The Immigrant’s Journal - Vol. 191

Arms, but Closed Border Immigration Policies

BY LINDA NWOKE JOURNAL EXLUSIVE

Immigration has always been a contentious subject of discussion in the US. Many people seek sanctuary in the country worldwide due to the rise in political turmoil and economic prospects.

Just recently, on May 11, Title 42 was ended, a policy that prevented asylum seekers from entering the United States, specifically from the southern border, based on health-related humanitarian reasons, precisely due to COVID. The

Estate Planning Guide for Immigrants ....11

BROOKLYN, NY (May 17, 2023) ; Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso today proposed three legal opportunities for Governor Hochul, Mayor Adams, and the City Council to address the deep need for immediate shelter and long-term, affordable housing in and around New York City and to advance a regional, comprehensive response to the influx of asylum-seekers in New York that calls for the participation of private landlords, businesses, and other members of the sector. The Borough President was joined by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams,

Council Member Alexa Avilés, Council Member Rita Joseph, Council Member Chi Ossé, Council Member Lincoln Restler, and representatives from the offices of State Senator Andrew Gounardes, State Senator Julia Salazar, and Assembly Member Phara Souffrant Forrest.

“Immigration is a national issue and must be met with a national solution. But just because President Biden is declining to show up in any real way for the cities that are taking in thousands and thousands of people seeking asylum, and just because we here in

BBP Antonio Reynoso. Photo courtesy Reynoso Campaign

Four Key Lessons from the First Days After Title 42

BY AMERICA’S

Washington, DC: Judging from predictions from this time last week, the actual post-Title 42 display of a relatively calm and orderly process at our southern border has confounded predictions and disappointed right wing observers rooting for chaos. It’s still early in the post-Title 42 world and factors ranging from pending litigation to smugglers’ adaptations could certainly change what we see on the ground. Nonetheless, these early returns do drive home several key points and durable observations:

The orderliness on display makes the case for why legal channels that provide alternative pathways are so essential: As a national AP wire story “US-Mexico border sees orderly crossings as new migration rules take effect,” captures the point: “new asylum rules and legal pathways meant to discourage illegal crossings” are playing a role in the relative calm. The reality is that immigrants and asylum seekers want a line to get into and want to follow the law but the byzantine and shifting set of policies affecting them makes that a challenge. Offering a balanced approach and ensuring the continued operational success of efforts to alleviate border pressures – including legal pathways, regional refugee processing centers, and expanded family reunification efforts – are important.

Pervasive misinformation stoked by right wing and Republicans empowered smugglers, creating more chaos at the border: Disinformation and misinformation shared by smugglers, distributed by social media, and stoked by relentless Republican and right wing media lies and shouts of “open borders” all fuel migration patterns. A deeply reported Washington Post piece highlights the breadth of this mis/disinformation among many migrants and asylum seekers.

We need legislative modernization of entire immigration system – and Republicans keep obstructing and blocking such a solution: The crosspressures and policy approaches on display and affecting the border all must be viewed in the context of the constraints inherent to the broken immigration system that continues to plague us and that Congress – and congressional

Republicans in particular – is unable and unwilling to modernize. A timely New York Times story puts the rightful onus on Congress and its continued gridlock, tracing a timeline of obstruction and legislative near-misses in recent decades, noting: “The legacy of that inaction is seen in factories and farms, where undocumented migrants work grueling jobs for low wages; in the skyrocketing backlog of asylum cases that have yet to appear before an immigration judge; in the enrichment of cartels trafficking migrants and drugs to the U.S.-Mexico border; and in the uncertainty at the border after the expiration this week of pandemic-era restrictions on entry.”

We can do this – America can manage this moment and beyond: The early displays of order and calm at the border also remind us that our country knows how to meet this moment. As Cecilia Muñoz, co-founder of Welcome.US and former White House Domestic Policy Council Director told CBS Sunday Morning: “It’s not about politics. It’s not about ideology. It’s about helping people in need at a time of crisis. It’s really what we do when we’re at our best in this country.”

According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice: “The first days after the lifting of Title 42 have driven home a few realities, including reminders that Title 42 and similar deterrence-only policies may create more chaos than order. Instead, we need a balanced approach that recognizes that legal pathways and alternatives to the trek to the border are essential ingredients of disempowering smugglers and overcoming misinformation.

We also need Congress and the Republican Party to come to the table on real bipartisan solutions instead of political misinformation and harsh policies that advance more chaos and disorder. Unless and until Republicans are willing to work on a legislative modernization or Democrats can find a workaround to Republicans’ obstruction, our vision of an immigration system that works for today’s America will remain hamstrung.

Everything that was broken and dysfunctional about our immigration system before Title 42 is still broken and dysfunctional. Our legal pathways to enter the country with a visa are still insufficient, our refugee program is still too small and our asylum system, which was not designed for the volume of people seeking safety, given the state of the visa and refugee systems, remains under resourced.” l

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

VOICE Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico 10-21-2022: Migrants from Venezuela hold a peaceful demonstration to demand that title 42 be canceled in the United States. Editorial credit: David Peinado Romero / Shutterstock.com

We love and support our nurses all year!

A Historic Shift in How We Teach Our Children To Read

BY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS

New York City has the largest public school system in the nation, and we are proud of our dedicated teachers and administrators who do so much to educate our talented students from so many different backgrounds and countries. We want to set up our students for success, and teaching them to read confidently is crucial to our efforts.

That is why we are making a historic shift in our curriculum, and launching NYC Reads, a program based on proven science-of-reading techniques. We will teach our students skills that they can fall back on to decode words when the level becomes difficult, and we will train our teachers so they can provide instruction effectively.

When our young people don’t learn to read properly they are more likely to struggle, and they can fall into a cycle of poverty and even incarceration. A staggering 40% of our jail population cannot read properly, and 80% don't have a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.

The inability to read is not our students’ fault nor our teachers’ fault. It doesn’t mean that a teacher isn’t doing her job well or that a child is lazy or lacking in

ability. We have been using the wrong methods to teach our children, and now we are shifting course so we can give our young people a chance at a better future.

NYC Reads is personal for me. Even now, when I enter a classroom as mayor, I’m reminded of my life as a child walking into class, hoping and praying that the teacher didn’t call on me to read. I had dyslexia but it wasn’t diagnosed— and every day I was laughed at and humiliated. I was told that I was dumb. Now, in addition to making sure that all our students are screened for dyslexia, we will be teaching them reading and mathematics through a proven, scientific, and methodical approach—so that they don’t have to suffer the way I did.

As we switch to NYC Reads, we are asking our parents and community leaders to step up as well. Attend an Open House at your child’s school, where you can learn about NYC Reads and ask questions. Ask your children or the children in your care what they are reading about. Can they tell you about the stories they are reading? And if possible, spend some time reading with them, or let your children see you reading as well!

A child’s best day should not be the day their teacher doesn’t call on them. Their

best day should be when their teacher does call on them, and they can stand up and read. NYC Reads will make that possible.

Learn more about NYC Reads at: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/su bjects/literacy l

Eric Adams is the 110th mayor of New York City since January 1, 2022. He served in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing the 20th Senate district in Brooklyn. In November 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President, the first African-American to hold the position, and reelected in November 2017.

