Shortages ....12
DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga Photo courtesy: DCWP claim to be annoyed by the City's eter nal rat race, where everyone is in a hurry. High cost of living, littered streets, rude neighbors, lousy behavior, noise, and expensive houses with out dated infrastructure. Of course, there are also many positives associated with the Big Apple, such as its welcoming arms to immigrants. It is also a land of opportunity and new beginnings for dreamers who want to make their dreams come true across careers and enterprises.Thus,people around the world leave
After the Divorce: How to Start Dating Again ....21
An Indiana-based conservative legal group has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to derail a local law that would allow more than 800,000 noncitizens to vote in local New York City elections. Four Black registered voters in the city represented by the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) allege that the law was motivated by racially discriminatory intent that violates the Voting Rights Act. Adams administration officials, including culture commissioner Laurie Cumbo, feature prominently in case that alleges illegal racially discriminatory intent that harms Black voters. Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
BY YOAV GONEN, THE CITY BY LINDA NWOKE continued on page 5
Arecent and unexpected surge of migrants that began as early as May has arrived in New York City, causing a swell of people staying in NYC shelters. In a briefing, Mayor Adams addressed the current wave of nearly 3,000 newly arrived migrants. Mayor Adams, Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins, and other officials address the surge asking the Federal Government for assistance in the matter. Life in New York is tough. Some Legal Work-related Immigration Has Fallen Contributing to US Labor
Conservatives’ Federal Case Challenges Immigrant Voting — Using Ex-Council Members’ Own WordsDCWP: Protecting Immigrant Workers continued on page 12 26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY 11242 Tel: 718-243-9431 Email: immjournal @aol.com Protecting God’s Children From Distant Lands www.theimmigrantsjournal.com Sept 08, 2022FREE The Immigrant’s Journal A Journey for a Better Life & Justice Vol. 173 Colombia’s New Left-wing Government: Three Opportunities to Build Stronger Ties with Africa ....16 Mayor Adams, 9/11 Families United, 9/11 Justice, 9/11 Day Release Statements ....2 September is Aging Month. Is It Just Forgetfulness or Dementia? ....19 Biden Moves to Stabilize the Lives of Hundreds of Thousands of DACA Recipients, Critical Work Remains ...8 Brian Figeroux, Esq.
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September 11, 2001. It was an open dia logue, and we are appreciative of the mayor and his staff for their engagement with"Weus.requested of the mayor that he con tinue to stand with the 9/11 families in our quest for justice and accountability from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the attacks. We reviewed with the mayor and his team some of the substantial evi dence gathered about Saudi Arabia's role in 9/11. Much of the details of Saudi Arabia's role has become public during the last year, resulting from President Joe Biden's Executive Order last September to declassify numerous FBI investigative continued on page 3
Finally, members of 9/11 Parents & Families of Firefighters and World Trade Center Victims shared concerns about the current storage procedures for unidenti fied human remains, which the adminis tration will review. Following their con versation, Mayor Adams and members of 9/11 Families United, 9/11 Justice, and 9/11 Day released the following state ments:Mayor Adams said, "As we approach the 21st anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks in American history — which cost the lives of 3000 innocent Americans, and New Yorkers in particu lar — I was honored to meet yesterday with members of the 9/11 community. As someone who was a first responder on 9/11, I was reminded yet again of the hor ror and heartache that so many families and survivors endured not only on that terrible day more than 20 years ago, but in the years since. This community has fought tirelessly for justice, transparency, and accountability for these attacks, and I will stand with them every step of the way as they continue this fight. "I appreciated the opportunity to hear firsthand from the 9/11 community about what they have learned about these attacks in just the last few months since the Biden administration declassified thousands of documents. They were clear that they believe the new documents link members of the Saudi government direct ly to the hijackers, and my administration will closely review this information. They also made clear that the fight isn't over, and we must continue seeking accountability for those who participated in these "Finally,attacks.itisoutrageous that the Trump Organization agreed to host a tournament with this organization while knowing how much pain it would cause New Yorkers. While the city currently has no legal basis to prevent this tournament, I stand with the 9/11 community and shared my deep anger in the decision to host this tournament here where so many suffered so much." Brett Eagleson from 9/11 Justice said, "Yesterday, a group of 9/11 family mem bers from 9/11 Justice, 9/11 Families United and 9/11 Day had an in-person meeting with New York City Mayor Adams and his team at City Hall to address issues related to the role of Saudi Arabia and many of its governmental officials in the terrorist attacks of
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on August 31 met with members of 9/11 Families United, 9/11 Justice, and 9/11 Day to discuss the Saudi-funded women's golf tournament scheduled to be held at Trump Golf Links in October. The group shared their stories and provided FBI reports that have been recently declassified by the Biden admin istration that reportedly detailed support provided to the hijackers by the Saudi government. They also discussed the inherited contract that currently prevents the city from halting the tournament, despite the pain the Trump Organization's decision has caused the 9/11 community and all New Yorkers.
Mayor Adams, 9/11 Families United, 9/11 Justice, 9/11 Day Release Statements
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"We appreciate that the mayor and his team committed to joining our pursuit of justice and accountability for the loss of our loved ones and this attack on America, and we look forward to contin uing the important dialogue we began with the Adams administration yester day."
T EAM
Currently, a number of relevant legisla tive reforms are on the table and ready to be implemented. For example, an NBC News story, “Farmers push for immigra tion reform to counter labor shortages and rising food prices” notes: “Farmers across the U.S. are joining a push for national immigration reform that they say could ease labor shortages and lower food prices as surging produc tion costs continue to rock the agriculture industry. The farm operators say the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, already passed by the House and pending in the Senate, will provide them with a stable reliable workforce by creating a path to citizenship for undocumented agricultural workers and reforming the seasonal farmworker visa program, among other things. The current labor shortage, while not new, has been exacerbated by the pan demic and resulted in higher prices or empty store shelves for consumers. Food costs are now 10% higher than they were at this time last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
Volunteering at THE IMMIGRANT'S JOURNAL LEGAL & EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Internship positions available throughout the year.
Washington, DC: Economists agree that pro-immigrant poli cies and new avenues for legal workers would directly benefit the trou ble spots of our economy, from rising prices to worker shortages to long-term need for young and skilled working peo ple. As U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh stated on Fox Business ahead of Labor Day (starting at 2:20): “We have so many jobs open … we need to have a really serious conversa tion at some point in this country about immigration. When I talk to CEOs from companies all across America, they’re all in favor of immigration reform, they’re all in favor of pathways, of visas for peo ple coming to the United States working … we certainly don’t have enough peo ple to fill those jobs [listed as open] … at some point, the issue of workers has to be addressed and the only way you can do it is through immigration.”
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 recog nize the enormous contribution of immigrants to this country economically, socially and polit ically. Since September 11, 2001, however, immigrants have increasingly been discriminat ed against and Congress has passed legisla tion 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.
