USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests

March 31, 2022 Paola Calero

In response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is once again extending the flexibilities it originally announced two years ago, on March 30, 2020. USCIS’ 60-day deadline extension policy for responses to various agency actions has been extended through July 25, 2022, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors who are responding to:

• Requests for Evidence;

• Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);

• Notices of Intent to Deny;

• Notices of Intent to Revoke;

• Notices of Intent to Rescind;

• Notices of Intent to Terminate regional centers; and

• Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant.

Human Displacement Constantly Tests the World and its Infrastructure

March 28, 2022 Melanie Katz

Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

March 25, 2022 Melanie Katz

Manhattan’s largest park is also home to one of the largest fountains in New York. Bethesda Fountain, named for a Bible passage that describes a pool with healing waters thanks to an angel’s blessing, was created to commemorate the opening of the Croton Aqueduct in 1842. The aqueduct brought clean, fresh water to the city for the first time, providing its own ‘healing waters’ to New Yorkers who had previously suffered through fires and disease due to an inadequate and contaminated water supply. For this reason, the statue at the top of the fountain is known as the Angel of the Waters. The eight-foot-tall neoclassical bronze angel was designed by American sculptor Emma Stebbins, the first woman to receive a commission for a major work of art in New York City. Modeled after Stebbins’ partner, actress Charlotte Cushman, the angel and her fountain have become an iconic symbol of the city.

A Lie Disguised as Protection

March 21, 2022 Melanie Katz

“Trump’s border wall has turned out to be useless and unusable… That architectural and anti-immigrant million-dollar failure has been breached by smugglers more than 3,000 times, according to a journalistic study recently published by The Washington

Irish Arts Center Book Day

March 18, 2022 Melanie Katz

There’s no better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with free books! Across New York City, volunteers spent the holiday giving away books by Irish and Irish diaspora authors as part of the 10th Annual Irish Arts Center Book Day. This year the event also featured books by Jewish authors, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of James Joyce’s modernist masterpiece Ulysses, and in tribute to the book’s protagonist, Leopold Bloom. Despite the rainy day, commuters and pedestrians in every borough paused to browse the book tables and talk about literature with the volunteers. By the end of the day, the Irish Arts Center gave out thousands of free books to New Yorkers, “using the power of storytelling to bring people of all backgrounds together.”

DHS Designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 Months

March 17, 2022 Paola Calero

On March 16, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced the designation of Afghanistan for temporary protected status (“TPS”) for eighteen months to help protect Afghan nationals in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions. Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas noted “TPS will also provide additional protections and assurances to trusted partners and vulnerable Afghans who supported the U.S. military, diplomatic, and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.” TPS designation is available to nationals of Afghanistan who are already residing in the United States as of March 15, 2022, and meet all other requirements, including undergoing security and background checks.

Hungry for Choice and Certainty

March 14, 2022 Melanie Katz

Alexa and the other guests, and perhaps even Georgina, all understood the fleeing from war, from the kind of poverty that crushed human souls, but they would not understand the need to escape from the oppressive lethargy of choicelessness. They would

XO World Project

March 11, 2022 Melanie Katz

Shining in the sun, a massive, metal globe stands beside a silver jack, from the children’s game jacks, with crossed arms attached to the center spoke. The sculpture forms a giant “XO” in front of One World Trade Center. The sculpture by Daniel Anderson, called “XO World,” is part of the XO World Project, an initiative that aims to “encourage people of all ages to lend their voice and take action to advance the causes of peace, love and inclusion worldwide.” The artist says that he was inspired by “children and their open acceptance of others. A child’s mind and heart are free of prejudice regardless of race, gender, or religion,” an attitude that Anderson hopes will spread. Standing on the site of the tragedy of 9/11, the placement of the sculpture is evocative, adding an extra layer of pathos to the statue promoting peace and understanding. The shining sculpture sends a powerful message to anyone who sees it.

DHS Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 Months

March 7, 2022 Paola Calero

On March 3, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced the designation of Ukraine for temporary protected status (“TPS”) for eighteen months. This decision comes as a result of the escalating violence and the development of a humanitarian crisis in the wake of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Earlier in the week, bipartisan Senators urged President Biden to designate Ukraine for TPS.

Congress Needs to Work Toward Immigration Reform This Year

March 7, 2022 Melanie Katz