On August 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) published an alert that temporarily extends the validity period of a report of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (“form I-693”) from two years to four years. The decision was made in an effort to expedite the adjudication of employment-based Form I-485, Application to Register to Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, by the last day of the government’s fiscal year which is September 30, 2021. It will not apply to cases adjudicated after September 30, 2021, unless the Service extends the validity of the medicals again.
Read moreIt Stretches the Scientific Imagination
Re:Growth at Riverside Park
Riverside Park stretches along the western edge of Manhattan from 59th Street to 158th Street, a span of about four miles. It is an open secret that Riverside is the best park in the borough for running, biking, and relaxing by the water. This makes it the perfect location for a new public art exhibition, Re:Growth, A Celebration of Art, Riverside Park, and the New York Spirit. There are works of art scattered around the park, so as you explore Manhattan’s northwestern shoreline, you’re bound to come across work from at least one of the more than 20 artists represented in the event. I took a walk in the park and stumbled upon “Summer Vibe” by Sui Park, “Invasives” by Jean Shin, and “Happiness Is…” by Blanka Amezkua. Re:Growth feels like visiting a gallery, but it’s outside in the warm summer air, with the smell of saltwater all around you. It represents a safe way to experience art as we work through the uncertainties of the pandemic.
Immigrants have Done their Jobs, It’s Time for Congress to do Theirs
The Confusing Path to Legal Immigration
By Mike Flynn and Shikha Dalmia, illustrated by Terry Colon. Originally published in Reason Magazine, October 2008.
The US immigration system is famously complex, obscured by red tape, long waits, and multiple fees. Just how hard is it to immigrate legally to the US? Take a look at this flowchart by Mike Flynn, Shikha Dalmia, and Terry Colon to get an idea of the effort and time involved in getting a green card or becoming a citizen. This chart is actually almost 13 years old, originally published in the October 2008 edition of Reason Magazine. There have been very few changes to immigration laws in the US since this chart was published, but many immigration advocates hope that won’t be the case for long. In recent weeks, there has been a renewed push for congress to create paths to citizenship for DACA recipients, TPS recipients, farmworkers, and essential workers. Maybe soon this flowchart will have a few new branches.
We Will Maintain Existing Travel Restrictions
Reclining Liberty by Zaq Landsberg
Tucked against a stand of trees at the top of a hill in Morningside Park is an unusual sight: the Statue of Liberty taking a rest. Artist Zaq Landsberg’s “Reclining Liberty” is a massive musing on the state of American ideals. The Statue of Liberty is a classic New York symbol, standing proudly in New York Bay to welcome visitors and immigrants to the United States. But in Landsberg’s version, she seems tired, taking a pose inspired by the Reclining Buddha, meant to depict the Buddha in his last moments of life. The pose has a hopeful connotation, however, as it can be understood to represent the last step on a path towards enlightenment. With this work, Landsberg is questioning whether Lady Liberty, or indeed if the US is “an entity forever upright and tall, is it an eventual decline and fall, or is there another stage for the country that will transcend this symbol altogether?" The sculpture manages to be humorous and charming, while provoking serious contemplation about American ideals.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions to Continue
After speaking with a White House official, David Shepardson of Reuters reports that “[t]he United States will not lift any existing travel restrictions ‘at this point’ due to concerns over the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant and the rising number of U.S. coronavirus cases.” According to Mr. Shepardson’s source in the White House, the decision came after a senior level White House meeting on Friday, the 23rd of July.
Read moreFutures are Left up in the Air
Brighter Days by Melvin Edwards
“Song of the Broken Chains” by Melvin Edwards
Legendary sculptor Melvin Edwards has spent his 50-year long career creating public art for display all over the world. He is currently being honored with a retrospective collection in front of City Hall in Manhattan, featuring several sculptures created between 1970 and 1996, and one new work, commissioned in 2020. Titled “Song of the Broken Chains,” this new sculpture consists of several enormous chain links, broken open and glittering in the sunlight. All of the sculptures in the retrospective include chains in some form, as chains are a signature motif for the artist. In his work, he utilizes the formal qualities of chains—their movement, shape, and weight—while exploring the various metaphorical meanings of the material. In Edwards’ work, chains “can represent bonds that [either] constrain or unite us, while broken fragments might suggest [either] liberation or loss.” Often present in his work is also the clear historical connection to chains “as tools of slavery and violence.” His most recent piece has a sense of optimism, with the broken chain links “suggesting both liberation and rupture,” shining brightly on the site of both a colonial African Burial Ground and New York’s Black Lives Matter protests.