The Immigrant’s Journal - Vol. 129

The Immigrant’s Journal Vol. 129

Our leaders who stood for Unity & Justice

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Protecting God’s Children From Distant Lands

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Kamala Harris, Daughter of Jamaican and Indian Immigrants, Elected America’s First Female Vice President

BY MARY CAMPBELL

O

n Saturday, November 7, America started to breathe again.

Joe Biden was announced as the winner of the 2020 presidential elections along with running mate Kamala Harris as his vice-president. It’s a series of firsts: first woman and first black woman. Harris is the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants.

Harris walked onstage Saturday night to “Work That” by Mary J. Blige and radiated pure joy and excitement befitting this moment in history and glowed Photo credit: PP

How to Have a Civilized Divorce ....17

ICE Is Targeting ‘Sanctuary’ Cities With Increased Enforcement and Massive Fines immigrants who have sought “sanctuary” in U.S. churches.

In a somewhat different vein, ICE has also singled out so-called sanctuary jurisdictions for immigration enforcement actions.

Both tactics are part of a concerted effort by the administration to demonize undocumented immigrants. The agency aims to portray them as a threat to public safety despite an abundance

BY WALTER EWING

I

n the final run up to the presidential election, the Trump administration has reinvigorated its attacks on undocumented immigrants in the United States by targeting so-called “sanctuary” policies and jurisdictions.

These attacks have come in two forms. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials started to issue fines against undocumented

continued on page 4

‘We Had a Shortage Last Night of Beds for Babies.’ Congressional Report Reveals Cruelty, Chaos of Family Separation

BY KATIE SHEPHERD ongress released the “first complete narrative” on the Trump administration’s “Zero Tolerance” policy on October 30. This hallmark of President Trump’s immigration legacy led to the forcible separation

Re-Registration Period Now Open for Aliens with TPS Under South Sudan’s Designation

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continued on page 7

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November 12, 2020

of thousands of children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2018.

The House Judiciary Committee report provides an in-depth look into a policy marked by chaos, incompetence, and cruelty.

The report is particularly timely followcontinued on page 2

.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under South Sudan’s designation who want to maintain their status through May 2, 2022, must re-register for TPS beginning Nov. 2, 2020 through Jan. 4, 2021.

Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documents (EADs), have been published in the Federal Register and are available at uscis.gov/tps.

All applicants who wish to re-register for TPS must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Applicants may also request an EAD by submitting Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, when they file Form I821, or separately at a later date. Like all USCIS forms, both forms are free for download from the USCIS website at uscis.gov/forms.

USCIS will issue new EADs with a May 2, 2022, expiration date to eligible beneficiaries under South Sudan’s TPS designation who timely re-register and apply for an EAD. DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants will receive new EADs before their current EADs expire on Nov. 2, 2020.

Accordingly, USCIS is automatically extending through May 1, 2021, the validity of those EADs with a marked expiration date of Nov. 2, 2020.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf decided that the statutory conditions supporting South Sudan’s TPS designation on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions continue to exist and that the designation should be extended for 18 months. Acting Secretary Wolf made his decision after reviewing country conditions and consulting with appropriate U.S. government agencies. As a result, South Sudan’s TPS designation is extended through May 2, 2022.l

IMMIGRATION MATTERS

2

Chaos of Family Separation/from page 1 ing recent news that lawyers have been unable to locate the parents of 545 children separated under the policy. Around two-thirds of those parents were actually deported to Central America without their children.

There Never Was a Plan to Reunify Families Documents obtained by the Committee following an almost two-year investigation tell a story of chaos around the planning and implementation of the inhumane policy. The report confirms what we already knew—that the government had no plan to ensure that families could be reunified prior to their deportation.

As of June 2018—after months of separations—neither U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) nor the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) had a plan for reunification.

On June 23, ORR Director Lloyd emailed ICE to say “[j]ust writing to find out if you have any intel on ICE plans for the separated parents. Give me a call when you get a chance.”

Multiple emails between HHS and ICE officials show there was never a plan for reuniting families before the separations began. Further, according to the report, “HHS was aware of the problem and

Editorial credit: Stephanie Kenner / Shutterstock.com

attempted to improve and maintain tracking procedures while DHS gave the issue little to no thought.”

ORR officials used spreadsheets in an attempt to track the separated children in the absence of any system or official method in place. However, according to the Committee’s findings, some top officials may have tried to cover up problems with the reunification process.

For example, news emerged indicating that ORR Director Lloyd actually told officials from HHS to stop keeping a spreadsheet used to track the separated children.

Agency Charged With Caring for Children Wasn’t Told of the Policy for Months The Trump administration began to plan for systematic separations at the border

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as early as February 2017, within one month of President Trump taking office.

From July to November 2017, the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) conducted a pilot of the family separation policy in El Paso, Texas.

ORR, the agency charged with caring for the separated parents, was reportedly not notified of the pilot program for at least three months after its initiation. An email from November 2017 underscores the confusion and lack of preparedness within ORR: “We had a shortage last night of beds for babies… Overall, infant placements seem to be climbing over recent weeks, and we think that’s due to more separations from mothers by CBP.” The pilot program revealed serious inadequacies with the government’s abil-

ity to track the separations, yet the separations continued to rise from December 2017 through March 2018.

Frontline agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) scrambled to comply with court orders that demanded accounts of the separations.

According to the Committee’s report, one Border Patrol Special Operations supervisor commented, “[t]his is going to be a huge headache, I might be spending some time in the slammer.” Another agent exclaimed, “I ain’t going to jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Three days after President Trump ordered the end of the policy, the acting director of ICE sent an email to HHS asking if there was any way to match parents to their children.

HHS’s response underscored the extent of the confusion and chaos within the department: “No, we do not have any linkages from parents to [unaccompanied children]… we have a list of parent alien numbers but no way to link them to children.”

Congress requested information from multiple departments, but HHS was the only one to cooperate meaningfully.

Despite the government’s failure to cooperate, the report shows “a process marked by reckless incompetence and intentional cruelty.”

