I have a Brain Tumor, But No Health Insurance

BY SOFÍA, NYIC MEMBER

When I was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just four years old, it shook my family to the core. After extensive surgery, we were told that one piece had to remain in my brain, as it was too dangerous to remove. Forced to live with a brain tumor from such a young age threatened my life, posing difficulties for my eyesight, my speech development, and the muscles on the right side of my face. Luckily, when my family arrived in the United States, my father’s job provided health insurance, so I was finally able to see a neurologist, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and an eye doctor. While I was still unsure of what my future would look like living with a chronic illness, I found hope in having access to the healthcare I needed. But once I turned 19, those pillars of support crumbled. I am no longer eligible to receive insurance through my father, and as an undocumented college student, I am excluded from the insurance options

Editorial credit: New York Immigration Coalition that could cover the kind of care that I need. While my story may seem exceptional, I am one of 154,000 lowincome New Yorkers who do not have access to affordable, quality healthcare due to their immigration status. ’m fighting for Coverage4All to ensure equitable health coverage for immigrant New Yorkers like me. I have been fighting for my life since I was first diagnosed at four years old. I am calling on Governor Hochul and the New York Legislative Leaders to invest in Coverage4All, and give my fellow immigrant New Yorkers and I a fighting chance to keep pursuing healthy and fulfilling futures. Our lives depend on it.l Deferred Action for Special Immigrant Juveniles/ continued from page 1 law. SIJ classification does not confer lawful status and does not result in eligibility to apply for employment authorization. Deferred action and related employment authorization will help to protect noncitizens with SIJ classification who cannot apply for adjustment of status solely because they are waiting for a visa number to become available. This process furthers congressional intent to provide humanitarian protection for abused, neglected, or abandoned noncitizen children for whom a juvenile court has determined that it is in their best interest to remain in the United States. USCIS will consider deferred action on a case-by-case basis and will grant it if the SIJ warrants a favorable exercise of discretion. USCIS will automatically conduct deferred action determinations for individuals with SIJ classification who cannot apply for LPR status because a visa number is not available. A separate request for deferred action is not required and will not be accepted by USCIS. SIJs who have moved since their Form I-360 was approved should update their address with USCIS as soon as possible to ensure that they receive correspondence related to deferred action. If USCIS grants deferred action, it will be for a period of four years. An SIJ who has been granted deferred action will be able to apply for employment authorization for their period of deferred action by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and indicating eligibility category (c)(14). USCIS Director Ur Jaddou in a statement said the policies would help children who are abused or abandoned rebuild their lives in the United States. "These policies will provide humanitarian protection to vulnerable young people for whom a juvenile court has determined that it is in their best interest to remain in the United States," she said. This update contained in Volume 6 of the Policy Manual, is effective May 6, 2022, and applies to eligible noncitizens classified as SIJs before, on or after May 6, based on an approved Form I-360. This guidance is controlling and supersedes any prior guidance on the topic. l

Leading Organizations Call On New York State Legislature to Pass the Empire State Licensing Act

ALBANY, NY: A group of 45 national and state leading immigration, education, and community advocacy organizations today sent a letter to the New York State Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul urging the passage of the Empire State Licensing Act (S.03046/A.01952), sponsored by State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) and Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (DQueens). If passed, this legislation would remove arbitrary restrictions that hinder New York immigrants’ ability to obtain professional licensing, preventing much-needed economic growth statewide. Enabling professional individuals to develop their specialty or trade would also help ease the ongoing labor shortage taking place in a wide variety of industries. Nearly one in four New York workers is an immigrant, and the entire immigrant community collectively contributes billions in annual taxes, fills jobs skill gaps, and in many cases, spurs investment and job creation that helps to revitalize communities. This includes undocumented immigrants who work in essential industries, including health care, construction, food services, home care, and the care economy. However, current law prohibits many of these workers from obtaining certain licenses to continue their current employment or find new jobs in the areas in which they are most qualified. As New York leads the nation in population decline, and as the state’s population ages, it is crucial lawmakers put reforms in place to tap into the talent and skills of New York’s immigrant labor force. The state will only fully recover from the years-long economic downturn by removing these significant employment barriers. The full letter and all signatories can be viewed at nacc.nyc. Participating organizations and lead bill sponsors issued the following statements in response to today’s letter release and in support of the Empire State Licensing Act: State Senator Gustavo Rivera (DBronx), Lead Bill Sponsor: “I want to thank the colleagues and organizations who have joined Assemblymember Cruz and I to support the Empire State Licensing Act. This legislation is critical to ensuring that immigrants and all New Yorkers have access to opportunities to grow their careers, support their families, and contribute to our economy, regardless of status or language spoken. Passing this legislation is not only the right thing to do but the smart economic and community decision to make as well. I am committed to working to get this to the Governor’s desk.”

Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (DQueens), Lead Bill Sponsor: “As an immigrant and legislator, I have been and remain committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, are able to access opportunity and contribute to our state. While arbitrary restrictions are holding many back, harming immigrants, our broader communities, and economy, we have the opportunity to address this issue with a solution — the Empire State Licensing Act. I thank my colleagues and the community for their support for this legislation, and look forward to working together to get it across the finish line.

Eddie A. Taveras, Political Director of Immigration Campaigns, FWD.us: “New York has been a home for immigrants for centuries, relying heavily on its foreign-born population to remain socially, culturally, and economically diverse. However, New York’s immigration population is plateauing while our overall population is declining, which is jeopardizing the future success of our state, especially as we are working to rebuild from the pandemic. Thankfully, State Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Cruz are fighting to make New York a more welcoming, forward-thinking state by eliminating arbitrary barriers that expands access to professional licensing and necessary permits to all New Yorkers –regardless of status. This is one step of many we can be taking to make the state a more welcoming place for immigrants while ensuring our economies and communities can become more resilient.”

Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director, New York Immigration Coalition: “New York's immigrant communities have always played a central role in our state's economy and workforce, yet too many are barred from obtaining specific professional licenses that would allow them to fully contribute. Not only does this hold our communities back, but it prevents all New Yorkers from reaching their true potential. While the nation continues to work towards transformative immigration reform, New York can and must lead the charge in providing greater opportunity for all of its residents. I thank State Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Cruz for their work to battle immigrant injustices while ensuring we can all recover from this health and economic crisis.”

Donna Lieberman, Executive Director, New York Civil Liberties Union: “Everybody should be able to live openly and provide for themselves, their families, and their communities. New York must reduce the restrictions immigrant New Yorkers face to obtain the professional licensing and permits they need to earn a living, especially as we continue to recover from a pandemic that hit immigrant communities so hard. The Empire State Licensing Act by State Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Cruz will allow those who want to obtain professional licensing to contribute to communities across New York.”

Theo Oshiro, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York: “The Empire State Licensing Act will impact tens of thousands of immigrants who are qualified to carry out their careers in New York. By removing barriers based on citizenship and immigration status, all New Yorkers will have an equal opportunity to access professional licenses and continue their careers while at the same time remaining an integral part of the state’s workforce and our economy. As we wait for the federal government to act on immigration reform, the state legislature has an opportunity to lead and provide crucial support for immigrants and our economy."

Robert Agyemang, New York Director, African Communities Together: “Today, the history of New York immigrants and refugees is storied – they come to this nation to find the American dream, overcome hardships, and pull themselves up from their bootstraps. However, our policies at both the state and federal level do not go far enough to recognize their human, moral and economical value. The Empire State Licensing Act is more than extending professional licensing opportunities for New Yorkers, it is about leveling the playing field so that more willing and able workers can support themselves and feed their families while building a more diverse and competitive workforce. I applaud the work of State Senator Rivera and Assemblymember Cruz for this simple, yet necessary solution and urge the state legislature to pass it swiftly.” l

2021 Child Tax Credit, Advance Child Tax Credit Payments and Commonly Asked Immigration-Related Questions

The Child Tax Credit is typically a credit parents with dependent children receive on their income tax return. In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which made a one-time in-crease in the credit for the 2021 tax year and provided for the IRS to pay half of the credit to taxpayers in equal monthly payments from July through December. Children ages five and younger qualify for up to a $3,600 credit, while children ages six to 17 qualify for up to $3,000. The full credit is available to taxpayers who make less than $150,000 for married filing jointly or qualified widows or widowers; $112,500 for head of household, and $75,000 for single and married filing separate. The credit phases out by $50 for every $1,000 over those limits. The new law made the credits fully refundable, so even those who don’t owe taxes can get the credit and receive a refund. Nearly 90% of children in the U.S. qualify for the advance payments, according to the IRS. The Catch The payments could cause some confusion in 2022, because when taxpayers file their tax return for 2021, they will need to reconcile the advance payments with the actual credit they are entitled to receive. In addition, some upper-income families do not qualify for the increased credit, creating some confusion among taxpayers. Immigrants’ Concerns Immigrants have specific concerns. Here are answers to the frequently asked questions, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS):

