Last Saturday, major news organizations projected that former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris would win the 2020 presidential election. Their election comes after the Trump administration’s unrelenting attacks against immigrants, refugees, and the US immigration system over the last four years. In the coming days, we will be posting more about what changes to US immigration policy and law we might expect under a Biden/Harris administration. In the meantime, many Americans are celebrating this historic victory. Vice President-Elect Harris, the daughter of two immigrants, will be the first woman, the first African American woman, the first Indian American, and the first Asian American to hold the office of Vice President. In her victory speech last Saturday, Vice President-Elect Harris spoke of her mother: “When she came here from India at the age of 19, maybe she didn’t quite imagine this moment. But she believed so deeply in an America where a moment like this is possible. So, I'm thinking about her and about the generations of women — Black women, Asian, White, Latina, and Native American women throughout our nation's history who have paved the way for this moment tonight.”
This Is Us
As we draw closer to the final tally for the 2020 presidential election and reflect on how our fellow Americans voted, it’s an opportune time to revisit Dr. Eddie Glaude, the Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, speaking about President Donald Trump and racism in the United States. Stay safe, everyone.
Asylum: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
With only a few days left until the conclusion of the 2020 election, John Oliver discusses how the Trump administration has handled asylum seekers over the past four years, noting how the administration has been in this area “truly disciplined about being truly evil.” Oliver discuss how asylum is supposed to work and how the Trump administration has subverted it. He focuses in particular on the so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” that the administration instituted that have led to asylum seekers living in makeshift camps in dangerous conditions where migrants face kidnappings and violence and how the administration has “all but shut off the pathway for many asylum seekers to enter the country.” Oliver says: “[T]he asylum process has never been easy, but this administration has made it absolute hell.”
King Nyani
On a trip to Uganda, artists Gillie and Marc Schattner were able to observe a family of critically endangered mountain gorillas in the wild and were moved by what they saw. Their sculpture, King Nyani, is based on the dominant silverback gorilla, the head of the family that they observed. King Nyani, Swahili for gorilla, is the largest bronze gorilla statue in the world. How large? His hand is large enough to fit two to three people, or an outstretched child. Visitors can view King Nyani in person through May 2021 at the Bella Abzug Park in Hudson Yards, just across from the Vessel. What else can you do before or after seeing the gorilla? You can vote! Early voting in New York City starts this Saturday, October 24!
Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Halting Proclamation Suspending Entry of H-1B, H-2B, J-1, and L-1 Workers for Plaintiffs
In early October, Judge Jeffrey S. White of the US District Court for the Northern District of California temporarily blocked further implementation of section 2 of the June 22 presidential proclamation (PP 10052) that suspended entry into the US for H-1B highly-skilled workers, H-2B nonagricultural workers, J-1 exchange visitors including interns, trainees, teachers, camp counselors, and au pairs, and L international intracompany transfers, and all their dependents. This injunction is not nationwide and only applies to plaintiffs and members of the plaintiff groups. In his opinion, Judge White criticized the June 22 presidential proclamation noting it did not address the issue it was supposed to fix, namely helping the domestic economy by providing more job opportunities for Americans. “[T]he Proclamation completely disregards both economic reality and the pre-existing statutory framework. Furthermore, without any consideration of the impact on American firms and their business planning, the Proclamation abruptly changed the scope of immigration policy in the United States.”
Read moreDHS and DOL Make Key Changes to the H-1B Program and Permanent Labor Certifications and Labor Condition Applications
Earlier this month the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) published two interim final rules that make key changes to the H-1B visa program and permanent labor condition and labor condition application process. The rules, “Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program” and “Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States”, were both published on October 8, 2020.
Read moreDUMBO Walls
Although DUMBO is known for its iconic waterfront views of Manhattan, look closer and you’ll find many colorful murals hidden or tucked away in the underpasses of the BQE as well as under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. The murals are part of a massive project titled “Dumbo Walls.” “Massive Stampede” is one mural by long-time DUMBO artist and Brooklyn native Craig Anthony Miller (known as CAM) whose work “reflects his life mantra to always be aware that humans have the ability to navigate through any stress that may appear in life, and everyone has the power to make dramatic changes and evolve to free themselves into a pathway of reaching self-mastery.” Artist Emily Caisip’s has a mural titled "Moment of Gratitude" that depicts tall plants reminiscent of the high rises continuously being constructed in New York City. The floating flowers “represent the ‘moment of gratitude’—the exact moment where each person stops, takes in his or her experience, accepts and is happy with where he or she lands.” Speaking of gratitude, we are thankful for the right to vote. Have you voted yet or made a plan to vote?
USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees Effective October 19, 2020
US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that the agency will increase fees for the premium processing service effective this coming Monday, October 19, 2020. For all cases currently eligible for premium processing, the fee will be increased from $1,440 to $2,500, except those requesting H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status. The premium processing fee for petitioners requesting H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status is increasing from $1,440 to $1,500.
Any premium processing request postmarked on or after October 19, 2020 must include the new fee amount. If USCIS receives a Form I-907 postmarked on or after October 19 with the incorrect filing fee, the agency will reject the Form I-907 and return the filing fee.
"Untitled (Four Arches)" at the High Line
The beloved High Line has re-opened! Now requiring a timed ticket, the High Line has re-opened at reduced capacity and with additional safety protocols in place. For those who need to get out of the house for a walk outside, now is a perfect time to check out the High Line’s vibrant foliage and art, including work by American artist Sam Falls. For his piece, Untitled (Four Arches), Falls created four ceramic archways using original steel rail tracks from the High Line. Each of the four archways is dedicated to a different season in the park. To design the piece, Falls collected plants from the High Line over one year, embedded the plants in ceramic, and fossilized them with colorful pigments. What else? Don’t forget to vote.
Peace, Love & Happiness
Peace, Love & Happiness currently at the South Street Seaport was created by Scott Gerber, artist and founder of Tube Dude. Gerber designed the piece as a way for “people to come together and heal through art.” The “Peace Sign” aims to “bring calm to one’s mind when distracted not only by major global events, but also by everyday occurrences;” the “Heart” encourages viewers to be “kind and spread love to those who are suffering;” and the “Smiley Face” evokes “happiness and positivity to the viewers so that they in turn may spread joy through our communities.”