The Immigrant’s Journal - Vol. 182

Biden Keeps Title 42 and Sets New Migrant Caps

BY JR HOLGUIN, JOURNAL EXCLUSIVE

On Thursday, January 5, President

Biden unveiled a new strategy that includes extending Title 42 expulsions of people who enter the U.S. through the southern border while granting humanitarian parole to up to 30,000 migrants per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Previously, those from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua were permitted to apply for asylum at the southern border. Under the new arrangement, they would be immediately deported to Mexico. Biden said that Mexico agreed to deport up to 30,000 individuals per month who are apprehended.

of

BY LINDA NWOKE JOURNAL EXCLUSIVE

Drug convictions can have lifealtering consequences for any individual, but the results can be even more severe for immigrants. Many immigrants are unaware that a drug conviction can affect their immigration status.

Federal immigration laws detail severe immigration penalties on most controlled substance offenses, including minor ones.

In California, a conviction based on the simple possession of supplies or

"My message is this: If you're trying to leave Cuba, Nicaragua, or Haiti, or have agreed to begin a journey to America, do not — do not just show up at the border. Stay where you are and apply legally from there," said Biden.

Under Biden's new parole program, candidates must first download the CBP One app on their phone and apply for asylum. Second, they need to find a sponsor in the U.S. who will start the procedure and agree to pay for support. And they must wait while undergoing "rigorous background checks" and not try and cross the borderer unlawfully.

However, if their application is rejected

Immigration Consequences

credit: NYC

Editorial

President Biden.

Editorial

being under the influence of a substance can result in an immigrant's detention without bond at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). While in New York, any conviction and guilty pleas can result in immediate detention and deportation, even for those who have lived for a long time in the United States. The violations or nonviolent misdemeanors, such as marijuana possession, can also lead to deportation.

T EAM Biden Administration Must Take Executive Action on Immigration

BY THE ILRC

Washington: The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is calling on President Biden to use executive action to enact bold policy solutions on immigration. Specifically, the ILRC is demanding action to ensure immigration benefits are more equitable and accessible, and that the work to dismantle the enforcement, detention and surveillance systems is begun.

The ILRC credits the administration for taking steps to undo previous efforts to transform the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) into an enforcement agency. These efforts have begun to turn the agency back to its intended mission of fairly adjudicating immigration benefits. Positive changes include: the revised USCIS mission statement; automatic extension of certain work authorizations; updates to the USCIS policy manual; deferred action programs for U Visa and Special Immigrant Juvenile status applicants; new travel policies for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders; improved good moral character guidance for naturalization; new guidance on naturalization for applicants with disabilities; updates to USCIS forms; and extension of COVID flexibilities.

“However, there is still more work to do, and we renew our call to President Biden to seize the opportunity that remains in the final two years of his term to enact bold policy solutions guided by values that uphold the dignity of all immigrants and bring us closer to becoming the country we promise to be,”

said ILRC Policy Director Sameera

Hafiz.

Among our demands in A Platform for Immigrant Justice: Executive Action the Biden Administration Must Enact are:

•Commitments from the Biden administration to make concrete and positive changes within USCIS to eliminate unfair adjudications, processing backlogs, and burdensome and unnecessary fees in the immigration process

•Ending immigration arrests, detentions, and deportations

•Separating immigration from the criminal legal system

•End all 287(g) programs

•End the Secure Communities program

•End the use of surveillance and data sharing

• End all partnerships involved with

Texas’s Operation Lone Star scheme

•End all contracts with private prison companies

•Take steps to address the disproportionate impact of drug law enforcement on immigrant communities

•Clarify and expand Presidential procla-

mation on cannabis pardons

•Deschedule cannabis

•Clarify that state remedies eliminate immigration consequences

•End deportation charges for cannabisrelated offenses

•Overturn ALL harmful decisions issued under the Trump administration

“Our communities will continue to fight for dignity and to realize the solutions we need. We ask for President Biden’s leadership in taking these executive actions and join us in forging a new way forward,” Hafiz said. l

The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) is a national nonprofit that works with immigrants, community organizations, legal professionals, and policy makers to build a democratic society that values diversity and the rights of all people. Through community education programs, legal training & technical assistance, and policy development & advocacy, the ILRC works to protect and defend the fundamental rights of immigrant families and communities.

Congress Must Pass Prison Phone Justice Bill

WASHINGTON: Jesselyn McCurdy, executive vice president of government affairs at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after Senate passage of the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Bill, S. 1541:

“Predatory prison phone rates — which can run as high as $1 per minute — only serve to isolate incarcerated people from their families and loved ones while companies profit off their pain. No one should have to choose between connecting with a loved one and paying for necessities like food, rent, and health

care. Lowering rates will relieve this burden for incarcerated individuals and allow them to maintain relationships outside of prison — further reducing recidi-

vism. We applaud champions in the Senate for taking the long overdue, commonsense step to eliminate this predatory practice. Now the House of Representatives must take the Senate’s lead and pass this potentially life-saving legislation before the end of the 117th Congress.”l

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 230 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals.

Publisher I.Q. INC.

Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq.

Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Pearl Phillip

Senior Writer

Linda Nwoke

Contributing Writers

JR Holguin

Janet Howard

Chris Tobias

Mary Campbell

Graphic & Website Designers

Praim Samsoondar

Kendrick Williams

Email immjournal@aol.com

Visit www.ijlef.org

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

Editorial credit: Johnny Silvercloud / Shutterstock.com

USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees

On Tuesday, January 3, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. The new fees would allow USCIS to more fully recover its operating costs, reestablish and maintain timely case processing, and prevent the accumulation of future case backlogs.

Overview

The proposed rule follows USCIS’ comprehensive fee review, which determined that the agency’s current fees, in which have remained unchanged since 2016, fall far short of recovering the full cost of agency operations.

The proposed rule would increase some fees, including a modest increase in the fee for certain naturalization applications, while preserving existing fee waiver eligibility for low-income and vulnerable populations and adding new fee exemptions for certain humanitarian programs. If finalized, the proposed rule would decrease or minimally increase fees for more than one million lowincome filers each year.

New measures include a proposal to incorporate biometrics costs into the main benefit fee and remove the separate

biometric services fee; establish separate fees for each nonimmigrant classification covered by Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Workers; change the premium processing timeframe from 15 calendar days to 15 business days; and institute lower fees for certain forms filed online. The proposed rule would not change fee waiver eligibility requirements.

Background

USCIS typically receives 96 percent of its funding from filing fees, not from Congressional appropriations. In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic reduction in receipts of new applications, resulting in a temporary drop in revenue by 40 percent. The combination of depleted cash reserves, a temporary hiring freeze, and workforce attrition has reduced the agency’s capacity to timely adjudicate cases, particularly as incoming caseloads rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

Advocates Push Back

Meanwhile, Immigrant Rights Network urge the Biden administration not to move forward with fee increases in its proposed regulation

The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA), a leading network of 60 immigrant rights organizations in 40 states, strongly urges the Biden administration to reject the proposed regulation, which, if it goes into effect, will disproportionately impact low-income and working communities seeking green cards or family reunions through nonimmigrant petitions and employmentrelated visas. NPNA urges individuals and organizations to submit comments against the proposed rule.

