Immigration Archives | Patriot NOT Partisan

Who is My Neighbor in the Era of Caged Children?

July 19, 2019 Civil Rights, Immigration

I periodically get asked if I have a favorite verse in Scripture. A few do come to mind, including: Micah 6:8, II Corinthians 12:9, John 14:27, Hosea 6:6, Romans 12:21, and Romans 15:13. The reality, though, is that “favorite verses” are like favorite movie quotes. They’re great lines, but they don’t express why I love the work as a whole.

Chicago

January 19, 2019 General Commentary, Immigration

I was raised on the Southside of Chicago - 79th and Hermitage to be exact, in a community called Auburn Gresham. Over the weekend of August 3rd, 2018, 74 people were shot in Chicago. Two weeks later, 58 more. Many of these victims were shot in my old neighborhood. This great city is the victim of many social injustices. It

Immigration

December 31, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

The United States President continues to persist on having his wall, even if it cost the taxpayers 5 billion dollars. Many inhumane incidents have been happening south of the border since Trump presidency began, for example separating children from families and locking them up in cages. Border agents throwing tear gas at families with kids, and the last incident a

National Rolling Hunger Strike for Family Reunification Kicks Off in Oakland, CA

July 31, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

After Trump Administration Fails to Meet Deadline, Moms and Allies Begin Wave of Fasts Demanding Justice for Migrant Families Oakland — After the government failed to meet a court-ordered deadline to reunite immigrant families Thursday, Bay Area parents and grandparents began a three-day hunger strike—the first in a series of fasts across the country calling for separated parents and children

SHATTERED RAINBOWS

July 17, 2018 Immigration, international

Some of my most salient memories from my childhood are of time spent with close family friends. In this family, there are four daughters; the two eldest are close in age with me, and the two youngest are close in age with my sister, so throughout our lives, the six of us have always greatly enjoyed each other's company. In

Trauma at the Border

June 27, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration, international

The Trump administration’s cruel immigration policy has created a humanitarian crisis at our border. Trauma at the Border, a new short video by Brave New Films, exposes the emotional, psychological and physical damage that can be done when children are imprisoned – even with their families. Childhood trauma, like imprisonment and family separation, provokes long-lasting implications caused by high levels

Immigrant Prisons

June 23, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

Immigrant Prisons Few Americans know about our nation's system of immigrant detention centers. Each year, the U.S. government locks up roughly 440,000 immigrants in over 200 immigrant prisons. Companies like the CCA and Geo Group, got started in the 1980s, and have since made over $12 billion in profits, largely from immigrant detention. These facilities have grown into a highly

I’m Done

June 18, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

I’m done. I have spent the last week debating the morality of placing children or anyone for that matter in warehouses and tent camps. I’m done appealing to the better nature of people who approve of such behavior from our government. It has mattered little to them that these are people acting in desperation. It matters little to point out

The Muslim Ban Will Likely Be Upheld – Here’s What Must Be Done

April 30, 2018 Immigration

The Muslim Ban (known also as the travel ban) will likely be upheld, at least in substantial part. Full disclosure: I've been pessimistic about the case since early on. There are legal doctrines and precedent that give a decisive advantage to the government in matters relating to exclusion of foreign nationals. One: plenary power over immigration, and two, deference in

Trump Administration Deals Another Cruel Blow to Immigrants with Termination of TPS for Nepalese Community

April 27, 2018 Immigration

Trump is systematically disappearing millions of people of color — all people of conscience must rise up and resist! Washington, D.C. - Today, the Trump administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 9,000 Nepalese immigrants living and working in the United States. The Nepalese community joins Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador as the latest target in

Yet Another Court Says Trump’s Killing of DACA is Unlawful

April 26, 2018 Immigration

Ruling does not allow for any new DACA applicants but those who have had DACA already can renew their applications now. Washington, DC – Yesterday, a Federal district court judge said that Trump’s decision to kill DACA was unlawful and ordered Trump to justify why he did it within 90 days. The decision orders the government to accept new applications

5 financial moves DREAMers should make now

April 24, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

If you’re a DREAMer, you face a difficult financial situation. In February 2018, the Supreme Court declined to hear the Trump Administration’s appeal challenging the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals program — better known as DACA. And in March, Congress failed to develop a permanent solution to protect DREAMers from deportation. With the future of DACA still uncertain, many dreamers

Immigrants Are the New Negros

April 4, 2018 Civil Rights, General Commentary, Immigration

Immigrants are the backbone of our country. This country was literally built on the backs of African slaves. Slaves built railroads, presidential estates, Wall Street, the White House, and everything in between. I will make a distinction early on in this article, though: slaves were not immigrants. I am merely mentioning the work that the “Negro” did in America right

Immigrant Stories: Doctors and Nurses

April 2, 2018 Elections, General Commentary, Healthcare, Immigration, international

Keep Hospitals Safe From ICE Since Trump has taken office, the Department of Homeland of Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have aggressively targeted undocumented immigrants. With increasing reports of ICE roundups and arrests near and inside hospitals, more and more undocumented immigrants must choose between remaining with their families or risking deportation for medical care -