Praim AnvarKendrickSamsoondarWilliamsSabirov Email immjournal@aol.com Visit www.workersworldtoday.comwww.cawnyc.comwww.falaw.uswww.ijlef.org
Simultaneously, Republicans are seek ing to end existing immigration policies that strengthen our economy, such as the popular and successful Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) pro gram. A legal challenge against DACA led by Texas and other red states is pend ing at the conservative Fifth Circuit. The coming DACA ruling could mean the end of work permits for tens of thou
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BY MARIBEL HASTINGS & DAVID TORRES
l 9/11
But despite the vocal support from many in the business community across a range of sectors and some of their own GOP colleagues, Republicans are thus far choosing to obstruct needed legisla tive fixes like the Farm Workforce Modernization Act while doubling down on the ugly demonization of immigrants to engage the MAGA political base, as our recent political report makes clear.
AMERICA’S VOICE documents from its years-long investiga tion into Saudi Arabia's role, an investi gation which ensued after the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission.
According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Deputy Director of America’s Voice: “Republicans cannot claim to be the party of economic growth and opportuni ty while embracing nativism, attacking DACA, and blocking legislative reforms. Their relentless nativism is not just ugly politics designed to engage the MAGA base, but also incredibly damaging for the U.S. economy in the short and long term.Economists, labor experts, and many business leaders agree that immigrant workers and related legislative reforms are sorely needed to grow our economy and address inflation, including in the food and agricultural sectors. And schools, hospitals, Fortune 50 compa nies, and small businesses can attest to the incredible contributions of DACA employees. Yet GOP obstruction means that the farm workforce legislation and a permanent legislative fix to address Dreamers’ plight are uncertain this year.”l
Will the GOP Keep Choosing to Demonize Immigrants Instead of Strengthen Our Economy?
Terry Strada from 9/11 Families United said, "In a meeting yesterday, members from 9/11 Justice and 9/11 Families United discussed the upcoming Saudisponsored golf tournament scheduled in October in New York City, and solicited support from Mayor Adams for further transparency and accountability for the murder of our loved ones and injured sur vivors on September 11. Details about recent U.S. intelligence reports confirm ing Saudi agents, Saudi state-run chari ties and banks, and wealthy individuals provided the financial and logistical sup port needed for the 19 hijackers to carry out the attacks was discussed, further illustrating Saudi complicity in the worst terrorist attack against our nation and need for the administration to prioritize 9/11"Whileaccountability.itisdisappointing the contrac tual agreement for the Saudi Aramco golf tournament has legal standing, we under stand the mayor's obligation and greatly appreciate his public support for our quest for justice, accountability, and the truth." Statements / continued from page 2
Publisher I.Q. INC. Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Senior Writer Linda Nwoke
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 natural ized 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
sands of Dreamers at a time when there are more than 340,000 “essential” work ers with DACA across the country, including 15,000 K-12 teachers during a time of existing teacher shortages.
• 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.
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This fact sheet gives only general information. It is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal advice. English
• 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.
Call 855-768-8845 for an ConsultationImmigration
What can I do if ICE is inside my 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 silent.”remain 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.
Know Your Rights with ICE If approached by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents, you have rights!
• 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.
• You do not have to immediately open the door for ICE and you do not have to speak to ICE.
• 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.
• 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.
• You can tell them if there are children or other vulnerable residents in your home.
• 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.
What can I do if ICE is at my door?
Immigrant Voting / continued from page 1
The shift to the federal case follows a June injunction issued by a Staten Island state Supreme Court judge in a separate case filed by Borough President Vito Fossella and other local Republican elected officials. They successfully argued that the legislation violated the state constitution and New York election law — which both specify that only citi zens can vote.
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Public Interest Legal Foundation is one of four nonprofits that Reuters identified in 2020 as part of a network of attorneys that has fed into the national Republican push to seek voting restrictions and purge voters from the rolls. Those four groups were involved in 61 lawsuits filed over election rules over an eight-year period, the news service reported.
Asian — groups they argue would get a leg up under the voting law at the expense of Black voters.
The PILF suit cites former Brooklyn Councilmember Laurie Cumbo, a Democrat who now serves as the city’s Cultural Affairs commissioner under Mayor Eric Adams, who had warned dur ing City Council debate that the bill could disempower Black voters.
“This particular legislation is going to shift the power dynamics in New York City in a major way,” she said at the time. The conservative legal group also cited statements from bill sponsor Ydanis Rodriguez, now city Department of Transportation commissioner under Adams, that the suit alleges are evidence of intentional racial bias in the bill. “[B]ecause we as a city have decided that this city has changed the color of the skin of people coming to this city, then we change it who will be voting in this city,” the suit quotes Rodriguez as having said.The latest lawsuit, which was filed Monday, asserts: “It was the explicit intent of the Law’s sponsors to increase the voting strength of certain racial sub groups while simultaneously decreasing the voting strength of other racial sub groups.”Thelawsuit also points to census data showing that the bulk of foreign nation als living in New York City are Latino or Immigration advocates rallied outside City Hall in support of voting rights in local elections, Oct. 21, 2021. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
Lauren Bowman, a spokesperson for PILF, said her group is making legal arguments different from those advanced by the New York City Republican offi cials, and that it remains unclear the Staten Island decision will stand anyway.
Study Denied Ahead of last year’s Council vote on the bill, which passed 33 to 14, Cumbo pub licly expressed concern that the makeup of permanent residents and green card holders would benefit the Latino com munity at the expense of the Black com munity — and her requests for a study on that potential impact on Black voters were rebuffed, the lawsuit says. “We’re all here to support our ethnic groups, and we’re all here to make sure that we all win, but I need to know in supporting this, which I need more time, how are African-Americans going to be impacted, because that’s the community I come from,” Cumbo is quote as saying.
“I’m clear how the Dominican Republic community will benefit, but not the African American community, and it’s only fair that I know that information.”
A state court recently dismissed a sim ilar lawsuit from the group to knock down the law — which would allow per manent residents and green card holders to vote in elections for mayor, comptrol ler, public advocate, borough presidents and City Council members.
The division of power between state and local governments would also neces sitate a referendum on the issue before any election laws are changed, according to the ruling in that case. The Adams administration is now appealing that decision.
The plaintiffs include Deroy Murdock, a political commentator and contributor to the conservative outlets National Review Online and Fox News.
“We do believe there’s a good chance the judge hearing this on appeal will reverse the lower court’s decision,” she told THE CITY. City Hall and City Council officials didn’t respond to a request for comment. Cumbo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. l This story was published on August 30, 2022 by THE CITY.
cating something is wrong, so they may need help identifying the emotion driv ing their actions. It’s important for chil dren to understand that while their feel ings are acceptable, their behavior may not be. That’s where replacement skills –acceptable ways to express emotions –come in. For example, try saying “It’s OK to be mad. It’s not OK to hit other people. When you’re mad, you can hit a pillow.” (FamilyFeatures)l
While it’s important to intentionally con nect with your children one-on-one, it’s equally important to give them space to come to you for help. Let them know you notice when they don’t seem like them selves but try not to push them to share before they’re ready. You can talk with your children about the ways they can communicate with you, aside from one-on-one conversations. If they find it easier to communicate their feelings through writing, you can go to the store together to pick out a journal. Children who are not yet proficient writ ers may prefer to draw pictures about their feelings. No matter the method, be sure to make time to check in with your children.