“Citizenship and other immigration benefits remain out of reach for so many lower-income individuals that even nominal fee increases will exacerbate current disparities in access,” said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of NPNA. “This rule, if implemented, will price out eligible low-income and working-class families from green cards, deepen the

cost of citizenship by 19%, and make it more difficult to reunite with family members abroad — which already saw a 33% increase in green cards and a 35% —101% rise in family petitions. At the same time, as we grapple with massive labor shortages and the continued economic fallout of the post-COVID economy, these increases could potentially undermine recent successes that USCIS has achieved towards reducing citizenship backlogs and restoring good faith among USCIS and potential applicants.”

Public Comment

The USCIS proposed regulation, published on Jan 4, 2023, will be open for public comment for 60 days. NPNA urges individuals and stakeholder organizations to advocate against the proposed rule. Once this period closes on Monday, March 6, the federal government has a legal obligation to review and address substantive comments before finalizing the regulation, which can take several additional months. A previous fee-raising regulation by the Trump administration was blocked by a federal court just days before it was set to go into effect in October 2020 (after being proposed in November 2019).l

Editorial credit: Lyonstock / Shutterstock.com

Immigrant Drivers Fined by New York TLC Police in Sting Operations

BY AMIR KHAFAGY, DOCUMENTED NY

It was an unusually mild August day in 2021, when immigrant JamaicanAmerican Stanford Miller, 49, who was dropping off relatives at JFK Airport, was approached by an elderly woman looking for a ride. Miller wasn’t a cab driver, but a construction worker on his way to his job.

“I felt compassion for her and agreed to drive her since I was heading back there anyway,” he said.

The woman was an undercover New York TLC (Taxi & Limousine Commission) officer. Soon after Miller picked up the woman, he was forced to pull over and was accused of agreeing to pick up the undercover officer in exchange for a $40 fare. Miller alleges that he offered to pick up the woman for free. The TLC issued a summons for operating a for-hire vehicle without the required TLC license, which has a maximum penalty of $2,000.

Now, Miller along with three other immigrant drivers of color, are suing the New York TLC for allegedly violating their Constitutional 8th Amendment rights, which prohibit excessive fines.

Attorneys representing the drivers allege that the TLC routinely engaged in tactics to manufacture violations of the City’s Street Livery Hail law, which bars nonyellow cabs from making airport pickups, including begging and badgering drivers to give them rides and appealing to drivers’ sympathy for members of similar immigrant or ethnic communities. According to the suit, the sting operations overwhelmingly affect thousands of immigrant drivers of color.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Brooklyn federal court during the first

days of the year, seeks to certify a class of all drivers who were targeted in the sting operations and who, since 2020, either paid the full penalty or settled with the TLC for a reduced amount. The majority of the sting operations overwhelmingly target immigrant drivers of color, the suit says.

“The TLC’s undercover operations are unconstitutional and aimed at not only our most vulnerable communities but also the simple kindness of ordinary New Yorkers,” said Christopher K. Leung, one of the attorneys representing the drivers. “It’s shameful, excessive, and must be stopped.”

The TLC said that they do occasionally conduct undercover sting operations and that drivers are given an opportunity to challenge any summons issued in court. They also stress that their undercover activity is in the interest of public safety. “We take the safety of passengers and drivers seriously, and our undercover airport enforcement operations are designed to ensure that only New York TLClicensed drivers and vehicles following established rules may pick up passengers for pay,” said Jason Kersten, TLC Press Secretary. “We will review the com-

plaint.”

Miller, the driver who received the summons after picking up the passenger at JFK, chose to fight the summons on November 22, 2021, at the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). The hearing was not recorded nor were there any third-party witnesses present. At the conclusion of the hearing, OATH ruled in favor of the TLC and ordered Miller to pay a $1,500 fine.

“Although I never agreed to accept any money to drive this woman,” he said. “I received a summons claiming I did agree to drive her for money and ordering me to pay the TLC the unfair amount of $1,500.”

According to attorneys with Mobilization for Justice, an organization that represents drivers targeted by the TLC, Miler’s case is far from unique. In Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests made to the TLC, Mobilization for Justice says that they obtained data showing that between 2019 and 2022, the agency issued over 11,000 fines to drivers for operating for-hire vehicles without the required New York TLC license.

Editorial credit: Sharkshock / Shutterstock.com

TWU: MTA Service Cuts Will Hurt Blue-Collar, Essential, Frontline and Immigrant Workers!

Local 100 President Richard Davis

attacked the MTA for planning to cut subway service in an Op-Ed. Davis says service cuts will force riders to wait longer for trains, experience more crowding, and lead to more anger and frustration being directed at transit workers.

He also says it’s “ridiculous” for transit management to claim that the service reductions “reflect what our customers are asking for.” In the history of mass transit, no one ever asked for less service and more crowded conditions.

The MTA unfairly wants to reduce subway service on Mondays and Fridays because its wealthier suburban commuters are not coming into their Manhattan offices on those days. This will create longer waits and more crowding for millions of regular New Yorkers. Many of those who will be negatively impacted didn’t have the luxury of working from home during the pandemic - and still don’t have the luxury: blue-collar, front-line and essential workers, lower-

income immigrants and people of color living in outer borough neighborhoods where ridership is still strong.

Support Nurses on Strike

Davis joined thousands of striking nurses on a picket line and pledged Local 100’s support in their struggle for a fair contract.

Speaking outside Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, Davis said transit workers know first-hand how vital nurses are to city residents in medical crisis. Transit workers brought nurses and other hospital staffers to their posts by bus and subway during the dark days of the pandemic. Like transit workers, nurses were too essential to stay at home.

“On behalf of Local 100, we stand in solidarity with you, and we will make sure we fight for you,” Davis said. “Yes, we can! Sí se puede!”

Thousands of nurses, members of the New York Nurses Association, walked off the job at 6 a.m. Monday at Mount Sinai and three campuses of the

Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

The nurses’ demands include “safe staffing.” Hospitals have not hired enough nurses to properly handle the volume of patients. As a result, nurses are overworked and stressed-out. Patients are receiving sub-standard care, nurses say. Nurses on the picket said they appreciated Local 100’s support, just as they appreciated the service transit workers provided during the pandemic.

“Without transit, without the crosstown bus, I wouldn’t have been able to get to work,” a surgical ICU nurse with 25 years on the job said. l

Drivers/ continued from page 6

More than 5,000 of the summons were issued at JFK and LaGuardia airports. They also say the vast majority of calls they receive from drivers requiring their assistance have been due to airport sting operations.