TPS Holders and Their Children File Lawsuit Against Trump Administration

March 12, 2018 Civil Rights, General Commentary, Immigration

200,000 People Could Be Forced Out of the Country by Trump Action SAN FRANCISCO - Nine people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and five United States citizen children of TPS holders today filed a lawsuit against the federal government to stop the unlawful termination of TPS for more than 200,000 people living in the U.S. and to protect the tens

Jeff Sessions Is Rewriting The Immigration Law…By Himself

March 9, 2018 Immigration

War is deception, wrote Sun Tzu in The Art of War, and the general who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth. The word "war" is perhaps overused in modern parlance. We are conditioned to think of war on ideas and things (terror, drugs) rather than people. But that doesn't mean the analogy doesn't

Suffering in Silence: Sexual Abuse in Immigrant Detention Centers – Support Laura Monterrosa

February 21, 2018 #MeToo, Civil Rights, Immigration

#LauraMonterrosa spoke out about sexual abuse and ICE put her in solitary confinement to cover up what happened. Take action right now by signing the petition and making a call! #EndDetention #MeToo #EllaHabla SIGN THE PETITION NOW On Wednesday, Feb. 14, a group of about 50 people gathered outside the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas, to protest

Why Can’t They Come Legally?

February 20, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

One of the oft-heard retorts in the current debate over the fate of Dreamers - immigrants brought to the United States at a young age - is "why don't they come legally?" Those who are unfamiliar with the immigration system frequently presume that Dreamers are simply lazy and never bothered to file for citizenship. Of course, they could not be

More Than My DACA Status As Shared with Hassan Ahmad, Esq.

February 20, 2018 General Commentary, Immigration

In response to a Twitter thread on the hurdles placed in the way of Dreamers and other immigrants seeking to get right with the law, I received this story from someone who didn't make the cut for DACA. Legal hurdles are no stranger to her - but as she says so eloquently, she is more than her status - HMA I’m 22

Foul Language

February 11, 2018 Civil Rights, Elections, General Commentary, Immigration, Russia

"The New York Times recently released a list of all people, places, and things that President Donald Trump insulted in the last year over Twitter. The list consists of 425 people, places, and things. The lists includes names like Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, and Steven Bannon. Even most mainstream news networks, such as ABC, CNN, and the New York Times - all

#FreeSyedJamal

February 10, 2018 Immigration

Meet Syed Ahmed Jamal, a 55-year-old chemistry instructor from Bangladesh. He has been residing in the Kansas City, MO area for over 30 years, originally coming to America on a student visa. Jamal obtained graduate degrees in molecular sciences and pharmaceutical engineering. At that point he was issued an H1-B visa for highly skilled workers. Entering a doctoral program, he

Nearly 100 Arrested and Over 700 Rally for the Dream Act

February 7, 2018 Elections, General Commentary, Immigration

Nearly 100 Arrested and Over 700 Rally for the Dream Act Progressive Leaders from the Healthcare, Labor and Women’s Rights Movement Join Immigrant Youth; Call on Congress to Reject Trump Deportation Plan and to Pass Dream Act Now Washington, D.C. - Today, the National Day of Action for the Dream Act brought together hundreds of progressive allies from the healthcare, labor,

Four Immigrants: Two Trumps, Two “Shithole” Nationals

January 25, 2018 Immigration

Donald Trump steamrolled into office on a platform of anti-immigrant nationalism. He’s largely held to that nationalism as President – at least for immigrants from his self-identified “shithole countries.” However, he has also married two immigrants who have gone on to live lives of luxury and wealth with no fear of deportation. The difference? They are Caucasians from Europe. Amer

#SchumerShutdown

January 23, 2018 Economic Issues, General Commentary, Immigration

#SchumerShutdown - the hashtag that GOP leaders are using to accuse Democrats of causing the shutdown became the trending hashtag. As the hashtag continues to boom, republicans are gaining a boost in efforts to blame Democrats. We should move forward with consideration for solution and compromise, not pointing fingers to blame. Contributing Editor: Jamie Domnick Twitter: @JNick9456 Instagram:JNick9456 Currently a

What you need to know about the partial DACA reinstatement:

January 16, 2018 Civil Rights, General Commentary, Immigration

DACA was shut down on September 5, 2017, and USCIS has not accepted any renewal applications since October 5, 2017. On January 9, 2018 a federal judge ordered USCIS to resume accepting DACA renewal applications. WHO CAN FILE Any person who meets all the DACA requirements, and has held DACA at some point in the past may now prepare a

I am A refugee

January 16, 2018 Immigration

INTRODUCTION The global refugee migration is at a record high. I wrote this poem in response to the global refugee politics that is often harsh and dehumanizing. I was a child when my family and I fled the civil war in Somalia. No one should ever have to go through what a refugee experiences. I just wanted to write a

