The Immigrant’s Journal - Vol. 120

The Immigrant’s Journal Vol. 120

Our leaders who stood for Unity & Justice

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Protecting God’s Children From Distant Lands

www.ijlef.org

June 11, 2020

26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY 11242 Tel: 718-243-9431 Fax: 718-222-3153 Email: immjournal @aol.com

“Republicans Weaponized ‘Amnesty’ to Make Undocumented Immigrants Suffer. Let’s Take It Back” VIA AMERICA’S VOICE

NAACP Delivers Scathing Message in Response to Trump’s “Thugs” Tweets

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awrence Downes, formerly an editorial writer for the New York Times, pens a must-read op-ed in the Los Angeles Times: “Republicans weaponized ‘amnesty’ to make undocumented immigrants suffer. Let’s take it back.”

Downes writes like few others and has long captured the nuances of the immigration debate and the humanity of immigrants with rare beauty. Excerpts don’t do the piece full justice, so please read the whole thing. You will find a few of the must-read passages below: America has moved on from arguing about unauthorized immigrants to brutalizing them, as a matter of federal policy.

Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

The Trump administration has raided their homes and workplaces, hunted them down at the border, abused and neglected them in custody and prosecuted people who tried to rescue them in the desert. Tens of thousands of immigrants

are trapped in a vast detention archipelago, and many are now exposed to the deadly coronavirus. Parents have been forced to choose between being detained indefinitely or giving their children up. continued on page 2

Citizenship Through Parents ... see page 7

YAMA Serving Immigrant Small Businesses

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he Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA), a CWE partner, was founded three years ago by bodega owners and other Yemeni business owners, following the hugely successful Yemeni Bodega Strike against the Muslim Ban. In the years since, YAMA has developed programs and campaigns to support and continued on page 10

Yemeni American Merchants Association members distribute food to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SEPA Mujer Receives Funding from Engage NY to Help Undocumented Single Mothers

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others facing the overwhelming hardships imposed by the COVID-19 crisis can now find relief through SEPA Mujer’s “Ayuda Latina” hotline. Through a $10,000 grant from Engage NY, SEPA Mujer will be offering them financial assistance.

Undocumented single mothers, immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, and Latina immigrant women can apply to receive $300 to $500 to help them get

through the crisis. To apply for benefits, simply go to https://www.sepamujer.org/apply-forhelp.html.

SEPA Mujer is also seeking additional donations to expand the number of mothers they can help and to extend the amount of time for which they can provide assistance. Your support is desperately needed as many Latina’s have lost their jobs and, in spite of them paying

taxes, they do not qualify for any benefits like unemployment or The CARES Act because they are undocumented.

To reach our 24-hour hotline please call (833)-SMAYUDA or (833)-762-9832.l

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errick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP issued the following statement regarding the disparaging remarks President Trump recently tweeted: “President’s Trump use of the derogatory term, ‘Thug,’ and his provocation of violence toward Black American citizens is yet another vile attempt to degrade and cause material harm to our community.

Time after time, he has proven his incompetence and inability to unify this country when we are under duress. His reckless response is a deterrent and agitator to the progression of human and civil rights.

The racism and anti-Black agenda that continues to permeate out of this current White House is a danger to our democracy, livelihood, and safety. Considering, the uprising that we are experiencing is sobering, yet not unexpected. As a people, we are tired of the injustices and the brutality that has disproportionately impacted our community at the hands of police officers and local elected officials.

From Brunswick, Georgia to Louisville, Kentucky to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and everywhere in between, we remain resolute in our persistence and strategy to see substantive change for our people on the ground. We will stand up and fight for what is right until we bend the moral arc of the universe toward justice and liberty for all.” l

TIME FOR ACTION ...PAGE 2 Defending Black Lives and Statement on the Murder of George Floyd

IMMIGRATION MATTERS

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5 Ways Trump’s Anti-Immigrant Agenda Gets in the Way of an Effective Coronavirus Response

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n response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government has implemented sweeping revisions to U.S. immigration policy. Many of the changes fail to prioritize the health of immigrants or the general public.

Some functions—like processing visas abroad and asylum claims at the border— have come to a virtual standstill. Yet many people applying for immigration benefits within the United States are forced to violate social-distancing rules and increase their risk of exposure to COVID-19. The government hasn’t accommodated those who need to continue in-person immigration interviews and other bureaucratic tasks to receive benefits or maintain their status.

Missing from the government’s pandemic response is a uniform set of guidelines. Such guidelines would enable noncitizens to apply for the services and benefits they need to obtain or maintain their immigration status without risking their health or even their lives.