The increase in tickets came, according to the lawsuit, after the TLC increased the penalty for violating the Street Livery Hail law to a minimum of $1,500 in 2012 in an effort to deter human trafficking and driving without insurance. The lawsuit alleges that the people targeted by the TLC in these undercover sting operations are primarily people of color, immigrants, some of whom are non-English speaking. It also says that the TLC’s imposition of a $1,500 civil penalty violates the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Documented previously reported that between 2017 to 2020, individual TLC fines rose over 400% during the height of the pandemic. Belinda Luu, Senior Staff Attorney at Mobilization for Justice, argues that the City has continued to exploit a vulnerable population as a way to generate revenue off the backs of drivers. l

Reprinted with kind permission. Article first published on January 6, 2022 by Documented NY

Immigrant

The Disturbing Significance of the Proposed Asylum Ban

BY AMERICA’S VOICE

Washington, DC: The Biden administration unveiled its new policy vision for the border and asylum policy. Much of the related attention and focus was on the plan’s problematic expansion of Title 42, as well as the positive, though insufficient in scale, announcement of alternative legal pathways (read our full reaction from yesterday here). We applaud the expanded parole program, but it is not a replacement for a just asylum process.

However, potentially the most significant, lasting and pernicious element of the announcement was the news that the Biden Administration is proposing a new asylum ban – set for rulemaking – that is similar to the widely-condemned Trump/Miller approach. As the DHS description states:

“DHS and DOJ intend to issue a proposed rule to provide that individuals who circumvent available, established pathways to lawful migration, and also fail to seek protection in a country through which they traveled on their way to the United States, will be subject to a rebuttable presumption of asylum ineligibility in the United States unless they

meet exceptions that will be specified. Individuals who cannot establish a valid claim to protection under the standards set out in the new rule will be subject to prompt removal under Title 8 authorities, which carries a five-year ban on reentry.”

In other words, if you seek asylum in the U.S. after fleeing through another country but did not seek or failed to receive asylum in the country through which you fled, you will be banned from seeking asylum in the U.S. except under certain exemptions. This is a direct violation of established U.S. asylum law which generally guarantees the right to apply for asylum to anyone who is “physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States”

whether or not at a designated port of entry “irrespective of” their immigration status. A similar policy was struck down by multiple courts when it was proposed by then-President Trump. While the specific wording of the new proposed rule will of course matter, policy experts are already sounding the alarm.

As Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council noted: “The Trump asylum transit ban applied at the credible fear stage. Like[ly] the same will happen here. The exceptions to Trump’s one were incredibly narrow, whereas this one seems to have a lot more, making it kind of a ‘kinder, gentler’ asylum transit ban—but a ban nonetheless.”

As Todd Schulte and the FWD.us assessed (full statement with additional context here), “…an effort to permanently disqualify and ban people from even seeking asylum on U.S. soil would represent an unacceptable affront to America’s long-standing promise to be a welcoming nation. It is tragically easy to envision how such a decision in the weeks ahead would remain our nation’s policy for decades.”

Someone running from persecution, religious or political targeting, violence or who fears violence upon their return must therefore take extraordinary measures before the U.S. will even consider allowing their claim to be evaluated by a judge or adjudicator. This is an extreme departure from how and why our asylum laws were established in the wake of World War II and after the U.S. shamefully refused entry to those seeking safety. The international adoption of asylum as a legal process through which the persecuted could seek safety is, under this proposed rule by a Democratic President, largely being abandoned.

The following is a statement from Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:

“A Democratic administration under a President who ran on restoring the nation’s soul should not be in the business of proposing any kind of asylum ban. If this policy prevails, it will be a dramatic departure from America’s commitment to asylum seekers and its international obligations. Full stop.

We should be finding ways to fix and fully resource our asylum process, not devising ways to prevent people seeking safety from accessing the asylum process under our laws. We seem to be losing sight of who asylum seekers are and what they are fleeing. They do not fit neatly into national quotas or conveniently into certain national origins and may not have the wherewithal to access a U.S. government computer app or line up a domestic sponsor while running for safety. The new proposed ban says most of those refugees will be left to fend for themselves regardless of whether they qualify for asylum under U.S. law.

Yes, there are challenges and concerns about how to operate given the twin realities of forced migration in the hemisphere and a Congress unable and unwilling to enact a legislative overhaul. But an asylum ban based on a refugee’s route of escape from persecution is an affront to our proudest traditions and interests.

We urge the Biden administration to reconsider. Furthermore, it will take a forceful pushback from Democrats and other Biden allies to oppose this aspect of the administration’s vision for severely restricting access to asylum for those fleeing violence, persecution and death.”l

Self-Employed? Here's What You'll Need to Get a Mortgage Approval

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

There's a lot of flexibility and personal freedom associated with self-employment that can be a great benefit to your lifestyle and your pocketbook. However, because of the somewhat unpredictable nature of selfemployment, it can make acquiring a mortgage a little more difficult. If you've recently become self-employed or have been in the game for a while, here are some things you may want to consider before submitting your mortgage application.

Putting More Money Down

20% is often considered the magic number when it comes to the down payment because this will allow you to avoid homeowner's insurance. However, if you're self-employed, you may want to consider putting even more money down as this will be an even stronger signifier to lenders that you're prepared for homeownership and in control of your finances. While your down payment will provide you with equity instantly, a higher payment will also lower your monthly cost and make your finances even more secure from month to month.

Minimizing Your Debt

The amount of debt a potential homeowner has can adversely affect any mortgage application, but in the event you're selfemployed, a high debt load means even more money is being paid out of a salary that is not necessarily predictable. By paying off the debts you can before applying for your mortgage, you'll be able to invest that much more of your hardearned money into your monthly payment without breaking the bank and cutting monthly expenditures.

A History of Self-Employment

Being self-employed means, you'll have

more to prove to your lender, but if you have a spotty self-employment history and long periods without bringing in any income, this will make it even harder. Instead of jumping into the mortgage market soon after becoming selfemployed, try and have at least two years of successful self-employment behind you. By being able to prove this, the lender will see that you're a solid financial bet and an experienced professional who will be able to find work when it's required.

The nature of being self-employed and the fluctuations in income that can come along with it can make a mortgage lender

nervous. However, by having a solid history of self-employment behind you and minimizing your debt load, you'll be able to prove to the lender that you're serious about home ownership.

Guidance

If you're currently perusing the market for a home, you may want to contact one of our mortgage professionals for more information. If you are ready to break out of the rental trap and start down the path to homeownership in 2023, contact us today. Our professional team is happy to share how we can assist you in becoming a homeowner. We are happy to help. Call Equity Smart Realty Inc at 888-6706791 l

Our professional team is happy to share how we can assist you in becoming a homeowner. We are happy to help.

Call Equity Smart Realty Inc at 888-670-6791

How Can SIJS Help Immigrant Children Obtain a Green Card?

BY CHEREEN JAMES 311IMMIGRATION.COM

Quite often, the welfare of immigrant minors is raised among news outlets. In recent news, we heard about an alarming number of children being separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexican border and held in detention facilities. But what about children who overstayed their visas or were brought to the United States by other means? They, too, can obtain permanent residency through a Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) proceeding.