Mayor Adams Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Attorney General James Fights to Protect Medication Abortion Access and Family Planning Privacy Rights

NEW YORK: New York Attorney General Letitia James continued her efforts to protect Americans’ basic rights to medication abortion access and to privacy over their family planning decisions. Leading two separate multistate coalitions, Attorney General James filed two amicus briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit arguing that separate decisions issued by the same district court judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas would do serious harm to Americans’ access to the medication abortion drug mifepristone and would curtail important privacy protections over adolescents’ reproductive health care decisions. These amicus briefs are part of Attorney General James’ ongoing fight to protect New Yorkers’ rights, and the rights of all Americans, to privacy, health care options, and medication abortion access.

“We cannot sit idly by as basic rights are being assaulted and stripped away from millions of Americans,” said Attorney General James. “The rulings being made by a single judge in Texas will have devastating effects nationwide

unless we stand up and fight back. I am proud that my fellow attorneys general have joined me in urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reject these harmful decisions and instead protect the rights Americans have enjoyed for decades. So long as I am Attorney General of New York, we will continue to lead the fight for abortion rights and reproductive health care privacy for all Americans.”

In the amicus brief filed by Attorney General James and a coalition of 24 attorneys general in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, the coalition argues that

the FDA’s determination that the medication abortion drug mifepristone is safe and effective is supported by an overwhelming medical consensus developed over more than two decades of use. The coalition also argues that the FDA’s subsequent regulatory actions, including authorizing the generic version of mifepristone, permitting qualified clinicians other than physicians to authorize its usage, and enabling its distribution by mail, are all backed by solid evidence.

The coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reverse the lower court ruling and notes that if it

is allowed to stand, it will harm millions of Americans, and historically underserved groups, including women of color, low-income women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals, will be hit the hardest.

In the amicus brief filed by Attorney General James and a coalition of 24 attorneys general in Deanda v. Becerra, the coalition argues that eliminating Title X’s confidentiality protections for adolescents in Texas would have severe and devastating consequences for teenage patients. The Title X program was established in 1970, to provide publicly funded family planning and reproductive medical services on a confidential basis to millions of Americans, including adolescents. The lower court judge’s ruling in this case, however, would threaten the ability of minors in Texas to secure Title X services like contraceptives and family planning services without parental consent. This ruling goes against decades of established practices and could lead to sexually active adolescents forgoing medical care due to a lack of guaranteed

continued on page 6

Attorney General James Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

AMERICAN DREAM 6

Open Arms, Closed Borders

continued from page 1

restrictions came initially under the authority of a 1944 health law under Title 42 that allows curbs on migration to protect public health.

Instead, new restrictions are in place to try and control migrants from illegally crossing into the country and encourage them to apply online for asylum via a new process.

Yet, the argument over whether to open or limit borders has continued to rage among Americans. Thus, the concepts of 'Open Arms, Closed Borders and the Future of the Immigration Myth in America' formed the basis for a meeting organized through the Center for Brooklyn History.

Panelists deliberated on the authenticity of America's enduring image as a country that protects and advances immigrant human rights, primarily because of the recent developments in immigration and how they affect other immigrants in the city—specifically, the fallout of arriving people and how communities and advocates will be stepping up in support.

NYC's Mayor Eric Adams Plan for Housing Asylum Seekers

Earlier in May, the Mayor of New York City announced that asylum seekers would be housed in two proposed hotels upstate in Rockland County, an announcement that was vehemently opposed by the county's officials, who threatened to sue New York City and cripple any participating hotels within their county.

According to Murad Awawdeh, the Executive Director of NYIC, despite such an adverse reaction, New York will continue to welcome immigrants, regardless of varying opinions. "And we will continue to fight to remain true to who we are as a state," he states.

In his view, the city comprises great people, specifically ordinary New Yorkers who are constantly rising to the occasion with open arms towards immigrants, treating them with dignity and respect, and being committed to their success.

One of the panelists explained that, presently, there are over 30,000 asylumseeking migrants under the city's care. They are accommodated in various shelter houses operating at capacity, in addition to over 130 hotels. Yet, despite the mayor's proposal for alternative solutions to the housing challenge, the end seems to need to be in sight.

Some of the panelists feel that the mayor should partner with other cities in the state with a history of successfully supporting immigrants and fixing the shelter problem.

"Instead of expanding shelter, they should have been working on creating pathways for people to get out of the emergency shelter and into permanent housing, which is what we've been asking for. We have to get people into permanent housing and ensure that we're helping people set up their lives for success," said Murad Awawdeh.

Another panelist, Paola Mendoza, cofounder of Women's March, strongly feels the problem is how 'immigrants' are

perceived. She believes that if the stories of immigrants are framed in an inspiring and decisive manner, they will influence how they are treated.

"I remember the story of a 16-year-old boy who navigated his family from Columbia to Costa Rica through Mexico to the United States through the jungle. That is one of the scariest, most dangerous jungles in the world," she said.

She believes, "We can take that ingenuity, bravery, fortitude, and strength and celebrate rather than discriminate."

There is a consensus that immigrants decide to undergo hardship and confront all the hatred because most are literally running for their lives. "When you are escaping war or persecution, what people are saying and the tenor of a government conversation on the policy don't matter because you're just trying to protect yourself and survive with your family," said Paola.

She explains that, from experience, most immigrants don't want to leave their homes and start all over again but are forced to do so to survive.

Addressing Hostility Towards New Asylum Seekers

Arun Venugopal, a senior reporter at WNYC and Gothamist, shared a recent observation among immigrants who expressed irritation towards other asylum seekers whom they consider to have experienced a better deal and are having it more effortlessly.

"The consensus among these men was that new arrivals had a pretty sweet dealthey sit around and collect benefits," revealed Arun Venugopal.

Paola criticized the perception and claimed it is a wrong narrative promoted by unethical and unverified sources among Latinx via social media. "There is a problem in this country with false information going viral and constantly thrusting down people's brains within the Latinx community, specifically using WhatsApp."

Such fabricated lies, she says, are causing significant harm to members of the Latinx community and pose a challenge that can be managed with compassion rather than hatred. "I think we need to fight against that at all costs, and the way we do that is to get back into our humanity and our compassion," says Paola.

Murad Awawdeh explained that more than 50,000 people have arrived in New York to seek asylum over the past year.

However, only 30,000 are under the care of the city's administration. The remaining people may live with friends, relatives, or someone who can accommodate them.

Therefore, only the immigrants who have support or a connection to the city will most likely seek shelter within the system, and they truly deserve the support. Thus, the hostility is driven by the quest to hold someone accountable, which is not other immigrants. Instead, the actual entity to blame is the broken system.

Role of Popular Culture in Immigration Response

People often use popular culture to learn about other cultures, confirm their identities, and reinforce their beliefs. Thus, it often helps individuals understand themselves and others.

According to Paola, artists well used the approach in responding to Trump's administration, "The cultural response of protection, love, and positive, uplifting stories, through social media to galvanize people around horrible policies was impressive," she said.

She explained that it prevented several federal policies and laws from being implemented. In reaction to the response of the present administration towards immigration, they expressed a lot of disappointment. "When he came into office, there was fire, impulse, and the desire to help and protect immigrant communities, but it has tapered down, "said Paola.

A reaction that is judged to be reflected in the popular culture, discourse, and narrative around immigration. Some reasons include waning interest and investment by now-committed individuals in immigration.