I don’t have a Social Security Number (SSN), but I have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS. Am I eligible for the Child Tax Credit? Yes. You — and your spouse, if married filing a joint return — must have a Social Security number (SSN) or an IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. You would receive advance Child Tax Credit payments only if you used your correct SSN or ITIN when you filed a 2020 tax return or 2019 tax return. Advance Child Tax Credit payments will be made for each qualifying child who has an SSN that is valid for employment in the United States.

Does my child need to have a Social Security Number (SSN) to qualify for the Child Tax Credit? Yes. For your child to qualify you for the Child Tax Credit, your child must have a Social Security Number (SSN) that is valid for employment. Therefore, if your child does not have an SSN that is valid for employment, you

continued on page 16

Investment Trading Operation Will Pay Millions for Empty Promises

BY AMY HEBERT, FTC

It sounds like a dream come true — the idea of making a lot of money quickly and easily by investing. But in the case of Raging Bull, promises that the company’s trading programs could earn people big money quickly were made-up, the FTC says. According to the FTC, Raging Bull charged people hundreds or thousands of dollars to be a part of their trading programs. Raging Bull promised advice and trading alerts from “gurus” who the company said could double or triple their subscribers’ accounts in a week, and that subscribers could make $10,000 a week. But Raging Bull’s promised results were not typical, the FTC says, and the company didn’t have evidence to back up its claims. People also struggled to be able to cancel recurring subscriptions charges. To settle the FTC’s charges, Raging Bull has agreed to stop making claims about earnings without evidence. Raging Bull has also agreed to offer an easier way for people to cancel their subscriptions. The company will pay $2.425 million, which will be refunded to customers. Before you purchase any investmentrelated service or any offer that includes claims about earnings: •Take your time. •Avoid high-pressure sales pitches that require you to act now or risk losing out. •Be skeptical about success stories and testimonials. •Search online for the company’s name plus words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.”l

Amy Hebert is a Consumer Education Specialist at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Child Tax Credit/ continued from page 15 are not eligible to receive advance Child Tax Credit payments for that child.

What does it mean for the Social Security Number (SSN) to be valid for employment? For qualifying children, a valid Social Security Number (SSN) is one that is valid for employment in the United States and is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) before the due date of your 2021 tax return (including extensions). If an individual was a U.S. citizen when he or she received the SSN, then it is valid for employment in the United States. If "Not Valid for Employment" is printed on the individual's Social Security card and the individual's immigration status has changed so that he or she is now a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, ask the SSA for a new Social Security card. However, if "Valid for Work Only With DHS Authorization" is printed on the individual's Social Security card, the individual has the required SSN only as long as the Department of Homeland Security authorization is valid.

Will receiving the 2021 Child Tax Credit or Advance Child Tax Credit payments affect my immigration status or ability to get a Green Card? No. Under current law, receiving the Child Tax Credit or other Federal tax credits that you are eligible for will not affect your immigration status, your ability to get a green card, or your future eligibility for immigration benefits. Use of Federal tax credits is not considered for purposes of a "public charge" determination by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

As a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), am I prevented from claiming the 2021 Child Tax Credit or receiving Advance Child Tax Credit payments for my qualifying child? No. Having DACA does not affect your eligibility. If you and your child satisfy all eligibility requirements, you can claim your child for the 2021 Child Tax Credit and receive Advance Child Tax Credit payments.

My child is a DACA recipient. Can I still claim my child for the Child Tax Credit and receive Advance Child Tax Credit payments? Yes. Your eligibility is not affected by your child being a DACA recipient. If your child has a Social Security Number (SSN) that is valid for employment, and you and your child satisfy all other eligibility requirements, you are eligible for the Child Tax Credit and advance Child Tax Credit payments.l

Save Your:

*Home *Business *Car

Creditors’ Harassments! Lawsuits! Foreclosures!