SIJ status is granted to children under 21, but preferably under 18. To obtain a Green Card through SIJ status, a Juvenile Court of their State of residence must deem those children as abandoned or neglected by their parents. A child can be considered abandoned or neglected when at least one parent refrains from providing adequate food, shelter, education, or emotional support, and other issues that can be brought to a Court to prove abandonment—including the death of a parent.

Once it is established that a child has been abandoned or neglected, the Court

will order a guardianship or a related custody order to meet their needs. The guardian or custodian does not need to be a citizen of the United States; however, they must not have any criminal records neither should other members of their household. An Order from the Juvenile Courts will be used to petition USCIS for the child to be granted a Green Card.

In 2017, Eber, from Guatemala, was granted SIJ relief and obtained his Green Card after his older brother was appointed to be his guardian. He left home because his father physically abused him, and both parents abandoned him. He faced deportation when he came to the United States

illegally. His application for guardianship, with the Court finding that his parents abandoned him, enabled him to receive Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Thus he was able to obtain his Green Card.

Not all cases are as extreme. Sometimes a Court will find neglect if a parent passes away and there is no one else to care for the child in the home country. Other times, the Court will determine that an abusive parent is neglectful and will place the child with an appropriate guardian.

Brian Figeroux, Esq., the attorney who advocated for Eber’s SIJ petition, said, “too many children who are abandoned in

the United States don’t get proper advice because the people they live with do not care, or they don’t get multiple consultations from seasoned AILA lawyers.” He also pointed out that social workers who work with immigrant children need to understand that SIJ proceedings are the solution to many of these children’s problems. He further said, “my concern is that those children are missing out on many opportunities to get a proper education and jobs, which can lead them to be frustrated, depressed, and suicidal.”

Many children brought to the United States by family members or who came on their own should know there is a way to find relief and obtain permanent residency. The SIJ status is one way whereby they can remain with loving relatives or be appointed new guardians who would care for them in the United States. They can find assistance from an immigration attorney with experience with family law matters, specifically with the Special Immigrant Juvenile petition. A legal consult will open the door to a future without fearing deportation. Call 855-768-8845 to schedule a consultation or visit www.askthelawyer.usl

Reimagining the Student Dining Experience

BY DAVID C. BANKS

I’m so excited to welcome your children back from Winter Recess, and I hope that they’re just as excited to be back in school with their classmates and teachers.

We know that when you entrust your children to us, you expect them to not only receive an outstanding education but also the wraparound supports and services that can help them thrive, including free breakfast and lunch every single day.

Our schools are not only places of learning but of care and comfort—and a tasty and nutritious meal is a critical part of that. When our students have a nourishing, healthy and culturally reflective meal each day, they perform better in the classroom and they are more likely to make healthy decisions in the future.

I know many of us have an image of what school food is—from decades ago when we were in school. Today in our school cafeterias, we serve fresh salads, local produce, and a variety of nutritious menu items that reflect our students’ culture.

To encourage our students to take

advantage of these meals, we are expanding the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience—and reimagining the way our students dine. This expansion is kicking off with a $50 million investment to transform more than 80 cafeterias into warm and welcoming spaces for students to dine.

Here’s what your children can expect: •Student choice: a variety of ways to eat breakfast, lunch, whole fruits, vegetables, and fresh-cut produce from salad bars.

•Fast service: Students won’t have to wait in a long line for meals, leaving more time to relax and unwind with classmates.

•Modern style: Redesigned cafeterias with an emphasis on creating a warm and welcoming environment.

•New furniture: Comfortable tables and chairs will welcome students to their new space.

As part of this enhancement, we’ll be expanding access to halal options in schools across the city. So far, we’ve certified 78 of our kitchens for halal meal service. This allows our kids to experience meals in an equitable way: with no separate lines, no separate meals, and

options for every student.

None of this would be possible without the tireless work of our food-service teams. These are the caring adults who interact with your children every day and ensure that they have the nutritious and delicious meals they need to power through their school day. I am so grateful for their dedication and hard work.

I hope the new dining spaces whet your children’s appetite and have them looking forward to the chance to get some good, tasty food and unwind with their friends.l

C. Banks is the Chancellor of NYC Department of Education.

Filing Location Change for Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is changing the filing location for Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, to streamline workloads in an ever-increasing electronic environment. Previously, this petition was filed either at the Texas Service Center or the Nebraska Service Center depending on the state where the petitioner resides. With this change, all Form I-730 petitions should be filed at the Texas Service Center.

USCIS Texas Service Center

Attn: I-730 6046 N. Belt Line Rd. Ste. 730 Irving, TX 75038-0019

This change went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. All procedures and adjudicative processes for Form I-730 remain the same, only the filing location has changed. We will provide a 30-day grace period for filings that were mailed to the Nebraska Service Center, and we will forward them to the Texas Service Center. Starting Jan. 31, 2023, we will reject any Form I-730 petition mailed to the Nebraska Service Center. l

David

Biden Keeps Title 42/

continued from page 1 or they attempt to enter the United States illegally, they will be deported to Mexico and will be ineligible for this program.

Since the program was established, a significant reduction in the number of Venezuelans attempting to enter America illegally has occurred, from 1,100 daily to an average of 250.

"This new process is orderly, it's safe, and it's humane. And it works," Biden said.

But there have been mixed responses from migration advocates and city leaders, especially Democrat-led cities impelled to shelter bussed migrants, like New York City's Mayor Adams.

Legislation Needed

In a statement to the press, he said: "For months, New Yorkers have seen an influx of asylum seekers from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and every day since, we have far surpassed our moral and legal mandates to serve the more than 36,400 asylum seekers who have arrived here. We have, largely on our own, provided shelter, clothes, food, education, health care, legal support, and a host of other services to asylum seekers — more than any other city in this country. But, as we have said for months, we cannot continue to maintain this flow.

"President Biden's announcement today

to expand the humanitarian program to allow more asylum seekers to travel to the United States safely, legally, and in a more controlled manner is an important, positive step in ensuring our federal partners can better address this humanitarian crisis. We appreciate this administration's partnership and response to our request for action. We are hopeful this policy will help better control the flow of asylum seekers arriving at the southern border. At the same time, we still need a longterm and proactive strategy to manage the crisis we are seeing. This must include legislation that will allow asylum seekers to legally work while waiting on their asylum applications, a true decompression strategy and resettlement program that ensures asylum seekers are being spread out across the nation and not just sent to a handful of cities, and emergency financial relief for our city. Finally, we ultimately need a bipartisan effort to deliver true, long-awaited immi-

gration reform so we can offer people a safe, legal path to the American dream. We know the members of our state's delegation in Washington, D.C., are willing to lead these efforts, and, indeed, many have been immigration reform champions for decades."

This comes after the city became a destination for more than 30,000 migrants that have arrived in the city so far. Many, if not most, were bussed from the State of Texas.