As the American Immigration Council details in a new report, the federal response to the pandemic has disrupted

virtually every aspect of the U.S. immigration system. Entry into the United States along the Mexican and Canadian borders—including by asylum seekers and unaccompanied children—has been severely restricted.

And tens of thousands of people remain in immigration detention centers across the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has continued to detain people despite the high risk of COVID-19 transmission in the crowded jails, prisons, and detention centers the agency uses to hold noncitizens.

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Five key takeaways from the report include: 1. The pandemic has led to new barriers to legal immigration. The Trump administration implemented a proclamation, effective April 24, 2020, that suspends the entry of certain immigrants. The administration claims it wants to preserve opportunities for U.S. citizens affected by the economic impact of the pandemic, even though it has singled out familybased immigration for special restrictions. It also failed to provide any meaningful economic analysis to justify these changes.

2. Citing new authority given to the Border Patrol by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Border Patrol agents have started “expelling” individuals who arrive at the U.S.Mexico border, without giving them the opportunity to seek asylum. Over 20,000 people have since been “expelled” at the southern border.

3. As of April 24, 2020, USCIS suspended all in-person services at its offices through at least June 4, 2020. Despite the postponement, the agency has resisted calls to grant automatic status extensions or otherwise make changes which would prevent foreign nationals from inadvertently losing status during the current national emergency.

4. The coronavirus posed an immediate threat to detained immigrants and staff working in detention facilities. Unlike people living outside of detention centers, those in detention cannot socially distance from others, as they are locked inside facilities with hundreds of other people. The risk of the virus spreading to additional detention centers is exacerbated by the agency’s practice of routinely transferring people from one detention center to another, often multiple times. At least three people have died after contracting COVID-19 while detained.

5. Many immigrants and their families have been left out of the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” Act, or CARES Act. Noncitizens who lack Social Security numbers but nevertheless

file federal income tax returns using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)—including millions of lawfully-present noncitizens and their families—are deemed ineligible for recovery rebates and emergency grants.

The federal government’s response to COVID-19 has been motivated not only by concerns over the pandemic itself, but by ideology. The Trump administration has used the COVID-19 outbreak as cover to pursue policy changes that it has sought to implement for many years.

These include a near elimination of asylum at the southern border and a reduction of family-based immigration.

While these policy changes have been described as temporary in nature, they may remain in place into 2021. This would dramatically reduce the number of noncitizens who are permitted to travel to the United States to pursue humanitarian protections or reunite with family members.

We must not allow these temporary measures to become the new normal.

Instead, we must ensure that our immigration policies are grounded in data and our heritage of being a welcoming nation. l

Weaponized Amnesty/ from page 1

Under the cover of the pandemic, immigration and asylum laws are being ignored.

And any form of federal aid is off-limits to undocumented immigrants — even those risking their lives as essential workers to keep others safe, fed and healthy during the crisis.

So, amnesty?

It takes a particular kind of perversity for Republican politicians to be flogging that word — and variants like “bailout” and “handout” — at a time when immigrants are struggling just to stay alive. This month, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas introduced the No Bailouts for Illegal Immigrants Act, which blocks funding to states or municipalities that give stimulus checks to undocumented immigrants.

[Alabama Senate candidate] Coach Tuberville would call it running up the score. It is merciless.

All this comes out of a playbook that redefines “amnesty” to mean anything that might make life more secure or less miserable for the undocumented. Under this definition, the deferred-deportation DACA program for young immigrants, now before the Supreme Court, is amnesty. A farmworker bill is amnesty. The latest Democratic stimulus bill is amnesty, because it temporarily protects immigrants in essential industries from deportation and allows them to receive pandemic relief. …Amnesty is not a perfect word, and it’s been made toxic by right-wing forces. But it gets at something: the vast unpaid debt this country owes the undocumented.

Amnesty is not on the table. But it should be. It’s the least this country can do.l

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.IJLEF.ORG FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES

TIME FOR ACTION

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Defend Black Lives

TEAM Publisher I.Q. INC.

BY ZOË TOWNS, FWD.US Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq.

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lways, and now certainly, it is critical that we listen to and support Black organizers – those with U.S. citizenship and those without – who are demanding justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many others. We stand with them in fighting for accountability from the criminal justice systems that have failed on so many fronts, and which consistently target rather than protect Black people.

