The Immigrant’s Journal Vol. 157
A Journey for a Better Life & Justice
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Protecting God’s Children From Distant Lands 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY 11242
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The House Passes the America COMPETES Act, Including Immigration Reforms to Help the U.S. Economy competitiveness with China in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. As part of this effort, the bill proposes several reforms to U.S. immigration law. America COMPETES is the counterpart to a similar bill passed by the Senate in June of last year: the “U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021.” The Senate bill does not contain any immigration provisions. It will be up to a House-Senate conference committee to resolve this and other differences
BY WALTER EWING IMMIGRATIONIMPACT.COM
T
he House of Representatives passed an economic competitiveness bill on February 4 that includes several immigration provisions. The bill is called the ‘‘America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, PreEminence in Technology, and Economic Strength Act of 2022’’—or the America COMPETES Act of 2022. This bill (which is more than 2,900 pages long) is intended to boost U.S.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com
February 10, 2022
continued on page 13
Do You Qualify for Temporary Protected Status? ....8
Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
Governor Hochul’s $27M Ida-Relief Fund for Immigrants Has Doled Out Less Than $1M ....20
Senator Salazar: Immigration Status Should Not Be a Hindrance to Receiving Health Coverage ....9
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The Fight Against Racism Unites Minorities BY MARIBEL HASTINGS AND DAVID TORRES, AMERICA’S VOICE
A
s we commemorate Black History Month and recognize the achievements, contributions, and challenges this community faces—the community that faithfully lead the struggle for civil rights in this nation—we inevitably reflect upon what we, as other minority groups, have in common at a time when nonAnglo Saxon sectors of society are in a
constant state of attack on diverse fronts. It seemed as if the constant insults, full of hate and discrimination, would start to diminish following the unseating of former President Donald Trump, whose policies against minorities set the United States back to humanely unacceptable times in history; but the resurgence of this sickening rhetoric of hate, which is being used electorally once again, makes one think about the continued on page 12
Breaking Up Hurts: Getting Over Your Ex ....17
Brian Figeroux, Esq.
Parenting 101: Five Ways to Avoid Yelling at Young Children ....7
Scoring System Could Predict Stroke in People Hospitalized for COVID-19 ....15
IN THE NEWS
2
Immigration Court Comes Into the 21st Century with Electronic Filing for Attorneys BY EMMA WINGER
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mmigration courts will soon take a big step into the digital age. On February 11, 2022, immigration attorneys, accredited representatives, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lawyers, will be required to electronically file immigration court paperwork in new immigration cases. This update won’t make the immigration court system fully paperless. Notably, there is still no mechanism for unrepresented people to file electronically. But mandatory electronic filing will provide necessary efficiencies for those who appear in immigration court and for the struggling court system itself. In the summer of 2018, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)—the government agency that houses the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)— launched an electronic filing pilot program at the San Diego immigration court. Called the EOIR Courts & Appeals
System (ECAS), the program has expanded beyond San Diego in the last four years. Now, electronic filing is available in all 66 immigration courts and at the BIA. Electronic filing has long been available in the federal court system. Under a new rule effective February 11, EOIR will require all attorneys and BIAaccredited representatives to file court submissions electronically for all cases that have an electronic record of proceeding. In practice, this means ECAS will be used for all new cases, but many existing cases will remain paper, as EOIR slowly converts cases to ECAS. With a backlog of over 1.5 million cases, it is unlikely that EOIR will become fully digital anytime soon. There are many advantages to electronic filing. Practitioners will be able to file large, time-sensitive records without the expense of printing and mailing documents. This is particularly true for attorneys who practice in remote immigration courts, where in-person filing is impractical.
People in deportation proceedings who have legal representation will benefit from timely access to important court filings. Delays in paper service can mean their attorney has less time to prepare and respond for their case. And the immigration court system, currently struggling under a huge backlog, can more efficiently process new cases, gather necessary records to evaluate each case, and transfer cases to new immigration courts as necessary. But there are many gaps in ECAS. Most importantly, people in deportation proceedings who do not have a lawyer cannot currently participate in electronic filing. There is no right to appointed counsel in deportation proceedings. 55% of people in deportation proceedings do
not have a lawyer, as of December 2021. The numbers are even worse for people in detention—80% do not have representation. As EOIR works to expand ECAS, it will be essential that it is accessible to all unrepresented people, including people in detention. It should be easy to register and available in many languages. EOIR will need to find an efficient way to transfer existing paper files to ECAS without unnecessarily burdening attorneys. EOIR should do away with the requirement that attorneys appear in person to register for ECAS. But EOIR should also be applauded for taking a necessary step toward a more efficient, digital immigration court system.l
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3
TIME FOR ACTION
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
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ashington, DC: The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) including the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) International Human Rights Unit (IHRU) join U.S. and international law enforcement partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others this Sunday in recognizing the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on Feb. 6. There will be no tolerance – today or any other day – for this harmful practice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department of Justice is dedicated to the enforcement of the STOP FGM Act to protect young women from this traumatic experience.” “The FBI stands with our partners in acknowledging this International Day of Zero Tolerance in support of the victims of this horrendous crime,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “We reaffirm our commitment to protecting young women and girls by bringing to justice those who violate this vulnerable group.” “The International Day of Zero Tolerance provides us the opportunity to raise awareness of this issue and remember the women and girls who have suffered from this human rights abuse, including those who have died or live with the health complications from this practice,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Director for National Security Andre R. Watson. Federal agencies have engaged in a variety of initiatives aimed at protecting women and girls in the United States who have been subjected to or who may be at risk of FGM. For example: To help raise awareness, HSI special agents regularly conduct outreach at U.S. international airports to inform travelers of the dangers of FGM and the consequences for those who commit this horrific abuse. In December, HSI special agents conducted outreach at internation-
TEAM Publisher I.Q. INC. Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Senior Writer Linda Nwoke Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Kendrick Williams Anvar Sabirov Email immjournal@aol.com Visit www.ijlef.org www.falaw.us www.cawnyc.com
Editorial credit: Ms Jane Campbell / Shutterstock.com
al airports in Dulles, Virginia and Dallas, Texas, under an initiative called Operation Limelight USA. Operation Limelight USA was initiated in 2017 by ICE’s HRVWCC, and modeled after the United Kingdom’s Operation Limelight, a joint initiative by the U.K.’s Border Force and police services. The Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime awarded over 5 million dollars in three-year grants to support community projects around the country designed to increase direct services, education, and community partner engagement to stop the victimization of women and girls through FGM. For more info, see press release: DOJ announces nearly $3 million to address female genital mutilation and cutting DOJ, DHS, and FBI conducted a variety of trainings for local, state and federal law enforcement (prosecutors, local and state police, child protective services professionals, and others) to raise awareness about the applicability of federal and state laws barring FGM, best practices for interactions with FGM survivors, and where to find support services. Similar trainings and meetings were held for educators, immigrant and refugee service providers, and medical professionals. FGM is a serious human rights violation and a federal crime. In 2013, Congress amended the federal FGM statute to add section 116(d), which prohibits the transportation of a person from the United States to another country for purposes of having FGM performed upon them. On Jan. 5, 2021, the STOP FGM Act 2020 was signed into law, further align-
ing the U.S. definition of FGM with the World Health Organization’s definition. Violations of this law may result in imprisonment and potential removal from the United States. Individuals suspected of FGM, including sending girls overseas to be harmed, may be investigated by the HRVWCC and prosecuted by the DOJ accordingly. On Jan. 13, 2021, the DOJ indicted a Texas woman for allegedly transporting a minor out of the United States for FGM, the first time that charges were brought under the provision of the law which prohibits taking a girl out of the United States for the purpose of FGM. The FBI’s Houston Field Office investigated the case with support from the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. According to UNICEF, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, which refers to procedures that injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. While primarily concentrated in north, west, and central Africa, as well as parts of the Middle East and Asia, FGM also occurs in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 500,000 women and girls in the United States are either victims of FGM or are at risk of being subjected to it. The practice is global in scope and found in multiple geographies, religions, and socioeconomic classes. Anyone with information about victims or perpetrators of female genital mutilation is encouraged to call the toll-free ICE tip line at (866) 347-2423 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-2255324). l
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
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Know Your Rights with ICE If approached by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents, you have rights!