Outrage from Advocates

Conversely, immigration advocates condemn the President's new policy. Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the plan was "a shameful slap in the face to those seeking safety in the United States." He stated, "President Biden's plan to expel those who attempt to cross the border, announced earlier today, is an attack on the humanitarian values and

obligations of the United States. This plan needlessly endangers the lives of those crossing the border in search of basic freedom in our country and succumbs to the fearmongering espoused by anti-immigrant conservatives. President Biden must stop the hypocrisy of his immigration policies and instead proudly stand up for all refugees and asylum seekers as he has always professed to do. As Title 42 continues to be enforced by the Biden administration, cruelly subjecting asylum seekers to violence, this plan is a shameful slap in the face to those seeking safety in the United States. Rather than limiting humanitarian parole for just a select few with family connections and financial privilege, the Biden administration must expand additional protections for all asylum seekers so our country can fulfill its humanitarian obligations and provide opportunity and freedom for all."

Trump-Style

Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the American Immigration Council, compared President's Biden decision to be in the style of Trump. He said, "Creating an alternate pathway for migrants to come to the United States without having to brave the dangers of a journey on foot through Mexico is a positive step forward for the United States. Research has consistently shown that the best way to continued on page 13

DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and Eliminates Cap for Venezuelans

On Jan. 5, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a safe and lawful way for qualifying Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans with U.S.-based supporters to travel by air to and temporarily reside in the United States. Individuals arriving under this new process may also apply for work authorization. DHS also announced elimination of the numerical cap for a similar process for Venezuelans announced earlier this year.

This process will provide a lawful and streamlined way for qualifying nationals of Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua who are outside the United States and lacking

Biden Keeps Title 42/

continued from page 12

reduce irregular migration is through the creation of lawful pathways, which today's action will do. But parole only provides temporary authorization to remain in the United States, and Congress needs to act to make these new pathways permanent.

However, today's announcement also comes with a harsh, Trump-style crackdown on asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing from regimes globally recognized as oppressive. Expanding the use of Title 42 expulsions to Mexico will cause enormous harm for the thousands of asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution in their home countries and will now be blocked from seeking safety. Title 42 is a failed policy which has caused immeasurable harm to our system of humanitarian protections, and the Biden administration should be getting rid of it, not expanding its use.

In addition, today's announcement will reinstate multiple Trump-era policies that were previously found to be illegal. Not only would a new asylum ban be illegal and immoral if put into place, but it would also create unnecessary barriers to protection that would put the lives of asylum seekers at risk. Those who flee persecution should not be forced to jump

through bureaucratic hoops while enduring deprivation and insecurity in dangerous border cities. Like Title 42, harsh policies like asylum bans arbitrarily deny people protections and generally fail to achieve any deterrent effect.

For generations, the United States has offered a promise that any person fleeing persecution and harm in their home country could seek asylum. When President Biden took office, he also promised to restore a safe and humane asylum process. While today's actions do create a laudable alternate pathway for some people seeking protection in the United States, they also break from his prior promises and threaten a return to the same harmful asylum policies of his predecessor."

Trip to El Paso

Meanwhile, on Sunday, January 8, for the first time as President, Biden visited the US-Mexico border. However, he did not appear to see or meet with migrants, including during a trip to a migrant respite center.

Instead, he spent several hours in El Paso on his first visit to the southern border as President, following growing outcry and criticism that he had not yet seen the crisis created by the record number of migrants traveling to the border firsthand.l continued on page 16

Securing work visas, adjusting immigration status and embarking on other immigration matters can be quite confusing, particularly for those who speak English as a second language (or not at all). Immigrants are a vulnerable population and there is no shortage of businesses and individuals trying to take advantage of those seeking immigration services. Fraudulent services delay an application or cost petitioners unnecessary fees, but in some cases can lead to removal proceedings or other adverse actions.

Drug Conviction/

arrested, their fingerprints are sent to immigration authorities, where a detainer or warrant can be raised for an arraignment or even while in jail. This means that when the criminal case is over or the bail is paid, the individual will not be released but sent to an immigration judge.

A criminal conviction can prevent a person from obtaining a residency, asylum, or a work permit in the future.

Green Card Holders

For those that have legal residence, a criminal conviction can result in deportation, prevent their naturalization or citizenship, renewal of green card, and travels outside the country. In some instances, it can result in them becoming ineligible for lawful status or permanent deportation to their home country without consideration of the possible impact on the person or their family in the U.S.

Some offenses, such as the possession of substances for sale, or misdemeanors like growing more cannabis plants than permitted, are classified as "aggravated felonies." They carry the most stringent penalties and make it difficult for attorneys to defend clients facing a drug charge without jeopardizing their immigration status.

Every immigrant involved in any criminal proceeding is at significant risk irrespective of their immigration status, such

as a long-time lawful permanent resident, undocumented, asylee, student, DACA recipient, or person with another immigration status. A drug crime-convicted immigrant may face removal proceedings, inadmissibility, and the denial of certain benefits.

In some instances, it can result in them becoming ineligible for lawful status or permanent deportation to their home country without consideration of the possible impact on the person or their family in the U.S.

Some offenses, such as the possession of substances for sale, or misdemeanors like growing more cannabis plants than permitted, are classified as "aggravated felonies." They carry the most stringent penalties and make it difficult for attorneys to defend clients facing a drug charge without jeopardizing their immigration status.

Every immigrant involved in any crim-

inal proceeding is at significant risk irrespective of their immigration status, such as a long-time lawful permanent resident, undocumented, asylee, student, DACA recipient, or person with another immigration status.

A drug crime-convicted immigrant may face removal proceedings, inadmissibility, and the denial of certain benefits.

Consequence 1: Inadmissible to the United States

You may be inadmissible if you are not a United States citizen with a convicted drug-related offense. Inadmissibility is a status that can prevent a person from entering the United States, which includes during visa application or trying to gain admission at the border.

The United States Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has several sections that make individuals inadmissible based on their criminal record. The Act

includes convictions for controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.

Under the Act, in some cases, an arrest or a conviction for a lesser drug-related crime can also trigger inadmissibility.

It is worth noting that the standard for inadmissibility based on a drug conviction differs depending on the application type — for a nonimmigrant or an immigrant visa.

Suppose there has been a conviction of a drug-related offense that was considered a felony in the identified jurisdiction. In that case, the individual may become ineligible for nonimmigrant visas to the United States.

Alternatively, those seeking an immigrant visa may become inadmissible if convicted of two or more drug-related offenses, regardless of its level of gravity.

It is essential to understand that even if the person is found inadmissible because of their criminal record, there are still some potential ways to manage the situation.

For example, they may apply for a waiver of inadmissibility based on humanitarian purposes, family unity, or public interest. However, the waiver application process can be complex and challenging, and there is no guarantee that the waiver request will be successful.

Therefore, it is crucial to consider the

Drug Conviction/

continued from page 14

potential immigration consequences of a drug conviction before entering a plea bargain or being convicted. An experienced immigration lawyer can help individuals better understand the risks involved and provide guidance on minimizing the negative impact on their ability to travel to or remain in the United States.