“If children can treat themselves kindly, they’ll treat others that way,” said Carter Peters from KinderCare Learning Centers’ education team. “When children feel encouraged, supported and loved, they are able to give those feelings to oth ers.”Consider these three tips to boost your children’s self-esteem: Be Your Children’s Cheerleader When praising or complimenting chil dren for their achievements, be specific and include affirmation for positive char acter traits, such as “You were so kind to help Ms. Delmar take her recycling out” or “I’m proud of you for seeing she need ed help and offering it.” Being specific with your compliments reinforces the idea that your children are kind and help ful. Eventually, they’ll offer others the same positive affirmations and be less likely to look to outside influences to define their sense of self. “When children have high self-esteem and self-worth, they know when some one’s opinion of them is untrue,” Peters said. “Children with high self-esteem become adults capable of believing in themselves.”
Teach Emotional Literacy and Replacement Skill Behavior.
While packing bags and back packs for school, there’s one essential that may be over looked: Children’s self-esteem. Although many children may feel confident and self-assured at home, they can feel differ ently in the classroom. When children have high self-esteem, they’re less likely to reflect negative feelings toward others.
Give Children Space to Safely Express Their Emotions
3 Tips to Boost Your Children’s SelfEsteem This School Year
You can help your children move beyond comprehension of basic emotions –happy, sad, mad – and toward an under standing of more nuanced emotions. When children can identify their feelings, they’re closer to developing healthy responses.Commonly labeled “bad behaviors” are often young children’s way of communi
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Be sure to remember their vaccines.
Eric AshwinMayorAdamsVasan, MD, PhD Commissioner BY RICH ANDRE
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7
Utah’s Granite School District has sim ilarly strong relationships with the region’s two resettlement agencies: International Rescue Committee and Catholic Community Services of Utah. The district is home to an increasingly dynamic student population, speaking over 100 languages, ranging from Spanish and Arabic to Swahili and ToBurmese.respond to the increasing diversity of the student body, the district launched the Tumaini Welcome and Transition Program, which provides support to for eign students both before they start school (ensuring they have internet access, a laptop, the bus schedule, etc.) and as they acclimate to their new educa tional environment. Follow-through is key, and school resource teams monitor newcomer students weekly, then month ly, and maintain regular contact with the families to address the challenges that arise over time. In a more recent development, Texas Governor Abbott has been bussing more than 6,000 asylum seekers, including children, to Washington DC and New York City. The New York City Department of Education now expects more than 1,000 asylum seekers ages three and up to enroll in the city’s public schools this fall. In response, the City launched “Project Open Arms,” a multiagency plan to enroll asylum seekers in schools. The plan includes sections on interagency collaboration, language access, socio-emotional support, and more, echoing priorities seen in Michigan and Utah. As schools get into full-swing for the fall, collaboration and coordination across departments— both at a state and local level—will prove critical to ensure that every student can learn and grow.l
EDUCATION
School
is back in session. For many states and localities across the country, that means welcoming newly arrived immigrant and refugee youth into the classroom. There will be increased need for student support this fall, given that the United States has resettled more than 76,000 Afghans and 100,000 Ukrainians over the last year as a result of Operation Allies Welcome and Uniting for Ukraine, respectively. Regardless of where they’re from, immigrant and refugee youth often face language barriers, digital equity issues, and the overall challenge of adjusting to education in a new country. How can states and localities address these chal lenges and facilitate successful integra tion into the classroom and the commu nity?The Refugee Advocacy Lab and International Rescue Committee dove into this topic in a recent webinar. The conversation featured two states with long histories of immigrant and refugee integration: the Michigan Department of Education and Granite School District in Salt Lake County, Utah. Two core themes emerged from the conversation: the need for coordination across stake holders within and outside government and the need to provide sustained support for newcomer students, before and after theyInenroll.Michigan, school enrollment and student integration rely on a strong part nership between the Department of Education (DoE) and the Office of Global Michigan (OGM), which houses the state’s Refugee Services program. This partnership was crucial following the U.S. military evacuation in Afghanistan, after which Michigan reset tled approximately 1,800 Afghans in a single year, on top of other refugees and asylees.Critically, Michigan agencies mapped out which school districts were most impacted by new Afghan arrivals and held monthly meetings with identified points of contact to coordinate resources and information. These state-and-local partnerships helped identify the pain points Afghans experienced, including having trouble enrolling their children midway through the school year, stu dents not getting credit for schooling in their home countries, and the need for socio-emotional support for youth impacted by conflict. The state is now leveraging those same partnerships and practices to welcome the sizable Ukrainian population coming through the Uniting for Ukraine program.
You remembered their books. You remembered their forms. You remembered their schedules.
How Schools Welcome Newly Arrived Immigrant and Refugee Students
They’re safe and reduce the risk of severe preventable illnesses, like measles, polio, and chickenpox. COVID-19 vaccines are now recommended for children 6 months and older. Talk to your child’s health care provider or visit nyc.gov/health and search “student vaccines” or call 311 for information on immunization requirements. Vaccines are required for children to stay in school and day care.
BY AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL STAFF
Last week, the Biden administra tion published the final version of a regulation that seeks to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative and provide a modicum of stability to the hundreds of thousands of people living in the United States who benefit from its protections.
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The final rule’s publication followed a strenuous rulemaking process that began with a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement in September 2021. DHS said it would create a regula tion to preserve the DACA initiative and gave the public an opportunity to com ment on what the policy should look like.
The case is currently before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas, which has requested additional briefs from the parties to determine whether it can review the new rule. In any event, litiga tion will most likely continue, pointing to the decades-long need for Congress to act on behalf of undocumented youth across the United States.
New York, NY - August 17, 2021: Few dozens of DACA recipients rally on Foley Square demanding citizenship now for all undocumented immigrants.
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The new rule takes effect on October 31. As a practical matter, the new rule will change little about the operation of DACA. After its implementation, eligi ble individuals will need to meet the same eligibility criteria, use the same government forms, and pay the same fees that are required today. But because this rule replaces the DACA program that was previously established through a DHS memoran dum—which future administrations could seek to terminate through the same method—this new rule provides more stability and will be more difficult to repeal. In order to undo the DACA pro gram, a future administration would need to go through the same rulemaking process used to codify this rule—publish the rule, give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposal, and consider the public’s comments before ending the program.Nevertheless, the new rule has certain critical limitations. The adoption of the very same requirements outlined when DACA was first implemented will shut out meritorious immigrants who arrived in the country in fifteen years since June 15,The2007.rule also fails to address the chal lenges experienced by individuals who were too young to benefit from DACA before a federal court ordered the admin istration to limit eligibility to people who were already a part of the initiative as of July of 2021. Approximately 80,000 firsttime applicants have been stuck in limbo since then, having submitted their requests for DACA and paid their fees only to have the government refuse to adjudicate their requests, citing the litiga tion in Texas as a justification.
Biden Moves to Stabilize the Lives of Hundreds of Thousands of DACA Recipients, but Critical Work Remains
While this move fulfills a key commit ment made by President Biden on his first full day in office, it falls far short of providing the permanent protections for undocumented youth across the country that only Congress can grant.
Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
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The Biden administration has taken some important steps to try to protect undocumented youth through executive action, but permanent protections can only come from congress. DACA has been around for more than a decade and has proven highly successful in provid ing safety and stability to some of the people unfairly cut out of our immigra tion system. It is past time for Congress to do its job and provide a path to citizen ship for DACA recipients and undocu mented youth mor broadly.l
Once you have your down payment saved up, you should turn your attention to your credit rating. If you are going to borrow a mortgage to help cover the cost of your home, your lender will be doing some digging into your credit history. It is best to ensure that you aren't late with any payments and have cleared off any black marks from past credit problems.
Buying a home for the first time can be a stressful thing to take on, but by utilizing the right agent and having reasonable expectations, you can have your dream home before you know it. If you're get ting ready to purchase your first home, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more information at 888-670-6791.l
#1: Is Your Credit In Good Shape?
Finally, have you considered what your family might look like in the future? Are you planning to get married, or if you are already married are you planning to have a family? If you have children now, do you expect to have any more of them? Keep in mind that as your children grow older, they will need a bit more space. If you have a couple of young kids sharing bunk beds, each will need their own bed room soon enough.
How is your overall financial health?
The American Dream is consists of entrepreneurship and homeowner ship. Are you growing tired of renting? Or perhaps you've recently grad uated from college and are looking to set down some roots? Whatever the case, buying your first home is an exciting prospect. Let's take a look at a quick and easy four-point checklist that you can use to determine if you are ready to buy your first home.
#2: Can You See Yourself Living In This Community? Do you love the area you live in? Or are you thinking about moving to a commu nity that you like a bit more than your cur rent one? Perhaps it's the local shops, the amenities, the walking trails or just being closer to work. It is always best to 'love where you live,' so ensure that you are buying your first home in a community that you can call home.
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#3: Is Your Job Situation Stable?
Another factor to consider is your job or career situation. Are you likely to switch companies or be transferred to another division within the next few years? Be sure to give some thought to this as it will be inconvenient to have to move shortly after buying and furnishing a home.
#4: Are You Planning to Have Children?
BY STEVEN HUBBARD in the United States. This additional eco nomic activity is significant for both the national economy as well as local ones: The National Association of Foreign Student Advisors estimates that 306,000 jobs were created and supported from international student enrollment during the 2020 academic year. On average, one job was created for every three interna tional students enrolled in higher educa tion.Since 2017, the number of international students in the U.S. has worryingly decreased. The 2020-21 international student enrollment numbers are 16.5% less than they were in the 2018-19 aca demic year. International student enroll ment reports for the 2021-22 academic year are not out yet, but initial reports from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS) show that 2021-22 enrollment data could be similar to 202021 enrollment or possibly decreasing fur ther.While Covid-19 played a large part in decreasing international student enroll ment numbers, data shows that the decline predates the pandemic. Many universities in other anglophone coun tries such as Canada, the United As hundreds of thousands of stu dents prepare to go back to school this fall, it’s important to consider the outsized role international students play in both campus life and the United States economy. For the 2020 – 2021 academic school year, there were an estimated 914,000 international students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities, making up 4.6% of all college students. International students contribute signifi cantly to the U.S. economy because many students gravitate toward fields in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) which enhances public and private research initiatives and cre ates jobs that help the U.S. compete. Those international students in STEM majors are also a critical pipeline of skilled workers for the U.S. economy During the 2020-21 academic school year, international students contributed an estimated $28.4 billion to the U.S. economy through their tuition paid to U.S. institutions as well as through their spending on housing, transportation, din ing, and consumer goods while they live Kingdom, and Australia have been com peting with U.S. institutions for interna tional students. On top of this increased competition, States are also believed to contribute to the decreasing international studentAttractingnumbers.fewer international students has economic drawbacks. For U.S. high er education institutions to complete globally, they need the best students to train and work with faculty to develop innovative research that often stimulates entrepreneurship and job creation. If too many roadblocks like slow visa process es or high costs prevent international stu dents from enrolling, U.S. higher educa tion institutions begin losing their com petitive research advantage. Lower inter national student enrollment also means native-born college students lose out in studying with and learning from students from other countries, which could hinder their competitiveness in the global labor market.International students and scholars gen erate significant economic and cultural contributions to our campus communi ties and the U.S. in general. Many inter national STEM graduates are also poten tial high skilled employees for U.S. com panies.The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration (PAHEI) outlined several recommendations to build and sustain international student enrollment at U.S. higher education insti tutions. These recommendations include enhancing the visa application process for students by improving transparency and wait times to help students meet crit ical education and research deadlines.
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PAHEI also recommends that the Department of State (DOS) leave aca demic decisions about qualifications to colleges and universities by ending denials based on English-language com petency or institutional type (e.g., com munity colleges, English language pro grams). PAHEI provides a helpful immi gration portal with state-level data on international, immigrant, and DACA-eli gible college Establishingstudents.policies that can help attract international talent benefits every one—foreign and American students alike—and puts the United States in the best possible position to compete global ly.l
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The Economic Impact When International Students Return Back to Campus
Ready to Take the Leap?
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BY THE CHAMBER COALITION
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 employ ment 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 deliv ery 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 mini mize costs. As a result, a paralegal career is one of the hottest non-lawyer jobs in the legal industry.
Acareer as a paralegal (also known as a legal assistant) can be a wonderfully fulfilling profes sion. 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 profession als 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:
5 Reasons to Become 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 administra tive tribunals), their earnings continue to rise. The average paralegal salary hovers at around $50,000 per year, but parale gals often make more through bonuses. Overtime hours can also add significant cash to a paralegal's paycheck.
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 corpo rate 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.
3. Easy Career Entry Unlike lawyers who must complete seven years of formal education and pass the bar exam to practice law, you can become a paralegal in as little as a few months of study.
4. Intellectual Challenge Paralegal work is intellectually challeng ing and involves a range of high-level skills. The most successful paralegals are problem-solvers and innovative thinkers. Paralegals must become subject matter experts in their specialty areas and mas ter 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 attorneys, opposing counsel, vendors, staff members, clients, and others. The work is varied, and each day brings new challenges.
A career as a paralegal can be rewarding professionally and personally and offers a unique opportunity to help others; options vary, depending on the parale gal's practice area. Paralegals in the pub lic interest sector help poor and disad vantaged 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 pay ment.l
CONVERSATION
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With Americans having fewer children and the nation’s labor force getting older, many employers in manufacturing, aviation and other industries are having trouble finding enough workers. The gap between the demand for labor and its supply was already forming in 2017. By 2018, the U.S. economy had increasingly more job openings than unemployed workers. That gap has widened during the COVID-19 pandem ic as more people have died, retired early or simply dropped out of the job market. By July 2022, as the pandemic’s effects on the workplace were easing, the U.S. had 11.2 million job openings but only 5.7 million unemployed workers who might fill them. I’m a scholar of immigration and eco nomics who researches a trend that’s driving labor shortages: declining num bers of immigrants allowed to legally work in the U.S. When I study these numbers, I see an important opportunity to resolve labor shortages that are wreak ing economic havoc.
Work visas An estimated 45 million people living in the United States, roughly 14% of the population, were born elsewhere. About one in six U.S. workers is an immigrant. Some of these foreign-born workers are legally employed on a temporary basis with an array of visas that make it possi ble to obtain jobs that run the gamut from software designers to apple pickers. In some cases, these employees can obtain legal permanent residency – often called “a green card.” Some temporary work visas last longer than 12 months, so the number of workers with authorization is higher than the number of visas issued in that year. H-1B visas, which require a high level of education for fields like computer programming, last three years and can be renewed for another three.