Regardless, it is agreed that there is a need to increase the pressure on the present administration through collective stories by various community artists and storytellers.

There is always strength in numbers. "If our movements were less siloed, and we aim to have our stories become more intersectional, we will be able to achieve a lot. If we try to organize ourselves better across the board, we would be more assertive and have more impact, "says Paola.l

Read more stories at www.theimmigrantsjournal.com

Medication Abortion

continued from page 5

confidentiality. In the amicus brief, Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general argue that Title X’s confidentiality protections are essential to delivering necessary healthcare to minors safely, and urge the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to reverse the lower court ruling.

This action continues the work Attorney General James has done to protect access to reproductive healthcare and abortion rights. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to end Roe v. Wade, Attorney General James launched a pro bono legal hotline to provide legal support to patients and healthcare providers nationwide. Attorney General James has repeatedly led multi-state coalitions in submitting amicus briefs to combat efforts to rollback abortion rights, and to support protecting Americans’ access to safe, legal abortions. During former President Trump’s Administration, Attorney General James challenged attempts to restrict access to reproductive healthcare services, such as the Trump administration's Title X rule and submitted testimony urging passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act. Attorney General James has helped lead coalitions of attorneys general to defend abortion access in states including: Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Attorney General James has supported state legislation to provide funds to abortion providers in New York and called for an amendment to the state constitution to ensure the right to an abortion.

Joining Attorney General James in filing the amicus brief in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Joining Attorney General James in filing the amicus brief in Deanda v. Becerra are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

The amicus brief in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA was prepared by Deputy Solicitor General Ester Murdukhayeva and Solicitor General Barbara D. Underwood, and the amicus brief in Deanda v. Becerra was prepared by Assistant Solicitor General Elizabeth Brody, Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale, and Solicitor General Barbara D. Underwood — all of the Division of Appeals and Opinions. Both briefs were also prepared by Special Counsel for Reproductive Justice Galen Leigh Sherwin of the Executive Division, which is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.l

Most immigrants don't want to leave their homes and start all over againbut are forced to do so to survive Editorial credit: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com

Refinancing This Spring? How to Choose Between Variable and Fixed Interest Rates

BY EQUITY SMART REALTY INC

From choosing a real estate agent to finding the right home, the process of getting a mortgage is rife with many different choices. If you're investing down the road, it's likely that you've heard about variable and fixed interest rates and are wondering about the differences between the two and how they can benefit you. While what will work best for you depends on your financial flexibility and market knowledge, here are some basics that will help you make a decision.

The Details on Fixed Rates

For many homeowners new to the market, the stability of a fixed rate is comforting because the interest rate will be set for the length of the loan period. This means your monthly mortgage payment will be the same and you will not be required to adjust your budget each month. While knowing your rate can offer financial security in a fluctuating market, it may actually end up costing more money down the road depending on what the rates are like over time.

All About Variable Rates

A fixed rate can provide security, but a variable rate is much like it sounds and will fluctuate with the market interest rate. This means that your monthly mortgage payment will not be fixed and in the event of market increases or decreases, your mortgage payment may change markedly. While the benefit of variable rates is that they can actually end up costing less down the road, they can be a bur-

den for those who do not have market knowledge and are going to feel the stress of changing rates.

Choosing Between the Two

While it's expected that interest rates will rise in the coming years, there are still no guarantees that variable rates will end up costing more than a fixed rate. This means that if you are comfortable with the fluctuations, a variable rate may be better, but if it's consistency you're looking for, you may want to choose a fixed rate. If you are struggling with financial stability month-to-month, a variable rate may be more economical over time, but a fixed rate will offer the security of knowing your costs.

Guidance

There are benefits associated with fixed and variable rates, but it's important to determine how comfortable you are with the real estate market and your finances before making a decision. If you're currently on the market for a new home, you may want to contact one of our professionals for more information. Call 888670-6791.l

The Invisibility of Asians in America

BY SUNITA SOHRABJI, EMS

STANFORD, California: The Asian American community is one of the oldest in the U.S., yet still are viewed as “foreigners” by many Americans.

“Discrimination has always shaped us. We have always been the yellow peril, or the dusky peril who threatens the very existence of America. There’s a myth out there that we will always be foreign,” said Dr. Russell Jeung, co-founder of the web portal Stop AAPI Hate and a professor of Asian American studies at San Francisco State University.

Jeung spoke at a May 16 panel discussion here on Asian American identity. KPIX news anchor Ryan Yamamoto moderated the discussion, which included speakers Neil Ruiz, Pew Research Center’s Head of New Research Initiatives; Dr. Malathi Srinivasan, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford University; and Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician who served in the California state Senate for seven years.

The discussion — organized by the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education in partnership with the Stanford Asian Staff Forum and Asian American Journalists Association, San Francisco — was presented on the

heels of a multi-year survey of Asian Americans, released by the Pew Research Center May 8.

Who Belongs Here?

Another report released May 4 by The Asian American Foundation found that 4 out of 5 Asian Americans feel as though they don’t belong. More than half say they feel unsafe, especially on the streets.

“It is startling to see that more than one in four of Americans still think Asian Americans are more loyal to their country of origin. These unfortunate and enduring misperceptions erode our sense of belonging and safety as AAPIs,” said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF, in an introduction to the report.

In the early 1900s, Asians were associated with bringing smallpox, malaria, and leprosy to the U.S., which led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924. Asians were barred from entering the U.S., and the population already here was barred from buying land, similar to three bills currently pending in the Texas state Legislature.

De-coupling China and Chinese Americans

“History is repeating itself. We knew as Covid was coming that Asian Americans would be blamed,” said Jeung, who founded Stop AAPI Hate in April 2020, with co-founders Manjusha Kulkarni and

Cynthia Choi. Since its inception, the portal has logged more than 11,000 acts of hate violence against AAPIs.

Responding to a question from EMS, Jeung said that people who believe that China is the greatest threat to the U.S. also believe that Chinese Americans are a threat. “It is okay to criticize China policy, but we have to de-couple China from Chinese Americans,” said Jeung.

Pew

Study Findings

Ruiz laid out the findings of the Pew study, the largest-ever survey of AAPIs. Questionnaires were sent out to more than 268,000 people, and 7,006 interviews were completed.

Some key findings with regards to selfidentity:

●About half (52%) of Asian adults say they describe themselves most often by their ethnic origin, either alone (26%) such as Japanese or Korean or in combination with American (25%) such as Vietnamese American.

●28% describe themselves as Asians, either alone (12%) or as Asian American (16%).

● Just 10% describe themselves as Americans.

●41% of Indians use only their ethnic continued on page 9

Demonstrators are seen in Union Square Park during a vigil for victims of anti-Asian violence. Editorial credit: Ben Von Klemperer / Shutterstock.com

Asians in America/ continued from page 8

identity, without adding American. Japanese Americans are the least likely to identify by ethnicity alone.

●Almost 1/3 of 3rd generation Asian Americans identify simply as Americans.

●More than half of Asian Americans say the majority of their friends are from their same ethnic group. But that changes over time. About 38% of second generation AAPIs have only friends of their ethnicity.

●86% of Asian Americans say they are comfortable with interracial marriages and marrying outside their race.