The trauma caused by the policy has been well documented, though the true extent of harm caused may never be known. A full autopsy may take years.l

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TIME FOR ACTION

3

The Vote that Reflects Donald Trump

Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief Pearl Phillip

BY MARIBEL HASTINGS & DAVID TORRES, AMERICA’S VOICE

Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman

W

hile votes are tabulated in the remaining states, whether Joe Biden wins or Donald Trump is reelected, the 2020 presidential election evidences many things. Among them, it reveals a country sadly divided in groups with diametrically opposed visions in the ideological realm, as well as in priorities for public policies, nuanced by an identity war among those who long for white domination and those who form and embrace the diversity of this nation.

Essentially, that long and intense night of November 3 became a numerical abyss in which, one by one, the votes of both groups went on reflecting a disdain for national unity and an irremediable anxiety, upon seeing how the common sense needed to save this country was being set aside in the least expected way, immediately adding scenes of unexpected social repercussions to the collective imagination.

A few days ago we wrote that if Trump retains the presidency, the question would be what this says about this society. And it turns out that now the teachings are vast, in just a night and one day, in which the future of the United States is literally being decided.

Therefore, even if Trump is not reelected, the fact that 67 million U.S. citizens supported him, including a large swath of Latinos who came out to celebrate and applaud an election that has not even yielded definitive results, leaves it more than clear that Trump is not an aberration himself, but a reflection and a product of a sector of U.S. society that now elevates him and apparently agrees with the hate speech, which has stirred up what was surely always in the background.

The fact that this has occurred after the presidency of the African-American Barack Obama is because, for eight years, this group was like a pressure cooker waiting for a Messiah who represents them in their fight for “the identity of the nation.” It’s not unusual to hear every so often one of Trump’s followers say “God sent him,” levying a type of “sainthood” on he who is the master of lies, infidelity, verbal abuse, cruelty, xenophobia, and racism. What type of

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religious belief could sustain a person like that? That question also speaks volumes about this part of society.

In years past, the response to Trump’s excesses, racism, and xenophobia was that he does not represent “U.S. values.”

It was even said that his insistence on repeating his rude and incendiary rhetoric about minorities was going to be counterproductive and lessen the power of his movement. But, surprise surprise, the voting shows that he does represent the “values” of a sector of the United States, of that half of voters who blindly support Trump despite his lies, his cheating, his tax evasion, his xenophobia, and his racism, in addition to his disdain for human life in the midst of a pandemic. “It is what it is,” like he said referring to the overwhelming reality of the death toll from COVID-19, a phrase that will be added to the list of grievances against his own people, but that right now even his supporters are overlooking.

If the perception exists that the economy is doing well, although many may be unemployed, cannot pay their bills or do not have health insurance, none of this matters to them, because Trump is their shield in the culture war they are engaged in based on their fears and prejudices.

That is the real crux of so much anger against “the other,” and in the throes of this insurmountable reality based on prejudice, the country that used to serve as an example sinks lowers and lower in the eyes of the world.

What is incredible is that this group does not only include white people, but also Latinos and African-Americans who discriminate against their own. And they have been so useful in this xenophobic crusade, that surely it doesn’t take much for them to understand why they will not be included in the other world that Trump, his family, and his cronies occupy, when this is all over.

While the chips fall where they may, we have to get used to the fact that this “other” group includes our neighbors, family members, or acquaintances and that, as their leader, they do not mind intimidating those who they consider their political enemies. We see this already in social networks, on calls with a mocking tone, in messages full of irony or fundamentalist rhetoric that takes one’s breath away.

Meanwhile, the “other” group did not see them coming or ignored the signs, underestimated their power or tried to dismiss them, saying that Trump’s excesses don’t represent this nation. Now we see that isn’t exactly the case.

But the white supremacists, or those who tried in Texas to run a Biden campaign bus off the road; or the people who attended campaign rallies that made fun of COVID-19 and masks are the mirror that Trump reflects. And he is smiling.l This was released on Nov 5. On Saturday, Nov 7, Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 elections.

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CIVIL RIGHTS

4 •Policies restricting the ability of state and local police to make arrests for federal immigration violations, or to detain individuals on civil immigration warrants.

•Policies prohibiting “287(g)” agreements through which ICE deputizes local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law.

•Policies that prevent local governments from entering into a contract with the federal government to hold immigrants in detention.

•Policies restricting the police or other city workers from asking about immigration status.

•Policies restricting the sharing of certain information on immigrants with the federal government.

•Policies refusing to allow ICE into local jails without a judicial warrant.

‘Sanctuary’ Cities Targeted /from page 1 of evidence to the contrary.

Immigrant rights groups recently released documents that show that ICE officials plan to levy massive civil fines against undocumented immigrants. ICE uses the fines to retaliate against outspoken leaders of the sanctuary movement.

Undocumented immigrants in the United States request refuge (or “sanctuary”) in churches or other houses of worship to avoid deportation. To date, nine people who have taken sanctuary in this manner, were targeted by ICE for fines of up to $500,000 each.

The agency rescinded the most recent fines after public outcry, though it has been collecting such fines since the beginning of Trump’s presidency.

ICE has also taken aim at state and local governments that enact sanctuary policies to limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The agency has launched large-scale immigration enforcement actions in these jurisdictions.

For instance, ICE officials announced that the agency arrested 128 immigrants in the Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco metropolitan areas between September 28 and October 2.

Similarly, a total of 172 immigrants were arrested in Baltimore, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, DC between October 3 and October 9.

The Trump administration also has put

Editorial credit: Robert P. Alvarez / Shutterstock.com

up billboards in six locations in Pennsylvania that feature mugshots of and charges against immigrants who, according to ICE, “were previously arrested or convicted of crimes in the United States and released” as a result of sanctuary policies.

In defending the controversial decision to use billboards, an ICE official said that sanctuary policies limiting local cooperation with the agency often “result in significant public safety concerns.”

This claim flies in the face of recent research published by the National Academy of Sciences. The research— which analyzed FBI crime data and ICE

deportation data—found that the implementation of sanctuary policies between 2010 and 2015 did not affect crime rates in jurisdictions or result in fewer people with violent convictions being deported.