Consequence 2: Getting Deported from the United States

Under U.S. immigration law, any nonU.S. citizen convicted of a drug-related offense may be subject to deportation from the country. The category includes people in the United States with valid visas, green card holders, and those applying for permanent residence.

If found guilty of a drug-related offense, even if it is a minor offense such as the possession of marijuana or prescription drugs, it can result in potential deportation. Suppose the individual is guilty of a more serious drug crime, such as trafficking or manufacturing drugs. In that case, they will be subject to mandatory deportation proceedings.

It's pertinent to note that individuals can be deported even without a conviction for an actual crime. They may also face deportation on the admission of guilt, plea bargain, or entering a deferred judgment program on a drug-related charge.

Deportation can also happen even if the

conviction occurred many years ago. In some cases, the U.S. government can choose to deport the individual for an incident that occurred many years prior. Consequently, there is a massive impact on an individual's immigration status based on a drug conviction. It is vital to consider the repercussions before agreeing to any plea deal or entering into any deferred judgment program.

Consequence 3: Ineligible for Certain Immigration Benefits

For non-U.S. citizens, a drug conviction can result in disqualification from certain immigration benefits depending on the severity of the sentence. These include certain visas, green cards, and ineligibility for naturalization and citizenship.

To become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, an individual must have been "lawfully admitted for permanent residence" and demonstrated "good moral character." A conviction for a drug offense can make it challenging to establish good moral character, resulting in the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization.

Also, a drug conviction can make it more difficult to reenter the United States after traveling abroad. In some cases, even if the individual has a valid visa or green card, a conviction for a drug offense may cause the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refuse the person's reentry into the country.

Hence, the exact immigration consequences of a drug conviction can vary

depending on the type of offense, criminal record, and other factors.

Therefore, non-citizens need to understand the potential effects before engaging in any activity that could lead to criminal charges.

Defending Immigrants Charged with Drug Offenses

Irrespective of the nature of the convicted drug offense, an immigrant can consult an experienced immigration lawyer for legal advice, especially if they are concerned about their immigration status or facing a drug crime.

Sadly, the nature of the charge can grossly limit the immigrant's right to specific services.

For the immigration attorney, pushing an immigration plea for the client is often challenging and unpredictable. Each client requires a personalized analysis based on their unique immigration and criminal record history.

Some Ways That Attorneys Can Help Their Clients

Identify a case goal: In an immigrant's criminal case, the goal is to obtain a disposition that leaves the person's immigration situation ideally without any conviction or at least the same before the criminal proceeding.

One primary goal is to avoid conviction for any controlled substance offense (CSO), which has different consequences for different immigrants' statuses.

The attorney must endeavor to bargain for a drop of the drug charge and, in some cases, plead to another offense. The latter is often considered the best immigration resolution other than dropping all orders. Thus, they identify a different, immigration-neutral offense as an alternative.

However, suppose the immigrant cannot avoid an immigration proceeding. In that case, the attorney can endeavor to plead for a non-drug offense rather than arguing to Penal Code 32 or 372.5 for purposes of inadmissibility.

Additionally, the attorney can advise their clients on their rights not to talk to law enforcement agents when confronted, among other guidelines.

Legal Assistance

To schedule an appointment for a case evaluation, please call the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us. The lawyer you hire does make a difference!l

A Preview of the 2023 Supreme Court and Immigration

BY DAVID LEOPOLD, AMERICA’S VOICE

Washington, DC: The following is an assessment previewing the Supreme Court and 2023: Today, [January 9] the United States Supreme Court will hold its first arguments of 2023. Over their break, the Court again showed it is a willing accomplice to Republican politicians when it stayed the implementation of Title 42 at the request of Republican state leaders. Sadly, the political chaos America witnessed last week isn’t confined to the House of Representatives; it permeates throughout the federal judiciary too.

Glaringly omitted from Chief Justice John Roberts’ recent annual State of the Judiciary was any reference to the historic confidence crisis the Court faces; a self-inflicted wound caused, in large part, by its willingness to welcome politics into the courtroom. Roberts and his fellow Republicans have basically turned the Court into a rubber stamp for GOP policies.

Time and time again, the right wing Justices have allowed Republican politicians to use Republican judges, many appointed by Donald Trump, to thwart policies. That’s especially true on immi-

gration – a phenomenon we call the Antiimmigrant Judicial Pipeline, which largely flows from federal courtrooms in Texas and Louisiana through the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and straight into the U.S. Supreme Court. And while today’s refusal by the Court to hear an appeal brought by 14 Republican attorneys general seeking to revive the Trump era “public charge” rule is welcome, it’s an all too rare rebuff of Republican politicians by the Justices.

Over the next few months, we’ll see more immigration cases and more efforts by Roberts and his crew to step outside of their judicial roles into the political and policy arenas. It’s a dangerous trend.

Republican Attorneys General, led by Ken Paxton, continue their judicial assault on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the courtroom of Judge Andrew Hanen.

The Justices will hear arguments today, but will they listen? Or will they continue to use the law as a pretext to endorse Republican policy priorities?

Chief Justice Roberts, who, at one time, made the Court’s integrity a top priority, has all but surrendered the Court’s independence, choosing instead to ignore the damage he and his colleagues have inflicted on the institution. The solutions have to come from the outside. The Biden administration needs to keep appointing more judges and the Senate needs to confirm them as soon as possible. That means the Senate Judiciary Committee should end practices, like “blue slips,” that let Republicans undermine the President. And, we need to keep pursuing creative policy options to ensure the Court’s independence, including Court expansion.

Justice demands it.l

David Leopold is the Legal Advisor to America’s Voice and past president, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)

Almost 1 Million Immigrants Granted US Citizenship in 2022

According to new figures from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the countries where most of these new citizens came from were Cuba, the Philippines, India, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews and ceremonies were suspended, resulting in a backlog of applications that got approved only last year. Additionally, at the beginning of the pandemic, financial problems plagued the USCIS, which heavily relied on application fees, lead-

ing to a reduced workforce capacity and the closure of its field offices. There was also a hiring freeze at the agency between May 2020 and April 2021, leading to a shortage of adjudicators overseeing the application process. Under the Biden administration, the USCIS said it “returned to firmer fiscal footing, with cash reserves well on their way to the designated target level, to ensure the agency avoids another fiscal crisis.”

Also, twice as many employment-based immigrant visas were issued in 2022 as before the pandemic.l

U.S. entry documents to come to the United States. Through a fully online process, individuals can be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for advance authorization to travel to the United States and seek a temporary period of parole for up to two years, provided that they:

•Have a supporter in the United States who will provide financial and other support;

•Undergo and clear robust security vetting;

•Meet other eligibility criteria; and Warrant a favorable exercise of discretion.

DHS will begin implementing these new processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans on Jan. 6, 2023. For additional information on the process and eligibility requirements, please see the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans page.

DHS strongly encourages Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans seeking entry in the U.S. who do not have and are not eligible for a visa to instead seek entry via this process, as this will be the safest and most effective way to pursue a temporary stay in the United States. Individuals complete the process electronically and should not approach the border to access this process.