What can I do if ICE is at my door? •
You do not have to immediately open the door for ICE and you do not have to speak to ICE.
•
From behind the closed door, you may ask them who they are and to show their badge, ID or business card through the window or peephole or to pass it under the closed door.
•
You can ask if they have a judicial warrant:
If they say No, you do not have to let them in. You may say, “I do not want to speak with you.”
If they say Yes, you can ask them to slide it under the door. To know if it is a judicial warrant, look to see who signed the warrant.
A judicial warrant is a warrant from a court, signed by a judge. For example, judge signatures may have “Honorable/Hon.” “Judge” “Justice” or “Magistrate” in front of them.
•
In an emergency, such as a threat to public safety or a threat to someone’s life, ICE can come in without asking your permission. If this happens, you still do not have to speak to ICE.
•
If ICE is looking for someone, you do not need to speak. If you choose to speak, you can ask ICE to leave contact information. While you do not need to tell ICE where the person is located, providing false information puts you at risk.
What can I do if ICE is inside my home? •
If ICE enters your home without your permission, you can tell them clearly: “I do not consent to you being in my home. Please leave.” Saying this may not always stop them, but it may help any future legal case.
•
If ICE starts to search rooms or items in your home, you can tell them, “I do not consent to your search.” You can continue to repeat this if they continue to search without consent.
•
You can tell them if there are children or other vulnerable residents in your home.
What can I do if ICE stops me on the street or in public? •
Before you say anything, you can ask, “Am I free to go?”
If they say Yes: you can say,
“I don’t want to answer your questions”
If they say No: you can say,
“I want to remain silent.”
If ICE agents try to search your pockets or belongings, you can say, “I do not consent to a search.” If they search you anyway, you cannot physically stop them, but clearly saying it may be important in any future legal case.
This fact sheet gives only general information. It is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.
Call 855-768-8845 for a FREEEnglish Immigration Consultation
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CIVIL RIGHTS
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As Biden Undermines Campaign Promises to Protect Immigrants, It Is More Urgent Than Ever for Congress to Cut ICE and CBP Funding
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ashington, DC: In response to reporting that the continuing resolution to fund the federal government may be extended until March 11 and in light of reporting by Axios that the Biden administration is planning a home confinement and curfew pilot program, the Defund Hate Campaign issued the following statement: “Appropriators need to recognize their critical role in protecting immigrants, refugees and people seeking asylum from a punitive system that strips people of their dignity and basic human rights and separates them from loved ones. Over the next three weeks, Congress must finalize negotiations that lead to actual funding bills—because our legislators cannot protect immigrant communities while simultaneously choosing to continue Trump-era funding levels and supporting President Biden’s detention expansion. Congress must serve as a check on the administration’s efforts to grow the
detention system and surveillance dragnet, and significantly reduce funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP). ICE “alternatives” to detention (ATD) that the administration is seeking to expand have only proven to be another framework to restrict, surveil, and harm immigrants, and has to date not resulted in fewer people in detention. The ask from the administration for members of Congress to fund as many as 350,000 people in ICE “alternatives to detention” is appalling. The number of people and families subject to ICE surveillance through its “ATD” programming has already doubled since President Biden took office—this request would quadruple it. In Defund Hate’s proposal for a transformative budget, we highlight the story of Laura, a transgender woman who had to wear an ankle monitor for more than a year as part of ICE’s “Intensive Supervision Appearance Program.” This
resulted in further discrimination every step of the way, making it harder for Laura to stabilize her life and health, as well as, fight her deportation case. Instead of increasing resources for ICE’s detention system and surveillance dragnet, Congress should be investing funds in vital programs and services that respond to real need, including affordable housing, legal representation, community healthcare and environmental protections, not writing a blank check for detention and the private prison and sur-
veillance corporations that fuel it. Members of Congress can say they are for protecting immigrants but their actions will determine whether they’re willing to continue putting millions of lives on the line. As Congress looks towards finalizing Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations and prepares to receive President Biden’s budget proposal for FY 2023 this spring, we urge them to strongly reject any requests that would grow funding for immigration enforcement, including for harmful so-called “alternatives” that continue to expand the power of ICE and CBP, and instead significantly cut funding for ICE and CBP to prioritize the freedom and dignity of immigrants.”l The Defund Hate Coalition, composed of organizations representing directly impacted communities, faith leaders, and civil rights and immigrant rights advocates, is committed to divestment from agencies that tear apart our families and terrorize our communities.
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
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Summary of Director Jaddou’s Briefing with Stakeholders Re Executive Orders
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ASHINGTON: On the oneyear anniversary [February 2] of several executive orders (EOs) from the Biden-Harris administration aimed at restoring faith in our nation’s legal immigration system, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur M. Jaddou briefed national stakeholders on the agency’s efforts to implement these EOs. During this briefing, Director Jaddou and senior USCIS leadership shared policy and operational updates highlighting USCIS’ progress in responding to these executive orders. Key Excerpts •“President Biden issued several executive orders and proclamations that impact all U.S. federal agencies involved in the immigration process. These EO’s seek to accomplish many things – but rooted in all of them is a firm and meaningful commitment to making the United States a stronger, more inclusive, and welcoming nation.” •“It doesn’t matter what benefit we are talking about or what you applied for, every single applicant who seeks a bene-
fit from USCIS is entitled to a timely decision. USCIS is clear-eyed about this and we are taking important steps to ensure that we are addressing case processing times in a meaningful way and, although there is still much to do that will take time given our large backlog, we have made progress in key areas.” •“We hear you. We know those seeking our services need and deserve this commitment. We will continue working together to solidify our progress for the good of the nation. As a daughter of immigrants, I’m humbled to be the first woman and first Mexican-American and Chaldean-American to serve as USCIS director. Thanks to my family and personal experience, I know very well that naturalization, and so many other immigration benefits, are critical to those who seek them.” •“USCIS welcomed 855,000 New Americans and hosted more than 40,000 naturalization ceremonies in FY 2021. We also decreased the pending naturalization case queue by approximately 20% in calendar year 2021 and returned to pre-pandemic processing levels for naturalization. We certainly have more
work to do in getting through our naturalization workload and this is a key focus for us.” •“The work that we have in front of us is complex but is exciting, and while much has been done to restore confidence and trust in our immigration system, there is still so much work ahead of us. At USCIS, we will continue to fulfill our obligations under President Biden’s executive orders that help to restore and rebuild our immigration system.” •“As we look towards the future, you have my commitment that USCIS will continue to serve the public with respect and reflect America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility. That is the mission of our agency.” Executive Orders Last year, the Biden-Harris administration issued the following EOs: •EO 14012, Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans; •EO 14010, Creating a Comprehensive Regional Framework to Address the Causes of Migration, to Manage
Migration Throughout North and Central America, and to Provide Safe and Orderly Processing of Asylum Seekers at the United States Border; •EO 14013, Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration; and •EO 14011, Establishment of Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families. •Presidential Memorandum on Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Throughout this past year, USCIS has advanced policies and procedures, consistent with applicable law, that support the EOs issued by the president, including by identifying and removing barriers that impede access to immigration benefits and identifying agency actions that fail to promote access to the legal immigration system. USCIS remains committed to empowering lawful permanent residents to pursue citizenship, along with the rights, responsibilities and opportunities that come with it. l
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FAMILY MATTERS
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5 Ways to Avoid Yelling at Young Children BY JANET HOWARD 311DIVORCE.COM
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ave you ever felt like a screaming psychopath when dealing with your young children? A study at Harvard University a few years ago concluded that at least 89 percent admitted to yelling at their kids at times in their lives. If you're one of these people, does this mean that you have a short temper? Not necessarily. It can, however, mean that when you become frustrated, yelling is a knee-jerk reaction. Perhaps you're being pulled in different directions at once (literally and figuratively), or maybe you see your children doing something that you've specifically told them not to do. Shouting for them to stop can often be the result. So, what can you do instead? Here are some options: 1. Establish warnings for your children Children should be warned that if they are fighting in the car or stalling at bedtime, you might get loud. Warning such as "I've asked you X number of times to do that; do it now before you get timeout." Sometimes, that simple warning can be enough to persuade kids to calm down.