That more than 4,000 protestors have been arrested this weekend is a particularly dark irony with extremely scary due process, bail, detention, deportation, and imprisonment consequences that only perpetuate the patterns that protestors have bravely called out. The fact that these arrests are occurring when COVID19 is spreading through jails, prisons, and detention centers is chilling, and makes all of us less safe.

In the brazen killing of George Floyd, we recognize the same presumptions of dangerousness and guilt and the same incentives handed down by federal, state, and local governments for bigger enforcement systems with increasingly punitive approaches which have opened the doors to the criminal justice system wider and wider to Black people. Across

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Anvar Sabirov Email immjournal@aol.com

Washington, D.C. / USA - May 31 2020: Justice for George Floyd Protest DC Mexico.

Editorial credit: Johnny Silvercloud / Shutterstock.com this country, Black people are more likely to be stopped, searched, and killed by law enforcement, as well as arrested, jailed, convicted, and sentenced to prison. Black people are the least likely to be paroled home.

What gives us hope is the rallying cry, growing louder and more organized every day, that true public safety will not be achieved in America until we reckon

with the ways the criminal justice system has harmed Black people, Black families, and Black communities, and until we commit to advance the policies and investments that defend Black lives. l Zoë Towns is the Senior Criminal Justice Reform Director for FWD.us

Statement on the Murder of George Floyd Martin Luther King, Jr: “True peace is not the absence of conflict…. but the presence of justice.”

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ypically, America’s Voice stays in the immigration lane. But at this moment, Americans from all walks and activists on all issues need to stand up and be heard. The killing of Black Americans, especially by agents of the state, is unacceptable, especially in a nation aspiring to achieve justice and equality.

The following is a statement by Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice.

George Floyd was murdered by four policemen in broad daylight on a city street corner in Minneapolis. The perpetrators have not been arrested, charged and jailed for committing this murder. If we are to live up to our nation’s ideal — equal justice under the law — it is necessary for these men to be put behind bars.

Editorial credit: Johnny Silvercloud / Shutterstock.com

Martin Luther King, Jr said, “True peace is not the absence of conflict…. but the presence of justice.” When young Black Americans can be murdered on the street and in their homes with impunity, there is an appalling absence of justice in America.

We fight for an America where Black people are not murdered by police.

We fight for an America that does not support the deployment of racial terror and ethnic division from the highest lev-

els of government. We fight for an America that ensures equality and justice for one and all, regardless of the color of your skin, background or birthplace.

We will channel our rage, sorrow and commitment into the ongoing struggle for an America that translates its ideals into reality. We have a very long way to go but we will fight to get there together.

Black lives matter and we won’t rest until there is justice. l

Visit www.ijlef.org www.falaw.us www.cawnyc.com www.workersworldtoday.com

Volunteering at THE IMMIGRANT'S JOURNAL LEGAL & EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Internship positions available throughout the year.

The Immigrant's Journal Legal & Educational Fund, Inc. is an organization dedicated to the educational and economic empowerment of all immigrants and immigrant organizations here in the United States. We at the Journal recognize the enormous contribution of immigrants to this country economically, socially and politically. Since September 11, 2001, however, immigrants have increasingly been discriminated against and Congress has passed legislation curtailing the rights of immigrants here in the U.S., broadly claiming that immigrants are a threat to ''National Security.'' We at the Journal believe that these charges are unfounded, unsubstantiated and exaggerated.

The Immigrant's Journal Volunteer Intern Program was introduced to give our volunteers the opportunity to work in an immigrant friendly environment while developing the necessary skills for college or law school. They assist our staff in resolving immigration and other legal concerns through personal interviews, radio, email and telephone contact. They also assist the public with citizenship applications and in researching whether or not children of naturalized U.S. citizens have derived citizenship from their parents. Some of our volunteers assist our legal staff by engaging in legal research and writing letters on other legal issues. Volunteer interns are also assigned various other jobs in our Youth Programs.

Hours are flexible. Email your cover letter and resume or any questions to immjournal@aol.com Tel: 718-243-9431 Fax: 718-222-3153

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.IJLEF.ORG FOR MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS & UPDATES

IMMIGRANTS’ CONCERNS

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Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence Face Unique Risks During Coronavirus

BY KATIE SHEPHERD

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he spread of the coronavirus has led state and local governments to issue “stay at home orders” to limit contact outside of the household.

But these mandates have caused unexpected consequences for survivors of domestic violence—or “intimate terrorism.”

Many of these survivors may no longer be able to find safety in the workplace.

And some immigrant survivors may be particularly vulnerable during the national lockdown.

