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Erwin de Leon’s short trek from DOMA to green card
By Maricar CP Hampton The demise of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) would be the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Erwin de Leon — writer, activist, and happily-wed gay man fighting for recognition of his marriage. “Now we can finally start our lives with security and stability,” said de Leon […]
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DHS responds to calls for TPS via public engagement
One hundred days after Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines resulting in massive loss of life and destruction of property, the national movement for Temporary Protected Status for Filipinos in the U.S. received a response from the Department of Homeland Security, which announced its intent for public engagement around this issue. DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas […]
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Will denial of TPS harm PHL-U.S. ties? Will a decision be made before Obama’s visit?
By Maricar CP Hampton Advocates for the grant of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are getting impatient, but are they now resorting to threats and shaming the U.S. government? “A denial of TPS would have serious repercussions,” Loida Nicolas Lewis, founder of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG), made this statement during a recent meeting […]
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Why they believe TPS will not be granted to the Philippines
By Maricar CP Hampton Any time now, according to some immigration advocates, the U.S. government will announce its decision to either grant or deny the request for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Philippines. And though the decision can still go either way, skepticism is now creeping in as to its final outcome. “First and […]
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Aquino finally makes TPS request, FilAms await U.S. response
The Philippines has formally requested Washington for additional immigration relief measures to allow eligible Filipinos to stay and work in the United States so they could support the country’s long-term post-typhoon recovery efforts, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced Monday, December 16. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario said the request to designate the […]
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LGBT Asians join fasting campaign for immigration reform
The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) committed this week to continue to fight for immigrants’ rights in Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. Today, NQAPIA joins our partners and allies in Washington, DC to call on our lawmakers to do the […]
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Fasting for immigration: Will it move the GOP?
By Maricar CP Hampton While much of America was feasting over Thanksgiving dinner, several undocumented immigrants were huddled in tents and feeding themselves only with water. “Fast for Families: A Call for Immigration Reform & Citizenship” is entering its fourth week with fasting immigrants eating very little and hoping to draw attention to the urgent […]
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FILAMSPEAK: Immigration lawyers chorus: Obama can stop deportations
By Cristina DC Pastor President Obama has said he can’t, but the immigration reform network believes he can but will not. Stop deportations, that is. A Korean immigrant student raised the challenge to Obama during the president’s recent visit to San Francisco. “I need your help,” yelled Ju Hong who was part of the audience […]
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Asian Pacific leaders echo Obama, urge Congress to act on immigration reform
Members of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) stood with President Obama last October 24 when he called on the House to pass comprehensive immigration reform. “With three in five Asian and Pacific Islander Americans being foreign-born — the highest proportion of any racial group — comprehensive immigration reform is our highest priority,” […]