2. Give them the lesson later Shouting isn't an effective method to communicate. It can also provoke children to act out aggressively or ignore your yelling over time. Sometimes you can be more effective in the moment by practicing a bit of self-control. Did your young child make a mess in the kitchen? Did your son or a daughter ignore you when you told them to prepare for bed? Try to take a beat or two to before correcting your child's actions. For example, consider asking them about their day and then explain to them why what they did was wrong. 3. Know when you're easily triggered Yelling is not something that happens out of the blue. It's often a response to an action, particular trigger. You can avoid blowing a gasket if you can identify the trigger. Find out what triggers you have and make a mental note of them. Perhaps you're tired and irritable in the evening when you get off work. Or maybe you have less patience in the morning before you've had a chance to eat or prepare for the day. Being more aware of your choices will allow you to be more mindful and exercise patience when you know that you may be easily agitated.
4. Be realistic about your expectations Keep in mind that children are constantly developing, which means that their brains are still growing. So, at times they may not be able to understand the concept that you are teaching them. Patience is key. It helps to be realistic about what you expect them to understand and remember. Often, your expectations can be the source of your frustration. Try not to get angry when you have to repeat something to your child that you told them earlier in the day. Instead, find ways to help them remember it, such as writing it down for them or having them repeat it back to you. 5. Be proactive Almost every parent can agree that getting children out of bed in the morning can be a bit of a headache. In some cases, it can escalate into a full-on shouting
match. One of the best responses to this is to be proactive. For example, if you know that your child doesn't like getting up in the morning, try waking them up about 15 to 20 minutes earlier than needed. If you know that they need to wind down before bedtime, consider using various methods to calm them down, including bedtime stories or a small snack before it's time to hit the sack. Yelling at children can be an unexpected response to them behaving in a way that undermines your authority or ignores the rules that you've set for them. Try to keep your cool in these situations by remaining focused on communicating effectively to them. This doesn't mean that you can't speak to your children in a sharp and stern tone; it just means that you don't have to lose your voice in the process.l
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HOW TO GET A GREEN CARD
8
Do You Qualify for Temporary Protected Status?
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n 2017 and 2018, the Trump administration ended TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. Those terminations were initially blocked by courts. But, on September 14, 2020, a federal appeals court issued a decision that allows terminations of TPS for those countries to move forward. The termination of Haitian TPS is still blocked under a separate court order. However, on February 16, 2021, the Court agreed to pause the proceedings for 90 days in anticipation of action from the Biden Administration that could impact the litigation. TPS remains in effect for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. Due to the ongoing legal challenges, on December 9, 2020, USCIS automatically extended the validity of TPS documents for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan through October 4, 2021. What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)? Temporary Protected Status (TPS) allows individuals from certain countries to remain in the United States if it is unsafe for them to return to their home country due to a humanitarian emergency there. For example, the federal
Under this new redesignation, existing Haitian TPS beneficiaries will still be able to retain their TPS and TPS-related documents, and DHS will continue to extend the benefit and documents as required to comply with court orders. These beneficiaries can also choose to apply under the new designation to receive TPS for the entire 18-month period that will be described in the soonto-be published Federal Register notice. Editorial credit: Phil Pasquini / Shutterstock.com
government may designate a country for TPS if there is an armed conflict (e.g., civil war) or a natural disaster (e.g., earthquake). TPS enables recipients to work in the United States lawfully and protects them from deportation as long as the TPS designation is in effect. In order to receive TPS, applicants must prove that they have lived continuously in the United States since a date specified by the federal government. Countries' TPS designations come up for renewal at 6 to 18-month intervals, at which point the federal government again makes a determination about whether a given country can absorb its returning nationals safely. Recipients must re-register for TPS if a TPS designation is extended, or in some cases ended.
Updates on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Program The federal government has recently made new announcements and published new guidelines regarding the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, which provides temporary legal status to certain immigrants. Haiti Redesignated for TPS On May 22nd, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Haiti for TPS for 18 months. This would allow any Haitian national currently residing in the United States to file applications for TPS. However, this redesignation has not yet gone into effect; a notice with details about how to apply will be available later.
TPS Updates for Burma/Myanmar The Department of Homeland Security designated Myanmar/Burma for Temporary Protected Status in March and has recently made this official by publishing the policy in the Federal Register. Through this Federal Register Notice, DHS is officially designating Burma for TPS for 18 months, effective through November 25, 2022. This designation allows eligible Burmese nationals who have continuously resided in the United States since March 11, 2021 and have been continuously physically present in the United States since the date of publication to the Federal Register, to apply for TPS. Eligible individuals must apply by November 22, 2021. TPS for Venezuela As of March 2021, the Biden Administration announced TPS for may qualify if you are a Venezuelan national who has been continuously in the United States from March 8, 2021 to the date you file your application. Consult with a trusted legal service provider to determine if you are eligible to applyVenezuelans who meet certain requirements may be eligible to apply. Other Countries Nepal: USCIS automatically extended TPS documents through October 4, 2021. The TPS designation for Nepal remains in effect pending further court order. Somalia: TPS extended through September 17, 2021. Sudan: USCIS automatically extended TPS documents through October 4, 2021. The TPS designation for Sudan remains in effect pending further court order. South Sudan:TPS extended through May 2, 2022. Syria: TPS extended through September 30, 2022. Remember, immigration law is complicated. Beware of fraudulent immigration providers who may make false promises.l
Get more immigration updates at www.ijlef.org VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.THEIMMIGRANTSJOURNAL.COM FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES
IMMIGRANTS’ CONCERNS
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Tens of Thousands of New Yorkers Eligible To Receive Health Coverage Under C4A
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lbany, NY: On February 1, the New York State Senate Health committee voted to move bill S1572, also known as Coverage For All, forward to the Finance committee. The legislation passed with 7 yes votes to 6 no votes. With this move, both versions of the legislation have progressed out of each legislative houses’ Health committees. “Today’s Senate Health Committee vote reflects the growing momentum and recognition of the need for Coverage For All,” said Murad Awawdeh, New York Immigration Coalition Executive Director. “This is an urgent bill that state lawmakers must pass in this year’s budget to ensure the well-being of the entire state and workforce. The pandemic has made it clear that lack of health coverage is a life or death issue. We thank Senator Gustavo Rivera for long championing immigrant health and moving Coverage For All forward in this critical time.” Coverage For All (A880/S1527) would create a state-funded essential plan eligible to New Yorkers up to 200% of the federal poverty line regardless of immigration status. New estimates place the cost of the bill at $345 million in order to
cover tens of thousands of uninsured New Yorkers. In 2021, a FamiliesUSA report found that one-third of COVID related deaths were due to insurance gaps. “Today, my colleagues and I passed my bill to expand our State's Essential Plan through the Senate Health Committee. This measure will undoubtedly ensure more low-income, immigrant New Yorkers, who have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, have access to the healthcare coverage they need and deserve," said State
Senator Gustavo Rivera, Chairman of the Senate Health Committee and the bill's Senate sponsor. "With the Assembly Health Committee passing this bill last week, we are building the necessary momentum in both chambers to ensure we are able to expand access to coverage to more New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status." “No New Yorker should be denied health care because of immigration status,” said Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried. “New York should be a progressive leader in promot-
ing health equity. Expanding health coverage to undocumented adults is good fiscal and moral policy and I commend the Senate Health Committee for advancing the bill today and hope we can enact Coverage for All in this year’s budget.” "Health care is a human right. Every New Yorker, regardless of immigration status, deserves access to affordable care. I’m proud to support Coverage For All (A880/S1527) and to have the opportunity to vote for it in the Senate Health Committee today. I appreciate Senator Rivera and the New York Immigration Coalition for leading this fight to make sure undocumented New Yorkers can access our state’s Essential Plan for health coverage,” said Senator Brad Holyman. “A New Yorker's immigration status should not be a hindrance to receiving health coverage,” said Senator Julia Salazar. “This bill passing the Senate Health Committee is an important step towards making Healthcare accessible for all. It addresses a severe insurance gap that's gone on for too long. I am grateful for Senator Rivera for pushing for such an important cause.”l
Protect yourself, New York. Get vaccinated. Stay up to date with a booster. Wear your mask.
