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From undocumented to entrepreneur: The healing of Reagan John Rada
By Loida Nicolas Lewis The life story of Reagan John Rada fits a line in the comma poems of Jose Garcia Villa: “peaks, and, precipices, my, proud, geography”. Born in Panganiban, Camarines Norte to Romeo and Milagros Rada, he was the youngest of seven children — six boys and one girl. His parents adopted an […]
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2020 Census highlights nation’s racial diversity
The U.S. Census Bureau released on August 12 additional 2020 Census results showing an increase in the population of U.S. metro areas compared to a decade ago. In addition, these once-a-decade results showed the nation’s diversity in how people identify their race and ethnicity. “We are excited to reach this milestone of delivering the first detailed statistics […]
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Immigrant New Yorkers contributed nearly a quarter to NYC’s GDP: MOIA report
The NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) has released its fourth Annual Report, “State of Our Immigrant City.” Major new findings include: · The poverty rate among immigrant New Yorkers is higher than for New Yorkers born in the United States. Further, the poverty rate for undocumented immigrants is 29.2 percent, higher than the 27.1 percent […]
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Beginning March 1, USCIS returns to 2008 citizenship test
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test effective March 1, 2021. On Dec. 1, 2020, USCIS implemented a revised naturalization civics test (2020 civics test) as part of a decennial test review and update process. USCIS determined the 2020 civics test development process, content, […]
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High hopes or another false hope? Green cards for essential workers
By Anthony Advincula On a recent Monday, Maribel Lapuz got up at 4:30 a.m. The 46-year-old immigrant from the Philippines braved the sub-zero weather and took the train from Jersey City, NJ to a nursing home in Brooklyn, NY, where she has worked six days a week as a caregiver since last February. A thousand […]
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A Filipino family calls Britain home (Part 2)
By Cristina DC Pastor The Covid protocols introduced by the British government are not popular, particularly among businesses that had to shut down and individuals who lost their jobs, said Gene Alcantara, a Filipino community leader in the UK. “Travel is banned, visits even to relatives are banned. But everyone knows they are necessary to […]
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A Special Immigrant’s journey to America
By Lia Ocampo Lia Ocampo worked at the U.S. Embassy in Manila for 18 years, starting out as a Human Resources Clerk, at the U.S. Department of State and departing in 2012 as a Human Resources Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is known as a Special Immigrant, a title reserved for […]
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Effective December 1, USCIS citizenship test will have 20 questions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on November 13 plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency first announced plans to revise the civics test in July 2019. USCIS revised the civics test as part of a decennial update to ensure that it remains an instrument that comprehensively assesses applicants’ knowledge […]
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On Global Filipinos: Losing my friends to COVID-19: Attorney Emil de Guzman (Part 1)
By Loida Nicolas Lewis November is the Feast of All Saints Day/All Souls Day. I remember and pray for the souls of two dear friends, Attorney Emil de Guzman and Dancing Instructor Dodie Potenciano. They died this year from COVID-19. Emil had a very successful immigration law practice in Lower Manhattan when he was stricken […]