Get the legal help you need NOW! Call 718-222-3155! GET YOUR BANKRUPTCY CONSULTATION

*Health *Peace of Mind/Health *Marriage/Relationship

Documents Required:

*List of debts *Your most recent tax returns *Correspondence from creditors *Lawsuit documents *Social Security and ID *List of assets

Filing a Chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy may be your only choice!!!

Call 718-222-3155 for a consultation today!

This USCIS Policy Change Will Reunite Vulnerable LGBTQ Refugee and Asylum Couples

BY ANDREW LIM

In February, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reversed Trump administration guidance that limited recognition of marriages performed abroad only to those considered “valid” in the country where they took place. This narrow interpretation of the “place-of-celebration” rule left many refugees and asylees without a way to reunite with their partners because they lacked formal proof or could not marry in their home countries or countries where they sought refuge before coming to the United States. This includes many LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers in committed, loving relationships. The new guidance directs the Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations (RAIO) office to return to the pre-Trump interpretation of the “place-of-celebration” rule. This original interpretation acknowledges that in many contexts abroad, romantic life partnerships may not be formalized—or worse—may be illegal. The memo recognizes that, “in certain circumstances, a spousal relationship may exist for the purpose of obtaining derivative refugee and/or asylee status if there is evidence of an informal marriage.” Eliminating the Trump-era guidance will likely help many refugees and asylees who may not have formal paperwork proving their spousal relationship. More importantly, this helps LGBTQ couples seeking refugee status who are unable to marry to assert the legitimacy of their committed relationships and reunite in the United States. The recognition of informal marriage as part of the “place-of-celebration” rule is so important to LGBTQ immigrants and Americans because family relationships are a basis for eligibility under U.S. immigration law. Although the Defense of Marriage Act previously barred federal recognition of same-sex marriage—including for immigrants—the Supreme Court struck down that law in 2012 in United States v. Windsor. This allowed LGBTQ U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to petition for their noncitizen spouses. But despite that decision, considerable ambiguity remained for LGBTQ noncitizens seeking refuge in the United States. Without recognizing informal marriages, refugees and asylees in committed samesex relationships could remain separated indefinitely, until their partners could independently qualify to come to the U.S. or the couple could find a way to legally marry. Given the state of LGBTQ rights around the world, the importance of recognizing informal marriages—especially for those escaping threats, violence, and disaster—is even more evident. In around 70 countries, homosexuality is criminalized by law. In as many as 11, it is punishable by death. In many other countries, even if their identity isn’t illegal, LGBTQ people face a hostile and unsafe environment. Meanwhile, the list of the 31 countries where same-sex marriage is the law of the land is painfully short. Under the previous administration’s narrow interpretation of the “place-ofcelebration” rule, only LGBTQ refugee and asylum seekers who had been married in one of those 31 countries could petition for their partners to join them. That would be a hollow accommodation given that these countries send few refugees and asylees to the United States. Data suggests that most LGTBQ asylum seekers come from countries where same-sex marriage is not legal. A 2021 report from the Williams Institute at UCLA showed that of the 11,400 LGBTQ people who filed for asylum between fiscal years 2012 and 2017, more than half of them (51.3%) came from Central America. This includes El Salvador (28.0%), Honduras (14.9%), continued on page 18