Effective immediately, U.S.-based individuals may submit Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, on behalf of named nationals of Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua to come to the United States. We are also continuing the process with respect to Venezuelans.

Access to these processes is free. Neither the U.S. supporter nor the beneficiary is required to pay the U.S. government a fee for the Form I-134A or participation in this process. Beware of any scams or potential exploitation by anyone who asks for money associated with applying to this process.l

DHS Implements New Processes/

Long COVID Stemmed From Mild Cases of COVID-19 in Most People, According to a New Multicountry Study

BY SARAH WULF HANSON & THEO VOS THE CONVERSATION

Since the COVID variant omicron emerged in late 2021, it has rapidly evolved into multiple subvariants. One subvariant, BF.7, has recently been identified as the main variant spreading in Beijing, and is contributing to a wider surge of COVID infections in China.tion.

Even mild COVID-19 cases can have major and long-lasting effects on people’s health. That is one of the key findings from our recent multicountry study on long COVID-19 – or long COVID –recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Long COVID is defined as the continuation or development of symptoms three months after the initial infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These symptoms last for at least two months after onset with no other explanation.

We found that a staggering 90% of people living with long COVID initially experienced only mild illness with COVID-19. After developing long COVID, however, the typical person experienced symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath and cognitive problems such as brain fog – or a combination of these – that affected daily functioning. These symptoms had an impact on health as severe as the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury. Our study also found that women have twice the risk of men and four times the risk of children for

developing long COVID.

We analyzed data from 54 studies reporting on over 1 million people from 22 countries who had experienced symptoms of COVID-19. We counted how many people with COVID-19 developed clusters of new long-COVID symptoms and determined how their risk of developing the disease varied based on their age, sex and whether they were hospitalized for COVID-19.

We found that patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 had a greater risk of developing long COVID – and of hav-

ing longer-lasting symptoms – compared with people who had not been hospitalized. However, because the vast majority of COVID-19 cases do not require hospitalization, many more cases of long COVID have arisen from these milder cases despite their lower risk. Among all people with long COVID, our study found that nearly one out of every seven were still experiencing these symptoms a year later, and researchers don’t yet know how many of these cases may become chronic.

Why it matters

Compared with COVID-19, relatively little is known about long COVID.

Our systematic, multicountry analysis of this condition delivered findings that illuminate the potentially steep human and economic costs of long COVID around the world. Many people who are living with the condition are working-age adults. Being unable to work for many

Eric L. Adams L

Mayor

Ashwin Vasan, MD, PhD Ashwin PhD Commissioner Health

Editorial credit: Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com

months could cause people to lose their income, their livelihoods and their housing. For parents or caregivers living with long COVID, the condition may make them unable to care for their loved ones.

We think, based on the pervasiveness and severity of long COVID, that it is keeping people from working and therefore contributing to labor shortages. Long COVID could also be a factor in how people losing their jobs has disproportionately affected women.

We believe that finding effective and affordable treatments for people living with long COVID should be a priority for researchers and research funders. Long COVID clinics have opened to provide specialized care, but the treatments they offer are limited, inconsistent and may be costly.

What’s next Long COVID is a complex and dynamic condition – some symptoms disappear, then return, and new symptoms appear. But researchers don’t yet know why.

While our study focused on the three most common symptoms associated with long COVID that affect daily functioning, the condition can also include symptoms like loss of smell and taste, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems and headaches, among others. But in most cases these additional symptoms occur

together with the main symptoms we made estimates for.

There are many unanswered questions about what predisposes people to long COVID. For example, how do different risk factors, including smoking and high body-mass index, influence people’s likelihood of developing the condition? Does getting reinfected with SARS-CoV2 change the risk for long COVID? Also, it is unclear how protection against long COVID changes over time after a person has been vaccinated or boosted against COVID-19.

COVID-19 variants also present new puzzles. Researchers know that the omicron variant is less deadly than previous strains. Initial evidence shows lower risk of long COVID from omicron compared with earlier strains, but far more data is

needed.

Most of the people we studied were infected with the deadlier variants that were circulating before omicron became dominant. We will continue to build on our research on long COVID as part of the Global Burden of Disease study –which makes estimates of deaths and disability due to all diseases and injuries in every country in the world – in order to to get a clearer picture of how COVID-19’s long-term toll shifted once omicron arrived.l

Sarah Wulf Hanson is the Lead Research Scientist of Global Health Metrics, University of Washington. Theo Vos is a Professor of Health Metric Sciences, University of Washington

5 Healthy Habits to Help Reduce Stress

Between work, family obligations and a constantly changing world, people in the United States are stressed. In fact, U.S. workers are among the most stressed in the world, according to a State of the Global Workplace study. While some stress is unavoidable and can be good for you, constant or chronic stress can have real consequences for your mental and physical health.

Chronic stress can increase your lifetime risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also lead to unhealthy habits like overeating, physical inactivity and smoking while also increasing risk factors, including high blood pressure, depression and anxiety. However, a scientific statement from the American Heart Association shows reducing stress and cultivating a positive mindset can improve health and well-being.

To help people understand the connection between stress and physical health, the American Heart Association offers these science-backed insights to help reduce chronic stress.

Stay Active

Exercise is one of the easiest ways to keep your body healthy and release stress. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of

diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression. It can also help increase energy and improve quality of sleep. The American Heart Association recommends adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination.

Meditate Incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into your day to give yourself a

few minutes to create some distance from daily stress. Some studies show meditation can reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, support the immune system and increase your ability to process information.

Practice Positivity

A positive mindset can improve overall health. Studies show a positive mindset can help you live longer, and happy individuals tend to sleep better, exercise more, eat better and not smoke. Practice positive self-talk to help you stay calm. Instead of saying, “everything is going wrong,” re-frame the situation and remind yourself “I can handle this if I take it one step at a time.”

Show Gratitude

Gratitude – or thankfulness – is a powerful tool that can reduce levels of depression and anxiety and improve sleep. Start by simply writing down three things you’re grateful for each day.

Find a Furry Friend

Having a pet may help you get more fit; lower stress, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; and boost overall happiness and well-being. When you see,

touch, hear or talk to companion animals, you may feel a sense of goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness. At the same time, stress hormones are suppressed.

Dog ownership is also associated with a lower risk of depression, according to research published by the American Heart Association.

Find more stress-management tips at Heart.org/stress.

Stress 101

Understanding stress is an important step in managing and reducing it. Consider these things to know about stress and how it could affect your life:

•Today, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. report being worried or depressed.

•Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol are linked to increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular events like heart disease and stroke.

•The top sources of stress are money, work, family responsibilities and health concerns.

•Work-related stress is associated with a 40% increased risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke.

(FamilyFeatures)l

Five Tips for Dealing with Anxiety and Relationship Doubts

BY ESTES THERAPY

When it comes to anxiety and relationships, it can be tough to know what’s normal and what’s not. It’s common to experience doubts and worries in a relationship, but if those doubts start to take over your life, they can become a serious problem. If you’re struggling with anxiety and relationship doubts, here are some tips that can help.