The government issued a record 813,330 temporary employment-based visas in 2019. The total fell by about a third to 566,000 in 2020, as the COVID19 pandemic got underway, and the num bers were basically flat in 2021 at 566,001 – the first year of Joe Biden’s presidency.Ofcourse it’s important that the gov ernment not issue visas in such a way that foreign workers depress wages or lead to the dismissal of gainfully employed Americans. These lower wages could occur in the short run, but most empirical studies show there are long-term benefits in terms of what native-born people earn when immigration rises. Taking a bite out of the economy The sharp reduction in the number of temporary visas for foreign-born workers in 2020 and 2021 harmed the U.S. econ omy. Based on my own calculations, the total cost was around 0.4% per year of continued on page 13
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BY JOSE IVAN RODRIGUEZ-SANCHEZ THE
Legal Work-related Immigration Has Fallen by a Third Since 2020, Contributing to US Labor Shortages
As a result, these industries are facing unprecedented challenges in trying to find workers to fill open jobs. If these labor shortages continue, I’m certain that they will keep hurting job markets, supply chains and productivity as companies have to pay their employ ees more and then increase prices due in part to those higher labor costs.
VenezuelaofExtensionTPSfor
The labor force participation rate, which measures the number of people in the job market as a percentage of the total work ing-age population, has been hovering around the lowest levels seen since the 1970s as more U.S. workers drop out of the job market. After plunging to 60% in 2020, it bounced back partially. The rate stood at 62.2% in July 2022.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.THEIMMIGRANTSJOURNAL.COM FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES HOW TO GET A GREEN CARD 13 total gross domestic product – at least $82 billion per year in 2020 and 2021. Immigration restrictions affected far more people, however, including those who were unable to obtain a green card because of the closure of embassies and consulates. All told, these policies result ed in an estimated 2 million fewer work ing-age immigrants in the U.S. in 2020 andIncluding2021. those additional losses nearly triples the economic cost of U.S. immi gration restrictions to about 1.1% per year of U.S. GDP. Unless the U.S. reverses course and issues more work-related visas, I esti mate that the worker shortage will dou ble to over 4 million by 2030. My calcu lations also suggest this will shave about 4.3% off of GDP, on average, annually for the next eight years. Adding that all up, that would amount to about $9 tril lion in lost economic output. Labor shortages Labor shortages are especially severe today in certain industries that rely heav ily on immigrants as employees. For example, in 2020 foreign-born workers accounted for 39% of the farm ing, fishing and forestry workforce, 30% of all people employed in construction and extraction, 26% of everyone work ing in computer science and mathematics
Legal Work-related Immigration continued from
On Sept. 7, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice explaining how beneficiaries under Venezuela’s existing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) desig nation can re-register to retain TPS and renew their Employment Authorization DocumentsSecretary(EADs).ofHomeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced an 18-month extension of the designation of Venezuela for TPS. This extension will be effective from Sept. 10, 2022, through March 10, 2024. Current beneficiaries who want to maintain their status must re-register Sept. 8, 2022 to Nov. 7, 2022. Only beneficiaries under Venezuela’s existing designation who were already residing in the United States as of March 8, 2021, are eligible to re-register for TPS under this extension. Venezuelans who arrived in the United States after March 8, 2021, are not eligi ble for TPS. Approximately 323,000 individuals were estimated to be eligible for TPS under the existing designation of Venezuela. l
page 12
Of course, there are other factors besides a lack of foreign-born visas issued that are responsible for the shortage of work ers.But none are easy to resolve. It’s hard for the government to increase the share of adults who are working, and there’s little that can be done in the short term about the country’s aging workforce – the result of a long-term fertility decline. Even if the political hurdles can be high, I believe boosting the number of immigrants allowed to legally work in the United States is an important way that the authorities can ease labor shortages.l Jose Ivan Rodriguez-Sanchez is a Research Scholar of Economics, Rice University
4. Barriers to Free Medical Services
Many migrants face ongoing communi cation and cultural barriers ranging from religion, social customs, and behavioral patterns. These have led to distrust and fear of immigrants.
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Challenges Facing Immigrant Workers in New York City Immigrants are the most likely group to face discrimination on the job for those with an appointment. Most times, newly arrived immigrants have limited knowl edge about processes within many job markets, which forms a basis for disen franchisement. Despite the years of expe rience, immigrant professionals face dif ficulties obtaining recognition for foreign academic credentials, adding to the numerous hurdles in finding decent employment and building a stable liveli Tohood.survive, many immigrants resort to doing any jobs despite facing various challenges, including limited employ ment opportunities, unfair payment, dis criminatory treatment, and many others.
3. Unaffordable Housing Housing is a significant problem for many immigrants. They are vulnerable because of the difficulty in finding decent and safe but affordable housing. Interestingly, a well-paying job results in the ability to afford a safe house but cor relates with an immigrant's legal status.
2. Cultural Differences
Immigrants
Challenges Encountered by Many Irrespective of their situation, many immigrants encounter similar challenges, ranging from mild to extreme conditions. However, the most prevalent include:
Fear of deportation, discrimination, and financial limitations have contributed to immigrants' hesitance in seeking and accessing many free healthcare pro grams. Sometimes, immigrant families forgo needed health care because they fearManydiscrimination.immigrants without relatives in the City sometimes enter the over stretched homeless shelters, which have limited capacity. Unfortunately, the high ly-priced housing leaves many immi grants who are also grappling with limit ed language skills feeling unsafe and unwanted.Inarecent report, a six-month pregnant immigrant from Venezuela reported she was given a place to stay. Still, she could n't find anyone to give her information on how to access medical care for herself and her unborn child.
1. Language Barriers Communicating with others is a signifi cant skill for survival in any new loca tion. Many people can converse in English or Spanish; however, some may have to learn any of these languages. An immigrant's inability to communicate effectively often affects their care experi ence and the quality of informed deci they make.
sion-making
DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga and MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro at press roundtable.
Photo courtesy: DCWP
Case Studies In March 2020, closer to the peak of the pandemic in New York, Yolanda (not real name), a domestic cleaner, went to a pri vate medical facility to seek treatment for COVID-19 with her husband after con tracting COVID and was billed about "There$400. was no help from the govern ment, and we had to keep struggling every single day to survive," Yolanda said. A local nonprofit raised a small amount to help them stay afloat. The same year, Ramos got COVID while working as a server and busser for almost two years at a coffee donut shop. After quarantining for more than four weeks, he approached his employer for a resumption date. Still, he got laid off because business was slow. Thus, he had continued on page 15
Protecting Immigrant Workers/ continued from page 1 their home countries and travel to the City either by choice or without - recent cases of migrants said they were tricked or forced into coming to New York by Texas officials. For such people, life in New York City can seem like a double whammy, espe cially for those without the necessary information about what to do and where to go to seek help! These immigrants will face unique challenges in society across the marketplace and workplace. Yet, they will keep seeking a better life and confront many barriers in the new City.