Reports of Romance Scams Hit Record Highs in 2021

BY EMMA FLETCHER

Online dating can be a great way to find lasting love – or even your next fling. But reports to the FTC suggest it also creates opportunities for scammers. In the past five years, people have reported losing a staggering $1.3 billion to romance scams, more than any other FTC fraud category. The numbers have skyrocketed in recent years, and 2021 was no exception –reported losses hit a record $547 million for the year. That’s more than six times the reported losses in 2017 and a nearly 80% increase compared to 2020. The median individual reported loss in 2021 was $2,400. Reports show that romance scammers are masters of disguise. They create fake online profiles with attractive photos swiped from the web. Sometimes they even assume the identities of real people. They may study information people share online and then pretend to have common interests. And the details they share about themselves will always include built-in excuses for not meeting in person. For example, many reportedly claim to be serving overseas in the military or working on an offshore oil rig. Many people who’ve experienced scams report being contacted on dating apps. But you don’t have to be looking for love to be courted by a romance scammer. Reports of unexpected private messages on social media platforms are common. More than a third of people who said they lost money to an online romance scam in 2021 said it began on Facebook or Instagram. Romance scammers weave all sorts of believable stories to con people, but their old standby involves pleas for help while claiming one financial or health crisis after another. The scammers’ stories might involve a sick child or a temporary inability to get to their money for a whole range of reasons. People who lost money to a romance scammer often report sending money repeatedly: they believe they’re helping someone they care about. But it’s all a lie. In another common twist on the romance scam, people agree to help transfer money as a favor to their supposed sweetheart. The scammer often claims to need help getting their inheritance money or moving funds for an important business deal. Stories like this often-set people up to become “money mules” – they may think they’re just helping, but they’re really laundering stolen funds. These stories are also used to trick people into sending their own money. People have reported paying all sorts of bogus fees to accept money that never turns up. Others say they deposited a check from their sweetie and sent some of the money as instructed, only to find out later that the check was fake – leaving them without the money they sent. Still others report sending money based on promises – later proven to be false –that they would be repaid. A growing trend in 2021 was scammers using romance as a hook to lure people into bogus investments, especially cryptocurrency. People are led to believe their new online companion is a successful investor who, before long, casually offers investment advice. These so-called investment opportunities often involve foreign exchange (forex) trading or cryptocurrency. And when people follow this investment “advice,” they wind up losing all the money they “invest.” In fact, the largest reported losses to romance scams were paid in cryptocurrency: $139 million last year alone.That’s a remarkable growth in cryptocurrency payments to romance scammers: 2021 numbers are nearly five times those reported in 2020, and more than 25 times those reported in 2019. In 2021, the median individual reported loss using cryptocurrency was a staggering $9,770. While cryptocurrency losses were the most costly, it was not the most common payment method for romance scams. In 2021, more people reported paying romance scammers with gift cards than with any other payment method. In fact, about one in four people said they paid a romance scammer with a gift card, and they reported losing $36 million last year. Reports about romance scams increased for every age group in 2021. The increase was most striking for people ages 18 to 29. For this age group, the number of reports increased more than tenfold from 2017 to 2021. But the reported median loss increased with age: people 70 and older reported the highest individual median losses at $9,000, compared to $750 for the 18 to 29 age group.

So how can you spot scammers if you’re looking for love online? •Nobody legit will ever ask you to help by sending cryptocurrency, giving the numbers on a gift card, or by wiring money. Anyone who does is a scammer. •Never send or forward money for someone you haven’t met in person, and don’t act on their investment advice. •Talk to friends or family about a new love interest and pay attention if they’re concerned. •Try a reverse-image search of profile pictures. If the details don’t match up, it’s a scam. Help stop scammers by reporting suspicious profiles or messages to the dating app or social media platform. Then, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Learn more at ftc.gov/romancescams. l

LGBT Couples/ continued from page 17 and Guatemala (8.4%). In each of those countries, same-sex marriage is not legal and discrimination and violence toward LGBTQ people is widespread. Significant proportions of LGBQT asylum seekers also came from Ghana (7.8%), where male homosexuality is illegal. Restoring the pre-Trump-era interpretation of the “place of celebration” rule is a step in the right direction that offers hope for thousands of LGBTQ asylees and refugees seeking to reunite with their partners. Yet U.S. immigration policy for LGBTQ people still has significant ways to go. The new guidance only applies to refugee and asylum seekers. The narrower interpretation of the place-of-celebration rule still applies to other immigrants, including partners of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. This excludes those wed in common-law marriages as well as civil unions. As a result, many same-sex domestic partners would not be able to apply for family-dependent immigrant visas to the United States. This is not the case in Canada, which recognizes both common law marriages as well as civil unions. This means that a U.S. citizen living in Italy, where civil unions exist but not same-sex marriage, would not be able to bring their legal partner into the United States as family, although Canada would honor their committed relationship and admit them together. Going forward, the Biden administration should consider additional changes to the “place of celebration” rule to ensure that LGBTQ couples are not treated worse than opposite-sex couples. l VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.THEIMMIGRANTSJOURNAL.COM FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES

HEALTH

19 Even Mild Cases of COVID-19 Can Leave a Mark on the Brain, Such as Reductions in Gray Matter

BY JESSICA BERNARD THE CONVERSATION

Researchers have been steadily gathering important insights into the effects of COVID-19 on the body and brain. Two years into the pandemic, these findings are raising concerns about the long-term impacts the coronavirus might have on biological processes such as aging. As a cognitive neuroscientist, I have focused in my past research on understanding how normal brain changes related to aging affect people’s ability to think and move – particularly in middle age and beyond. But as evidence came in showing that COVID-19 could affect the body and brain for months following infection, my research team shifted some of its focus to better understanding how the illness might influence the natural process of aging. This was motivated in large part by compelling new work from the United Kingdom investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the human brain. Peering in at the brain’s response to COVID-19 In a large study published in the journal Nature on March 7, 2022, a team of researchers in the UK investigated brain changes in people ages 51 to 81 who had experienced COVID-19. This work provides important new insights about the impact of COVID-19 on the human brain. In the study, researchers relied on a database called the UK Biobank, which contains brain imaging data from over 45,000 people in the U.K. going back to 2014. This means that there was baseline data and brain imaging of all of those people from before the pandemic. The research team compared people who had experienced COVID-19 with participants who had not, carefully matching the groups based on age, sex, baseline test date and study location, as well as common risk factors for disease, such as health variables and socioeconomic status. The team found marked differences in gray matter – or the neurons that process information in the brain – between those who had been infected with COVID-19 and those who had not. Specifically, the thickness of the gray matter tissue in brain regions known as the frontal and temporal lobes was reduced in the COVID-19 group, differing from the typical patterns seen in the people who hadn’t had a COVID-19 infection. In the general population, it is normal to see some change in gray matter volume or thickness over time as people age. But the changes were more extensive than normal in those who had been infected with COVID-19. Interestingly, when the researchers separated the individuals who had severe enough illness to require hospitalization, the results were the same as for those who had experienced milder COVID-19. That is, people who had been infected with COVID-19 showed a loss of brain volume even when the disease was not severe enough to require hospitalization. Finally, researchers also investigated changes in performance on cognitive tasks and found that those who had contracted COVID-19 were slower in processing information than those who had continued on page 20

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).

Mark on the Brain/ continued from page 19 not. This processing ability was correlated with volume in a region of the brain known as the cerebellum, indicating a link between brain tissue volume and cognitive performance in those with COVID-19. This study is particularly valuable and insightful because of its large sample sizes both before and after illness in the same people, as well as its careful matching with people who had not had COVID-19.

What do these changes in brain volume mean? Early on in the pandemic, one of the most common reports from those infected with COVID-19 was the loss of sense of taste and smell. Strikingly, the brain regions that the U.K. researchers found to be affected by COVID-19 are all linked to the olfactory bulb, a structure near the front of the brain that passes signals about smells from the nose to other brain regions. The olfactory bulb has connections to regions of the temporal lobe. Researchers often talk about the temporal lobe in the context of aging and Alzheimer’s disease, because it is where the hippocampus is located. The hippocampus is likely to play a key role in aging, given its involvement in memory and cognitive processes. The sense of smell is also important to Alzheimer’s research, as some data has suggested that those at risk for the disease have a reduced sense of smell. While it is too early to draw any conclusions about the long-term impacts of COVID-related effects on the sense of smell, investigating possible connections between COVID-19-related brain changes and memory is of great interest –particularly given the regions implicated and their importance in memory and Alzheimer’s disease. The study also highlights a potentially important role for the cerebellum, an area of the brain that is involved in cognitive and motor processes; importantly, it too is affected in aging. There is also an emerging line of work implicating the cerebellum in Alzheimer’s disease. Looking ahead These new findings bring about important yet unanswered questions: What do these brain changes following COVID19 mean for the process and pace of aging? Also, does the brain recover from viral infection over time, and to what extent? These are active and open areas of research we are beginning to tackle in my laboratory in conjunction with our ongoing work investigating brain aging. Our lab’s work demonstrates that as people age, the brain thinks and processes information differently. In addition, we’ve observed changes over time in how people’s bodies move and how people learn new motor skills. Several decades of work have demonstrated that older adults have a harder time processing and manipulating information – such as updating a mental grocery list – but they typically maintain their knowledge of facts and vocabulary. With respect to motor skills, we know that older adults still learn, but they do so more slowly then young adults. When it comes to brain structure, we typically see a decrease in the size of the brain in adults over age 65. This decrease is not just localized to one area. Differences can be seen across many regions of the brain. There is also typically an increase in cerebrospinal fluid that fills space due to the loss of brain tissue. In addition, white matter, the insulation on axons – long cables that carry electrical impulses between nerve cells – is also less intact in older adults. Life expectancy has increased in the past decades. The goal is for all to live long and healthy lives, but even in the best-case scenario where one ages without disease or disability, older adulthood brings on changes in how we think and move. Learning how all of these puzzle pieces fit together will help us unravel the mysteries of aging so that we can help improve quality of life and function for aging individuals. And now, in the context of COVID-19, it will help us understand the degree to which the brain may recover after illness as well. l