1. Talk to a Professional About Your Anxiety and Relationship Doubts

If you’re struggling with anxiety and relationship doubts, it’s helpful to seek professional assistance. A therapist can help you understand and manage your anxiety and provide support and guidance in dealing with your relationship doubts.

It is difficult to see things clearly when we are anxious or doubting ourselves. A therapist can provide an objective perspective and help you develop a plan to address your anxiety and relationship doubts. They can also help you (and your partner) understand the root of your anxiety and doubts, which oftentimes do not

come from where you think they are coming from.

Bringing in a professional for couples counseling helps you to pinpoint the source of these anxious and negative feelings, work through them, and understand how to prevent them from running your life and your relationship.

2. Identify Your Triggers

One of the best ways to manage anxiety and relationship doubts is to identify your triggers. What situations or circumstances tend to make you feel anxious or

doubtful? Once you know your triggers, you can begin to develop a plan to avoid or cope with them.

Triggers can look different for everyone. For some, anxiety may be triggered by certain people or situations. For others, it may be triggered by intrusive thoughts or physical sensations.

In relationships, anxiety and doubts can be triggered by arguments, conflict, or feeling like you are not good enough (which can also be triggered by relationships or events from your past). No matter what your triggers are, it’s essential to

be aware of them to begin managing your anxiety.

3. Maintain Open and Clear Communication

When you’re feeling anxious or are having doubts about yourself or your relationship, it can be challenging to express what you’re feeling. However, open and transparent communication is key to managing anxiety and relationship doubts.

Talk to your partner about your feelings and why you’re feeling them. If you’re feeling anxious, let them know and explain what is making you feel that way. If you’re having doubts about your relationship, share those with your partner as well. Clear communication will help you and your partner understand each other better and can also help to reduce anxiety and relationship doubts. If you feel uncomfortable communicating with your partner, seek a third party, such as a counselor or therapist, to guide you through it and help you and your partner learn new ways of communicating and feel comfortable doing it. This will pay off immensely in the future.

Anxiety and Relationship Doubts/ continued from page 20

4. Develop a Healthy Routine for Yourself

This is one of the most underrated and vital things you can do to manage anxiety and relationship doubts. Our minds and bodies feel more stable and secure when we have a healthy routine.

This sense of stability can help to reduce anxiety and relationship doubts and make you feel more comfortable and confident in yourself and your relationships.

The role that food, exercise, and sleep play in our overall health cannot be understated. It affects the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we behave. For so long, we viewed mental health as separate from physical health, but we now know they are very much connected.

A healthy routine looks different for everyone, but should generally include healthy eating habits, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and relaxation time.

When you are feeling anxious, doubtful, or triggered, you can also practice meditation or deep breathing exercises that help to calm the mind and body. It’s crucial to find a routine that works for you and that you can stick to.

5. Identify Your Anxious Thoughts or Doubts and Question Them

Being aware of your anxious thoughts or

doubts is an important step in managing them. Once you are aware of them, you can begin to question them. Why am I feeling this way? What evidence do I have to support this thought or belief?

Anxious thoughts and doubts often arise from our insecurities or past experiences. They are not always based on reality or rational thought. By questioning your anxious thoughts and doubts, you can begin to see them for what they are and start to let them go.

So,what would this look like?

If you are feeling anxious or doubting your relationship for one reason or another, take a step back and ask yourself why. Do you have any evidence to support your anxiety or doubts?

Is your anxiety or doubt based on anything that has happened recently, or is it

coming from a place of insecurity or past experiences?

Answering these questions can help you to see your anxiety or doubt more clearly and identify what you need to do to feel better. You may conclude that you need to communicate with your partner about something specific to help you feel more secure. You may realize that the root of this anxiety or doubt came from a rough day at work and a lack of sleep.

Identifying your anxious thoughts and doubts is an essential step in managing them because it allows you to see them for what they are and start to let them go.

To Wrap Things Up

It’s important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to these issues. What works for someone else may not work for you, so be sure to experiment until you find something that helps. You can get the guidance you need for your couple and anxiety therapy.

It’s essential to keep in mind that your feelings are valid. Even if your partner doesn’t share your concerns or doubts about the relationship, that doesn’t mean they’re not real to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it. Talking to a therapist or counselor can be incredibly helpful in managing anxiety and relationship doubts. l

Reprinted with the kind permission of EstesTherapy. Visit www.estestherapy.com

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Do I Need a Lawyer After Being Injured in a Car Accident?

BY CHRIS TOBIAS

After being injured in a car accident that was caused by the carelessness and negligence of somebody else, you might ask whether it's in your best interests to retain a car accident lawyer to represent you. In most cases, the answer is yes, you should.

That's because it's inevitable that disagreements will arise with the opposing insurance company during the processing of your claim. They're likely to involve issues on liability, damages, or how much money the insurer should pay to compensate you for your injuries and damages fully. An experienced and effective car accident lawyer at the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates will know how to respond to any such disagreements while preserving and protecting your rights during the claim or litigation process.

The Opposing Insurer Will Try to

Devalue Your Case

Auto Insurance companies make money by depositing premium payments made by their customers and investing that

their customers, they search for ways to minimize the sums they'll need to pay accident victims or even not pay them anything. An accomplished car accident lawyer can help prevent such tactics while protecting their client's right to full compensation.

You're Likely to Make Mistakes When Representing Yourself

Every car insurance company has its teams of trained adjusters and defense lawyers who seem threatening and intimidating to victims who are continuing to recover from their injuries. The last thing you want to do during your recovery is to argue with an opposing adjuster and chase around for records, bills, and reports from your healthcare providers or other entities. You might even be on prescription medication when the opposing insurer's adjuster phones you and requests more information. Your attorney can attend to any calls or chasing for you. They know when to put an end to it, too.

Don't Give a Statement of Any Kind

It's not uncommon for a car accident victim to be contacted by an insurance com-

The adjuster might ask for a recorded statement from the victim for purported purposes of wrapping up the claim and getting rid of it.

Giving such a statement is often the biggest mistake an unrepresented accident victim can make. The law doesn't require the victim to do that without an attorney being present on their behalf. No matter how pressured you might feel, never give any written or recorded statement to an opposing insurance company without an attorney being present on your behalf. That adjuster already knows what happened. They have already spoken with the person who caused your accident and even have a copy of the

when phoning you.

Even the most successful car accident lawyers offer prospective new clients free consultations and case reviews. They also take cases on a contingency fee basis, so no out-of-pocket money must be paid for them to represent you. Consulting with and retaining such an attorney as soon as possible after a car accident caused by somebody else will assure that your right to compensation for the injuries and damages you suffered will be preserved, protected, and asserted. Contact the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates at 855-768-8845 or www.askthelawyer.us before the opposing insurer contacts you.l

Brian Figeroux, Esq.