Commissioner Vera-Mayuga reiterated three points: First, the law protects wages and pays for sick days. Second, respect for employees' work schedules and ade quate notification in fast food restau rants. And lastly, the guarantees and rights for the 'deliveristas' of the food app-based industry, including the start date of their minimum wage from January 2023.
The law applies to most workers with a predictable schedule, such as those in retail, fast food, or utility safety.
•For Fast food workers, the law stipu lates that they should have a regular weekly schedule, employees can be paid extra for schedule changes, and they have the right to work new shifts. In addition, the law protects employees from hour reduction, layoffs, and illegal •Forfiring.Utility Safety and Retail workers, their employers must give them at least 72 hours of advance notice of work schedules. The employer cannot enforce last-minute schedule changes and on-call shifts without adequate notification.
Any domestic household worker, parttime or full-time employees at businesses or nonprofits in NYC, should note their right to almost 56 hours (depending on the size of their employer's operation) of sick and safe leave.
The Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law
Fructuoso Ramos Photo
DCWP
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15
NYC's Delivery Worker's Rights Gig workers, specifically app-based restaurant delivery workers, have rights
no job and wasn't paid any sick leave. A nonprofit organization, Make the Road referred him to New York's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), where he filed a complaint in 2021 about his unpaid sick leave. The Department secured more than $1500 as compensation from his employer a year later as Ramos' unpaid sick leave. Letita (not real name), an undocument ed immigrant, worked as a nail techni cian in a beauty salon that paid her wages late. When she got sick, her employer deducted money from her earnings. She was too scared to fight for her right because of her immigration status for fear of being deported. However, she filed a complaint with DCWP in October 2020. After an investigation, DCWP set tled more than $600 six months later with her employer for the unpaid sick leave. Role of the DCWP, formerly, The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) The division fights for the right of work ers in New York City regardless of their immigration status and the job. At a recent ethnic media briefing, Vilda VeraMayuga, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), said, "We want to be very clear. No matter your immigration status, we are here to fight for your rights."
The period is to take care of yourself or attend to the need of a family member. It now includes an additional 4 hours of sick leave (per child per shot) to get your children vaccinated.
IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS
In some reviewed cases, employers were found not to have adopted, shared, or complied with the City's safe and sick leaveAlthoughpolicies.they were expected to distrib ute and post the Notice of Employee Rights at their various places of business, ensuring that all employees - current and future- become aware of their rights to safe and sick leave. According to the DCWP, all workers, especially immigrant workers, must be aware of some of these laws, which formed the basis of a press meeting.
Protecting Immigrant Workers/ continued from page 14 regardless of their immigration status. These include the right to a free insu lated food delivery bag after six deliver ies. They are also entitled to more control over their choice of deliveries, advanced notice of delivery details, and better access to restaurant bathrooms when they pick up orders. The law also permits getting more information on payment, the right to be paid at least once a week, and the City's minimum pay rate starting from the first of January 2023. Overall, they have a right to fair pay, and saferDueroutestothe effort of the Department in collaboration with various local and community-based nonprofits, workers' rights, including the rights of immigrant workers, are upheld and protected. Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), who also participated in the press briefing, spoke about the impor tance of protecting all immigrants from fraud and violation of their rights as workers.Commissioner Castro explained, "Mayor Eric Adams' administration is working with all agencies to protect immigrants, to inform them of their rights, and provide service." He also advised immigrants, "It doesn't matter if you receive your wages in check or cash; always document your work hours and seek help." To make a complaint, call 311, or search for nyc.gov/DCWP.l courtesy:
NY City's Fair Workweek Law
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro Editorial credit: Gabriel Leonardo Guerrero Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez Mina Editorial credit: Arturo Larrahondo
The recent election of Colombia’s first left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, and first black vice-presi dent, Francia Márquez, creates a new opening to revitalize ties with Africa. Colombia is often overlooked as a nation of interest because of its reputa tion for violence. Its negative standing results mainly from the decades-long armed conflict between previous govern ments and the Marxist-Leninist group FARC. The conflict has been linked to the production and export of illicit drugs. It ended with the signing of a peace agreement in 2016. Despite such a reputation, the country is an important regional economic hub. In 2021, its GDP was US$315 billion, the third largest in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. The International Monetary Fund predicts that the coun try’s economy will grow at 5.8% in 2022. The election of Petro and Márquez pro vides three opportunities for stronger Africa-Colombia relations that can yield mutual benefits. These are Colombia’s cultural and historical ties with Africa, strong trade potential and south-south cooperation. Three opportunities Colombia’s strong African roots Márquez is Colombia’s first black woman vice-president. Her election could enhance Afro-Colombians’ con sciousness of their African ancestry. It’s also an opportunity to diversify Colombia’s foreign policy, by strength ening cultural connections with African nations.The Afro-Colombian community includes 4.7 million people, around 10% of Colombia’s population of 51 million. They are the descendants of Africans who came to Colombia during the transatlantic slave trade. Unlocking the trade potential Colombia lags considerably behind coun tries like Brazil in trade and political ties with Africa. Colombia and African nations can better explore and exploit their comparative advantages in goods andTheirservices.trade volumes are still low, show ing a significant opportunity for new commercial relations. In 2021, Colombia imported around $150 million in goods and services from Africa, only 0.25% of its total imports. Its exports to Africa were around $400 million, only 0.98% of its exports. No African country features among Colombia’s top 30 trading part ners.In his inaugural speech, Petro said Colombia would seek to build stronger economic alliances with African coun tries. Colombia’s focus on energy, min ing and agrifood means that African countries have much to gain from part nerships with it. Visa systems on both sides need to be relaxed. South Africa, for example, does not have an embassy in Bogotá. Its diplo matic relations with Colombia are led by its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. The countries have had a healthy relationship since 1994, but it has often faced difficul ties in getting visas. Another challenge is related to connec tivity between South America and Africa. In the past, most flights between Africa and South America went through São Paulo, Brazil. The COVID pandemic reduced the number of flights. By 2022, the only connections between South America and Africa were via Angola or Ethiopia. Avianca, Colombia’s national airline, could provide a new route to help improve connectivity. Promoting south-south cooperation During the election campaign and her activist history, Márquez often used the African idea of ubuntu (humanness) to promote interdependence within (and between)Colombiasocieties.couldalso look to Africa for lessons, share experiences and identify opportunities to deal with land use and distribution. Márquez has presented views that show the importance of deal ing with land issues in a way that empowers poor people. Technical cooperation programs can be essential in realising the potential bene fits of interdependence. For instance, Colombia has a long experience in devel oping public transport systems. These have become essential for social integra tion and environmental sustainability. Cities like Medellín have already become an example of how to provide efficient public transport for poor urban neighborhoods.Colombia’s Agency of International Cooperation has already signed a frame work agreement with the African Union Development Agency to bolster technical assistance in Africa. Looking forward African countries should seek further interactions with the global south to increase their voice and agency in pursuit of a fairer international order. For instance, agriculture, food security and climate change are important areas where Colombia and the African conti nent could jointly influence global dis cussions that directly affect the develop ingColombia’sworld. chargé d’affaires to South Africa, Jose Ignacio Julião Alí, told me the new moment, “marks an opportunity to close gaps between emerging coun tries with similar challenges, in terms of social cohesion and reconciliation, cli mate and environmental focus as part of megadiverse regions.” The world’s economic relationships are shifting and new powers such as China, Brazil and India are rising. Petro’s and Márquez’s election offers a chance to deepen Africa-Colombia relations and cooperation.l Gustavo de Carvalho is a Research Fellow at Institute for Global African Affairs, University of Johannesburg Read more stories www.theimmigrantsjournal.comat
Colombia’s New Left-wing Government: Three Opportunities to Build Stronger Ties with Africa
CONVERSATION
BY GUSTAVO DE CARVALHO THE
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How to Register
Marital Status
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We have the option to leave behind more than our personal assets upon death. In fact, you could actually give new life to others through the donation of healthy organs or tissue. This provides an opportunity to broaden your legacy beyond your family and immediate friends, potentially impacting the health and happiness of a host of thankful strangers.