Changes to Income and Workplace Structure May Increase Domestic Violence Over the span of weeks, millions of individuals across the United States lost their jobs as the country plummeted into economic uncertainty. For survivors of domestic violence, losing a job may very well mean more than losing an income.

For some it can also mean losing the ability to leave an abusive relationship or contribute to financial stress that can destabilize a family or intimate relationship.

Those who can continue working

remotely may also have lost their workplace as a respite from violence at home.

One report notes that while a survivor of domestic violence may be able to continue earning a paycheck while working at home, they: “May be experiencing heightened physical and emotional violence as well as employment sabotage at the hands of an intimate partner, who is now equipped with additional opportunities to monitor the survivor’s job-related activities.”

A Surge in Domestic Violence Calls D.C. Safe, a non-profit that coordinates emergency services for survivors, reported that its calls had doubled in the second two weeks of March. The National Domestic Violence Hotline has received nearly 2,000 calls a day since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The sobering trend is not limited to the United States.

In early April, the United Nations Secretary-General described a “horrifying global surge in domestic violence” as the coronavirus and its consequences continued to spread. International organizations that combat violence in the home have reported a spike in calls to emergency help lines.

The national lockdown has also fractured support networks. Divorce proceedings may be postponed, finding a new home may be difficult with reduced income, shelters are nearing capacity, and in-person support groups are temporarily suspended.

The Heightened Risk for Immigrant Survivors of Violence Evidence shows that undocumented

immigrant survivors of domestic violence may fare worse.

Non-citizens can experience a distinctive yet overlooked set of vulnerabilities during the pandemic. Many work in service sectors such as hospitality and restaurants that have had to close, adding economic pressures to the household. Others are essential workers in healthcare or grocery stores facing serious risks to their health and well-being.

Many immigrants–both documented and undocumented–cannot get needed virus testing or medical treatment, nor will they receive any tax relief from the coronavirus stimulus package.

When these coronavirus-related stressors further compound violence in the home, undocumented people in particular are less likely to contact law enforcement. Studies show that unauthorized immigrants are less likely to report abuse or crimes to police for fear that doing so could impact their legal status.

The coronavirus places us all at risk, regardless of immigration status. This is a time for people to check in on each other and for our country to provide much-needed support services to all in our community, including those uniquely vulnerable.l

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WELCOME TO AMERICA

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Board of Immigration Appeals’ Restructuring and Hiring Plan Reveals Anti-Immigrant Bias

BY CLAUDIA VALENZUELA

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he Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) hiring process for immigration appellate judges was recently revealed. Now, the integrity of the immigration court system has never been more in question.

These procedures reflect how the agency has altered the hiring process to promote judges with a track record of anti-immigrant bias. The information was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The BIA plays a critical role in the immigration deportation process. It hears appeals of decisions by immigration judges and sets legal precedent impacting thousands of immigrants every year.

Its decisions can have life-altering consequences for immigrants and their cases.

For instance, the BIA can determine whether a person seeking asylum in the United States can stay or be forced to return to a country where they may face persecution. The agency also can decide whether a long-time resident of the United States can remain here with family. BIA precedent can also determine the contours of important due process rights

under immigration law, such as the right to present evidence.

People’s lives are at stake in deportation proceedings, so judges must adjudicate cases fairly. Neutrality for BIA judges is important for the individuals in the proceedings. Many people, including children, must navigate these proceedings on their own.

But it is also important for the public to have confidence in the reliability and soundness of the system.

Recent changes to the BIA have further eroded waning public trust in the fairness of the immigration court system.

In August 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ)—which oversees the immigration courts—issued an interim rule (which immediately took effect) impacting the organizational structure and roles within the Executive Office for

Immigration Review (EOIR), including the BIA. Among these changes, DOJ announced that BIA Members would now also be known as “Appellate Immigration Judges” (AIJs). The rule does not clarify when a judge will act as a BIA Member or an AIJ. This blurs the lines between trial judges–whose job is to hear the facts and decide individual cases–and BIA Members– whose historical role is to review these decisions for legal error.

Adding to the mounting concerns, recent reports about changes to the BIA hiring process triggered public outrage.

Several members of Congress sent a letter to Attorney General Barr asking for specific policies, memos, trainings, and documents on the hiring process as well as other changes within the BIA. On May 27, 2020, news broke of an

attempt by EOIR Director James McHenry to “buy-out” BIA members appointed under previous administrations who are close to retirement.