There is also an emerging line of work implicating the cerebellum in Alzheimer’s disease.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on Sept. 24, 2021. Jessica Bernard is an Associate Professor, Texas A&M University

Protection for Domestic Workers/ continued from page 1 vulnerable to wage theft, abuse, and discrimination, and have been historically excluded from national and state-level labor and anti-discrimination laws. Domestic workers are disproportionately women of color and immigrants, often with caregiving responsibilities of their own and have had little to no recourse when facing discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The expansion of the law prohibits discrimination in hiring based on membership in a protected class such as age, race, gender, and religion, among others; prohibits inquiries into salary and credit histories; and provides for reasonable accommodation for employees on the basis of religion and disability, as well as accommodations for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and lactation-related needs. To comply with the human rights law, employers must provide employee with notice of their rights. Employees whose rights have been violated can file a claim with the Commission or another venue of their choosing. There are some workers who are not covered by the expansion of the law, including workers related to an employer and those who work on a casual, irregular basis.

Who is a domestic worker with rights under the law? The NYCHRL’s protections will apply to all domestic workers who perform work in New York City. • Domestic workers include nannies, home care workers, housecleaners, or any worker who is employed in a home providing childcare, eldercare, companionship, or housekeeping services. Most fulltime and parttime workers are covered. • Exceptions: The law does not cover those working only occasionally. It also excludes workers who are related to the employer or to the person receiving care, and workers who provide companionship services and are simultaneously employed by an outside agency. Who is an employer with obligations under the law? Anyone who employs a domestic worker in New York City, other than on a casual or irregular basis. This includes individual employers as well as companies. Employment agencies and people who help workers find jobs are also covered by the NYCHRL. • Note: A person who employs or places even one domestic worker has obligations under the NYCHRL.

What rights and obligations are in the new law? 1.Domestic workers have the right to be free from discrimination. • Employers cannot discriminate against domestic workers based on their actual or perceived gender, national origin, race, immigration status, religion, or any other category protected by the NYCHRL. That means that employers cannot fire or refuse to hire a domestic worker, pay them less, harass them or allow them to be harassed, or otherwise treat them less well because of their membership in a protected class.

2. Domestic workers have the right to reasonable accommodations, or changes to their schedule or job duties to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job. • Employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations for needs related to disability, pregnancy or related medical conditions, childbirth, lactation, religious practices or observances, and status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking. • If an employer is aware that an employee may need a reasonable accommodation, they must engage in a cooperative dialogue, or good faith discussion, with the employee to understand their needs and discuss potential accommodations.

3. When hiring, employers cannot ask domestic workers questions about their salary history, inquire into their credit history, or ask them to take a pre-hire drug test to detect marijuana/THC.

4. Domestic workers have the right to written notice about sexual harassment protections, and to training regarding sexual harassment protections. • Once a domestic worker is hired, their employer must provide them with written notice of their rights regarding sexual harassment, post a notice in English and Spanish regarding sexual harassment protections, and ensure that they receive annual training on the NYCHRL’s protections against gender-based harassment.

5. Domestic workers have the right to be free from retaliation for opposing discrimination, requesting a reasonable accommodation (see #2), or filing a NYCHRL claim.

Do domestic workers in New York have rights under other laws? Yes. Domestic workers have the right to paid safe and sick leave, minimum wage and overtime pay, one (1) day of rest per week, and at least three (3) paid days off per year. Fulltime domestic workers also have the right to workers’ compensation and disability benefits insurance, and some domestic workers are entitled to paid family leave. l