The number of people without criminal convictions who were deported was significantly reduced in sanctuary jurisdictions, but those with convictions for violent crimes were in no way shielded. The study concludes that sanctuary policies “do not threaten public safety.”

There is no single, universal definition of what constitutes a “sanctuary” policy.

These policies come in many forms and may include:

There are many reasons jurisdictions adopt sanctuary policies. Such policies allow immigrants to work with police in reporting and investigating crimes without fear of deportation.

Sanctuary policies also allow state and local governments to prioritize the use of their limited law enforcement resources.

Contrary to the claims of the Trump administration, sanctuary policies enhance public safety in the communities where they are implemented. These communities should be applauded—and not face punitive punishments—for putting the safety of all their residents first.l

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IMMIGRANTS’ CONCERNS

5

Know Your Rights During Medicare Open Enrollment If a scammer calls Scammers might call and pretend to be Medicare representatives or agents in an attempt to steal your Medicare number.

They can use fake caller identification to impersonate Medicare or another organization you know, so don’t trust the name displayed on your phone’s screen. If anyone calls and asks for your Medicare, Social Security, or bank or credit card information, hang up. A scammer can use your personal information to file false claims, sign you up for a plan to which you didn’t agree, or even steal your identity. A legitimate Medicare employee will always have your Medicare number on file.

BY LOIS C. GREISMAN, FTC

D

uring Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which ends December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can choose the plans that are best for them. You can get help comparing Medicare plans from the State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) that are in all U.S. states and territories. It’s also good to understand what sellers are — and aren’t — allowed to do, so you’ll be prepared if an insurance agent or representative tries to enroll you in a Medicare plan that isn’t right for you.

There are limits on how Medicare plans can contact beneficiaries. Medicare plans: •Can’t call you if you don’t have a relationship with their company.

•Can’t send you email if you haven’t agreed to this form of contact.

•Can’t come to your home to sell Medicare products without an invitation.

•Can’t leave flyers, door hangers, or leaflets on your car or at your home.

However, agents and brokers who have a scheduled appointment with you may leave plan information at your residence

if you don’t show up for the appointment.

When you meet or talk with an agent, they: •Can’t start a discussion about other insurance products, like life insurance annuities, if your meeting is about Medicare Part C or Part D. •Can’t set their own time limits for you to sign up for a plan. You have until December 7 to enroll, and you can’t get any extra benefits for signing up early.

•Can’t threaten to take away your benefits if you don’t sign up for a plan or offer gifts if you do.

•Can’t suggest that Medicare endorses or prefers their plan.

•Can’t discuss Medicare products you didn’t ask to talk about when you filled out a scope of appointment form.

Once you’ve picked the plan that’s right for you, be sure you get all the details in writing before signing up. Take your time to read all information and verify details.

For example, reach out to your doctors to ensure they are in that plan’s network.

For more information about Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, visit smpresource.org. To report someone pretending to be from Medicare, call 1-800MEDICARE and visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov.l

Lois C. Greisman is the Elder Justice Coordinator, FTC The Senior Medicare Patrol National Resource Center

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IN THE COMMUNITY

6

Veterans Day 2020: A Different Time, and a Time to Make a Difference

W

e hear a lot today about recognizing those people who have made a difference for our country and for our citizens. On Veterans Day, we recognize the many Americans who have made a profound impact on our nation and our future through their service in the U.S. military.

In 1918, at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of the year, World War I formally came to an end when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. That date, Nov. 11, would become known first as Armistice Day in recognition of those who fought and died in WWI. This celebration was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 by President Eisenhower as an annual event recognizing all veterans, across all eras of service.

Every year, Veterans Day is an occasion to thank and celebrate all those who have fought and served with courage and honor to protect the values of the United States, and the lives of its citizens. "The immense sacrifice that each servicemember has made for our country is something we should honor as often as we can to show our appreciation as fellow Americans," says Vickie Koutz, chairman of the national Veterans Affairs &

issues and misplaced expectations about a return to "normalcy."

We are living in a different time— but also at a time when we can truly make a difference. With the knowledge that veterans are more likely to be feeling these extreme stressors, the ALA has identified some key ways we can all take action this year and support our veterans in the ways they need:

Rehabilitation Committee for the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA).

"Every day should be Veterans Day." This year, with the spread of COVID19 and social distancing restrictions in effect in communities across the country, Veterans Day celebrations are going to look different in a year when veterans may need more support than ever before.

Even before the pandemic, loneliness was a common experience for veterans,

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with one survey showing that approximately 50% of veterans struggle with feelings of isolation. Now, through months of social distancing and quarantining, veterans of all ages are at increased risk of isolation, depression and suicide. And according to Military Times, even when the current health crisis winds down, experts believe veterans may experience long-term challenges with personal finances, lingering health

Connect with veterans •A phone call or personalized letter can let a veteran know how much you care about them, and how much you appreciate their service. If you're not personally connected to a veteran, connect with the local ALA unit to see how you can volunteer to make a veteran feel special this Veterans Day. Honor veterans you know •Sharing pictures and inspiring stories of veterans you know on social media can be a great way to celebrate and uplift the veteran community. Many people are turning to digital spaces to feel a sense of community; let's bring the Veterans Day celebration to them. Don't forget to use hashtags like #veterans or #veteransday so others can find your posts.

Give your time and get involved •American Legion posts regularly serve as locations for local blood drives, and with continued blood supply shortages as a result of COVID-19, donating blood in honor of our veterans is a powerful act of service you can make yourself.

•Many communities are hosting drive-by parades to recognize veterans. You can participate in these parades or even help lead an effort for your broader community.

•Display the American flag or other patriotic signage in your lawn, or partner with local organizations and businesses to put up displays and decorations. These symbols express communities' solidarity with veterans, even when we can't connect in person.

In an historic year of unprecedented change, we are reminded of the role our veterans play in seeing the nation through times of challenge - and what we can do to support them in return.