A memo issued by McHenry purportedly offered “financial incentives” to “individuals whose positions will help us strategically restructure EOIR in order to accommodate skills, technology, and labor markets.” But the memo added to mounting concerns that the administration was trying to manipulate and politicize the appellate body.

While the agency denies any impropriety behind its restructuring initiatives, these assurances ring hollow in light of the tangible shift by DOJ and EOIR towards an anti-immigrant stance in its procedures, organizational structure and the precedent it has issued under the current administration.

It remains to be seen whether public pressure will result in fairness and transparency within the immigration court system, including EOIR and the BIA. Though this system is administrative in nature, it impacts lives in the most substantive of ways – the path to a lawful status and secure future in the United States. l

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MONEY MATTERS

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Experts: The Coronavirus Pandemic is about to Create a Surge in Bankruptcies types of personal bankruptcies are chapter 7 and chapter 13. Below is a quick overview of each type of bankruptcy.

Review the summary below to discover which type of bankruptcy may help you.

Of course, a consultation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney will steer you in the right direction.

BY JANET HOWARD 311BANKRUPTCY.COM

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erek and his wife were doing pretty good: two-family house with a mortgage, two vehicles, two credit cards, decent jobs, two kids in college. Then the pandemic hit, and his wife, Joyce, lost her supervisor job at a hotel in Manhattan. Suddenly, they were no longer doing pretty good. Derek still had his job with the MTA, but the loss of his wife’s income, coupled with the uncertainty and the bills again coming in regularly like the sun rising, had financial difficulty set in. Derek, with his family’s financial situation looking bleak, has started the process to file for bankruptcy.

What is the average Joe and Jane to do?

What is the legal bailout? It just makes sense that anyone who was already having or starting to have difficulty meeting their financial commitments would strongly consider and file for bankruptcy.

It just makes sense; logical.

Bankruptcy Experts And the bankruptcy experts agree that bankruptcy is the logical direction in this current bleak financial situation.

Considering a new spike in unemployment and remembering how the Great Recession caused a wave of bankruptcy cases, consumers were seeking a reset after getting too far behind on debt.

“We think business filings will see an uptick in April with consumer filings to surge in May and June,” said Amy Quackenboss, executive director at the American Bankruptcy Institute, a professional association comprised of lawyers for debtors and creditors, judges and other bankruptcy specialists.

The increase could take a bit longer because, in times of crisis, “people don’t normally race off to file bankruptcy,”

said John Rao, a National Consumer Law Center staff attorney specializing in consumer bankruptcy. Still, “there is no question that given the effect of this pandemic, there will be an increase of bankruptcies. It’s really a question of when that rise will occur.”

What is Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor. The two most common

Chapter 7 (Liquidation) Usually the best option when: •You have very little property except for basic necessities like clothing and furniture.

•Your debts are primarily unsecured debts like credit cards or medical bills.

•You have little or no money left over at the end of each month once you’ve paid your basic living expenses.

Chapter 13 (Repayment) Usually the best option when: • You have equity in a property that you don’t want to have to liquidate to pay creditors.

• You have regular income and can afford to pay your living expenses plus some, but not enough to pay your debts as agreed. continued on page 10

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7

HOW TO GET A GREEN CARD

Citizenship Through Parents

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here are two general ways to obtain citizenship through U.S. citizen parents: at birth, and after birth but before the age of 18. Congress has enacted laws that determine how citizenship is conveyed by a U.S. citizen parent (or parents) to children born outside of the United States.

Who May Qualify for Acquisition of Citizenship The law in effect at the time of birth determines whether someone born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent (or parents) is a U.S. citizen at birth. In general, these laws require that at least one parent was a U.S. citizen, and the U.S. citizen parent had lived in the United States for a period of time.

In addition, children born abroad may become U.S. citizens after birth.

Definition of Child In general, a child for citizenship and naturalization provisions is an unmarried person who is: nThe genetic, legitimated, or adopted son or daughter of a U.S. citizen; or nThe son or daughter of a non-genetic gestational U.S. citizen mother who is recognized by the relevant jurisdiction as the child’s legal parent.

Children of U.S. Citizens Residing in the United States Children who were born outside the U.S. but now live in the U.S. may acquire citizenship under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

A child born outside of the United States automatically becomes a U.S. citizen when all of the following conditions have been met on or after Feb. 27, 2001: nThe child has at least one parent, including an adoptive parent, who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization; nThe child is under 18 years of age; The child is a lawful permanent resident (LPR); and nThe child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.