Kinds of Hunger

January 12, 2018 Economic Issues, General Commentary, Immigration

I’ve been teaching writing classes at a local university for well over a decade now. The quick math in my head tells me I’ve had thousands of students. I have to admit – I don’t remember them all. He was a forgettable kid when he walked in, but he didn’t remain that way for long. The first thing that caught

Alt-Reich: The Reemergence of an Old Enemy

January 11, 2018 Civil Rights, Elections, General Commentary, Immigration

It did not begin in Charlottesville, but did not end there, either. In August, 2017, self-described White nationalists marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, carrying Tiki torches and swastikas, chanting “Jews will not replace us”, and “blood and soil”. Any student of history knows from whence these phrases came. Our country fought a war to defeat this very ideology, and here it

Termination of TPS for El Salvador

January 10, 2018 Immigration

TPS for El Salvador was ended on January 8, 2018. Over 200,000 people, with 193,000 US citizen children, here legally since 2001, faithfully renewing their statuses, paying taxes, and virtually free of criminal records. (You are allowed only one misdemeanor conviction to have TPS). Salvadorans constitute over 60% of the entire TPS population in the United States. TPS, or Temporary

The Top 10 Immigration Developments of 2017

December 25, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration, international

That 2017 has been a tumultuous year for immigration in the United States is not exactly a revelation. President Trump campaigned on this issue and has sought to deliver on many of his campaign promises. If you’re pro-immigration, there are not many positives to report this year except that public opinion remains strongly pro-immigration and resistance to the President’s immigration

Make America Hate Again

December 21, 2017 Civil Rights, General Commentary, Healthcare, Immigration

Jonathan Swift famously said, “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” I am Jewish, as are both my parents, and as were my four grandparents. They instilled in me the concepts of Tzedukah, (charity) and Mitzvot (good deeds). As with Christianity, I was taught the Golden Rules: do unto

Not Fair

December 6, 2017 Economic Issues, General Commentary, Immigration

When I was about six years old, I was visiting with my grandmother. She was driving one of her out of proportionally large Cadillacs. Miles away, in the front passenger seat, sinking in the overly plush leather upholstery, I gazed out the window. I don't recall whether a conversation or something I saw outside prompted me, but I was protesting,

Frozen: The Story Of A Deportee Who Couldn’t Talk

November 6, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

My name is Ella. I am from Uganda. I identify as lesbian, and I have been in a long term relationship with my girlfriend. Uganda is not tolerant of such relationships so we had to keep things secret. Things were okay until the night of 23rd October 2016. We were in a lodge making love and people in the city

Donald Trump’s Useless Eaters: #FreeRosa in the era of ascendant Fascism

October 30, 2017 General Commentary, Healthcare, Immigration

In 1933, Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. In the same year, his National Socialist (Nazi) Party began a systematic campaign of public ridicule and private sterilization, isolation and murder of the disabled in Germany. When the Nazis were not stopped from claiming these first of their victims, the most vulnerable population among their citizens, the way was paved for

#FreeRosa

October 27, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

Imagine a ten-year-old girl is suffering from critical gall bladder pain. She’s been nauseated, maybe vomiting. Oh, and she has cerebral palsy. Her family takes her to the hospital, she’s changed into a hospital gown, and as the doctors place her under the fog of general anesthesia, a nurse reassures her everything will be okay. Now imagine that same little

#MuslimBan3 Blocked: FAQ

October 24, 2017 Civil Rights, General Commentary, Immigration

What does this mean? On 24 Sept Trump announced the third version of his travel ban, EO-3, affecting nationals of 8 countries. Part of it went into effect that day, but was to be fully effective on 18 Oct. This ban was swiftly challenged in court, both in Hawai'i and Maryland, and both courts agreed that an injunction (an order

HOW TO ENTER TRUMP’S UNITED STATES

October 10, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

On October 18, the new travel ban - aka "Muslim Ban 3.0" - will be fully effective (unless recently-filed court challenges are successful.) Trump's third try to ban Muslims works like this: 1. The affected countries are Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Each country has their own restrictions - but no new immigrant visas (green

Remembering What The Anthem Stands For

October 4, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

We all have memories that stick with us. Some are happy, some are sad, and some are our proudest moments. This past week's focus on kneeling NFL players and the national anthem has brought back some of these memories for me. In watching the games and the news coverage, I was reminded of my first anthem. I learned my first

Using Immigrant Policy To Create Solidarity

September 27, 2017 Immigration

As an immigration lawyer, I have proudly served immigrants from over 115 countries and counting. But two of these groups have been very visibly targeted for years, and certainly under the current administration: Muslims and Latinos. As I wrote over a year ago when the divisive 2016 campaign was still heating up, the time for a strong alliance between these

A Paper-Thin Line Separates Us; We Are All Dreamers

September 7, 2017 General Commentary, Immigration

One of my favorite teachers in high school had a great saying that I still use today as a reminder of our choices in life. He would mention some aspect of our lives we had no say in-our parents' wealth, for example - and he would say, "if you're not happy with it blame yourself, you chose the wrong parents."