Visit www.ALAforVeterans.org to see how you can get involved and show your support. (BPT)l

Visit NYC.gov/knowyourzone or call 311 to find out what to do to prepare for hurricanes in NYC. #knowyourzone

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ELECTIONS 2020

7

Kamala Harris/ continued from page 1 in a white suit, a gesture of respect to the color of suffragists who fought to enfranchise women. In her first speech as vicepresident-elect, Harris noted her ascension to the role comes 100 years after the 19th Amendment was ratified and 55 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which expanded who could participate in American democracy. She praised Joe Biden for having "the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exist in our country" by selecting a woman as his running mate.

Here are her words: “And to the woman most responsible for my presence here today, my mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who is always in our hearts. When she came here from India at the age of 19, she maybe didn't quite imagine this moment.

But she believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible, and so I am thinking about her and about the generations of women, Black women, Asian, white, Latina, Native American women, who throughout our nation's history, have paved the way for this moment tonight, women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality and liberty and justice for all. Including the Black women who are often, too often overlooked but so often proved they are the backbone of our democracy.

All the women who have worked to secure and protect the right to vote for

Editorial credit: Aaron of L.A. Photography / Shutterstock.com

over a century 100 years ago with the 19th Amendment, 55 years ago with the Voting Rights Act and now in 2020 with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continued the fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard.

Tonight, I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision to see what can be unburdened by what has been. And I stand on their shoulders. And what a testament it is to Joe's character that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country and select a woman as his vice president.

But while I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that

this is a country of possibilities and to the children of our country regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not simply because they've never seen it before.”

Harris's words are so relevant to us as immigrants. Too often, especially in the last four years, we had an administration who demonized immigrants at a level of pure evilness: children forcefully separated from their parents; children put into cages; hysterectomies performed on women without their permission; to mention a few horrors. And so, while we know that these horrors cannot be undone or the trauma erased, we can look forward with hope and optimism. We know

that America was built on the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrants. We know that immigrants contribute to the success of America. We are proud to see a daughter of immigrants from the Caribbean and Asia continent ascend to such a high office. We are proud of Kamala Harris, and we know she will continue to make us proud.

American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou said, “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” We expect Harris to come as one, but stand as 100,000 when she joins President-elect Joe Biden in the Oval Office in January 2021.

We look forward to the Soul of the Nation being restored. God bless America.l

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MONEY MATTERS

8

Immigrants are Still Sending Lots of Money Home Despite the Coronavirus Job Losses in some cases making up as much as 30% of GDP. This is why forecasts of a sharp drop in remittances due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns were so alarming.

In April, the World Bank projected a 20% decline in remittances to low- and middle-income countries. This would have amounted to more than $100 billion in lost income, equivalent to two-thirds of all foreign aid distributed by governments in 2019.

BY LAURA CARON & ERWIN R. TIONGSON THE CONVERSATION

B

anks and aid agencies have been warning of a pandemic-related plunge in the amount of money sent by migrants to family back home who rely on the income. In a typical year, more than 270 million migrants living and working abroad send these cash transfers, known as remittances, to their home countries.

Yet so far, despite the lockdowns that have devastated wealthier economies and caused massive unemployment, remittances have generally held up this year.

In some cases they’ve even been higher than usual, based on our review of the latest available data and press releases for top remittance recipient countries.

Remittances to Mexico, for example, surged 9.4% in the first eight months of the year. Pakistan is also experiencing a record increase, while cash transfers to such countries as Vietnam and the Philippines have held steady.

There a few likely reasons for the positive news for these and other countries – but there’s also reason to worry.

The importance of remittances Remittances normally flow from rich

countries like the U.S., the United Arab Emirates and Germany to lower- and middle-income countries.

In 2019, migrants sent a record US$554 billion home. This is more than the sum of all investments made by foreign companies in such developing countries and over triple the amount of aid governments provide.

Remittances are also more dependable than either international aid or investment. During bad times, remittances tend to increase, while foreign investments usually fall. And beyond directly sup-

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porting the intended recipient, they are essential for helping poorer nations fight poverty and improve health care and education.

Our research with Michael Clemens on Filipino workers in South Korea, for example, found that overseas work increased investment in their children’s education and health care by several hundred percent. In such South Asian countries as Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh, remittances have helped reduce poverty.

In some countries, remittances are a substantial part of the national economy,

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Remittances stay strong Many countries did experience an initial hit to remittances in the spring, but summer cash transfers mostly made up for it.

And some countries have experienced rising remittances throughout the pandemic.

Mexico, which took in over $38 billion last year, received the most remittances in a single month ever in March, with cash transfers continuing to surge through the summer. Egypt is seeing a nearly 8% jump this year.

In the Philippines, where remittances make up 10% of GDP, money transfers decreased in the spring but mostly recov-

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9

MONEY MATTERS Sending Money Home/ continued from page 8 ered later in the year. The story was similar in Vietnam, Bangladesh, El Salvador and Honduras.

Some likely causes So what explains these rising or steady remittance flows? While there’s no definitive answer because of a lack of data, there are a few possibilities.

Despite the onset of severe recessions, many migrant workers have been able to keep earning income. For one thing, they tend to be employed in essential businesses such as agriculture and construction that have not suffered as much during the pandemic. In Europe, in certain essential sectors, migrant workers account for a third of all workers.

And governments in some countries such as Italy and Portugal have implemented reforms that are making it easier for undocumented workers to access services or even offering temporary citizenship to some. France, Spain and Germany, meanwhile, are opening up sectors of their economy to migrants and asylum seekers that were previously closed to them.

All of this makes it easier for migrant workers to keep earning and sending money home to their families, who may be struggling a lot more than their relatives in their wealthy host countries.

Research has found that migrant work-

ers often send more remittances home when their countries of origin are experiencing economic hardship. This altruism is the reason many workers choose to migrate abroad in the first place. Jesus Perlera, a worker from El Salvador who has not stopped sending remittances to his mother despite his own economic challenges, told The New York Times: “If I don’t support her, how will she eat?”

Another factor likely driving remittances is government stimulus spending.

While a lot of pandemic aid isn’t available to undocumented immigrants in the U.S., California, for one, let them access the $1,200 economic impact checks sent out as part of the coronavirus relief bill.

