is a summary of an article originally published in The Los Angeles Times. es.

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HEALTH

COVID-19 Risks When You Have Cancer

f you have cancer, you may wonder how the coronavirus (COVID-19) can affect you and your treatment. Here’s what you should know. Infection and Your Immune System When you have cancer, you have a higher chance of getting infections. Many cancers change how well your immune system works. In some cases, it’s not the disease, but the treatment that affects your defenses. Even if you're a cancer survivor, your immune system still might not be able to fight germs like it should. Sometimes, cancers can affect specific organs like your lungs or kidneys. When your organs aren’t working well, your body has a harder time fighting germs and infections. Because the virus that causes COVID19 is new, anyone exposed to or infected by the virus has a chance of being sick. Most people who get sick will have mild to moderate symptoms. But if you have cancer and get COVID-19, your illness can be more serious. COVID-19 and Your Cancer Treatment Some cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants, can have an impact on your immune system. They can lower the number of white cells

If you haven’t started treatment, your doctor will talk to you about your safest next steps. Your health care team will consider the stage and type of your cancer, as well as safety concerns, before they decide whether or not you should begin your plan. If you're taking part in a clinical trial, check to see if it is continuing. It could be on hold.

you have and how they work. That can make it easier for germs to enter your body and for infections to take hold. While the COVID-19 outbreak continues, your doctor will talk to you about whether you should continue your cancer treatment or wait until the impact of the virus eases. You might be able to delay treatment for a while. That will allow you to stay home instead of going into the doctor’s office or treatment facility. But in some cases, your doctor might think it’s critical that you continue treatment.

How to Protect Yourself When you have cancer, it’s especially important you take steps to stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. Here's how: •Only leave home when absolutely necessary. •Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. •When you’re around people, leave at least 6 feet between yourself and them. •Clean and disinfect surfaces you touch often, like counters, doorknobs, light switches, phones, and sinks. •Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. •If possible, stock up on several weeks of medications and key supplies.• •If you have to go out in public, wear a face mask. Stay in Touch With Your Doctor Even if your treatment is over or on hold,

it’s important that you stay in contact with your health care team. You can schedule telemedicine visits if you need them so you don’t have to go into the office. Know the symptoms of COVID-19 so you can reach out if you think you might be sick. Symptoms include: •Cough •Shortness of breath •Fever •Chills •Muscle pain •Sore throat •New loss of taste or smell If you have cancer, you might not have a fever when you’re sick if the treatments you're taking affect your immune system. If you think you might be sick, reach out to whichever doctor you see most often. They’ll ask you questions about your symptoms and your exposure. Once they get those answers, they'll let you know if you should get a COVID-19 test. If it’s possible you might have the illness, you might have to stay home until your symptoms get better. If they get worse, call your doctor.l

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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Rekindling the Romance: Easy Ways You Can Get Your Relationship Back on Track BY JENNINE ESTES, ESTES THERAPY

ow can we rekindle our romance in a long-term relationship? Most couples often feel a sense of absolute happiness, love, connection, and excitement at the beginning of a relationship. You may look back on your wedding day and remember feeling that the bond between you and your beloved seemed so tight that nothing could pull it apart … but, eventually you may have learned otherwise. What happened to that bond after many years of routine and added responsibilities such as children, work, bills, cleaning, health, and all of life’s other little obstacles? Keep the romance alive While you were living the daily American routine of working too much and trying to cope with life’s ongoing struggles, the romance that originally sparked the marriage began to diminish. Hopefully, you and your significant other are both trying to fix things, but right now, I have your attention. These quick tips will help You get the romance to spark again: 1. Flare-up the flirt: Find ways to flirt with your partner and show them you are interested in connecting with them on a

more intimate level. Try to show your playful mood where you can, have fun and connect in a flirting way. Spice it up a bit … I dare you. 2. Maintain the connection: We all know life gets busy … with late hours at work, taking kids to soccer practice, running errands, etc. Make your relationship a priority and schedule time each week alone together. Make this time together mutually enjoyable and use it as a way to maintain your emotional connection. And yes … this means time away from the television. Create a time and place where there are no distractions and no responsibilities … just like it used to be. Reserve this time for fun time, this is not the time to talk bills or responsibilities. You can schedule a separate time in the week for those conversations. 3. Slow it down: You are probably well known for giving, giving, and giving some more. But, by the end of the night, you find yourself so exhausted from your day that you no longer have any energy for your partner. An easy way to help fight this relationship killer is to slow down and find ways to rejuvenate and reenergize throughout the day. Not only will you save your own sanity, but the

more energized you are, the more you can be available for your partner at the end of the night. 4. Remember the past: Take a look back on how you used interact in your relationship. In the past, were you overwhelmed with work and life? Or were you energetic, enthusiastic, and ready to take on life’s challenges? Did you wait until 6 pm to have a real conversation with your partner, or did you talk to each other throughout the day? Think of what you used to do back in the good ol’ days and try to recreate some of those same themes. Think about what drew you to your partner in the first place, and what drew them to you.