NYC VACCINE FOR ALL:
SAFE, FREE, EASY
To learn more, visit nyc.gov/vaccine昀nder or call 877-VAX-4NYC 877-VAX-4NYC..
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Eric Adams Mayor Dave A. Chokshi, MD, MSc Commissioner
JOBS & RECESSION
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Goal for 2022: Become a Paralegal attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients, and others. The work is varied, and each day brings new challenges.
BY THE CHAMBER COALITION
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career as a 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, non-profits, corporations' legal departments, or courts. These professionals also provide legal support services to attorneys. They assist lawyers in filing motions, memoranda, pleadings, and briefs in various court systems and accompany lawyers to see clients and go to court. Here are five great things about being a paralegal: 1. Rise in Pay Paralegal compensation has risen steadily in the past decade. As paralegals perform a broader and more complex range of tasks (paralegals even represent clients in court in certain countries and administrative tribunals), their 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 by over 25 percent, 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 challenging 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 areas and master legal procedure, research, drafting, and other skills. They must stay on top of ever-changing laws and new legal trends and developments while interfacing with
5. Rising Prestige As paralegals perform more complex and challenging work, paralegal prestige is rising. Paralegals are no longer simply lawyer's assistants; they assume corporate management roles, leadership roles in law firms, and entrepreneurial roles in independent paralegal businesses. Over the years, paralegals have transcended the image of glorified legal secretaries to become respected legal team members. Ready to Take the Leap? A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options 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, the next step? Call us at 718-722-9217 or visit www.freeparalegal.org to complete your registration which includes payment.l
Need Assistance? Call 718-722-9217.
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11
JOBS & RECESSION
Retaining U.S. International Student Graduates Could Help the U.S. Win the Global Talent Race
T
he United States could increase its competitiveness in the global race for talent with a straightforward process for the 100,000 international students projected to graduate from U.S. colleges and universities each year who want to stay and work permanently in the country. According to FWD.us estimates, allowing such graduates to work permanently in the U.S. could add up to $233 billion in wages to the U.S. economy this decade, including $65 billion in combined federal, state, and local taxes. Such a policy could also reduce our STEMrelated talent shortages by a quarter this decade. Congress should immediately introduce legislation allowing international students a direct avenue to permanent residency after their graduation. For decades, the U.S. has been the global leader in higher education and the top destination for international students from around the world. The U.S. offers both superior educational opportunities and an attractive, supportive environ-
ment for international students. Consequently, the U.S. saw the number of new international students grow throughout much of the previous decade, bolstering this incredible competitive advantage in recruiting global talent. But this competitive edge has started to dull as other countries ramp up their efforts to recruit prospective students. For the first time in many years, the total number of international students in the U.S. decreased in 2019, and continued decreasing even further after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. hosts more international students than any
other country in the world. But 50% more international students study in Australia, Canada, and the U.K. combined than in the U.S., much higher than in 2015 when about the same number studied in the U.S. as in these three countries. Declining international student enrollment clearly indicates the U.S. is losing its attractiveness, and our immigration policy is a critical contributing factor. A new survey commissioned by FWD.us of prospective international students suggests the problem will only get worse in the years ahead. Students choosing to study in other countries are often motivated by the ability to stay in that country after graduating, suggesting that those nations’ immigration policies are a strong attractor. For example, majorities of students who are likely to study in Canada (64%) and Australia (52%), say a straightforward process to live permanently in the country after graduation is important when selecting their country of
study. By contrast, this number is a minority (47%) for students likely to study in the U.S., suggesting that the U.S. is ignoring a critical factor to attract prospective students. While other countries promising accessible opportunities to stay and work have seen their recruitment efforts surge, the lack of a straightforward path for international student graduates to stay permanently and eventually acquire U.S. citizenship has been forcing the U.S. to lose out on recruiting top talent. America will feel the consequences of losing the global race for talent as much at home as on the global stage. Talent shortages for STEM-related jobs, for example, persist in the U.S., even as we enter a postpandemic economy. Today, the U.S. has 3 million job vacancies in professional/business service and healthcare/social assistance industries, up from about one million vacancies in 2010.l Read the report at www.ijlef.org
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH The Fight Against Racism/ continued from page 1 long road that remains ahead when it comes to human rights here. Although our histories as minorities are diverse and different, and African Americans have the unique and sad fact that their ancestors were brought to this country as slaves, it’s also true that we are united in the fight against racism, xenophobia, inequality, and today’s very real Republican attempts to repress minorities’ right to vote. This extremely negative situation that affects us, as minority groups, is becoming the common thread of this new chapter: defending the right to exist and interact in an environment where liberties do not have to be haggled for, much less the ability to exercise them given up. Moreover, we also cannot forget that some minorities, like Latinos, also have African heritage: that “third race” that was rendered invisible for a long time, but now has to be reclaimed as profoundly ours, to strengthen our indestructible cultural and historic ties even more. But among the community of undocumented immigrants with African roots, Haitians are perhaps the most forgotten and ignored, despite the rich history of Haiti and its fingerprints on this country from centuries ago, long before the 1960s and 1970s, when thousands of Haitians established their lives here, particularly in south Florida and northeastern cities of the United States.