●One in 5 Asian American adults have hidden some portion of their identity from non-Asians.

Disaggregated Health Data

Srinivasan discussed the need for disaggregated health data for Asian Americans, noting that genetic differences, income and lifestyle disparities play a huge role in determining health outcomes. South Asians, for example, are more prone to diabetes and heart issues than the Asian American population at large, while Chinese Americans have a greater rate of cancer than the overall population. Vietnamese Americans have the highest prevalence of Hepatitis B. But such information is largely anecdotal, without data to support it, said

Srinivasan, noting that the process by which to disaggregate AAPI health data is complex and must balance with privacy laws.

Less than 0.15% of National Institutes of Health funding is allocated to researchers working on studies specific to the AAPI community, noted Srinivasan.

Relatedly, many immigrants face huge barriers to getting appropriate medical care — from even understanding how the American healthcare system works and describing their medical issues. “We need to train our doctors better, and also empower our patients on how to ask for or demand better healthcare,” said Srinivasan.

‘Where Are the Asian Americans?’ Pan echoed Srinivasan’s remarks, noting that only about 3% of papers published in scientific journals have outcomes for AAPIs. “Where are the Asian Americans? And why aren’t you reporting it?” he often asks his colleagues, who say the numbers are too small to be significant.

“We have to stand up to the NIH and to researchers to report outcomes for AAPIs. If we are not mentioned, we cannot make change,” said Pan. The pediatrician noted that Asian Americans are over-represented at the lower levels of healthcare, but rarely are the decision makers or in leadership roles. “As you go up, we disappear,” he

said. “We are not in the board room. And that has to change.”

‘Change That Accent’

Both Pan and Yamamoto spoke about language discrimination they personally faced. When Pan was growing up, his parents spoke primarily Mandarin at home; he was put in special education because of his poor English skills. “So from then on, I refused to speak Mandarin,” he said.

Yamamoto — whose family spent time in internment camps — said that his career as a newsman has taken him across the U.S. “At times, I was the only person who looked like me in the newsroom, but viewers accepted it.”

“But one editor pulled me aside one day and said: ‘Ryan, you’re going to have a great career in journalism, but you need to work on that accent.’”

The American-born Yamamoto said he was greatly upset by the incident. “I don’t speak Japanese. My parents don’t speak Japanese. The Japanese language was lost for many Americans after World War II.”

“My grandmother used to tell my father never to speak Japanese because of what could happen if we were heard uttering a single word. So we don’t speak Japanese,” he said.l

Four out of five Asian Americans feel as though they don’t belong in the U.S., and more than half say they feel unsafe on the streets.

Border Patrol Custody Is Already Dangerous and This Florida Lawsuit Is Making It Worse

BY DARA LIND, IMMIGRATION IMPACT

One of the biggest concerns after the end of the Title 42 policy of mass expulsion at the U.S.Mexico border was that large numbers of people would cross in the hours and days afterward. When the switch happened last Friday at midnight, people feared that bottlenecks throughout the processing system would lead to dangerous overcrowding in border facilities.

The good news is that the worst-case scenario didn’t materialize. In the days after the Title 42 order expired, about a third as many people crossed from Mexico into the U.S. between ports of entry as officials expected. But border overcrowding is still a concern. A lawsuit in Florida is a major reason why.

Hours before the Title 42 order’s expiration, Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II, of the Northern District of Florida issued a temporary order preventing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from implementing a memo it had issued to prepare for the expected influx. The memo would have authorized agents to release some asylum seekers on parole under certain conditions to prevent overcrowding.

The judge held that the memo was too similar to one he’d previously enjoined, barring CBP from releasing anyone on parole under an Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program. This week, Judge Wetherell converted the temporary order to a preliminary injunction, which will remain in place until final judgment or until it’s overturned (or stayed) by a higher court. The U.S. government has appealed the preliminary injunction to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Wetherell’s injunction cited the relatively low levels of border crossings in the past week as an argument for forced mass detention. “As of May 14, only 22,259 [migrants] were in custody,”

he noted, compared to approximately 28,000 on May 10.

What he didn’t mention is that Border Patrol facilities are still overcrowded. In the days leading up to the Title 42 switchover, CBP’s rated capacity was 19,000, according to news reports, so the system remains well over capacity. And any increase in border crossings, or a move to hold people in Border Patrol custody for longer instead of turning them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement – like by holding asylum screenings in CBP phone booths – will nudge that number up further.

ICE, for its part, prepared for the expected border crunch by allowing its

facilities to go back to 100% capacity, up from the 75% capacity it had remained at for years due to the COVID pandemic. The result is that about 8,500 more detention beds are available to ICE. That’s enough to substantially increase the government’s ability to detain asylum seekers until it can deport them. But more beds won’t prevent a bottleneck like those we saw in 2018 and 2019, when ICE’s failure to process people quickly led to them languishing in CBP facilities for days on end.

Detention can be dangerous for migrants, especially if they are already vulnerable. But CBP facilities can be particularly unsafe. And the more people are stuck in remote border facilities, the more likely it is that someone will die before medical care can arrive. Indeed, on Wednesday, an eight-year-old daughter of Honduran parents, with a congenital heart condition, died in Border Patrol custody – the first child death in a Border Patrol facility since 2019.

It’s not okay. It’s not necessary. And if the Florida ruling stays in place and continues to limit options for safely releasing asylum seekers, it is more likely to happen again.l

Editorial credit: F Armstrong Photography / Shutterstock.com

Can You Make Your Own Estate Plan, Or Do You Need a Lawyer?

Do you anticipate family conflict over your property when you die? Do you live outside of the U.S. or own property outside the U.S.? How much do you expect your estate will be worth when you die? Are you interested in avoiding probate for your estate? Probate is a court-supervised process that can cost your loved ones time and money. Do you plan to leave property directly to your loved ones, and are your plans straightforward? Or are you hoping to make more complex gifts?

You may want to name the age at which your children or other minors receive their inheritances. Or you only want to make a gift if someone satisfies a specific requirement. (Example: You want your niece to get an inheritance only if she goes to college.) Do you want to make a gift for someone's lifetime but then pass it to someone else? (Example: You want your spouse to be able to use your home while they are alive, but after their death, you want the house to pass to your children from a previous marriage.)

Do you want to make a gift to someone with special needs? Do you want to gift someone who can't manage their finances, even in adulthood or with significant debt? (Example: You want to leave money to your son with a gambling addiction.)

Whenever you leave money or other forms of property to minors, you need to name someone to manage it, at least until they become adults. However, you don't need a lawyer to make this arrangement; there are many ways to do this, simply in

a living trust or will.

Many lawyers recommend refraining from making conditional gifts (gifts that require the recipient to fulfill a requirement). These gifts create confusion and, at worst, can make your will unenforceable. But you'll need to see a lawyer if you still want to make a conditional gift. In other situations, you should get advice from an experienced estate planning attorney.

1. You Anticipate Family Conflict

While most families won't end up fighting over a will in court, some certainly do. If you're worried about disputes—for example, you have children from a previous marriage who you expect will clash with your spouse—consider consulting a lawyer. An estate planning attorney can help you anticipate future problems and identify and express your exact wishes for what you want to happen to your property.