Children of U.S. Citizens Residing Outside the United States Children residing outside of the United States may obtain citizenship under Section 322 of the INA. A child who regularly resides outside of the United States is eligible for naturalization if all of the following conditions have been met: nThe child has at least one parent, including an adoptive parent, who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization; nThe child’s U.S. citizen parent or U.S. citizen grandparent meets certain physical presence requirements in the United States or an outlying possession; nThe child is under 18 years of age; nThe child is residing outside of the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent, or of a

person who does not object to the application if the U.S. citizen parent is deceased; and nThe child is lawfully admitted, physically present, and maintaining a lawful status in the United States at the time the application is approved and the time of naturalization.

Source: uscis.gov IMMIGRATION PODCAST

Listen at www.askthelawyer.us

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8

FAMILY MATTERS

Find Ways to Stay Connected While Social Distancing

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he COVID-19 pandemic presents daunting challenges for many seniors and other vulnerable populations. Social distancing and shelter-inplace requirements are necessary for their continued health and safety. But with it comes the risk of social isolation, and the mental and physical tolls this can take.

How can older people balance the requirements for social distancing with the inherent need for social engagement?

Here are a few recommendations.

Explore new technology Apps like FaceTime, Zoom and Skype offer fun and interesting ways to connect face-to-face with family and friends, even if it's a screen version. And most don't require a terrific amount of tech-savvy: a neighbor, niece or nephew can help with a quick tutorial.

Even popular board games have gone virtual. Classics like Monopoly, Scattergories and Scrabble can be played online together, and there are a host of sites with card games, trivia and other fun activities to do together. A game night is a great way to bring people closer, and take your mind off your worries.

If you need help getting started with a smartphone or tablet to use this technolo-

Prevention is recommending that communities create "buddy systems" to make sure vulnerable and hard-to-reach people stay connected, particularly to news about COVID-19. This can be done through a church group, social group or daily neighborhood email blasts.

Reach out to people in your communities to locate these groups, or start one of your own. Something as simple as a message with a kind word can go a long way during uncertain times. gy, check the offerings from a carrier like Consumer Cellular. They've been an approved AARP provider for more than 10 years, and in addition to low prices and a wide variety of phones, offer top-rated customer support, which makes setting up and using your service easy.

Stay active in the community, from home It may sound counterintuitive. How can you remain a part of the community if you need to stay separated from it?

Many organizations, like political parties, faith-based groups or nonprofits, offer remote options, relying on volunteers to make phone calls. Explore your options for doing community-based activ-

ity right at home.

Go on a news diet While it's important to stay informed, don't get locked into endlessly watching "breaking news" on the 24-hour news channels. Typically, not much changes hour to hour, and enduring the repetitious pummeling from TV all day long can bring needless anxiety.

Instead, try watching a news update in the morning, then check in again at night.

And don't stay with it all evening: 30 minutes or an hour is usually plenty to stay well informed.

Find a buddy system The Centers for Disease Control and

Make a phone call All the digital options available today may make a simple phone call seem old fashioned. But sometimes, the old ways are the best ways. Just hearing someone's voice can be enough to lift both your spirits. Even if you only reach voicemail, you've let someone know you were thinking about them, which is always good medicine.

Social distancing doesn't have to mean social isolation, and even a threat like coronavirus should not force us to be alone. Now, more than ever, people need to find smart ways to stay connected.l(BPT)

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WHAT IS MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN? Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new health condition associated with COVID-19.

SEEK CARE IF YOUR CHILD HAS PERSISTENT FEVER PLUS ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS: Irritability or decreased activity Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting Conjunctivitis, or red or pink eyes Red, cracked lips or bumpy tongue Swollen hands or feet Lack of appetite Rash IF YOUR CHILD IS SEVERELY ILL, GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. For more information, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/coronavirus.

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Bill de Blasio Mayor Oxiris Barbot, MD Commissioner

BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT

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Nailing the Video Interview

I

f you’ve been on the job trail recently for any length of time, chances are you’ve encountered the prospect of a video interview.

More frequently, employers are using such technology as Skype and Google Hangouts to conduct interviews to narrow down candidates during first-round interviews, so it’s important to become comfortable with the format to put your best foot forward.

You may already know the fundamentals: Set up in a quiet, neutral area of your home; adjust your seat and monitor to ensure you’re comfortable in front of the camera; and test out your microphone.

Appearing online for a video interview can make many uncomfortable, so it’s a good idea to rehearse with a friend to ensure you’re ready and relaxed. Here’s some more tips to a successful video interview from the experts at the career advice website, The Muse.

