December 3rd : National Day of Fasting

In the midst of a fight for Immigration Reform, activists across the nation have gathered in front of the Capitol Hill to demand Congress' action. Activists have set up rows of tents where they have been fasting for the past two weeks. Various immigration advocacy groups, religious leaders and youth leaders are among these activists who are trying to pressure Republican leadership in the House of Representatives to act before the primaries kick in next year. The activist group aim to halt the deportation of non-criminal immigrants who have family members living in the Unites States, and to provide pathway to citizenship for children who were brought here without fault of their own.  Immigration system, in its current state, requires substantial fixes that will improve the immigration system itself, as well as the lives of immigrants who are living in this country both legally and illegally. The immigration Reform bill, known as S.744 in the Senate and HR.15 in the house, failed to overcome the political gridlock that has been dominating the American legislative branch. Despite the political obstacles, however, activists and their supporters is not giving up the fight. The immigration issue, as the founder of Facebook and FWD.com Mark Zuckerberg mentioned in his interview, is one of the biggest civil right issues of our current time. 

In solidarity with activists who are fasting in front of the Capitol Hill, this upcoming December 3 Tuesday will be declared as the National Day of Fasting. Anyone who is willing to participate can pledge to fast for 24 hours to show their support for the fasting activists and for the Immigration Reform.

For more information about Fast for Families events, visit http://fast4families.org/ or click this link.

Jung Rae Jang
Intern
Eve C Guillergan PLLC
www.knowyourvisa.com
Tel: (212) 279-9020
    

Temporary Protected Status to Filipinos in the U.S.

By Catlea Bobis, Esq.

After the devastation of Typhon Haiyan in the Philippines, there is call to designate the country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) based on INA Section 244. Due to the massive destruction in the Philippines, it is not safe for Filipinos to go back to the country. TPS would allow Filipinos to remain legally in the U.S. for a temporary period and be issued employment authorization as well as travel authorization.

Democratic U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, one of the leaders of immigration reform, and New York City Cardinal Timothy Dolan are supporting the TPS designation. Sen. Schumer said that TPS designation should be given to Filipinos who are living in the U.S. on a legal visa. He also supports giving undocumented Filipinos who are on deportation proceedings TPS designation, provided that the latter do not have any criminal history. Cardinal Dolan calls the TPS designation for Filipinos “classic American hospitality.”

The Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a Filipino-American organization that deals with issues facing Filipino migrants, wrote a letter to President Obama that goes one step further. The MHC proposes TPS designation to all Filipinos living in America, documented or otherwise.

In the event that the U.S. provides TPS designation to Filipinos, applicants must show the following to qualify: 1) Philippine nationality, or in case of a person without nationality, habitual residence in the Philippines; 2) On-time filing; 3) Continuous physical presence in the U.S. since the effective date of TPS designation; and 4) Continuous residence in the U.S. since TPS designation.

Filipinos who 1) are convicted felons or have committed two or more misdemeanors in the U.S.; 2) are inadmissible immigrants based on INA Section 212(a); 3) are subject to mandatory bars to asylum; and 4) have failed to meet the continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the U.S. and other stated requirements may not qualify for TPS.

Countries like El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria have been provided TPS designation. These TPS designations initially last for 6 to 18 months but may be extended provided that the conditions for TPS continues to exist.

Granting TPS designation to Filipinos is one way to help the country recover. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) contribute significantly to the country’s economy. OFW remittances are the 2^nd largest source of foreign reserves in the Philippines. These remittances provide immediate assistance to their families and community for rebuilding after a natural disaster.

Being the world’s largest archipelago and lying along the Western Pacific Basin, the Philippines is no stranger to natural disasters.  It has survived numerous natural calamities with domestic and international relief efforts. Typhoon Haiyan, however, is the world’s strongest tropical storm. Its devastation is unprecedented and the country and its citizens are ill equipped to properly cope with the disaster. Providing immediate relief goods will help stave of hunger and more deaths but to rebuild, long term solutions are necessary.

Providing TPS designation to Filipinos in the U.S. is a way to provide long term assistance other than just donating relief goods. Rebuilding for the affected areas in the Philippines will take years and incredible amounts of resources. With TPS designation, Filipinos will be able to sustain rebuilding for their country with their foreign remittances. It will temporarily provide a place for Filipinos to be productive and contribute to the U.S. economy as well by continued payment of taxes.

There is no final word yet whether this will come to pass. We will update our website with instructions on how to register if the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security approves TPS designation for Filipinos.

For more Information regarding TPS designation for Filipinos, click here.

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Eve Guillergan PLLC 

875 Ave of the Americas 

Suite 2302 

New York, NY 10001 

Tel: (212) 279-9020 

www.knowyourvisa.com