And, when talking about regional independences are discussed, it is almost always forgotten that Haiti was the first nation to abolish slavery and declare its independence, during the epic revolt (1791-1804) that fills the history of this Caribbean nation with glory. But as often occurs throughout history with the development of nations and their imbalances due to corruption, violence, poverty, and lack of structural support, waves of migrants have created and continue to create a vicious cycle that, to this day, has no end. In recent years, as in previous times, Haitians—immersed in crisis after crisis, whether due to politics or natural disasters, from earthquakes to hurricanes—have been forced to leave their nation in search of a better future. On the other hand, U.S. immigration policy toward Haitians has been chaotic and prejudiced. Who can forget the heartbreaking images of Haitians crowded along the border between the U.S. and Mexico, in subhuman conditions, being chased by border agents, even on horse-
12 back, as if they were hunting prey. In December 2021 the group Haitian Bridge Alliance had already identified and brought to light a series of problems the Haitian immigrant community was facing in the U.S.-Mexico border region, especially in Texas. They mention, among other things, the “denial of access to available attorneys and interpreters; inadequate medical care; absence of required fear-based screening; blocking media access; inadequate food and water; physical intimidation by CBP agents; and misleading statements by DHS.” Today, thousands of Haitian refugees are stranded in Mexico because the United States, during the presidency of Democrat Joe Biden, continues to apply the Trump administration’s Title 42 policy, arguing that restrictions due to the COVID pandemic require asylum seekers to make their applications from Mexico, where they become victims of crime, violence, and racism. Since March 2020, for example, thousands of migrants with solid asylum cases have been expelled to Mexico and even to their countries of origin. For example, since September 2021 the Biden administration has deported more than 14,000 Haitians to a broken nation that cannot absorb them nor attend to their most basic necessities. As the poorest economy in the Latin American and Caribbean region, it would be difficult for Haiti to recuperate in the short term, taking into account the most recent data
from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, which indicates that this region “will see its pace of growth decelerate in 2022 to 2.1%, after reaching 6.2% on average last year.” On top of that, the report cites “uncertainty regarding the pandemic’s ongoing evolution, a sharp deceleration in growth, continued low investment and productivity and a slow recovery in employment, the persistence of the social effects prompted by the crisis, reduced fiscal space, increased inflationary pressures and financial imbalances.” In the specific case of Haiti, the World Bank adds for its part, that “60% of Haiti’s population, or 6.3 million people, remain poor and 24%, or 2.5 million people, extremely poor.” So although this disastrous public policy of deportations implemented by the U.S. government affects migrants from all over, the Haitian example—for its crudeness and because it plainly involves racial prejudices—is beyond offensive. Just think: if those migrants, Haitian or not, were white with blond hair and blue eyes, would they be treated the same way? We must all commemorate Black history because, in some form or another, we are interconnected. We cannot forget what we have in common: a past and present struggle against racism and prejudice, which continue to show their ugly faces today, in the 21st century. l
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13
IMMIGRATION REFORM America COMPETES Act/ continued from page 1 between the two bills. America COMPETES contains the following immigration provisions: New Nonimmigrant Visas to Encourage Foreign Entrepreneurs to Found U.S. Start-Up Companies The bill would create new, nonimmigrant visa categories for non-U.S. citizens who are the owners or essential employees of start-up companies. For an owner to qualify, they would have to possess “an ownership interest” in the company of at least 10 percent; play a “central and active” role in managing the company; and possess the “knowledge, skills, or experience to substantially assist” the company. In addition, during the 18month period before the owner applies for the visa, the company must receive at least $250,000 in “qualifying investments” or at least $100,000 in “qualifying government awards or grants.” There would be three types of visas. W1 would be for entrepreneurs with an ownership interest in the company, W-2 for essential employees of the company, and W-3 for spouses and children of W-1 and W-2 visa holders. Initially, W-1 visas would be granted for a period of three years. But if the company meets certain growth benchmarks, that could be extended for another three years and, again, for two more 1-year periods.
The number of W-2 visas allowed for each company would depend on the company’s size, and each W-2 could be employed for an initial period of three years with the possibility of one 3-year extension. Some owners could become “immigrant entrepreneurs” if their companies were successful enough—meaning that they could apply for a green card. The company would be deemed sufficiently successful if it received at least $1.25 million in “qualifying investments” and/or “qualifying government grants or awards”—or generated at least $1 million in annual revenue during the preceding two years. In addition, the company must have created at least 10 “qualified jobs.” Immigrant Visas for STEM Ph.D.s The bill provides a direct path to permanent residence for immigrants who earn a Ph.D. in a specified field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). They must receive a degree from a qualified U.S. research institution or an equivalent foreign institution—and work in a field related to their Ph.D. degree. The dependent family members of these doctoral recipients also would be able to apply for permanent residence. Based on data from the Department of
Education (IPEDS), this provision could benefit several thousand non-resident immigrant Ph.D. graduates who complete their doctorates each year at accredited U.S. research universities. This is significant given that non-resident immigrants made up almost half (46.3%) of all STEM Ph.D.s at U.S. universities in the 2019-2020 academic year. The provision would affect the Employment-Based First (EB-1) and Second (EB-2) visa categories, each of which has an annual cap of about 40,000. However, the bill would not increase the total number of visas available in these categories, nor would it exclude visas granted to spouses and children from being counted against the cap. A university would meet the definition of a “qualified U.S. research institution” if it was an accredited “institution of higher education” and met one of the following requirements during at least three years over the period of time when the visa applicant was studying for their Ph.D.: (1.) spent at least $25 million on research and development as determined by the National Science Foundation, or (2.) is a historically black college or university, or “minority-serving institution,” that is also a “doctorate-granting university” with a “very high level” or “high level” of research activity as determined
by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. STEM Scholarships for U.S. Students The bill would create a new requirement that non-citizens seeking to be classified as “W-1 nonimmigrants, immigrant entrepreneurs, or immigrant STEM doctoral recipients” pay a supplemental fee of $1,000 which would fund STEM scholarships for low-income U.S. students. Special Status for Hong Kong Residents The bill would provide Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or refugee status to qualified Hong Kong residents for a period of 18 months after the bill’s enactment. In addition, the bill would provide “special immigrant status” for certain highly skilled Hong Kong residents, for a maximum of 5,000 per year. While larger structural reforms to our immigration system remain necessary, the immigration provisions of the America COMPETES Act represent important incremental changes that would both boost the U.S. economy and expand opportunities and protections for many people shut out of this country by current law. This is at least the sixth bill with significant immigration provisions that the House of Representatives has passed in the last 12 months alone. It is now up to the Senate to continue the work of bringing our outdated immigration system into the 21st century.l
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High blood pressure, diabetes & your heart Type 2 diabetes puts you at higher risk for heart disease, but there are steps you can take to lower your risk. Managing your blood pressure is one way to lower your risk of heart disease.
High blood pressure is anything above 120/80 mmHg.
What can you do? Start simple
What’s the connection?
Ask your doctor to check your kidney function and blood pressure.
Adults with diabetes are
Know your numbers
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE THAN PEOPLE WITHOUT DIABETES.
The combination of high blood pressure and diabetes drastically increases your risks. That’s why it’s vital to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. If you have diabetes, there is a lot you can do to manage your high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor about your next steps.
Keeping your blood pressure and blood glucose in your target ranges is vital for your overall health.
Keep it up Take care of yourself with exercise, healthy diet and taking your medications as prescribed.
You’re not in this alone. Find answers to your questions and join the initiative at: https://KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org/join © 2020 American Heart Association, Inc. and American Diabetes Association, 501(c)(3) not-for-profits. All rights reserved. Know Diabetes by Heart is a trademark of the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association. Unauthorized use prohibited. Citations available upon request.
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HEALTH
15
Scoring System Could Predict Stroke in People Hospitalized for COVID-19 BY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS
A
new scoring system based on a person's medical data may help predict who is at higher risk for having a stroke when hospitalized with COVID-19, preliminary new research shows. The scoring system – which was as effective at predicting stroke risk as computer models – found people with four or more risk factors related to their medical history and condition at the time of hospital admission were 10 times more likely to have a stroke as those with fewer risk factors. The findings, considered preliminary until a full paper is published in a peer-reviewed journal, are being presented this week at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference. Identifying patients with higher stroke risk could help medical professionals "monitor them more closely and provide treatment more quickly," lead study author Dr. Alexander E. Merkler said in a news release. He is an assistant professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical
College and an assistant attending neurologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. "Future research could focus on specific treatments that may benefit people with COVID-19 who are at higher risk for stroke," he said. The scoring system was developed using the American Heart Association's COVID-19 registry, a nationwide database that includes medical and demographic information about people hospitalized for COVID-19, their treatment and cardiovascular risk factors. As of Dec. 7, the registry included more than 63,000 patient records from 170 registry sites. Researchers analyzed data for 21,420 adults hospitalized for COVID-19 at 122 U.S. health centers for a full year beginning in March 2020. Overall, 1 in 65 hospitalized adults had a stroke. The patients' average age was 61. They identified six factors that helped predict who was at highest risk for stroke: a previous stroke; not having a fever; no history of lung disease; a high white blood cell count; high blood pressure; and elevated systolic blood pres-
sure, which is the top number in a blood pressure reading that measures the force the heart exerts each time it beats. "Of the six factors linked to increased risk of stroke, one was 'no history of pulmonary disease' and another was 'no fever,'" Merkler said. "This seemed a bit surprising because patients with lung disease and those with high fever are at higher risk to develop severe COVID19."