Ask for Advice
Financial Situation
Wills
The process couldn’t be any easier. From home, visit the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration website and fill out a simple form. If you’d prefer to go through this process in person, repre sentatives are available at any local Department of Motor Vehicles. l
Adding a ‘P.S.’ If you’re only adding a small change after the will has been competed, you may choose to make what’s called a codicil — basically a legal “P.S.” to your will. An extra page is written, signed and wit nessed, just as your original will was, then attached. After death, both docu ments are to be read and followed. More important chances should involve an entirely new will.
If you endure an economic downturn, it may be necessary to pay out less to your beneficiaries to make sure that the estate’s other obligations are still met in your absence. On the other hand, if you expe rience a notable financial uptick, you may want to increase the benefit for those you leave behind — or maybe even add a new beneficiary.
Tax Laws Work directly with a professional estate planner when crafting this document, since they will have the most up-to-date information on your will’s tax implica tions. But be aware that these laws change, and sometimes your final docu ment has to be updated in order to remain in the appropriate legal standing. A legal representative should make periodic reviews of your will, with an eye toward updating things like estate-tax issues.
Updating Your Will
A will is your ironclad way to disperse your assets to loved ones as you wish. Don’t be afraid to ask your legal expert for advice on other moments that may benefit your last will and testament. Remember, this document is incredibly important to keep accurate as it articulates your vision and solidifies your legacy.l
Giving New toLifeOthers
are designed to be ironclad documents that set forth how you want assets dispersed to loved ones. They take the guesswork — or, in some sad cases, the arguments — out of a criti cal moment in this very emotional process. But they’re not ironclad at all. In fact, there are several instances in which you should go back and update this docu ment so that it doesn’t end up creating the very end-of-life problems you’re trying to avoid.
If you get married after executing a will, you’ll need to add your new spouse as a beneficiary. Most states allow a spouse to receive their portion of an estate, even if a will is not in place. But securing that benefit can be a lengthy and difficult process. Obviously, your will might also be changed if you get a divorce, since your spouse would typically no longer be a beneficiary. Spouses are also generally named as guardians for minor children and estate executors in wills, so those designations may also need to be updated when a marriage ends.
• Withdrawing from social and religious groups and losing interest in previously loved activities.
• Inability to drive, work, cook, or per form other everyday tasks.
If you notice the above in your loved sen ior, encourage them to consult a doctor for a thorough examination and treat Inment.addition to consulting the doctor, encourage your loved senior to do the following to deal with forgetfulness:
COVID was tough on older New Yorkers. But you can now get back to doing the things you love by protecting yourself.
Latinos also tend to develop symptoms at a younger age than non-Latino whites. In an abstract by scholars on PubMed.gov, immigrants have a higher prevalence and risk of dementia, includ ing undiagnosed dementia. Older immi grants face unique obstacles regarding their cognitive health, including lan guage barriers, economic constraints, depressive symptoms, social isolation, low acculturation to the U.S., stigma related to dementia, and a lack of educa tion about dementia.
• Having problems making decisions.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that by 2060 the number of Latinos aged 65 and older is expected to nearly quadruple, and Latinos will face the most significant increase in Alzheimer's disease and relat ed dementias cases of any racial/ethnic group in the United States. Because aging is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's, that means more Latinos with the disease in the years ahead— about 3.5 million in the United States by 2060.Beyond age, certain factors may put some Latinos at increased risk, including low socioeconomic status, lots of cardio vascular diseases, and a higher preva lence of conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and depression.
“Walking around the city I love is what I missed most during COVID.”
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As your loved senior advances in age, you may notice increased forgetfulness. Although it's not only the elderly who forget where they kept their glasses or keys, you might observe that forgetful ness is becoming more frequent in your loved senior. Should you worry? Only if your loved one exhibits the following:
• Getting lost in familiar surroundings.
• Neglecting personal hygiene and even forgetting to eat.
Is It Just Forgetfulness or Dementia?
• Asking the same question again and •again.Wandering aimlessly.
• Showing signs of confusion about peo ple, time, and places.
• Getting sidetracked when reading or holding a conversation.
• Undergoing personality changes. Watch out if your loved senior becomes suspi cious of people, anxious, or fearful with out justifiable reason.
• Use a diary, make to-do lists, or utilize
•reminders.Havea designated place for keeping their eyeglasses, keys, wallet, and other small items they use daily.
• Get involved in social activities. Please encourage them to spend time with fam ily and friends.
• Volunteer in their place of worship, community center, school, or wherever volunteers are needed.
• Do a form of physical exercise daily. Encourage your loved senior to remain physically active for as long as possible.
Get vaccinated and stay up to date with your booster shots.
• Exercise their mind by learning a new skill, reading, knitting, doing puzzles, and other activities that challenge the •mind.Eata healthy, balanced diet.
• Sleep for seven to eight hours every day.
According to the National Institute of Aging, most people are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as they age. For Latinos—the fastest-growing group of older adults in the United States—some risk factors seem to matter more than others.
BY CHRIS TOBIAS continued 21
on page
Denying and Gas-Lighting Abusers often deny promises they made or events that happened, including abuse, which can make you question your mem ory and sanity. It is manipulative and maddening. They often combine contra diction with victim-blaming, which only increases the damage.
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l BY MARY
Domestic abuse is unfortunately widespread. Over 3 million cases are reported each year in the US alone, with millions more sus pected of going unreported, or even unnoticed. Verbal abuse is the most com mon form of maltreatment, but it also one of the least recognized because it is insidious and subtle. While lying, blam ing, threatening, judging, criticizing, name-calling, ordering, and raging are easy to identify, there are other, less overt, forms that are more difficult to recognize, but still just as damaging.
Don’t put up with ABUSE anymore! Whether married or not, whether your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Green Card Holder, we can get a Green Card for you and your children PLUS a divorce. Call 855-768-8845 now for a consultation! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
GREEN CARD SLAVERY?
5 Subtle Signs of Emotional Abuse You Might Be Missing
iors, even if it is just occasionally, then make sure that you and your family are safe, and then seek further advice from a counselor.
Discounting and Belittling With this form of verbal abuse, the abus er makes you feel like your opinions are worthless or wrong. This scorn causes you to shut down, question your stance, or even your self-worth.