Goldman Sachs credited this coronavirus spending for the strong remittances to Mexico, while the World Bank cited social protection programs such as unemployment and in-kind transfers for

shoring up migrant workers around the world.

For migrants who are having more difficulty finding work, the decision to move back home may also spur a flurry of remittance activity as they send their savings ahead of their own departures.

It’s also possible some of the apparent increase in remittances, as in Pakistan, is artificial. Traditionally, large amounts of remittances have been sent through informal means, such as cash sent or carried by migrants when they visit home. The pandemic has forced more people to make digital transfers, which are a lot easier to track but don’t necessarily indicate an increase in remittances.

A crash may still come While the fact that remittances have held up is good news for developing countries and their populations, which have been

hit especially hard by the pandemic, there are worrying signs that we may yet see the predicted crash.

The return of migrants to their home countries means they’re no longer able to earn extra money that they can send back to their families. Some 78,000 migrant workers from Bangladesh, for example, have already returned home since April because of the pandemic. And the International Organization for Migration interviewed migrants from Mexico and Central America in June and found that 41% had stopped sending remittances, while over 80% of those still sending money had reduced the amounts.

Even as some countries lift restrictions on migrant workers, others are adding new ones or denying visas. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a report on Oct. 19 indicating that the number of visas and residence permits countries issued in the first half of the year fell by 46% from 2019.

Given how much so many people depend on remittances, we believe aid agencies and governments should monitor the data carefully and do what they can to protect this fragile lifeline.l

Laura Caron is PhD student in Economics, Columbia University. Erwin R. Tiongson is a Professor of the Practice and Deputy Director, Global Human Development, Georgetown University

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National Diabetes Month 2020

Follow these tips to help youth who have diabetes.

Seek mental health support.

Regardless of their age, sometimes youth who have diabetes need support with their diabetes care.

That’s why it’s important to work as a team with your child or teen and their health care team to develop a diabetes self-care plan.

Encourage them to connect with other youth who have diabetes, stay alert for signs of feeling down and anxious, and be prepared to seek help with your youth.

Manage blood glucose levels.

Monitor for diabetes complications.

Keep their blood glucose in the target range and make sure they take their medicines as prescribed to prevent or delay other health problems.

Earlier diagnosis and treatment of complications, including heart, kidney, and eye diseases, can improve overall health.

Encourage healthy habits.

Stay prepared for emergencies.

Try following a meal plan, get enough sleep, and aim for regular physical activity.

Prepare for the unexpected by packing a “go kit” that includes medical supplies and equipment.

Visit niddk.nih.gov for more information on managing diabetes.

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Phone 1-800-860-8747

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11

FAMILY MATTERS

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Teens & Young Adults

T

ype 1 diabetes is a serious autoimmune disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin—which allows the body to get energy from food.

It strikes suddenly—and it’s not related to lifestyle or diet. There’s no way to prevent this disease and, as of now, there is no cure. That’s why it’s crucial that you be aware of the symptoms of diabetes in children so you’re able to recognize them early.

One of the early signs of diabetes in children is increased urination and thirst.

When blood-sugar is high it triggers a reaction in the body that pulls fluid from tissues. This will leave your son or daughter constantly thirsty, resulting in a need for more bathroom breaks throughout the day. Below are some other warning signs that you should be aware of:

lems.

Fatigue If your child is constantly tired it may be a sign that his or her body is having trouble turning sugar in the bloodstream into energy.

Other symptoms of diabetes in children Be on the lookout if your child is lethargic, shows heavy breathing, or experiences nausea and vomiting. When it goes untreated, type 1 diabetes can be lifethreatening. If you’re concerned that your son or daughter is showing signs of childhood diabetes it’s important that

Changes in vision High blood sugar levels can lead to blurred vision or other eyesight prob-

sues—which leads to dehydration. Your teenager may then drink more fluids and urinate more frequently. Some other symptoms of diabetes in teens include:

Fruity smelling breath If your kid’s breath smells fruity, it could be a result of excess sugar in the blood.

Increased appetite If your teenager’s body isn’t able to get the proper energy it needs from food he or she may feel more hungry than normal.

Extreme hunger and unexplained weight loss When your son or daughter’s muscles and organs aren’t receiving enough energy, it can trigger extreme hunger. And sudden weight loss—especially if he or she is eating more—should not be ignored.

Unusual behavior If your child seems more moody or restless than normal—and it’s in conjunction with the symptoms above—it could be cause for concern.

Unexpected weight loss If your child is losing weight—especially when eating more—it could be a sign that his or her body isn’t getting enough calories from their food. you schedule a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes in young adults Signs of type 1 diabetes in young adults tend to come on quickly. Especially for teens, it can be easy to write off the symptoms as illness-related. One of the first early warning signs to look for is increased thirst and bathroom breaks.

That’s because high blood sugar levels cause the body to pull fluid from tis-

Other diabetes symptoms in teenagers What other warning signs should you be aware of? Look for sudden vision changes; feeling drowsy or lethargic; experiencing heavy or labored breathing; and your child falling into a stupor or unconsciousness. Type 1 diabetes can be life-threatening if it goes untreated. And the earlier you catch it the better, so please see your doctor if you think your teenager is experiencing symptoms.l

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JOBS & RECESSION

12

Is This the Right Time to Switch Careers? Many People are Discovering Passions During the Pandemic

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people in countless ways. From quarantine and social distancing to remote working, furlough and job loss, many people are reassessing how they spend their time and make money. Turning proverbial lemons into lemonade, people of all ages and backgrounds have decided to pivot their careers to do something that they truly enjoy.

Time provides the gift of insight With extra time at home, people are taking stock of their jobs and what paths might make most sense for the future.