Those who had at least four of the six factors were 10 times more likely to have a stroke as those who had fewer risk factors. They got the same results using an artificial intelligence-based computer model to predict the patients' stroke risk. Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S. As the pandemic continues, researchers say evidence is emerging that COVID-19 may increase the risk for stroke and poor outcomes.l
You may be eligible for COVID-19 Treatment People who have tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to receive outpatient treatment to help symptoms and avoid hospitalization. Treatment works best if you begin it soon after you start feeling symptoms, so get tested right away. Monoclonal antibody treatment is a one-time IV or injection to help fight COVID-19 while your immune system produces its own antibodies. Oral antiviral pills are taken for five days and helps stop the virus and keeps it from replicating, which reduces the amount of virus in your body. There are currently two authorized pills - paxlovid and molunpiravir. Both monoclonal antibody and oral antiviral treatments can reduce your risk of becoming sick from COVID-19 and avoid hospitalization. COVID-19 treatments are not a substitute for vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots remain the best protection against getting severely sick due to COVID-19. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have tested positive, talk to your doctor, or call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319).
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HEALTH
16
Here’s to 2022: Pay Yourself First
Are you looking to get into the health & wellness business?
BY TARSHA GIBBONS
H
ere are some thoughts on success in a Forbes article from James Cash Penny, the founder of JC Penny, "Though plenty of people want to be successful, only a self-selected few will even come close." I could not agree with this statement more. In other words, if you are willing to buckle down and commit yourself to do the hard work it takes to achieve big goals, you can be one of them. Using fitness as a catalyst is a surefire way to pave your path to success. I have noticed that we tend to have moments of success, but we usually don't live a perpetual life of success. Do you notice that you may be rocking it in one area of life but not so much in others? I have seen this in my own life more than I care to admit. To be completely honest, I have limited my potential success because I stop when I feel something is "good enough." That hurts just to write it. Can we take "good enough" out of our vocabulary? When you become complacent, it translates to, I know it can be better, but I am not willing to go that far, or I don't feel like doing what it is going to take for that result, or I did not prepare appropriately for this to be excellent, so this is going to have to be good enough. Oh, my good-
ness! Can I share something with you? Just because you don't FEEL like it doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Your feelings are natural and can be deceiving at times, especially when it requires discomfort. They usually are momentary, and when they go against what you know is logically beneficial, you have to ignore them. You have to push past them. When you move past the point of discomfort, you usually find yourself in a better place. In the same way, you push past your feelings of not wanting to go to work but show up anyway because you have bills to pay. You need that same reasoning when you know you need to go work out or not eat the fried chicken. You are trying to live a long healthy life just like you are trying to have money to enjoy it. Treat your body the same way you treat someone else's business that you show up
to daily. The difference is that this paycheck is paid in longer days here on the earth. Live your life by design, not by default. Pay yourself in health and wealth, and success will follow suit. Good health allows you to thrive, not just survive. I am cheering you on, my friends, and if no one told you today, "You are Amazing."l
Contact:
Tarsha Gibbons is the founder of Gibbons Family Fitness. I am a wife, mom, entrepreneur, businesswoman and fitness professional. Check her out: Website: www.gibbonsfamilyfitness.com FB: www.facebook.com/GibbonsFamilyFitness
Instagram: www.instagram.com/GibbonsFamilyFitness
Stacy Young Board Certified Holistic Health Coach Tel: 917-459-8431
Earn extra income... Enjoy perks! Become a Certified Travel Agent &Destination Specialist
WHY BECOME A TRAVEL AGENT? Travel is an 8.1 trillion dollar industry. Some of that money can be yours! Attend our 4-week Travel Agent Program. Learn how to: •Book travel and earn higher travel commissions •Use travel to raise funds for your church, nonprofit, charity, etc •Start and grow a profitable travel business •Use social media to market your business •Become eligible for major tax advantages
For dates and registration, please visit: www.nacc.nyc/travelagent Call 718-722-9217 for assistance.
Cost: $250.00 (Chamber members) $350.00 (non-members) Fee includes Travel Agent training and your own online travel business and Individual Chamber Membership. Certificates will be given out to those who successfully complete the program. We recommend doing our Small Business Boot Camp. You can start your travel business with a SSN or an ITIN.
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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
17
Breaking Up Hurts: Getting Over Your Ex organize a night out on the town. Your friends will be there to support and guide you, and avoid you from calling your ex if you’ve had one-too-many.
BY MARY CAMPBELL
Y
our eyes are red and swollen, and tears are streaming down your cheeks. Your stomach is in knots and your heart feels like it’s been ripped out of your chest and stomped on. Does this sound like you? If so, you’ve probably recently experienced a breakup. Whether you were the dumper or the dumpee, break-ups suck. You often wonder how you’re going to get back to your old self again, or how you’re going to live without your ex. It always seems harder in the beginning because, well, it is. Learning to move on takes time and effort, no matter how down you’re feeling. Give yourself time to mope around. This doesn’t mean allowing yourself to wallow in a pool of self-pity for months. Set a time limit, say, a week or two. Cry your eyes out. Watch sappy, romantic movies. Eat half a pint of ice cream by yourself. Look at old photographs. Reminisce. Do what you need to do, but once that time limit is up, it’s back to the real world. Avoid running into your ex. Stop visiting places that she frequents, like her
Make time for yourself. After you feel like you can be alone without bursting into tears, take some time off for yourself. Do something that your ex didn’t typically enjoy, like kayaking or hitting up a sushi bar. This helps you pull things back into perspective and realize that you are your own person.
favorite diner or bookstore. Don’t log on to social-networking sites unless you know without a doubt, that you won’t check out her page or “see what she’s up to.” You may see something that you don’t like, which could easily slingshot you back to feeling sorry for yourself. You don’t necessarily have to delete her, just remove her updates from your newsfeed, or stop using the site until you recuperate. Hang out with your friends. Chances are, while you were wrapped up in your relationship, you neglected your friends. Now, you’re going to need them to help you move on. Make a brunch date, or
Change your life around. Whether you’re rearranging your furniture, or implementing a new style into your wardrobe, making subtle changes will encourage a new, fresh start. Also, if your ex has items at your house, arrange for a friend to pick them up and give them back. There is no reason you should have to feel the heartache of seeing your ex again, at least not soon after the breakup. Hit the gym. Not only will you look and feel fantastic, but exercising also boosts dopamine production and reduces cortisol (stress-causing hormone) levels in the body. Pamper yourself. Take a hot bubble bath, give yourself a manicure or a pedicure, or go out for a massage at the spa.
