One of the largest murals in New York is painted on the wall of a public school in the West Village. The mural at City-As-School consists of three enormous compositions by well-known muralists Kobra, Cern, and Magda Love. “Soul Ancestors” is the name of the portion painted by artist Magda Love. Born in Argentina, the artist has lived in New York City for more than 15 years, and is dedicated to adorning the city with colorful, captivating work. With the goal of giving New Yorkers a moment of thoughtful pause in their hectic day, her work draws on her own experiences to portray themes of “vulnerability, strength, nostalgia, sorrow and joy.” The artist says that “Soul Ancestors” is a celebration of femininity, “a song to all women who are putting their souls in what they do.” The colorful artwork is a bright addition to the school building and the neighborhood.
Visas for Startups and Researchers Will Help America Innovate
Lunar New Year – Year of the Tiger
It’s time to celebrate a new year on the lunar calendar! Each year on the lunar calendar is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals, which include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This upcoming year, which begins on February 1, is the year of the tiger. Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated in China, Vietnam, North and South Korea, and Tibet, but today, celebrations take place all around the world. In London, for example, the Light Festival at Battersea Power Station features an installation celebrating the year of the tiger. The Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) created “Digital Origami Tigers” in 2010, the last year of the tiger. The large, glowing sculptures “combine ancient methods of lantern making with cutting-edge design and technology” to create a stunning celebration of the new year.
Biden Administration Takes Steps to Maintain STEM Talent in the US
In an effort “to attract global talent to strengthen our economy and technological competitiveness, and benefit working people and communities all across the country”, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has significantly revised and broadened its policy affecting F-1 students who have earned a qualifying US degree in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (“STEM”).
Read moreEnsconced in Limestone Caves, Naturalization Applications Backlogged
Since 1944, The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) has created Administrative Files or “A-files” containing all records of any active immigration case pertaining to foreign nationals not yet naturalized to become US citizens. Without an A-file created during the immigration and inspection process an individual cannot be granted permanent residency or citizenship. These files are housed in storage facilities known as Federal Records Centers (“FRCs”) which are located underground beneath the administration of the National Archives and Records Administration (“NARA”). FRCs are made up of “miles-long networks of man-made limestone caves built beneath the Kansas City metro area” and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FRCs have been either temporarily closed or operating under limited capacity to ensure the safety of workers. In fact, The Wall Street Journal reported that NARA said in a statement that it has kept staff levels at 25% at its Kansas City facility because it is “an area of high transmission.”
Read moreHere We Are a Year Later
![On inauguration day, [President Biden] made it a priority… he signed executive orders, he said immigration reform and relief would be a priority. And here we are a year later, and it’s not in the Build Back Better bill… JULIO VARELA Founder of Latino](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/518a56c0e4b0f73b5500b4b6/18ab2e1c-4365-4fe4-a7e8-21a26a1397fe/Here+We+Are+a+Year+Later.png)
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Required for All Foreign Travelers at US Land Borders
Effective January 22, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) will require non-US citizens traveling across the land border for both essential and non-essential reasons to be fully vaccinated. The recent announcement confirms, “[t]hese new restrictions will apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons. They will not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.”
All foreign national travelers, whether traveling for non-essential or essential reasons, must attest to their vaccination status and to present proof of vaccination to CBP officers upon request. To be considered fully vaccinated, fourteen days must have passed since the traveler’s final shot of their vaccine. CBP follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) protocols regarding acceptable “proof of vaccination, including which vaccines are permissible.”
Pre-arrival COVID-19 testing is not required for entry via a land port of entry or ferry terminal.
Passage in the Garment District
A new art installation is lighting up the Garment District! The interactive piece, called “Passage,” consists of twenty glowing rings that react with swirling color and sound as people pass through them. The artist, Serge Maheu, has a background in engineering, and is adept at creating artworks that use his technical skills in creative ways. This work was conceived as a meditation on the idea of transition and change, drawing on ideas of “passage in reference to the enigmatic moment between life and death.” Sponsored by the Québec Government Office in New York, the installation will only be in place for a few weeks, but in that time, it will bring color and fun to the chilly nights in midtown.
The Recent Drop in Immigration Directly Contributed to the Current Labor Shortage
The Great Debate by Hebru Brantley
The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan, is home to a new larger-than-life sculpture. The piece, titled “The Great Debate,” is part of artist Hebru Brantley’s Flyboy series. The artist is known for creating narrative-driven art, often featuring his signature character, Flyboy. Described as “an exploration of what a superhero character of color would look like,” Flyboy can be found in comics, on murals, t-shirts, skateboards, and stickers, as well as in more traditional paint-on-canvas artworks. The 16-foot-tall statue in The Battery “features Flyboy in a stance that represents confident optimism.” The artist, Brantley, suggests, “My hope is that The Great Debate at The Battery will serve as a consistent reminder to hold your head high, stand firm in what you believe in, and keep pushing forward with confidence.”