They also have time to explore hobbies and passions that may have been put on hold previously. Finding enjoyment in these activities and realizing strengths and talents, this can be the inspiration for a new chapter. Here are a few examples: * Limited restaurant hours and options paired with ample time to spend in the kitchen has inspired foodies to flex their culinary muscles. Some have started

because I saw tech companies innovating and helping people. After about four years, I realized sitting at a desk all day and not meeting the people that I was serving was not providing me the fulfillment I was looking for. I spoke with my uncle who is a financial representative and he introduced me to a local firm. I love being able to make an impact on my clients' lives and building real relationships with them. There is no greater feeling in the world than there is to empower people to live their lives to their fullest!" says Tyler Wilmot, Financial Representative, New York, New York.

showing off their creations on social media and even recording how-to videos to share with friends and family. Live cooking videos may have been a fun way to connect socially with others from a distance. * Having last-minute needs for household supplies, such as desks for the whole family, DIYers started working on

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

projects in garages and sheds, realizing they have a maker mindset and handy capabilities. Talking with others and sharing images of finished projects, they've discovered their talents are in high demand, and others are interested in their creations. * Unexpected changes due to hour reduction, job loss and more have financial consequences for many families.

Number-minded people rise to the challenge, creating agile budgets that help their family thrive in uncertain times.

These people may even share their budgeting tips with others and find joy in helping people discover financial security.

The silver lining of the pandemic is it has given the gift of time for reflection and self-discovery. However, it's one thing to enjoy a talent or passion; it's another to figure out how to monetize it.

Desire inspires the need for change Being your own boss is appealing to many people. If you've discovered a talent and you want to make it a career, it's important to explore options that can help set you up for success. Taking orders for custom-made desks can be a rewarding side gig or even full-time career, if you have the space, the right tools and organization skills. Passionate cooks can explore culinary school and consider hosting online cooking classes to help garner some money and grow their reputation.

For people with a knack for finances, there's no better time to explore the possibilities for a bright, vibrant new career as a financial professional. Organizations such as The Guardian Life Insurance Company provide training on how to build your career and find clients. They partner you with mentors in a team setting so that you can learn from peers as you help clients reach financial confidence. They even provide proprietary software that will help you build plans for clients so they can visualize their future success.

"I chose to become a software engineer

Financial representatives are in high demand Becoming a financial representative can be ideal for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit. A financial representative is someone who owns their own business and makes their own hours. You can decide areas of specialty and what you're most passionate about.

Helping others feel confident in their financial wellness now and in the future is a source of pride. For people with a desire to help people address financial challenges, it's a wonderful job opportunity with high-growth potential.

Financial representatives come from all backgrounds and exploring this career doesn't require previous experience.

There is a growing need in the industry to have people from diverse groups become financial representatives in order to best represent a diverse group of clientele.

The first step is learning more at https://www.guardianlife.com and then filling out a free application. The Guardian Network can provide the knowledge and support for you to be as successful as you are driven to be.

Is it time you changed your future?

Many people have been reassessing their life path during the pandemic and desire to make a change so they can spend their time doing something they love while making an honest living. If this is something you've been thinking about, there's no better time to consider options and opportunities.l

IMMIGRATION

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EDUCATION

14

How Proposed Changes to ‘Duration of Status’ Rules Will Impact Students and Exchange Visitors

BY LENNET PENATE

T

he Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that will make it more difficult for individuals applying for admission in a J-1 exchange visitor or F-1 student visa category to complete their programs, apply for extensions, and even secure these opportunities in the first place.

Exchange visitors are approved nonimmigrants that participate in work and study-based programs in the J visa category. F-1 students are citizens of another country that attend school full-time in the United States.

Under current law, foreign nationals applying for a J or F visa enter with a set “duration of status” that can last anywhere between a matter of weeks to multiple years, depending on the length of the program.

The proposed rule eliminates the previously set “duration of status” admissions for F and J categories. The rule limits the maximum amount of time to four years,

and two years for individuals from certain countries—not long enough for some to complete their programs.

This would require many students and exchange visitors to apply for extensions of status—which are expensive and not guaranteed—to complete their program.

DHS’ rule is based on an oversimplified view of these programs—and of the J-1 visa program in particular. If the rule goes into effect, several changes will occur:

A CBP Officer Will Determine Duration of Status A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer’s evaluation of an applicant’s program will dictate the duration of status. Currently, that decision is made by a consular officer during an applicant’s visa interview.

Several factors will go into this new evaluation. CBP officers will consider whether an applicant is a citizen of a country with student and exchange visitor visa overstay rate above 10%, and limit them to a maximum two-year period of stay. These restrictions would fall disproportionately on Africa and the Middle East.

Research has shown that the Department of Homeland Security’s measurement of visa overstays is severely flawed. As many as half of all students suspected to have overstayed are later revealed to have remained in the country legally.

Officers can also look into whether a school or program sponsor participates in the E-Verify system. DHS has also stated that it will consider whether a J-1 applicant’s country of birth or citizenship is on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, regardless whether the applicant themselves is involved in such activities.

This new rule would limit international exchange visitors’ and students’ flexibility to remain in the United States if their present training or academic plans change.

J-1 and F-1 Visa Holders Cannot Guarantee Dates for Their Program This proposed change to how and when “duration of status” would be determined would mean that applicants will have to wait until they receive a stamp from DHS to confirm the length of their programs.

This can impact individuals’ plans, as it makes their programs less reliable.

The present practice for applicants is providing a breakdown of their program’s duration through a training plan form (DS-7002). This document is presented at the time of the applicant’s visa interview and highlights how long the

program is set to last based on what is being taught.

Under the new rule, applicants would not be able to guarantee specific dates or the length for their program or education.

If the duration of stay is shorter than what’s needed to complete the required content for a training program, sponsoring host organizations could choose to terminate a program for a visitor or student before it begins.

Cutting programs short would limit the ability for applicants requesting training under an exchange visitor visa to acquire the necessary knowledge. The lengths of programs can vary even within visa categories. Programs like a J-1 physician compared to a J-1 intern would vary immensely in length.

CBP officers would not have the depth of knowledge and experience to understand how long each personalized training period should last.

Host Organizations May Reconsider Sponsoring Applicants Even if a good faith effort is made by each CBP officer, the uncertainty of the program dates and limited flexibility could discourage host organizations from sponsoring these nonimmigrant applicants.

