New Biden Administration Policies Offer Crucial Protections for Immigrant Youth

Old & New Immigrants: Their Rights New Biden Administration Policies Offer Crucial Protections for Immigrant Youth

BY GIANNA BORROTO

The government made two important announcements on March 7th affecting immigrant children who have been abused, abandoned, and neglected. The first is a new policy that offers work permits and deportation protection to children with approved Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitions. The second is a long-anticipated SIJS regulation, clarifying eligibility requirements for youth seeking protection. SIJS is a form of immigration relief available to children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both of their parents. Applying for SIJS is a complex process that usually involves multiple courts and various applications. To apply for SIJS, a young person must first petition a state court to make specific findings about whether they have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. After obtaining an order from the state court, the child submits their SIJS application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). SIJS-eligible children who successfully navigate this multi-pronged process, however, are not immediately granted permanent immigration status in the United States. They then must apply for a green card after USCIS approves their petition for SIJS. A significant visa backlog–particularly for youth from Mexico and Central America’s Northern Triangle– also causes thousands of young people to be in limbo without the ability to achieve permanency in the United States, or even work lawfully. USCIS’s new deferred action policy for SIJS youth finally offers some peace of mind to young people with long-delayed applications. Deferred action is a form of prosecutorial discretion that protects recipients from deportation. The agency’s announcement states that it will begin automatically assessing approved SIJS cases for deferred action on May 6 and that no additional application is required. Importantly, deferred action will make these children and young adults eligible for work permits as they continue awaiting their green cards. The second recent SIJS-related announcement was the issuance of a new regulation, which goes into effect on April 7th. The new rule governs how USCIS will adjudicate SIJS petitions and clarifies eligibility standards. This is the first time SIJS regulations have been promulgated since the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 introduced significant changes to the program Though new SIJS regulations were proposed in 2011, advo-

Editorial credit: Joseph Sorrentino / Shutterstock.com cates argued that the regulations largely conflicted with the statute and they were not finalized. The Trump administration later reopened the comment period for these regulations in 2019, raising renewed concern among advocacy groups who feared that the administration was taking another step to whittle down protections for immigrant children. The final rule makes several improvements. It includes ageout protections for youth who submit their SIJS petition before turning 21. It also clarifies that applicants remain eligible for SIJS even if their state court order terminates after they reach the age of majority in their state or achieve other permanency. Additionally, the rule prohibits the government from requiring the child to contact their abuser or the abuser’s family as part of the continued on page 26

CDC: Most Americans Have COVID-19 Antibodies

BY CAROLYN CRIST WEBMD NEWS BRIEF

About 95% of Americans ages 16 and older have coronavirus antibodies, according to CDC data from testing blood donor samples. The percentage includes antibodies formed from both vaccinations and COVID-19 infections, with nearly 70% of people ages 16 and up having received at least one vaccine dose, the data shows. The seroprevalence — or evidence of antibodies in the blood — differs slightly by age, at about 94% in ages 1629, increasing to 96% in ages 65 and older. That may be one reason why public health officials have said BA.2, the contagious Omicron subvariant, could lead to an uptick in cases in the U.S. but not a significant surge, according to CNBC. At the same time, antibodies don’t always indicate whether a surge will happen, the news outlet reported. In June 2021, before the Delta variant became dominant in the U.S., about 87% of Americans had antibodies, the CDC data shows. The BA.2 variant has also led to surges in countries across Europe, which tend to have higher vaccination rates than the U.S. The Omicron subvariant is now the dominant COVID-19 strain in the U.S., according to new CDC data, accounting for nearly 55% of new coronavirus infections that have been sequenced. As public health experts have tracked the effects of antibodies on coronavirus reinfection, they’ve noted a difference between people who have antibodies from vaccines and those who have them from being infected before. Antibodies from vaccination tend to decline about 4 to 6 months after a shot, CNBC reported. The data about antibodies from an earlier infection is uncertain, with protection lasting from a few months to more than a year after infection. Even then, about one-third of people who contract COVID19 may not develop antibodies at all, according to a CDC study published in September 2021. So far, unvaccinated people appear to be more than twice as likely to have a reinfection, as compared with those who were vaccinated after having COVID-19, CNBC reported. Antibody protection likely also differs by variant, with those who recovered from an Omicron infection having better protection against the BA.2 subvariant. In addition, scientists have noted the differences among various types of antibodies. Neutralizing antibodies bind to the virus and stop infection, but non-neutralizing antibodies function more “like a GPS,” Hannah Newman, the director of infection prevention at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told CNBC. These antibodies “serve as a locator, indicating to other parts of the immune system that there is a problem,” she said. The current 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases is hovering around 30,000, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. The rapid decline in COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant surge has slowed, but numbers haven’t begun to rise again. For now, public health officials are suggesting caution as they watch the data. “Because people want to believe the pandemic is over, they let down their guard and behave less carefully,” John Moore, PhD, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Cornell University, told CNBC. Americans should work to be aware of their risk and make decisions based on their circumstances, he noted. In reality, no one can say for sure what will happen in coming weeks.p

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).

Love, Health & Travel Think About Romance Differently to Put the Spark Back into Your Relationship

BY SARAH HIGHLAND

Everyone knows that you get your relationship back on track by getting each other chocolates and flowers and engaging in a steamy physical encounter with all new sexual positions, right? Wrong! There are many other ways to show your significant other, no matter how long you have been together, that you still know how to bring the romance. You don't have to spend a lot of money or re-enact the Kama Sutra. Try putting the spark back in your love affair with these few simple suggestions.