I am going to tell you what you already know: marriage doesn’t have to be routine, boring, and dry. It may not be easy, and it may not always be fun, but how you experience saving your relationship often depends on … yes, you guessed it … You.l

Jennine Estes, MFT is a Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego, CA. Certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. She writes relationship and self growth advice for her column Relationships in the Raw. Creator of #BeingLOVEDIs campaign. MFC#47653. Published with permission.

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WELCOME TO AMERICA

Naturalization Fees: A Poll Tax Hidden in Plain Sight BY VALENTINE BROWN

he application fee to apply for U.S. citizenship was due to rise from $640 to $1170 on October 2. Though the fee hike was temporarily blocked in federal court, this is not the first time U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has tried to raise the naturalization application fee. But the increase has never been this high—a staggering 82%. The Center for American Progress found in a 2014 study that 32% of immigrants eligible for naturalization lived below 150% of the federal poverty income guidelines. High application fees will put citizenship out of reach for many—possibly up to 54% of the eligible immigrant population. If people cannot afford to naturalize as U.S. citizens, they never will earn one of the key privileges of citizenship: the right to vote. Monetary barriers to voting are not new. Poll taxes were used after the Civil War Reconstruction era to disenfranchise Black people, poor white people, and immigrant voters. Starting in the 1870s, many states

enacted laws that required every voter to pay before they could vote. The poll tax amount varied by state and ran at most between $10 to $20 in today’s dollars. That figure is low compared to the astronomical new $1,170 naturalization application fee, though it was still unreachable for many during that time. It was not until the ratification of the 24th Amendment in 1964 that poll taxes were eliminated in federal elections. It took another two years and several Supreme Court decisions before they were eliminated for state elections. In Texas, for example, naturalized Mexican immigrants were a specific tar-

get of poll taxes during the early 1900s. For immigrants naturalized during the poll tax era, it was a double tax: the cost of the naturalization application and the extra payment to vote. Naturalization applications should be free, just as voting is free. Any monetary barrier to U.S. citizenship should be eliminated, just as the poll tax was eliminated by the 24th Amendment. There are many known positive economic, social, and political impacts of naturalization. Researchers found that after naturalization, immigrants’ earnings rose an average of 8.9%, home ownership rate rose 6.3%, and employment rate rose 2.2%. This economic impact not only radiates out to the immigrants’ children and immediate family, but to their communities, cities, and the nation as a whole. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated 9.1 million legal permanent residents met the qualifications for naturalization in 2019. While naturalization rates have risen over time, the rate is not nearly high enough to capture the growing eligible population of legal permanent residents. According to DHS, the agency naturalized 500,000 individuals a year during

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the 1990s, and 680,000 individuals per year between 2000 and 2009. Since 2010, the average annual number of naturalizations has increased to over 712,000 people. Perhaps the impending demographics are a reason why the Trump administration wants to raise the naturalization fees by 82%. A February 2020 Pew Research Center study found a 93% increase in the number of naturalized citizens eligible to vote since 2000. Pew estimates there will be more than 23 million naturalized citizens in November, constituting roughly 10% of the electorate. The fact that the largest group of these new citizens—a full 16%—are from Mexico cannot be overlooked. Many of the new citizens are Hispanic or Asian, both groups regularly disparaged by this White House. Another key demographic to consider is that 56% of the 23 million new citizens—or 12.8 million voters— live in the battleground states of California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Voter turnout rates also could be a reason to discourage naturalization. Naturalized Hispanic and Asian Americans turnout to vote more frequently (7% each) than their native-born counterparts. In USCIS’ announcement of the final rule on the fee increase, the agency reported that “[t]he rule accounts for increased costs to adjudicate immigration benefit requests, detect and deter immigration fraud, and thoroughly vet applicants, petitioners and beneficiaries.” Interestingly, this disproportionate fee increase is necessary just at the same time as this administration ramps up government denaturalization operations. It has created two new offices—one in USCIS and another in the Department of Justice—to identify and prosecute cases to revoke previously issued citizenships. Poll taxes were extremely effective at disenfranchising Black citizens. In Louisiana, the registration of Black voters dropped from 130,000 in 1896 to a little over 1,300 in 1904. In Mississippi, less than 9,000 of 147,000 eligible Black citizens were registered to vote after 1890. Let us hope that a proposed 82% increase in the naturalization application fee, combined with the elimination of all fee waivers for the application, is not as successful. Let us hope that even though this administration does not see the importance of enfranchisement of all residents, our 9.1 million citizenship-eligible legal permanent residents do. Let us hope.l Valentine Brown has been practicing immigration law since 1995. She is a former AILA Chapter Chair of the Philadelphia Chapterand has organized AILA Citizenship Day in Philadelphia for the last 10 years.

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This Citizenship Program does not apply to anyone who has ever been arrested since getting their Green Card.

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