What are the prevailing conditions in Central America that drive people out?
It’s a fundamental question that has to be asked – and answered – before the details of comprehensive immigration reform and sound asylum policy can be agreed upon and implemented.
As Miriam Valverde, writing for the Poynter Institute’s PolitiFact publication, questions, “Why would moms, dads, teens and kids take the risks they do, leaving behind their families and traditions, embarking on a journey that typically requires walking nights and days through the desert without water, swimming against strong river currents without a life vest, or hiding in the back of a tightly packed tractor-trailer for hours without enough air to breathe.”
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In a recent Washington Post editorial, former Republican President George W. Bush called for bipartisan immigration reform. His stance is a strong contrast to the position embraced by Donald Trump and many current Republic Party officials.
Rather than engage in the propaganda war to demonize immigrants, Bush emphasized the need to restore “the people’s confidence in an immigration system that serves both our values and our interests.”
The op-ed comes at a time when the U.S. is seeing a new surge of migrants coming to its southern border, which has increased the political divide between those who support and those who oppose reform has widened.
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I am not a fan of truncated legal information.
Short sound bites that deliver little, if any, concrete advice for immigrants and their families.
You’ve probably read such posts or heard such advertisements.
In recent years, these types of posts have become commonplace on social media.
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As an immigrant advocate, it’s difficult to not become calloused by the news about immigration.
Open the newspaper, surf the internet, hang out on social media, and you’ll find loads of negative stories about the plight of immigrants.
Children separated from their parents. Families forced to leave their home countries. Individuals relegated to migrant camps and makeshift homes, wondering where their next meal will come from.
But there are, now and then, articles that share the work of individuals who exemplify the meaning of a Good Samaritan.
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The U.S. citizenship test for aspiring immigrants was recently changed.
It was the second change in four months.
On the surface, this is not earth-shattering news. Hence, one might assume the test was changed due to errors, either in the way questions were phrased or the inclusion of flawed answers.
However, a closer look reveals how politics can manipulate and interfere with rational policies designed to create orderly processes for immigrants to earn lawful status.
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Many pro-immigrant advocates are enthusiastic about the chances for reform under Joe Biden. But there is an elephant in the house which must be addressed.
Smugglers.
Barely 60 days into reform discussions, the actions of smugglers are once more opening doors for the hijacking of political policy.
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In many ways, hiring a lawyer is similar to hiring any other service provider or professional.
- Why do you take your car to an auto mechanic? Because you do not know how to fix the problem with your car and you need your car to go to work or school.
- Why do you go to a hair cut salon? Because you want your hair to be styled a certain way and you cannot reach that goal on your own.
- Why do you seek the help of a heart surgeon? Because you are facing a major life or death situation. You need an expert to keep your heart beating.
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January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Since it’s January, this is a good time to ask, each of us, “What can we do to help the war against human trafficking?”
In other words, what can you and I do to help fight this immense worldwide problem?
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Immigration Judges are suing their employer, the Department of Justice.
Sounds strange, doesn’t it?
Actually, it’s about par for immigration courts in the Trump era.
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Born during the Kosovo War in 1999, to provide hope, education, and inspiration to refugee communities in Macedonia, FilmAid International is a non-profit humanitarian organization through using film to assist refugees suffering the effects of war, poverty, displacement and disaster.
Working in partnership with various global aid organizations, including the United Nations High Commission For Refugees (UNHCR), FilmAid has brought information and training to more than 2 million people worldwide on public health and safety issues such as maternal health, HIV, cholera, and gender-based violence.
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