Don't wait for holidays or special occasions A lot of the problems with holidays, days off, and anniversaries are the pressure they involve. The easiest way to take this pressure off you and these "high expectation" days is to pay attention to your relationship on regular days as well. Look for little ways to make ordinary days extraordinary. Does your partner hate cooking? Suggest getting take-out on a weekday night when you're both worn out. Do they like cooking, but just want a night off from childcare? Find a way to drop the kids off at a sitters or family member's house and enjoy a quiet night or weekend afternoon in. Making someone's day can be as small as making a real effort to communicate with them. Ask how your partner's day went. Tell them you love them. When they speak, listen. Don't feel you have to jump on every story to solve the other person's "problem." Sometimes real intimacy in a relationship develops when a person knows they can talk to their significant other about anything, and that person will always listen.

Leave room to be pleasantly surprised Part of the joy in a long-term relationship comes from knowing each others' preferences and tastes. Of course, this can also become one of a relationship's drawbacks. Romance dies when we start to think we know every last thing about our partner. Even though you most likely do know your lover's dietary preferences, working styles, opinions, and most other things, every now and then, ask new questions. Plan a new meal or type of outing, or pick a different type of movie or TV series to stream than usual. Ask your spouse what they think about any of these changes. People can and do change, at least in myriad small ways, and engaging in shared flexibility to try something new can help you forge new bonds together. Your partner or spouse might well surprise you, and you might see them in a new light, which can often rekindle the spark you had when you first met. Do something for yourself Everyone, by now, understands that good "self-care" is not going to heal the world or solve all our problems. However, if you do something for yourself that can make you feel healthier, more creative, more invested in the world around you, more alive, that burst of enthusiasm will show, and your partner will respond to it.

It's so tempting, in one's longterm relationship, to simply value "comfortable" above all else. But sometimes in pushing ourselves to learn something new or to develop a better health habit, we can actually bring about physiological improvements. When we feel better in our bodies and minds, we feel good about ourselves. And when we feel good about ourselves, it's easier to offer ourselves both emotionally

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Three Easy and Effective Ways to Increase Your Confidence

BY MARY CAMPBELL

Most people can benefit from self-confidence. Whether your self-esteem is often low or your confidence occasionally dips, develop a self-assured mindset, and you'll feel empowered. These tips will help to increase your confidence and self-esteem.

Outdoor exercise People sometimes take Mother Nature's mood-boosting power for granted. She hums along in the background of your life, though as birdsong, trees, and the open blue sky. Nature's wonders can increase your confidence because they give you a break from the hustle and bustle of life. In the gentle atmosphere of sunshine and the wind through tall grasses, you'll find stillness in which to ease troubles and discover inner strength. Walk in the countryside and let go of problems. Feel-good chemicals will flood your system, reminding you that you are part of nature's perfection. Research shows time amid green spaces can change your self-perception, boost your immunity, and help you stay fit and healthy. As stress eases, your self-confidence will rise. You are likely to meet other walkers, too, and reap the benefits of connecting with your community. Studies reveal social interaction and a sense of belonging boosts self-esteem.

Carry out heart breathing Connect with your heart, and, according to the Heartmath Institute, confidence, peace, and joy will arise. Focus on your heart area and picture your breath moving in and out of your heart. Take three long breaths. Then continue breathing as you imagine somewhere beautiful or visualize someone you love. Imagine surrounding the chosen person or place with your heart energy as you continue to inhale and exhale at a slow pace. Let compassion wash over you as you focus on the image. You'll soon feel peaceful and in control. Practice several times a day, and your confidence, inner security, and wellbeing will grow. Heart breathing will increase self-acceptance and help you steer your emotions.

Practice kindness A terrific way to boost selfkindness is to be kind to other people. When you are benevolent, you enhance happy hormones and reap the rewards. Likewise, being compassionate toward people can increase self-compassion. Many people find it hard to love themselves. Generating love and kindness for others, though, can stimulate self-love. While happy chemicals stream, it gets easier to quieten critical self-talk and develop a kind inner voice that supports confidence. Nature, heart breathing, and boosting kindness in your life can change your self-perception and increase your confidence. At the same time, you'll benefit from enhanced health and wellbeing when you adopt these self-care practices.p

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Put the Spark Back/ continued from page 25 and physically to others.

Don't get creative in the bedroom Wait, did you read that right? The first way that couples often try to spice up their romantic life is to do everything differently in their sex life. This thought is bolstered by constant media and online headlines screaming "Your Best Sex Life Now: New Tips and Tricks!" (and similar titles). When couples look around in the culture, it's easy to become convinced that absolutely everyone else has more and better sex (of all kinds) than they do. It's not true. Frantic scramblings simply to do something "new" in an intimate relationship do not make for relaxed and fun physical encounters. To be clear: novelty can be a lot of fun in one's sexual encounters. But make sure that when you do try something new, it's at times when you're relaxed, have time, and both of you are ready and willing to explore different techniques. It can be very important simply to give each other permission to do the things that feel good for everybody, every time. Ask for what you want, and ask your partner what they want. Knowledge, reliability and guaranteed good times can be the best features of a long-term relationship. With good communication and loving attention to the small details, partners can find ways to keep the spark of love alive in their relationships for years to come. p

application process. These changes to SIJS, particularly new protections against deportation and work permits for SIJS youth, provide muchneeded assistance to this vulnerable population of young people. The Biden administration and Congress should not stop there though. Additional reforms, such as exempting SIJS youth from visa caps, are needed to offer permanent protection to these young people who, despite these recent reforms, continue to languish in the visa backlog.p

Crucial Protections for Immigrant Youth/ continued from page 23