Gleaner Na 202111

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | NOVEMBER 4 - NOVEMBER 10, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 4 N EW YORK-BASED immigration consultant Irwine Clare has endorsed calls for renewed action on immigration for Caribbean na- tionals from advocates who last week pressed Democrats to deliver on election promises. “THE BIDEN AdministrationMUST move withmuch haste to clear the backlog in Legal Immigration pro- cessing and, in doing so, help to repair and strengthen confidence in the Immigration process.,”he stressed in a response to the move by activists. “Applicants are waiting too long for benefits that they are entitled to or qualified for. Note, these are folks who have paid hefty fees, waited their turn, and followed the rules and regulations that are available to them.Where is the fairness to themand their families?“ “Decisions by the present Administration can be made to help resolve clearing and move many from the undocumented class into legitimate residency with protections for all civic and economic contri- butions attributed,” Clare said. “A bipartisan approach at this time is the only major avenue available to resolve the logjam towards Immigration Reform. However, we must not overlook the low hanging fruits that can be had now, as we seek the ultimate.” Clare who has been a lobbyist for more than 20 years acknowledged that the current immigration climate has peculiar challenges. “Where I have some difference in approach is that we have to be cognizant of the realities that presently exist in the United States. Nowmore than ever, immi- gration is and has become a wedge issue between those for and against.” “Prevailing conditions especially what’s taking place at the southern border does nothing positive to augment the process, it’s a lose-lose dilemma. Additionally, a split Congress on both sides does not provide any meaningful passage of immigration reform that is being advocated for and thereby will require a whole lot of ‘horse-trading’ albeit compro- mises that will no doubt water down any kind of meaningful reform, “ he said. ... Bipartisan approach needed Clare CONTRIBUTED Phyllis Barnes phyllis.barnes@gleanerna.net NEW YORK Garfield Grandison - Manager garfield.grandison@gleanerna.net Normadelle Rose - Office Supervisor normadelle.rose@gleanerna.net 92-05 172nd Street, Jamaica, NY 11433, 718-657-0788 Aubrey Campbell aubreycgleaner@gmail.com NEW YORK, NY: I MMIGRANT ADVOCACY groups in NewYork have increased pressure on United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to deliver on citizenship for Caribbean and other nationals in the US federal budget reconciliation package. In front of Senator Schumer’s Manhattan, NewYork office, immigrant advocates and community members urged the majority leader to ignore the faulty assessment offered by the parliamentarian and fulfil the promise that Democrats made to immigrant communities, according to the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organ- isation for more than 200 groups in New York state. “Democrats in the House and Senate have agreed, immigration belongs in budget reconciliation, and Americans across the country overwhelmingly support citizenship,” it said. Immigrants, Assembly member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and allies de- manded that Majority Leader Schumer lead his caucus to follow through on the promise to create a pathway to cit- izenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) hold- ers and immigrant essential workers, “who have kept this country running throughout the pandemic,”NYIC said. It said the historic budget package would help create a pathway to cit- izenship to over 463,000 immigrant New Yorkers, while boosting the US economy. “Our elected officials need to remem- ber that they are accountable to the people, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, DC. Earlier this week, we reminded Senator Schumer of that when we rallied outside of his Brooklyn home,”Murad Awawdeh, NYIC’s execu- tive director, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). “Today, we doubled down and brought the voices of immigrant New York to his Manhattan office. Our mes- sage could not be clearer; Senator Schumer, Congressional Democrats, and President Bidenmust listen to amajority of American voters, follow through on the promises made on the campaign trail, and finally deliver a pathway to cit- izenship for millions of our community members.We deserve it andwill accept nothing less,”he added. Robert Agyemang, New York direc- tor, African Communities Together, noted that as essential workers, immi- grant communities across the coun- try have been at the frontline of the COVID-19 fight. “Here in New York, we continue to see the lasting impact of the pandemic on our undocumented members and those with temporary status, as they struggle with the financial, social, and economic aftershock of the pandemic. “A pathway to citizenship would not only provide necessary protections for huge parts of our community, but build a stronger United States as we recover from almost two years of job loss, overburdened hospitals, and so- cial isolation. We call Senate Majority Leader Schumer, who expressed an overwhelming commitment to pro- viding a pathway to citizenship for our communities, to use every tool at his disposal to get this over the finish line. We cannot lose this opportunity. The time is now,” he added. Annie J. Wang, director of the New York-based Immigrant Justice Project, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), noted that the organisation knew that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was never meant to be a long-term solution for undocumented youth. “Since 2012, AALDEF has provided pro bono legal representation to undocumentedAsianAmericanyouth. In 2019, alongsideacoalitionof 42civil rights organisations, we submitted an amicus brief focusingon the reliance interests of DACA recipients and the real-life adverse impact that dismantling DACA would have on immigrant youth,”she said. “Regardless of what the Senate par- liamentarian has said about the im- migration proposals presented to her as part of the budget reconciliation process, Senator Chuck Schumer and members of his caucus need to show leadership and deliver a path to citi- zenship now for undocumented youth, TPS holders, essential workers, and the rest of the undocumented immigrant community. These people are a vital part of our country and deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.” Natalia Aristizabal, director of Immigrant Justice at the Center for Popular Democracy, another NewYork- based immigration group, said: “Our communities worked tirelessly to put Democrats in control of the Senate, House of Representatives, and White House. We did so because Democrats promised to deliver on our priorities, including a pathway to citizenship. We expect Democrats to use every tool at their disposal to deliver on their promise of a pathway to citizenship now, through reconciliation. Democrats must not allow the misguided advice of an unelected parliamentarian to be the last word. We can’t wait.” “Today, in front of Senator Schumer’s office, our message is clear: Congress must include a path to citizenship in the budget reconciliation package,” added YaritzaMendez, co-director of organising atMake the RoadNewYork.“Regardless of theparliamentarian’s opinion, Senator Schumer must fulfil promises made to immigrant communities. Democrats have the power in their hands to deliver citizenship to millions – they can and must deliver. This historic opportunity will change the lives ofmillions of people, who for decades have relentlessly fought for immigration relief.” ‘We can’t wait!’ Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, speaks on immigration matters on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, July 21. AP Immigrant advocacy groups double down on pathway to citizenship for Caribbean nationals THE WE KLY GLEANER | NOVEMBER 4 - 3