Dress to impress: It should go without saying, but dress appropriately for your interview — from head to toe, not just to the waist — as if you were appearing in person. Take extra care to understand what works best on screen and tone it down so as not to distract the interviewer.

Shades of blue work well on screen. Red and other hot colors, not so much.

Master the digital handshake: Creating

an inviting and engaging persona online is part of what’s known as the digital handshake. A slow, confident, professional and firm nod lets the interviewer know you’re greeting them respectfully and you’re excited to be in the digital room. Also, be sure to look straight into the camera to present the illusion you’re looking right at them, not into the camera or around the room.

Body language: Don’t freeze up or become motionless. Rather, let your body language express that you’re engaged.

Lean forward when communicating, but avoid excessive physical movement or hand gestures to show your engagement and interest. These may result in a blurry

display on the interviewer’s end and none of your facial expressions will be visible.

Create a studio: If you find yourself as the subject of routine video interviews, you may want to create a studio in your home. For minimal investment, you can turn a quiet room into a comfortable studio you can use over and over. Buy a roll of professional background paper in a neutral color to hang behind you and position your chair and lighting appropriately. This will allow you to take the focus off presentation and turn it toward your interviewer. If you’re able to spend more, invest in a high-quality webcam and microphone.l Source: Freeparalegal.org

YAMA Serving/ continued from page 1

organize their community, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

YAMA's bodega members are essential businesses that have continued to operate during the pandemic. Over 70 of their members have contracted COVID-19, and many workers have lost their lives.

YAMA has since launched a health education campaign and distributed bodega safety kits of masks, gloves, and sanitizing products to their members.

The organization has also developed a food pantry for its neediest members and provided technological assistance to families with children who need access to computers or tablets to participate in school remotely.

In addition, YAMA’s Commercial Lease Assistance program has supported merchants with commercial leasing issues through small business loans and legal services.

YAMA has continued their CWE-supported ESOL and women’s programs online and will graduate those students virtually in June. They will continue to provide classes and workshops that focus on IT skills and digital literacy.

Virtual events, educational sessions, and trainings have served as vital contact with the members of YAMA and their families.

Through weekly town halls, Zoom meetings, and Facebook Live events in Arabic and English, YAMA has shared information on health and safety resources and small business services available through the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA). l

Surge in Bankruptcies/ continued from page 1

The Stimulus Bill and Bankruptcy The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act made changes to the bankruptcy code. It says: •The direct checks, dubbed “recovery rebates,” do not count as income that would get factored into a “means test” that determines if someone can file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case.

•The recovery rebates also do not count as “disposable income” that could be applied to things like credit card debts in Chapter 13 cases.

•People who are already in Chapter 13 repayment plans and now experiencing financial hardship because of the outbreak have a one-year window to change repayment terms. They can extend their repayment time-frame up to two years longer.

•The bankruptcy-related provisions expire on March 27, one year after being signed the bill into law.

Right for You Bottom-line is life throws us many twists and turns. And, sometimes filing for bankruptcy is inevitable. If you can’t find a clear financial direction through the coronavirus outbreak after your layoff, bankruptcy might be your best option.

Filing for bankruptcy will affect your credit score, but it will improve with time—and often far sooner than most filers expect. In fact, many people find that filing for bankruptcy repairs credit faster than would be possible otherwise.

Remember, the quicker you file, the sooner you will be able to rebuild your credit and get back on your feet, free of debt.l

Looking to make extra cash? A side hustle?

We are looking for persons to sell advertisements in our newspapers. Experience in advertising sales is needed and preferably experience or a sincere interest in marketing.

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Interested?

Send your resume to info@myiqinc.com

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HEALTH

12

June is Men’s Health Month On average, men live about 5 years less than their female counterparts • Men have a higher death rate for most of the leading causes of death, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and suicide • 1 in 2 men will develop cancer in their lifetime • Men make ½ as many physician visits for prevention as women

WANT TO SEE THESE STATS CHANGE? SCHEDULE A CHECKUP TODAY! Do it for yourself and for those who count on you.

Learn more at

www.menshealthmonth.com or call 1-866-543-6461 ext. 101

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

13

A Living Trust or Will?

W

hen estate pre-planning, most Americans are familiar with the importance of having a last will and testament. Did you know that without naming a revocable living trust, your family may experience the dreaded-probate process?

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, probate is the legal process to determine whether a will is valid. It is a situation that includes locating and determining the value of the decedent’s assets and paying remaining bills and taxes before distributing the remainder to those noted in the document. So how does having a revocable living trust streamline the process when you’re gone?