As a result of the rule, the exchange visitor visa category—created to strengthen and connect international engagement abroad—could be damaged for years to come. The ongoing restrictions that have suspended the entry of most nonimmigrant visas will only be part of the problem if this rule goes into effect.

The spirit of these nonimmigrant visa programs is to offer the international exchange of ideas, education, and culture. The programs offer opportunities for nonimmigrant applicants to learn, but also encourages Americans to experience different cultures and discover new ideas and ways to think about the world around them. This threatens to harm these visa opportunities.l

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GENERATIONS

15

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: What You Should Know

T

his November, Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America wants everyone to know: Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, early detection matters (get memory screenings), and lifestyle choices can reduce risk.

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects more than 5.8 million Americans, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that number will grow to 14 million by 2060.

“Today, almost everyone knows someone who has been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, but not everyone understands what it is or what they can do about it,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is an empowering reminder to take better care of our own health, and brain, and to get memory screenings, just as regularly, and importantly, as we do blood pressure and cholesterol checkups.”

Important reminders from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America: Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging.

It is a progressive, degenerative brain dis-

and all are treatable or curable—but you can’t address them if you aren’t aware that they exist.

order, characterized by plagues and tangles in brain tissue, that impacts memory, thinking and language skills, and the ability to carry out simple tasks. If you experience any of these common symptoms below, seek out a memory screening: •Frequent memory loss that impacts your ability to function in daily life •Becoming disoriented to time, place, and the immediate environment •Struggling to complete familiar tasks, such as brushing your teeth •Trouble following or initiating a conversation •Repeatedly putting items in locations they don’t belong (e.g., car keys in the freezer) •Changes in mood and personality Early detection matters.

Memory screenings are an important first step toward early detection of memory issues. Screenings are simple, quick, and noninvasive, consisting of a series of

questions to gauge memory, language, thinking skills and other intellectual functions. AFA provides free, virtual memory screenings every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nationwide.

Contact AFA at 866-232-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org to learn more or to schedule an appointment..

People experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline may be reluctant, embarrassed or in denial about seeking help, but early detection of memory issues affords greater opportunities to begin medications sooner to slow the progression of disease symptoms, participate in a clinical trial, take advantage of therapeutic programming, and have an active role in developing your care, health, legal and financial plans.

Just as important, not all memory issues are caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, urinary tract infections, sleep apnea, and depression are examples of conditions that can cause memory impairments—

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your Alzheimer’s risk.

Adopt a low-fat, heart-healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables and limit intake of red meats, fried and processed foods, salt and sugar; stay physically active (exercise increases blood and oxygen flow to the body and the brain); be socially engaged (volunteer, see friends and family); get quality sleep, 7-9 hours a night (studies suggest that sleep plays a role in clearing metabolic waste out of the brain); reduce stress (it can cause brain inflammation); continue learning (take up dancing, learn a new language, read more); avoid smoking, and limit alcohol consumption.

Don’t deal with Alzheimer’s alone.

Whether you have Alzheimer’s, are a family caregiver, or have a loved one in your life with the disease, you can connect with support, answers, and local resources through AFA’s Helpline (866232-8484), and web chat, available in 90+ languages at www.alzfdn.org. l

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HEALTH

16

How to Do Laundry During COVID-19: Do's and Dont's

G

ood laundry practices in the home are more important than ever. Recommendations from the North American Cleaning and Sanitization Expert Panel, which recently convened in a workshop hosted by the University of Arizona, offer guidelines to help reduce the spread of infections and illness when it comes to laundry practices in your home. These methods can give you better peace of mind, knowing that you're doing all you can to help reduce the spread of viruses that cause COVID-19, the flu and colds.

Here are some easy-to-follow do's and don'ts for laundry best practices in your home: DO use a deeper-cleaning, high-quality laundry detergent that removes deeply embedded soils and germs.

According to one of the experts on the panel, microbiologist and University of Arizona professor Dr. Charles P. Gerba, regular good laundry practices, combined with the use of a deeper-cleaning, high-quality detergent and precautions like washing your hands after handling soiled or wet laundry is enough to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.

"Viruses that cause colds, flu and

COVID-19 are very sensitive to the surfactants found in deeper-cleaning, highquality laundry detergents," said Dr. Gerba. "Combined with the regular laundry process and special handling precautions including hand washing, deeper-cleaning detergents can provide better protection for you and your family versus the use of lighter cleaning detergents."

DO always wash or sanitize hands after handling soiled laundry and transferring wet laundry from washer to dryer, even in healthy households.

DO use special precautions if COVID19, the flu, or a cold is suspected or confirmed. Wear disposable gloves if possible when handling dirty laundry (clothes and linens) from a person who is sick.

Dirty laundry from a person who is sick can be washed with other people's items. Do not shake dirty laundry. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers, appliance and other surfaces that contact soiled laundry. Remove gloves, and wash or sanitize hands right away. Wash or sanitize hands again after transferring wet laundry from washer to dryer.

DO frequently wash clothing and other items such as bath towels, hand towels and kitchen towels. Bedsheets and especially pillowcases also require frequent laundering.

DO use the highest temperature clothes washer setting you can safely use, according to the care instructions for the items being laundered if a respiratory illness such as COVID-19, the flu or a cold is suspected or confirmed. Healthy households can wash clothes in cold water.

DO regularly clean and disinfect your home's clothes hampers, appliances or other surfaces that come into contact with soiled laundry.

DON'T use a laundry sanitizer for everyday cleaning. Laundry sanitizers are an added extra step needed during specific illnesses, such as the stomach flu, and are not needed to protect you and your family against the viruses that cause colds, the flu, and COVID-19. In special situations where a laundry sanitizer is recommended for use, it should always be used after washing with a deepercleaning laundry detergent.

DON'T wait to wash soiled clothes or bedding of an ill family member — wash those items as soon as possible to avoid spreading infection in your household.

DON'T wash bedding or clothes from a family member who is ill with an enteric virus (stomach bug, vomiting and diarrhea), has a weakened immune system, or work clothes contaminated by germs from sick people or animals together with laundry from other members of the household. Keeping that laundry separate can help prevent viruses or bacteria from spreading to others. Wash in hot water, using a deeper-cleaning laundry detergent plus a registered sanitizer and/or sanitizing cycle on the washing machine. Dry in a dryer on high heat.