2. You Live Abroad or Own Property in Another Country

Simply living abroad doesn't automatically disqualify you from using U.S.based online wills and estate planning software. If you're temporarily working, studying abroad, or on active duty for the military, you probably still have ties to a U.S. state. For estate planning purposes, you can make a will or living trust using a reputable DIY product based on U.S. laws. But if you've permanently relocated to another country, you should use a lawyer well-versed in the laws of your country or region.

If you've moved abroad but own property in the U.S., you can still use a DIY product or form to make a financial power of attorney (POA). This document names someone you trust to manage that U.S. property on your behalf.

If you want to create a health care directive (also known as a "living will" and "medical power of attorney"), you

should use the forms that are familiar to the medical professionals where you're currently living. This might mean consulting a lawyer in that country or using a standard form if one is available. Since a medical emergency can happen at anytime, you want your healthcare directive to be legally valid immediately in your country or region.

If you live in the U.S. but own a property abroad, you'll also want to consult a lawyer familiar with the country's laws to make plans for that property after your death.

3. You Might Owe Estate Taxes

Hardly anyone owns enough assets to trigger federal estate taxes when they die. Currently, for deaths in 2023, estates don't need to pay federal estate tax unless there's more than $12.92 million worth of property. This threshold amount is subject to change with the political climate, but even so, most people simply won't need to worry about it.

About a quarter of the U.S. states impose their state estate tax. While most of these states impose estate tax at a lower threshold than the federal estate tax—so that your estate may owe state estate tax but not federal estate tax—the tax rate for state estate tax is also lower.

If you own property valued in the millions and would like to explore ways to protect your assets from estate tax, consult an estate planning attorney specializing in transferring wealth.

continued on page 2

Your Own Estate Plan/ continued from page 1

4. You Have a Complex Goal for Your Estate Plan

You should also talk to a lawyer if you have complex conditions or plans for the inheritance you leave.

Conditional Gifts

Some people want to place conditions on gifts to their loved ones—for example, you want to leave money to a grandchild only if they graduate from college. While you might have good reasons for this restriction, conditional gifts can create confusion and lead to disputes over whether the condition has been fulfilled. We don't recommend making conditional gifts in your will or living trust, but if your heart is set on it, find an attorney to help.

Life Estates

Perhaps you want to leave property to one person (such as your spouse) for use during their lifetime but then have it pass to a different person (such as your child from a former marriage) upon the first person's death. If you want to arrange this (called a "life estate"), you'll need a lawyer to help you set it up.

Spendthrift Trusts

If you want to leave money to a loved

one who has significant debt or is irresponsible with money, you might be concerned about how that inheritance will be spent. One solution is a spendthrift trust, in which you name a trusted person or institution to dole out the money to your loved one a little at the time. Or you could earmark the money to pay certain expenses, such as rent, directly. The property in the trust is also protected from most creditors. If this sounds like something you want in your estate plan, find a good estate planning lawyer.

5. You Want to Leave Property to Someone With Special Needs

If your loved one has special needs or a disability, be cautious about how you leave money or property to them. If your loved one receives government benefits, an increase in their assets can easily jeopardize their eligibility.

If your loved one already has a special needs trust set up on their behalf, you can

make a simple will that leaves money for that special needs trust. But if your loved one doesn't have such an arrangement, see a lawyer who can also help you thoroughly explore your options for leaving gifts to someone with special needs.

6. You Own a Business

If you haven't yet made arrangements (for example, in an operating agreement or partnership agreement) for what will happen to your business before you become incapacitated or die, you should get a lawyer's help to make a plan.

Legal Help

Estate planning is a necessity, not a luxury! Consult with the Law Firm of Figeroux & Associates. With over two decades of experience, you are in the right hands. Experience matters! Call 855-768-8845 or schedule an appointment at www.askthelawyer.usp

Organ Donor

When you make a commitment to donate healthy organs or tissue at the time of your death, you positively impact the lives of numerous others. When planning your legacy, it’s easy to have your loved ones at the forefront of your mind, but a simple registration could influence the health of a stranger.

According to the United States Department of Health & Human Services, there are two ways to sign up to be an organ donor. From the comfort of your home, visit their website and fill out a simple form. If you would rather complete the process with a representative, the experts at the local Department of Motor Vehicles can help.

How You Can Help

Adults who are legal citizens of the United States are eligible to donate organs at the time of death, and, in some cases, during their lifetime. Of course, certain diseases may inhibit you from becoming a donor; be honest about your health conditions during registration.

Make sure to discuss your wishes with your family. Conversations regarding death are never easy. You should approach the subject with sensitivity by discussing the benefits that registration offers to others.p

One in six residents in nursing homes and community facilties were neglected last year resulting in thousands of families experiencing trauma, mental illness, medical emergencies, and even death. Nursing home abuse and neglect is real.

Has your loved one experienced any of these or other types of abuse?

•Bedsores

•Choking/Death

•Falls

•Fractured Bones

•Infections

•Improper Treatment/Medication

•Malnutrition/Dehydration

•Respiratory Illness

•Sexual Abuse

•Sexual Assault

Experience matters. The lawyer you hire does make a difference. Schedule a consultation now.

Get compensation for your loved one’s suffering. Call 855-768-8845 or visit www.askthelawyer.us

What Happens If You Die Without a Will?

BY MARY CAMPBELL

Beloved actor Chadwick Boseman, star of Marvel’s iconic Black Panther, died in 2020 at 43 from colon cancer. Although he knew for some time that he was dying, he did not make a will. His estate was split evenly between his widow and his parents, following a legal process called “intestacy” – the rules governing someone’s estate if they don’t have a will.

Boseman was one of around 66% of Americans who didn’t make a will before he died.

You know you should make a will, but you never seem to be able to drum up much enthusiasm for the idea. It seems like a big, complicated pain-in-the-butt undertaking and you’re not planning on dying anytime soon anyway. You know that lawyers cost a fortune, and who knows if you really can legally use one of those online will kits? Differing opinions abound. So, you wonder, what does happen if you don’t make a will? Can the government really take all your possessions that the bank doesn’t already own most of?

The short answer is probably not. Unless you are truly completely alone in

the world with no blood ties whatsoever, there is likely a relative somewhere that is eligible to inherit, if they can be found. In fact, British television has aired a program called Heir Hunters, which is described as “a series following the work of heir hunters, probate detectives looking for distant relatives of people who have died without making a will”. In the U.S., private investigation firms will attempt to find a potential heir, but someone presumably must hire them before they will begin to look. Of course, if the estate is large, anyone may undertake to find lost relatives in hopes of receiving a

commission for the information from a grateful heir. In the end though, it is possible that if an heir cannot be found after a reasonable length of time has passed, then yes, eventually your estate will escheat (pass) to the appropriate governing body.

However, for an average individual with no shortage of relatives in line to legally inherit your worldly goods, the application of the relevant inheritance laws certainly doesn’t mean that your estate will be distributed in a manner that you would approve of. Intestacy (the legal term for dying without a will) laws

vary widely, depending on where you live. Your spouse, for instance, may find that the laws of your state are not altogether favourable to him or her when you have children involved, perhaps from a previous marriage. Common law and same sex partners may or may not be recognized as eligible to inherit. A close relative you cannot stand the sight of may be first in line if you have no spouse or children. Read our informative website at www.willsandestates.nyc

Finally, it is important to note that in addition to the disposition of your estate, regardless of the value, your will also functions as the vehicle through which you will make your final wishes known. You will appoint a trusted executor/executrix to a position of authority to administer your final wishes, which may include instructions for your desired funeral arrangements and interment, the distribution of personal items of great sentimental but minimal monetary value, or your choice of a guardian for your young children.

