-
Trafficking victim granted T-visa, seeks $300K in back wages
Accountant Jacqueline Aguirre, a victim of human trafficking, has been granted a T-visa by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), according to a statement from the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or Nafcon. The T-visa is valid for a period of four years, from September 21, 2012 to September 20, 2016, also authorizing […]
-
In Jersey City, fewer DACA applicants did not deter volunteers
By Jen Furer In the heart of Jersey City, on September 22th, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Jersey City welcomed the DREAM Act youth, the lawyers and the volunteers who vowed to assist the youngsters legalize their status via the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative of President Obama. Within the church’s hallowed halls, […]
-
Trafficked maid wins settlement against diplomat, allowed to stay in U.S.
Deadema ‘Dema’ Ramos narrated her harrowing experience which began in 2009 when she arrived in New York City with her employer, a Kuwaiti diplomat assigned to the UN mission. On arrival, the diplomat confiscated her passport and confined her to the house. Dema said she was forced into often backbreaking work seven days a week, […]
-
Camaraderie, trust and fear in first DACA clinic
By Jen Furer and Marie Aunio It was a gathering of lawyers, volunteers and DREAMers accompanied by their parents or guardians. The Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center became the venue for the August 24 initial consultation between lawyers and DREAM Act students seeking to legalize their status — a venue which, according to consulate […]
-
DACA and the Filipino DREAMer
By Cristina DC Pastor The teener sat with unease at the center of Kalayaan Hall listening to the lawyers. She and her mother held hands. Up the stage were lawyers JT Mallonga and Merit Salud of the Filipino American Legal and Education Defense Fund (Faldef), explaining the fine points of the Obama initiative to legalize […]
-
Deferred Action: What you need to know and how to apply
Starting August 15, the process to apply for “Deferred Action” for DREAM Act immigrant youth is set in motion. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — or DACA — will allow immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and without proper documentation to stay in the country legally for two years if they met certain […]
-
Obama nominee, NYU dean, autism advocate among this year’s TOFA-NY nominees
By Cristina DC Pastor The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York has opened the Facebook voting for this year’s search for exemplary Filipinos. Among the notables in the list are Lorna Schofield, President Obama’s nominee for the position of federal district court judge for the Southern District of New York; NYU Dean for Science Michael […]
-
In an Egypt with no Mubarak, OFWs feel ‘freer but not safer’
By Steven Raga Within six months in Egypt, this was the first time she had seen another Filipino. As her Egyptian employer waited outside Western Union, “Samira” crumpled up the piece of paper she wrote on, threw it towards a woman whom she hoped was Filipina and whispered in Tagalog for her to read it. […]
-
Jose Antonio Vargas after a year of living dangerously
By Cristina DC Pastor A thunderstorm rolled into New York on June 25, the same day Jose Antonio Vargas swept across the city to proclaim victory for DREAM Act youth. In early afternoon, he was at Nasdaq to ring the stock market closing bell, then proceeded to tape an interview with Bill O’ Reilly at […]