Wearing disposable gloves when handling soiled laundry from an ill household member can provide an extra layer of protection.

Following these laundry practices can help ensure your family will be less likely to spread bacteria or viruses, says Dr. Gerba, helping to reduce the risk of illness for everyone in your home. (BPT)l

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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

17

How to Have a Civilized Divorce

BY MARK GODDARD

W

hen Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin announced that they were “consciously uncoupling” but remained good friends, it was greeted with much sniggering and ridicule. Yet, however irritating the phrase may have been, such a calm, even affectionate, divorce is possible. Of course, there are frequently good reasons for anger and hatred; abuse, neglect, and infidelity leave scars that last for years.

But marriage breakdowns often degenerate into bitterness quite unnecessarily.

If you believe a civilized divorce is both desirable and possible, try the following: 1) Recognize that the end of a marriage doesn’t have to be someone’s fault. Many people feel that unless anger, bitterness, and even hatred is involved, they are doing something wrong. You aren’t.

Don’t whip up anger and hate where none existed. Marriages can simply run their course. Perhaps the chemistry was never quite right, and things came to a natural end, with neither partner able to maintain the lie any longer. Never forget that most people find marriage hard.

Sharing a small living space, and especially a toilet, bathroom, and bed, with the same person year in year out is never easy.

2) Remember that divorce is a positive thing. The comedian Louis CK once joked that divorce is the good bit because no happy marriage ever ends, adding that he needed his friend’s sympathies while he was married, not now that he was divorced. Happy marriages do not end.

Two individuals are making one another miserable and decide to separate. That is a positive step. Divorce, like most things in life, is a matter of perspective. You can choose to see this as the end of your life or the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

3) Be wary of divorce attorneys. If you are paying someone to represent you during your divorce, it is in their interest to stir up as much hatred and anger as possible. The more messy, bitter and drawn out a divorce becomes, the more money the attorney will make. Why not do it yourself? People often look back and say “I needed my attorney because things had grown too bitter. My partner and I could never have sat down and discussed things”, failing to see that it was only when the attorneys got involved that things became bitter!

4) Do not allow fear to mutate into anger.

Divorce often generates a huge amount of fear. People look to the future and panic about everything from money to

loneliness. Any therapist will tell you that frightened people become angry people. You have evolved to equate fear with danger, and danger with the need to attack or defend. Try to rationalize your fears. If possible, seek counselling.

Divorce is very common and something most counsellors are trained to deal with.

They will help you work through the fear and thus avoid the anger.

5) Do not allow your family or friends to create bitterness and hatred where none existed. When couples announce their intention to divorce, family and friends are inevitably drawn in. Parents and siblings often take divorce as a personal

insult. For example, they may reassure their son that “she was never good enough for you” when what they really mean is “how dare she divorce you! She was never good enough for my family/us/me!”. Other family members may now feel free to release years of pent up irritation and dislike. Worst of all are those neighbors and friends who take secret delight in the drama. Never allow anyone to turn your divorce into a soap opera.

Of course, few things are easier than giving advice. But a peaceful, civilized divorce is often easier than many people realize. It is certainly better than the alternative. l

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WELCOME TO AMERICA

18

Trump’s Public Charge Rule Blocked Yet Again in Court sion in a 2-1 decision. The court found that the public charge rule was “arbitrary and capricious” and had been put in place in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. The dissenting opinion in the 7th Circuit Court came from Amy Coney Barrett, who has since joined the Supreme Court.

But because the Supreme Court put the implementation of the rule on hold in February, the 7th Circuit’s decision did not reinstall the block on the public charge rule.

BY AARON REICHLIN-MELNICK

T

he Trump administration’s public charge rule has been blocked nationwide for a third time by a federal judge in Illinois who granted summary judgment against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on November 2. The rule, first proposed in 2018, imposed a wealth test on people seeking green cards in the United States. This latest decision comes after the rule was blocked twice and then revived by the Supreme Court last February.

When the public charge rule was first announced, it sent fear through immigrant communities. New research reveals that it caused as many as 260,000 children to lose coverage as their immigrant parents disenrolled them from public benefits.

It also caused significant problems and expenses for people seeking green cards.

Anyone applying for a green card was required to submit hundreds of pages of additional evidence along with every application.

Thanks to the new ruling, public charge has been put on hold again—for now.

Background to the Public Charge Ruling The recent decision came from a lawsuit originally filed by Cook County, Illinois in 2019. Soon before the public charge rule went into effect, Judge Gary Feinerman granted a preliminary injunction against the rule, blocking it before it went into effect.

That injunction was put on hold by the Supreme Court in February, along with similar decisions in different cases around the country. This paved the way for the Trump administration to begin implementing the public charge rule nationwide.

In June, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Judge Feinerman’s deci-

The November 2 Public Charge Ruling Monday’s decision came after the government admitted that it was bound by the logic of the 7th Circuit’s decision to uphold the injunction. As a result, the government did not oppose a grant of summary judgment, which is generally considered the end of the legal debate on a challenge after a judge conducts a full review. However, the government did argue that the judge should limit his order only to Cook County—an argument the judge rejected.

Judge Feinerman also held that the case could go to trial on a separate legal challenge to the rule under the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution.

The challengers argued that the public charge rule was deliberately aimed at Hispanic voters and immigrants—two groups the president has attacked in the past. The court will now hear more arguments on this issue.

What Comes Next on Public Charge?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has reportedly already told officers not to apply the rule on people seeking green cards.

It is likely that the government will appeal the decision back to the Supreme Court. Because Justice Barrett took part in the 7th Circuit case, she will be unable to participate in any future decisions in the case at the Supreme Court—including whether to put this ruling on hold.

The most pressing question that remains for now is whether the Supreme Court will grant another stay, allowing the Trump administration to put the rule back in place a third time.l Update: On November 5, the Seven Circuit Court of appeals placed an administrative stay on the district court’s ruling, restoring the public charge rule at least temporarily.

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