Without a doubt, dying without a will robs you of your right to have a say in the settling of your affairs and creates unnec-

continued on page 4

Bob Marley died intestate even though he knew he had cancer and lingered for nearly eight months. His estate, worth a reported $30 million, had dozens of claimants.

Editorial credit: Gabriela Beres / Shutterstock.com

Planning for a Disabled Child

Estate pre-planning should be an important part of everyone’s financial regimen, but this process becomes even more important when you have a child with disabilities.

A lot of factors go into creating a uniquely designed plan, depending on their unique personal challenges and whether they are a minor or adult. The goal is to help your special-needs child continue to lead an enriching, happy life even in your absence.

A Lifetime of Care

The larger goal of special-needs planning is to preserve public aid while also supplementing your child’s care. There are additional benefits to taking care of this right away: If plans are put in place while you’re still alive, the estate avoids probate. Others interested parties, like their grandparents, can contribute to a trust. Named co-trustees can also get hands-on experience in helping with childcare and administering the guardianship. Depending on the child’s capability, this money-management program may be critically important since it will be the only future path to protecting eligibility for benefits. It will provide additional funds for a broader scope of care and create a financial resource should benefits

become restricted or end all together.

Special-Needs Trust

Children are at particular risk if they are unable to live independently after the death of a parent of guardian. A specialneeds trust can ensure that they are provided with needed resources and care over the course of their lifetime. Parents or guardians should name the trust as a beneficiary in their will, according to the American Bar Association, instead of the

child. Many public-aid options are designed to be resource dependent, meaning recipients aren’t eligible if they have access to a certain amount of money. These trusts allow for an inheritance without endangering aid provided by Medicaid, SSI or other government programs because assets held in trust are not directly available to the child. Funds from life-insurance policies, IRAs and retirement plans can also be directed to the trust, and the child still has access to other programs.

Designating a Caretaker

Beyond the obvious financial considerations, parents and guardians must select a designated caretaker to look after their special-needs child — or to manage their care, if the child is in an assisted-living environment. Work with an attorney who specializes in estate planning in order to create both a trust and this succession plan, since states have differing regulations and laws regarding who may serve as a legal guardian p

Without a Will/continued from page 3

essary hardship for those closest to you, as they are left to deal with the legal technicalities on their own.

Changes in Tax Laws

It can be hard to stay up-to-date on constantly changing tax laws, but it’s necessary to keep your final document in good legal standing. Especially if your will takes actions to address estate tax issues, it’s a good idea to receive periodic reviews by an attorney.

Ask for Advice

A will is your ironclad way to disperse your assets to loved ones as you wish. Don’t be afraid to ask your legal expert for advice on other moments that may benefit your last will and testament. Remember, this document is incredibly important to keep accurate as it articulates your vision and solidifies your legacy.p

IMMIGRANTS’ MATTERS

Migrant and Homelessness Crisis/ continued from page 1 Brooklyn can’t do everything, doesn’t mean we can’t do something,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “This is about our City and State showing up – along with every New Yorker and every neighborhood – to put forward creative solutions that help us get people into stable, dignified housing and protect the rights and dignity of people arriving here from the border. The people are not the crisis – homelessness and our defunded city services are the crisis. I call on the City Council, Mayor Adams, and Governor Hochul to take legal steps toward empowering our government to get those who have been stuck in our shelter system the longest into the tens of thousands of apartments that sit vacant and ensuring the communities outside of New York City contribute to the greater good as well.”

The Borough President’s proposed actions at the city level have the potential to open up tens of thousands of vacant apartments that are currently unlisted and/or unleased to those who are experiencing homelessness – with deference given to those who have been in city shelters longest – making space in city shelters for people and families arriving to New York in seek of asylum. At the state level, Borough President Reynoso’s proposal could compel municipal governments outside of but near New York

City to collaborate in providing temporary shelter and contribute their fair share of affordable housing in the long term.

Borough President Reynoso’s call for intervention comes at a time when President Biden and the U.S. Congress has failed to show up with meaningful aid despite immigration being a federal issue. Earlier in May, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced its first allocation of funding to New York City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) for migrants: a measly total of $30.5 million.

The City already has spent more than $1 billion on asylum seekers and anticipate spending four times that in the next year. Governor Hochul allocated $1 billion to New York City for support on the migrant situation in her FY24 executive budget passed early February.

More specifically, in the interest of the people of Brooklyn, the well-being of all New Yorkers, and the rights of asylumseekers, Borough President Reynoso today called upon:

1.The New York City Council to pass legislation directing the Mayor to use government power to solve the homelessness crisis through the private sector. Such legislation should (1) add the arrival of migrants as an emergency under the Administrative Code, (2) direct the Mayor and City to lease market apartments for housing homeless families toward creating space in our shelter for new arrivals, (3) require landlords to prioritize renting to the City at the marketrate to alleviate the burden, and (4) ban the refusal to rent apartments to the City during an emergency crisis.

Additional Context: Right now, 80,000 New Yorkers – roughly two thirds of whom are families with children – are living in city shelters. More than 41,400 people seeking asylum – including some counted toward shelter beds – are in city care. Despite the profound need for safe, dignified housing, around 89,000 rentstabilized apartments and tens of thousands more in market-rate apartments might be sitting vacant, based on the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) 2022 Housing and Vacancy Survey. Many of these empty apartments are the result of “warehousing,” when a landlord declines to list their apartments for rent to keep housing stock low and rents high. Apart from vacant housing, around 94 million square feet of commercial real estate in Manhattan is also estimated to be sitting available for lease.

2. Mayor Adams to issue a new emergency executive order declaring a public emergency over homelessness, and not just the arrival of migrants, as the shelter population exceeds a threshold of 0.5% of the City’s population. Upon declaring homelessness a crisis, Mayor Adams must also seek state assistance from Governor Hochul under Section 24[7] of the Executive Law. Both actions would unlock broader government power to address the root of this crisis.

continued on page 16

Homeless person sitting on the ground and asking for help

USCIS Updates Review Process for the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans

The U.S. government is granting advance travel authorization for up to 30,000 noncitizens each month to come to the United States to seek parole on a case-by-case basis under the processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Due to high interest in these processes, USCIS is updating the review process effective May 17, 2023.

USCIS are updating the review process because the number of supporters who have submitted Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, is significantly higher than the 30,000 monthly travel authorizations available. It is intended to maintain a meaningful and equitable opportunity for all beneficiaries of a Form I-134A to move forward through the process and seek advance travel authorization.

Under the new review process that went into effect on May 17, USCIS will

randomly select about half of the monthly total, regardless of filing date, from the entire pending workload of Form I134A to determine whether the case can be confirmed. We will review the other half of the monthly total of Forms I134A based on when the case was sub-

mitted under the first-in, first-out method, which prioritizes the oldest Forms I-134A for review.

Potential supporters should not submit a duplicate Form I-134A for the same beneficiary. We will not accept a duplicate Form I-134A if a previously submitted Form I-134A between the same potential supporter and beneficiary is pending. If we do not confirm a Form I134A, but a supporter believes they meet the requirements to be a supporter under the process, they may file a new Form I134A and submit additional information as evidence.

