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Faith over fear
The FilAm Editorial Dennis B (not his name) is facing a trifecta of misery: house in foreclosure, mother recovering from cancer, and possible deportation to the Philippines if Donald Trump moves ahead with plans to send to their countries of origin 11 million undocumented immigrants. When The FilAm called, the former caregiver was bubbly as […]
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Jose Antonio Vargas gets an O visa: No longer undocumented
By Cristina DC Pastor On December 30, 2024, the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico issued the famously ‘undocumented’ Jose Antonio Vargas a (d)(3) Waiver O Visa, a purely discretionary visa usually given to individuals “balancing social and humanitarian considerations,” according USCIS.gov website. “My O visa was approved…after 31 years, four months and 28 days of […]
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2 CNAs charged with alleged assault of patient to get $10K in legal defense funds from DFA
By Cristina DC Pastor Two Filipino certified nursing assistants (CNAs) — Dhenmark Francisco, 28, of Toms River, N.J., and Jovi Esperanza, 31, of Beachwood — are currently held at the Ocean County Jail charged with alleged assault of a patient. Francisco and Esperanza were each charged with Aggravated Assault in connection with an incident that […]
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Immigration Atty. Arvin Amatorio: ‘Self-deportation is complex and has significant consequences’
By Cristina DC Pastor Bergenfield, N.J. Mayor Arvin Amatorio, also an immigration lawyer, spoke to The FilAm about the road ahead for immigration reform. He warned against “immediate self-deportation” as he urged undocumented immigrants to explore all options. Despite their significant contributions to society, he said the likes of Jose Antonio Vargas “remain vulnerable.” The […]
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NYC will continue to be a sanctuary city, ‘offer care to immigrants:’ officials
Mayor Adams declared that “no matter who is president or what party controls Congress, this city will always stand up for the rights of women, our immigrant brothers and sisters, our LGBTQ+ community and millions of others.” To immigrants living in the city and pursuing the American Dream, he said, “New York City stands with […]
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Almost all street vendors in New York are immigrants: report
By the Immigration Research Initiative From the vendors who sell jewelry and souvenirs, to the classic hot dog stands and food trucks that serve tourists and attract foodies from across the world, to the women selling refreshing fruits to sustain working New Yorkers, street vendors are a staple of New York City life. The streets […]
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Immigrants are not taking ‘black jobs:’ new study
A new analysis out on August 29 takes on the question of whether immigrants are displacing U.S.-born Black workers, finding that the perception of displacement is not borne out by the data. While immigrants represent a growing share of the U.S. workforce and have expanded their presence across industries, Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Senior Policy Analyst Valerie […]
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Lawyer Rio Guerrero: Honoring his parents by serving immigrant communities
By Cristina DC Pastor Rio Guerrero looks back on his more than two decades as an immigration lawyer in New York and New Jersey. He recalls his earliest clients both apprehensive and excited to stay in the country as immigrants. He was then a young Associate Attorney working for a major litigation firm in midtown […]
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NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs provides list of resources for mental health
Immigrants and Mental Health* Free mental health in public schools: The city recently announced a pilot program to open 16 mental health clinics in public schools across the Bronx and central Brooklyn. Read the mayor’s press release here for more information. * Free mental health help for teens: NYC Teenspace connects teens ages 13 to 17 with a licensed therapist through […]