Revocable Living Trust The AARP defines a revocable living trust as a written agreement designating someone to be responsible for managing your property. It’s considered a “living trust” because you established it while you are alive and “revocable” because if you’re mentally competent, you have the right to dissolve the trust at your own discretion.

This document is unique because property left through the trust doesn’t require probate in court. Instead, the person you appoint to handle the trust after death,

easily transfers ownership to beneficiaries according to your instructions.

Another positive to this type of trust is that it is typically near the same price as a last will and testament. Whichever route you decide to take, it is important to have the knowledge of a professional to give you peace of mind that everything is legally binding.

Who to Appoint When considering who will oversee your

belongings, you should only appoint someone you truly trust. It can be an overwhelming decision and an even more stressful to the person in charge of distribution. Before choosing someone, make sure you discuss it with your loved ones, and that the chosen one is comfortable and confident with his responsibility. If you believe all your beneficiaries should be left out of the equation, you can name the trust department of a bank or trust company as the one in charge.

Don’t Forget to Name Yourself a Trustee The AARP suggests naming yourself and spouse as trustees in the document. This way, you will remain in full control of your properties while you’re alive. Be sure to discuss these and other issues with your local attorney or pre-planning professional. She will help put your mind at ease regarding the complex topic of estate planning.l

Wills, Trusts & Nursing Home Asset Protection Learn how to Protect your Assets and Provide for your Loved ones

Get Answers to Start Your Estate Plan

At this consultation, we will discuss issues that include: Nursing home costs- the myth of the 昀ve year look back The advantages of Wills, Living Trusts & Probate How to maintain your privacy and protect your estate if you become disabled (Hint: Not all Powers of Attorney are valid) Why putting property in children’s names may be a mistake Protect one’s spouse when the other needs nursing home care Preserve your estate for your kids if your surviving spouse gets married How Probate works and more importantly, how to avoid probate How you can qualify and use Medi-Cal to pay for nursing home expenses Provide for special needs (disabled) children and grandchildren How you may be able to minimize federal and state taxes

Get your FREE CONSULTATION 855-768-8845

www.falaw.us

26 Court Street, Suite 701, Brooklyn, NY 11201

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AMERICAN DREAM

14

Asian Americans Play Key Role in Fighting Coronavirus, Even as They Suffer Racism Spurred by It

BY MELISSA CRUZ

M

ay 31 closed out Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The term AAPI encompasses all people from the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

This year’s recognition of AAPI Heritage Month feels more important than ever. Racism and xenophobia linked to the coronavirus pandemic has led to a major spike in harassment, assaults, and hate crimes against AAPIs throughout the United States. At the same time, many AAPIs are on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.

According to a recent report from New American Economy, AAPIs play a critical role in several industries that will be vital in fighting and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

Some highlights from the report include: nOne in 12 workers in the healthcare

industry is an AAPI, totaling 1.4 million people. Nearly 70% of those AAPI healthcare workers are immigrants. n20% of all physicians and surgeons are AAPI. Similarly, 1 in 11 nurses are AAPI. Among those groups, a majority are AAPI immigrants. nHawaii, California, and Nevada heavily depend on AAPI healthcare workers. nAAPIs make up roughly 72% of

Hawaii’s healthcare industry, and over 26% and 19% in California and Nevada respectively. nAAPIs account for 1 in 6 workers in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. They also make up over 14% of all people working in the medical equipment and supplies manufacturing industry.

It’s clear that AAPI workers are con-

tributing to the fight against the virus in hospitals, medical laboratories, and pharmacies across the country.

A significant portion of AAPIs workers—many of whom are immigrants— also work in the food industry as farmers, food processors, grocery store clerks, and restaurant staff. The food industry has been vital to keeping food on Americans’ tables throughout the pandemic.

Additionally, roughly 6% of all workers in the education sector is an AAPI. That percentage jumps even further in colleges and universities, with AAPIs accounting for over 11% of all employees. A strong education sector is important now, as students and teachers transition to remote learning. It will also be key in reimagining how the education system looks after the crisis ends.

AAPIs deserve to be honored far beyond the confines of a single month.

Yet, as AAPIs face greater instances of racism in this country, the United States must do all it can to ensure their safety and recognize their contributions inside and outside of the healthcare industry.l

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BECOME A US CITIZEN. BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE 2020 ELECTIONS!

This Citizenship Program does not apply to anyone who has ever been arrested since getting their Green Card.

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The lawyer you hire, does make a difference!

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