Under this updated review process, processing times will vary. Potential supporters may monitor the status of a Form I-134A they filed in their USCIS online account or check the most recent status in Case Status Online. The USCIS Contact Center cannot provide any additional information about the status of your case.l

Migrant and Homelessness Crisis/ continued from page 15

3. Governor Hochul to exercise state power for solutions under her emergency declaration issued on May 10, 2023. Solutions would involve not only offering New York City the help of state personnel and use of state facilities under Section 29 of the Executive Law but also the suspension, under Section 29-a of the Executive Law, of local laws that other municipal governments around New York City have invoked to dodge this humanitarian crisis. These are laws such as those Rockland County invoked to block motels and hotels willing to help as well as laws long preventing the construction of affordable housing around surrounding counties that would alleviate the crisis.l

Statement on Mayor’s Openness to Sending People Seeking Asylum to Rikers: “Jail Is Not a Short-term or Longterm Housing Policy.”

NEW YORK, NY: FWD.us

President Todd Schulte released

the following statement on reports that the Adams administration is considering sending people seeking asylum to Rikers Island:

“We are deeply troubled by Mayor Eric Adams’ comments that he is considering sending vulnerable individuals and families seeking asylum to Rikers’ Island, which the city has already been ordered to close.

“America is at its best when we ensure people seeking asylum can access the safe, orderly, and humane process they deserve. Rikers has a long, horrifying record of abuse and death; 19 people have died there in just the last year. The horrors of incarcerating people there fueled a broad campaign to close Rikers; today’s statements should be a stark reminder that it should have closed long ago.

“There are clear challenges that stem

from people seeking asylum who don’t have housing with immediate family members. But it should be obvious that rather than jail them, we need a coordinated city and federal approach to deliver short-term housing, make sure people can access a timely work permit so they can support themselves, and then help them transition to more stable housing. This is not only the moral thing to do, but

it will also help strengthen our communities and grow local economies. America can and should do this, and we deserve leaders who will actually build solutions.

“Jail is not a short-term or long-term housing policy.”

Immigrant Advocates Demand Mayor Adams’ Scrap Plan to House Asylum Seekers At Rikers Island Jail

The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States.

NYIC Executive Director, Murad Awawdeh released the following statement:

“Rikers Island has a long track record of causing nothing but pain, suffering and death to those that have been forced to reside there. It is a stain on our city. We

have joined the countless numbers of advocates and organizations who have called for it to be permanently shuttered, which makes this news even more alarming. Housing asylum seekers – who are pursuing their legal right to apply for asylum – on Rikers is simply immoral. The traumatizing effect of doing so, after people have fled violence and persecution in their home countries, will cause more injury to families who are already struggling. Asylum seekers and the rest of the unhoused population of NYC need permanent housing – they do not belong in jails. The Adams administration must partner with local community-based organizations and every level of government to develop a humane approach to receive our newest neighbors in a safe, orderly, and secure manner. Together, communities across New York State can create a welcoming New York for all, no matter when people arrived or how they got here.”l

Mindfulness, Meditation and Self-compassion – A Clinical Psychologist Explains How These Sciencebacked Practices Can Improve Mental Health

BY RACHEL GOLDSMITH TUROW THE CONVERSATION

Mindfulness and self-compassion are now buzzwords for self-improvement. But in fact, a growing body of research shows these practices can lead to real mental health benefits. This research – ongoing, voluminous and worldwide – clearly shows how and why these two practices work. One effective way to cultivate mindfulness and self-compassion is through meditation.

For more than 20 years, as a clinical psychologist, research scientist and educator, I taught meditation to students and clinical patients and took a deep dive into the research literature. My recent book, “The Self-Talk Workout: Six ScienceBacked Strategies to Dissolve SelfCriticism and Transform the Voice in Your Head,” highlights much of that research.

I learned even more when I evaluated mental health programs and psychology classes that train participants in mindfulness and compassion-based techniques.

Defining mindfulness and self-compassion

Mindfulness means purposefully paying attention to the present moment with an attitude of interest or curiosity rather than judgment.

Self-compassion involves being kind and understanding toward yourself, even during moments of suffering or failure.

Both are associated with greater wellbeing.

But don’t confuse self-compassion with self-esteem or self-centeredness, or

assume that it somehow lowers your standards, motivation or productivity. Instead, research shows that self-compassion is linked with greater motivation, less procrastination and better relationships.

Be patient when starting a meditation practice

I didn’t like meditation – the specific practice sessions that train mindfulness and self-compassion – the first time I tried it as a college student in the late

PartyRentals for All Occasions

‘90s. I felt like a failure when my mind wandered, and I interpreted that as a sign that I couldn’t do it.

In both my own and others’ meditation practices, I’ve noticed that the beginning is often rocky and full of doubt, resistance and distraction.

But what seem like impediments can actually enhance meditation practice, because the mental work of handling them builds strength.

For the first six months I meditated, my body and mind were restless. I wanted to get up and do other tasks. But I didn’t. Eventually it became easier to notice my urges and thoughts without acting upon them. I didn’t get as upset with myself.

After about a year of consistent meditation, my mind seemed more organized and controllable; it no longer got stuck in self-critical loops. I felt a sense of kindness or friendliness toward myself in everyday moments, as well as during joyful or difficult experiences. I enjoyed ordinary activities more, such as walking or cleaning.

It took a while to understand that anytime you sit down and try to meditate, that’s meditation. It is a mental process, rather than a destination.

How meditation works on the mind

Just having a general intention to be more mindful or self-compassionate is unlikely to work.

Most programs shown to make meaningful differences involve at least seven sessions. Studies show these repeated workouts improve attention skills and decrease rumination, or repeated negative thinking.

They also lessen self-criticism, which is linked to numerous mental health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Meditation is not just about sustaining your attention – it’s also about shifting and returning your focus after the distraction. The act of shifting and refocusing cultivates attention skills and decreases rumination.

Trying repeatedly to refrain from selfjudgment during the session will train your mind to be less self-critical.

An interconnected group of brain regions called the default mode network is strikingly affected by meditation. Much of this network’s activity reflects repetitive thinking, such as a rehash of a decadeslong tension with your sister. It’s most prominent when you’re not doing much of anything. Activity of the default mode network is related to rumination, unhappiness and depression.

Research shows that just one month of meditation reduces the noise of the default mode network. The type of meditation practice doesn’t seem to matter.

Studies show that consistent meditation practice is key.

MANY FACTORS COME INTO PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH.

TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AROUND AND MAKE NOTE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, AND LOOK WITHIN TO SEE HOW THEY MIGHT BE AFFECTING YOU.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS YOUR MIND AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT AT MHANATIONAL.ORG/MAY.

Mindfulness, Meditation and Selfcompassion/continued from page 18

Establishing the formal practice

A common misconception about mindfulness is that it’s simply a way to relax or clear the mind. Rather, it means intentionally paying attention to your experiences in a nonjudgmental way.

Consider meditation the formal part of your practice – that is, setting aside a time to work on specific mindfulness and self-compassion techniques.