Blocking Blocking is a diversion tactic. The abuser switches topics or blames you to divert your attention from your concerns, often leaving you feeling disoriented and betrayed. Often the words used here can be summed up by the phrase "Shut up!"
Legal Assistance Any victim of domestic violence — regardless of immigration or citizenship status — can seek help. An immigrant victim of domestic violence may also be eligible for immigration-related protec tions. If you are experiencing domestic violence in your home, you are not alone. A specialized immigration attorney should always be your first point of con tact regarding immigration questions and concerns. You can also listen to Ask the Lawyer Radio Program on WVIP 93.5FM on Thursdays, 10pm-11pm, and Sundays, 11pm to 12am. The program provides excellent information and an opportunity for a confidential, legal con sultation. The number to call is 855-7688845. You can also visit www.ask thelawyer.usDomestic violence is against the law regardless of one’s immigration status. Be a loving family member, good friend, and caring neighbor: please share this information CAMPBELL
Get Help Abuse in any form is damaging. Many of the above behaviors start slowly and progress over time, so the victim doesn't realize how unlivable their situation is until the abuse reaches a dangerous (and often violent) point. If you, or a loved one, recognize any of the above behav
Interrupting and Undermining Finishing one another's sentences is often seen as a romantic sentiment, but when an abuser does it, it's to cut you down or to presume to know your feelings or statements. When abuser repeatedly uses this tactic, it can leave you feeling frus trated and questioning your self-worth. Most of the time, this tactic takes the form of interrupting aggressively or turn ing your own words (presumed or stated) against you. Opposing Instead of treating you as a partner or an equal, the abuser treats you as an adver sary, turning your own words against you as if they were ammunition. Often, your beliefs, perceptions, opinions, or morals will be questioned or attacked, making positive and constructive conversation impossible. When you give up out of frustration, the abuser will insist that he or she "won" the argument, as if your concerns were part of a competition.
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When you stand in front of your friends and family members on your wedding day, you never suspect that divorce could be in your future. When the relationship that you worked so hard on fails, it's com pletely normal to feel devastated, angry, or betrayed. Once your divorce is final ized, however, you might find that you want to start dating again. Whether you've been divorced for a few months or a few years, it's possible to jump into the world of dating and to find a success ful new relationship with someone who understands what you have gone through.Firstoff, don't be afraid to date your friends. One of the biggest problems that many new divorcees have when dating is that opening up to a new person can be scary. If you have single friends, you might choose to pursue a relationship with one of them. This is perfectly fine. Dating a long-time friend or colleague can offer a rewarding way to jump into dating since you'll already have a solid friendship to fall back on if you decide that the relationship isn't working. When you do start to date, don't be afraid to take your time. You don't need to jump into long vacations together or an intense physical relationship. While some individuals feel ready to get seri ous with a new partner, others need more time. There is no wrong way to date after a divorce, so make choices you're com fortable with. If your new partner wants you to give her a key to your place, for example, you don't need to if you aren't ready yet. Instead, be open and honest about where you stand in the relation
After the Divorce: How to Start Dating Again
Forgetfulness or Dementia? continued from page 19
• Drink alcohol in moderation or avoid it •altogether.Haveregular medical check-ups and control their blood pressure, blood sugar, and other vitals.
• Get help for depression. However, don't be unduly worried when your loved senior cannot remember a neighbor's name. This is regarded as normal lapses in memory, especially as people age, and it could even happen to you. Your loved senior may occasionally refer to you using your brother's or sis ter's name before they realize what they've done and call you by your correct name.Another common lapse in memory you may observe in your loved senior is entering a room to get something and for getting why they are there. They then must retrace their steps and focus on the task. This is not a sign of dementia. Final thoughts People, young and old, do forget things sometimes. However, if your loved sen ior exhibits a change in personality, harmful forgetfulness, a tendency to iso late themselves, and an inability to per form everyday tasks, then it's time to consult a doctor to assess them. Then you can take remedial measures if needed.l
It'sship.also a good idea to be open about the fact that you're divorced without bring ing the topic up constantly. There is a huge difference between letting your new partner know that you were married for 20 years and constantly sharing memories of your ex-spouse. While your new partner should know that you are divorced, you shouldn't do anything that will make him feel like he is being com pared to your former partner.? Finally, understand that your dating life can be difficult for your friends and chil dren to deal with. Especially if your friends were close to both you and your partner, they may find the idea of you dating someone new to be strange or uncomfortable. Make sure that you intro duce them to your new boyfriend early on so that they can get to know him. This will also help them to feel involved in your life.l BY 311DIVORCE.COM
l BY WALTER EWING
There is nothing new about CBP offi cers (including Border Patrol agents) tak ing and never returning the personal pos sessions of individuals in their custody— including religious head coverings. However, in recent months, as more Sikh individuals come to the southern border to request asylum, Border Patrol agents in Arizona have reportedly been targeting Sikh turbans.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.THEIMMIGRANTSJOURNAL.COM FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES WELCOME TO AMERICA 22 Border Patrol agents in Arizona have been confiscating and not returning the turbans worn by Sikh asylum seekers as part of their reli gion.Immigrant advocates and members of Congress have pointed out that this prac tice is discriminatory and violates federal law, as well as the policies of the Border Patrol’s parent agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It is particular ly egregious that Sikhs—many of whom come to the United States to escape reli gious persecution in India—face reli gious discrimination by the Border Patrol when they get here.
On August 1, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona sent a letter describing these incidents to CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus. In the let ter, the ACLU says that the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Arizona had documented nearly 50 cases during June and July in which Border Patrol agents in Yuma seized the turbans of Sikhs who were requesting asylum. The ACLU argues that this violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and CBP’s non-discrimination policy. In addition, the ACLU notes that immigrant advo cates have repeatedly raised this issue with officials at CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since at least March 2019. In response to the ACLU letter, CBP Commissioner Magnus said on August 3 that the agency had opened an internal investigation into the matter. Magnus also stated that “our expectation is that CBP employees treat all migrants we encounter with respect.” However, the confiscation of turbans from Sikh asylum seekers continues. According to the ACLU of Arizona and the Sikh Coalition, as of August 17 at least 12 new incidents had occurred that month alone.
Sikh Asylum Seekers in Arizona Face Religious Discrimination by the Border Patrol against Sikhs by the Border Patrol. According to the letter, the Border Patrol is not only seizing and then throwing away turbans in both Yuma and Tucson, but also denying vegetarian meals to Sikhs in Tucson. Some Sikhs—who are vegetarians— have “reportedly been ordered to eat meat or starve.” Asylum seekers fleeing religious perse cution should not be subjected to reli gious discrimination by Border Patrol agents when they arrive in this country. Freedom of religion is one of the found ing principles of the United States. It should be a central policy of the Border Patrol as well.
Representatives Raúl Grijalva (Arizona), Joaquin Castro (Texas), and Judy Chu (California) sent a letter to CBP Commissioner Magnus on August 17 asking what measures CBP had taken to ensure that Border Patrol agents “are not confiscating and/or discarding religious items, including turbans, at all border entries.” The letter asked Commissioner Magnus to respond by September 6. On August 22, the ACLU, the Sikh Coalition, and 162 other organizations sent a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas denouncing these and other instances of religious discrimination
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