It’s all about treating yourself to some much-needed relaxation. Learn something new. Use your time wisely, or much of it will be spent thinking about your ex. Challenge yourself by taking piano lessons or learning a new language to help keep yourself, and your mind, busy. Tap back into your sexual side. The end of a relationship may also feel like the end of your confidence. Read a naughty book and indulge in your sexual fantasies. Head out and splurge on some silky undergarments that only you know about. You could also try giving your self-esteem a boost by dressing in a sexy, yet classy ensemble, and hitting the town. Dance with your friends or casually flirt with mates to recharge your sexual energy. Get a good lawyer. If you are married or living together, with or without kids, you need legal advice. Ask the Lawyer. Call 855-768-8845. While it is the end of a special time in your life, breaking up does not mean it’s the end of the world. Learning to let go and move on is entirely within reach with patience and a positive mind. l
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GENERATIONS
18
Midlife Isn’t a Crisis, But Sleep, Stress and Happiness Feel a Little Different after 35 – or Whenever Middle Age Actually Begins BY SOOMIE LEE, THE CONVERSATION
F
ewer than one-fifth of Americans say they actually experienced a midlife crisis. And yet there are still some common misunderstandings people have about midlife. I study midlife, and especially how people in this stage of life experience sleep and stress. In my research, I have also found that midlife brings both opportunities and challenges. Are we there yet? Exactly when midlife begins is hard to pin down. Compared with other developmental periods – like childhood, adolescence and older adulthood – midlife lasts longer and includes more diverse social roles. There are fewer published studies on midlife than studies on childhood and older adulthood. So researchers still know little about the timing and unique experiences of this stage of life.
Midlife may begin at different times for different people. In the 1990s, people generally agreed that midlife begins at age 35. This has shifted toward an older age. Now Americans might say midlife begins at age 44 and ends by 60. An increased life expectancy and medical advances may have contributed to this shift. Today’s adults are living longer and healthier lives than previous generations. Also, the demands of establishing a career while building a family have
increased. That’s why some researchers have started referring to the period occurring roughly from age 30 to 45 as “established adulthood,” distinguishing it from midlife as it was previously understood. Chronological age is only one way to define the beginning of midlife. Psychologist Margie Lachman emphasizes looking at certain life transitions and social roles that commonly occur in midlife as a way of coming up with a definition.
So many roles, so little time Midlife is a time when individuals occupy the greatest number of social roles. The average U.S. adult in midlife typically has four key roles – paid worker or homemaker; spouse or partner; parent; and adult child. Having multiple roles may provide more opportunities to build resources such as income, self-esteem, relationships and success. But people must also divide their time and energy across these multiple roles. Risk factors for later-life diseases also show up in midlife. Slower metabolism, weight gain and hormonal changes are common. Also, women experience menopause, which involves hot flashes and emotional ups and downs. Men in midlife are more likely than younger men and women to develop sleep apnea. All these factors are closely related to sleep, so it’s no surprise to find poor sleep among midlife adults. Sleeping less continued on page 19
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GENERATIONS
19
Caregiver Stress — You're Not Alone
C
aring for an older adult can be rewarding. It can also be demanding, difficult, and often stressful. Caregivers may need to be available around the clock to fix meals, provide nursing care, take care of laundry and cleaning, drive to doctors' appointments, and pay bills. Often, family caregivers have to give up paying jobs to make time for these new responsibilities. It may be hard to keep a positive outlook when there's little hope of the older adult's physical and mental condition improving. Over time, the demands and stress of caregiving can take their toll. A caregiver might not even know he or she is being neglectful or abusive.
If you are a caregiver, make sure you have time to rest and take care of your needs. Ask a family member or friend to help for a weekend, or even for a few hours. Having time to take care of yourself will help you remain healthy and have patience and energy for caregiving. Churches, synagogues, and other faithbased organizations in your community may have volunteers who can visit and help on a regular basis. Respite care provides a break for caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Caregiving support groups may also help. Exercise can help with caregiving stress and emotional well-being. l –National Institute on Aging
Midlife Isn’t a Crisis/ continued from page 18 than six hours a night, getting poor-quality sleep and other sleep issues are prevalent. Sleep, stress, happiness Age-related physical changes are not the only threat to sleep, however. The struggle of midlife adults to juggle multiple often incompatible roles also causes stress. Stress has negative consequences on sleep, such as chronic insomnia. What’s worse: Stress can result from poor sleep. So sleeping poorly or being stressed out can create a vicious cycle and cascading health problems. Both sleep and stress affect emotions, so you might expect low levels of happiness in midlife. Research backs this up. Fewer people are happy during midlife than older and younger groups. Yet it is important to note that midlife also involves growth, including peaks in work productivity, better financial decision-making and greater wisdom. Although researchers have been able to identify overall patterns of degraded sleep, increased stress and lower happiness in midlife, experiences vary from person to person. For some people, there may be more growth than decline, or a balance of both. Indeed, some research shows that personal growth is related to well-being during midlife. For now, it is already clear that midlife
is a pivotal time that determines the trajectory of aging. That’s why self-care during midlife is especially important, despite the busy schedules brought on by a greater number of roles. It’s hard to overemphasize the value of getting enough sleep and managing stress. Doing these things could help individuals turn a “midlife crisis” into “midlife potential.” l Soomi Lee is an Assistant Professor of Aging Studies, University of South Florida
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MONEY MATTERS
20
Hochul’s $27M Ida-Relief Fund for Immigrants Has Doled Out Less Than $1M BY SAMANTHA MALDONADO AND JOSEFA VELASQUEZ, THE CITY
N
early five months after Hurricane Ida, just under a million dollars have been paid to New Yorkers from the city and state’s storm relief fund for undocumented immigrants and others ineligible for federal aid — far short of the $27 million pledged. Cash assistance is being dispersed or in the pipeline to nearly 500 applicants, with some slated to get multiple payments, but nonprofit administrators don’t expect the full pool of money to be used up. Gov. Kathy Hochul has included the leftover funds in her proposed budget, without a specific plan for what comes next. Groups distributing the dollars are pushing for the creation of a permanent relief fund for undocumented New Yorkers affected by natural disasters in the future. “I don’t see a scenario where they’ll actually spend the full amount,” said Becca Telzak, deputy director of Make
Many of Nancy Ospina’s belongings were destroyed after her Queens apartment flooded during Hurricane Ida. Courtesy of Nancy Ospina
the Road New York, one of the six community-based organizations administering the funds. She stressed that the effort should still be seen as a success. “Even if it doesn’t seem like that much money was spent, I think just that amount of money for the number of people that were impacted, it makes such a huge difference,” she added. “We should
look at this as a model of how to create programs like this moving forward.” A Hug From Hochul Hochul and former Mayor Bill de Blasio created the fund to help New Yorkers excluded from FEMA assistance in the wake of the September storm that killed 13 people in the five boroughs, including 11 in basement apartments.
As of the end of January, 160 applicants across the state had received $907,153 in funding, with an average payment of about $5,000, according to Mercedes Padilla, a spokesperson for the state’s Office for New Americans. The fund offered a maximum of $72,000 per eligible household, but it’s not likely any applicant received the full amount, according to administrators. To secure funds, applicants must document losses by showing proof of some kind. That can take a while and prove difficult if, for example, receipts were lost to flooding. In that case, applicants can resort to self-attestations. Among those needing help is Nancy Ospina, who had recounted her ordeal at a news conference with Hochul and other officials at the Queens Museum as they unveiled the fund in late September. Her basement apartment in Woodside had flooded within minutes on Sept. 1 as rain pummeled the city. The 65-year-old housekeeper lost all her possessions — furniture, clothes, all of the Christmas decorations she’s collected through the years and memorabilia that continued on page 21
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21 Many people who inquired about the fund later found that they were eligible for federal aid — for example, if they have a child who is a U.S. citizen.