Cultivating mindfulness with meditation often involves focusing on paying attention to the breath. A common way to start practice is to sit in a comfortable place and bring attention to your breathing, wherever you feel it most strongly.

At some point, probably after a breath or two, your mind will wander to another thought or feeling. As soon as you notice that, you can bring your attention back to the breath and try not to judge yourself for losing focus for five to 10 minutes.

When I was just getting started meditating, I would have to redirect my attention dozens or hundreds of times in a 20-to30-minute session. Counting 10 breaths, and then another 10, and so on, helped me link my mind to the task of paying attention to my breathing.

The most well-established technique for cultivating self-compassion is called loving-kindness meditation. To practice, you can find a comfortable position, and for at least five minutes, internally repeat

phrases such as, “May I be safe. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.”

When your attention wanders, you can bring it back with as little self-judgment as possible and continue repeating the phrases. Then, if you like, offer the same well wishes to other people or to all beings.

Every time you return your focus to your practice without judging, you’re flexing your mental awareness, because you noticed your mind wandered. You also improve your capacity to shift attention, a valuable anti-rumination skill, and your nonjudgment, an antidote to selfcriticism.

These practices work. Studies show that brain activity during meditation results in less self-judgment, depression and anxiety and results in less rumination.

Mindfulness also occurs when you tune into present-moment sensations, such as

tasting your food or washing the dishes.

An ongoing routine of formal and informal practice can transform your thinking. And again, doing it once in a while won’t help as much. It’s like situps: A single situp isn’t likely to strengthen your abdominal muscles, but doing several sets each day will.

Meditation reduces self-criticism

Studies show that mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness meditation reduce self-criticism, which leads to better mental health, including lower levels of depression, anxiety and PTSD. After an eight-week mindfulness program, participants experienced less self-judgment. These changes were linked with decreases in depression and anxiety.

One final point: Beginning meditators may find that self-criticism gets worse before it gets better.

After years or decades of habitual selfjudgment, people often judge themselves harshly about losing focus during meditation. But once students get through the first few weeks of practice, the self-judgment begins to abate, both about meditation and about oneself in general.

As one of my students recently said after several weeks of mindfulness meditation: “I am more stable, more able to detach from unhelpful thoughts and can do all of this while being a little more compassionate and loving toward myself.”l

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Four Ways to Improve Communication in Relationships

BY JANET HOWARD

When it comes to relationships, most people struggle with poor communication. Even if you're a couple who is constantly talking to each other and making sure your relationship is going well, there are times when things can feel a little strained. Everyone has different needs and expectations for their relationships, which means that no two relationships are alike. However, that doesn't have to mean that your relationship can't be better. Here are four ways you can improve communication in your relationship.

Think Before Speaking

Learn to evaluate your thoughts before voicing them. Many arguments start because one partner makes a comment out of sarcasm or in jest, and the other views it from a different perspective. You may consider your sarcasm or sense of humor a part of your charm, which may be very well; however, sarcasm and jokes may be viewed as insulting or demeaning. Everyone has different personalities, no matter how compatible you and your partner are. A comment that is viewed as humorous by one person can

be seen as hurtful by another. Try to anticipate how your remark might be received and then reframe it in a way that won't be offensive.

Be Honest and Specific

Problems in relationships often occur because people fail to be honest and specific in their communication. People may

not be completely honest, not because they want to deceive their partner, but because they want to avoid confrontation and hurt feelings. However, you cannot expect someone to understand how you feel if you are not completely honest about your feelings. You cannot expect your significant other to read your mind.

So talk to each other openly, honestly, and often. It's also important to be specific in your requests. For instance, if you asked your significant other to fix the broken kitchen drawer months ago and it's still broken, you may feel as if your partner doesn't listen or is ignoring you. However, your partner may respond that they forgot about the drawer or will get to it. The next time you make a request, try being more specific. For example, say, " I would really appreciate it if you would fix the broken drawer in the kitchen. Could you do it this weekend, please?"

You are providing a timeline and showing appreciation in your request. If your partner commits to the timeline, hold them accountable to the commitment, and hold yourself to the same standards.

Squash Arguments Before They Escalate

Many arguments are over simple things

and can be avoided. If you find yourself arguing with your partner over something trivial, take a breath, stay calm, and suggest to your partner that you talk it out. Sit down and calmly discuss the disagreement and work toward an amicable solution. If your partner doesn't want to talk, refuse to argue any further. Give your partner time and space to calm down and then try to approach the topic in a reasonable discussion. Consider making it a house rule to always talk things out rather than argue. People often get angry unnecessarily and forget what the argument began over anyway. It wasn't an important issue if you can't remember what started the argument.

Be a Good Listener

Most people are quick to speak but slow to listen. Have you ever been in a gathering where a several people are talking at the same time, even talking over each other in an attempt to be heard? Did you notice that although everyone is talking, it seems like no one is listening? People are often so eager to express their thoughts and opinions that they forget to listen. This happens in relationships, also.

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Elected Leaders Join Hundreds of PSC-CUNY Members & Students Rallying for Investment in CUNY

Hundreds of faculty and staff represented by the Professional Staff Congress, students and CUNY allies joined forces with City Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Assembly Member Karines Reyes and members of the New York City Council and New York State Assembly on the steps of the Tweed Courthouse to oppose cuts to City of University New York colleges.

CUNY has been targeted for repeated cuts with Mayor Adams' “Program to Eliminate the Gap” (PEG) and in his Executive Budget, eliminating hundreds of unfilled faculty and staff positions at CUNY community colleges. Accelerate, Complete, and Engage (ACE), an academic support program known to improve graduation rates, is also on the chopping block. CUNY administrators, facing the mayor’s draconian city budget cuts and other financial pressures, ordered a hiring freeze and painful “savings target” cuts earlier this year that will

undermine academic departments and student services, leaving adjunct faculty jobs at risk and students without the support they need.

“Cutting CUNY means throttling the engine of mobility that our city relies on,” said James Davis, president of the Professional Staff Congress. “Two CUNY degrees helped to propel Mayor Adams from a working-class Queens community to prominent roles in state and city government. Thousands of young people in that neighborhood and others like it need the opportunity that he was afforded, and that is what’s at risk in this city budget. Thankfully the City Council, under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, has a plan that better meets the needs of CUNY students and PSC members. We urge the Mayor and his administration to collaborate with the Council and reach a deal that’s good for CUNY and good for the City of New York.”l

Four Ways to Improve Communication in Relationships/ continued from page

21

There is a difference between talking at someone and talking to them. Talking to someone involves another person, generally known as a conversation. However, a conversation works both ways. Each party takes turns speaking and listening. You can't have good communication skills if you are not a good listener. Being a good listener involves more than just hearing the words someone is saying, but being genuinely interested in what the other person says.

People may listen, but they don't comprehend the meaning. Don't automatically assume that you know your partner's mind. Assumptions sometimes lead to miscommunication and conflict. Ask for clarification, if necessary.

Conclusion

Good communication is a necessary component of a healthy, lasting relationship. Make time to have deep, meaningful conversations with your significant other. Speak from the heart and do it honestly. Spend as much time listening as you do talking. Good communication can help you understand yourself and your partner better, and understanding each other will help strengthen the bond between you.l

NY Assembly Member Karines Reyes (District 87) was one of the elected officials advocating for PSC staff and CUNY students. Photo: NY Assembly.

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