$27M Ida-Relief Fund/ continued from page 20 made her apartment of 20 years a home. “Everything was gone. Absolutely everything,” she told THE CITY Friday in Spanish. She recalled wading through shin-deep brown water, unplugging appliances and crying out “God help me,” while taking videos and pictures to document the deluge ruining her belongings. Neighbors implored her to get out, saying that she could get electrocuted. In November, Ospina received a check from the fund for $6,400, the bulk of which went toward a new apartment in Jamaica that costs $400 a month more than her old place. The remainder she used to pay down bills that had accrued during the pandemic as work became more scarce, along with a few household basics. She says the aid was a lifeline — “I can’t be ungrateful for the money I received” — but not enough. “You feel shame going through this and asking for help. It’s terrible,” Ospina said. “I put myself out there and when the news conference ended the governor gave me a hug and told me that they were going to help me. The truth is, I was expecting a little bit more.” In a statement, Hochul spokesperson Hazel Crampton-Hays emphasized the governor’s commitment to “helping all New Yorkers recover” from the storm. “We will continue to work with our nonprofit and community partners to help ensure New Yorkers get the relief they need,” she said. Most Aid to NYC Some applicants can receive multiple payments on a rolling basis for up to 18 months, to cover temporary shelter if needed. The fund can also pay to replace damaged furniture, clothing and other personal property. About 76% of the money has gone to people living in New York City, according to THE CITY’s analysis of data provided by Padilla. Another 236 applicants have been approved for funds. In all, 474 households applied by the Jan. 4 deadline, which had been extended from Dec. 6. Processing claims will likely continue into next year, Padilla said. Hochul’s inclusion of the funds in the proposed 2023 budget will ensure the state can respond to all the applications received, she added. The Chinese American Planning Council, another one of the fund administrators, has made two rounds of payments to households and is gearing up for a third round, according to Steve Mei, the Council’s director of Brooklyn community services. “They’ve been able to get on their feet. This program is helping,” he said. But even for those who got or will get a check, “there’s not nearly not nearly enough for them to kind of really be able to sustain themselves, especially for families of three, four or five,” Mei said. Short Window
Gov. Kathy Hochul embraces Nancy Ospina during Ida relief fund news conference at the Queens Museum, September 27, 2021. Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the Governor
Although the state briefly extended the deadline to apply to the fund, it still fell during the holidays, which made it difficult to engage potential applicants, according to Telzak. She said she heard from immigrants who needed help but missed the second deadline. “The application period to apply was very short — especially for a kind of community like this, who never would assume they’re eligible for government programs, because that’s just what the reality has been for so long — it takes
longer to reach those community members,” she said. Mei also cited the challenges of conducting outreach and recruitment for a government program aimed at immigrants. He and Telzak both noted many people who inquired about the fund later found that they were eligible for federal aid — for example, if they have a child who is a U.S. citizen. Padilla, with the state Office for New Americans, said 590 people who inquired about the excluded relief fund were referred to FEMA. As of Feb. 1, FEMA has approved more than $200.1 million in aid to 40,385 people statewide, with 29,402 people in New York City receiving just over $143.5 million, according to numbers provided by agency spokesperson Angelique Smythe. Statewide, the average federal payment was $4,955, and within the city the average was about $4,882. FEMA found just about 45% of applicants who applied for funds to be eligible to receive them. Some New Yorkers previously told THE CITY that the amount of FEMA aid they received was insufficient to cover their repairs and losses.
A Permanent Pool Some state lawmakers are pushing to make a pool of money permanent. ”Unfortunately, natural disasters will continue to happen, and could get worse, as we face the consequences of climate change and lack of infrastructure investment,” said Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (D-Queens) whose district includes neighborhoods hardest hit by the storm. In November, Cruz introduced legislation to create the Community Disaster Relief and Recovery Act, a statewide program for New Yorkers excluded from federal assistance following a natural or man-made disaster. In September, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie called making the fund for excluded New Yorkers permanent a “no brainer,” while State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins said it was “certainly something we would consider and discuss.” As for what they’d like the state to do with any remaining funds, Mei identified a need for rent relief, whether or not a tenant’s hardship was related to Ida, and Telzak urged lawmakers to use the funding to support “the communities that this program was intended to support.” She added, “It’s just important that that money continues to stay with the immigrant community and not get allocated elsewhere.”l This story was published by on February 4, 2022 by THE CITY.
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Biden’s ‘Secret’ Flights of Migrants Debunked as a Routine Part of the US Immigration System BY AARON REICHLIN-MELNICK
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ome media outlets have reached a fever pitch over what they have deemed President Biden’s “secret flights of migrants.” They claim that the Biden administration is covertly flying migrants into communities around the country. But these flights are a regular, decades-old practice used for transporting migrants. The Government Often Transports Migrants by Plane For generations, some migrants arriving at the border who are apprehended by the Border Patrol have been released into the United States and permitted to attend court hearings outside of detention. And the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has occasionally assisted migrants with transportation. DHS will sometimes arrange flights to the location they will wait in before attending court or help their family members purchase plane tickets for them before they’re released. This process has occurred under Republican and Democratic presidents
Editorial credit: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com
alike, including Bush, Obama, and Trump. Even though this practice has been carried out across multiple administrations, people have claimed that the Biden administration is trying to keep these flights off the radar. But migrant releases and transportation under the Biden administration have been not very different than under the Trump administration. And even though DHS has never provided public notice of such flights before they occur, they are hardly a secret; the
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agency will readily acknowledge the flights and explain their destination and purpose when asked. Stories of secret flights carrying migrant adults or children are often fueled by ignorance of the operation of federal immigration agencies. For example, some people have recently seized on a video of children being flown into an airport late at night in Westchester County, New York to claim that Biden is helping migrants “invade” the country. However, these flights are easily explained. A Longstanding Process to Get Migrants to Shelters or Court For decades, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has had a national network of shelters for migrant children who arrive at the border. If a child arrives at the border and the only space available is a shelter far from the border, ORR will put the child on a plane rather than a multi-day bus trip. Rather than being a conspiracy, the flights are simply normal practice for ORR across multiple administrations. The shelter in Westchester has been there for years and there are even videos from 2018 of similar flights carrying migrant children into the New York area. In recent years, ORR has also sometimes helped transport children to their family members after they get sponsored out of government custody. This common-sense measure has allowed children to get into the arms of a loved one faster than if the parent drove across the country to come pick them up. In all those cases, the child has a right to remain in the United States while they go through the court process. The government agency is simply smoothing out the process for them. Similar situations with adult migrants have also occurred for years. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) often chooses to release some percent of people at the border or from a detention center on bond or an “alternatives to detention” program such as electronic monitoring. If the person is being released far from their ultimate destination, then ICE will
make sure the person’s sponsor (usually a family member) has bought them a plane or bus ticket so they can get to their destination in safety. Under both Obama and Trump, it was routine to see migrants being dropped off at the San Antonio bus station with Greyhound tickets. Even in 2019, during the height of Trump’s antiasylum policies, ICE was contracting with private companies to drop migrants off at shelters. Those who are loudly attacking the Biden administration for longstanding practices that predate his time in office are doing the public a disservice and spreading fear and xenophobia. Unfortunately, their actions are already having severe consequences. The Dangerous Consequences of Misinformation On January 31, right-wing activists— including Proud Boys—surrounded a hotel in Maitland, Florida after seeing a viral video of Latino men being dropped off in busses. The group believed the men had been taken there directly from the border. One member of Congress even accused the men of being undocumented immigrants (in harsher terms) and demanded that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arrest them all. In fact, the men were farmworkers on H-2A visas, legally in the United States to pick crops and help feed Americans. Those who had called for their deportations apparently presumed they were undocumented immigrants because they were Latino—nothing else. This kind of dangerous situation occurs when political leaders mislead and spread xenophobia and misinformation. Migrants arriving at the border have the right to seek asylum. And for decades, that right has often been exercised after a person leaves detention and is allowed to reside in the United States during their court process. And while they go through that court process, they are residing legally in the United States and have the right to live where they want, unless ICE has set restrictions on their movement. There is nothing nefarious or illegal about the government helping people get to their ultimate destination to await court hearings, nor is there anything secret about ORR bringing children from the border to a shelter. Before embracing fear and xenophobia, those clamoring about secret flights and a migrant invasion should take the time to educate themselves on the basic operation of immigration law.l
Read more immigration stories at www.ijlef.org
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