TASK FORCE INFORMATION:  Our first meeting of the year will be held on September 11, at 7:30pm at the Congregational Church, 1154 Great Plain Avenue.  The meeting will NOT be available on Zoom, but in-person only.  Parking is available in the rear lot behind the church.  Please send me any items you wish to have included in the agenda.  I would also appreciate an RSVP if you plan to attend.  This will be our first in-person meeting in over 2.5 years.

  BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEWS>>A bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators and Representatives has re-introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act.  SEE:https://www.khaama.com/congress-reintroduces-afghan-adjustment-act/

>>  On July 31,2023, CYBERSCOOP published an article dealing with a National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy that recognizing the need to hire competent employees in the cyber workforce, the Administration has proposed “…. The National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy strategy focusing on four major pillars: equipping every American with cyber skills, transforming cyber education, expanding and enhancing the national cyber workforce and strengthening the federal cyber workforce. The strategy relies heavily on non-governmental and private sector entities to provide funding, internship and apprenticeship programs to increase the number of workers with cybersecurity skills. The strategy also calls on Congress to enact “meaningful immigration reform” to expand the workforce and retain foreign-born cyber workers that have been trained in the U.S. “People are the center of cyber. We need to be able to think through how we train, how we retain, how we recruit talent,” Walden told CyberScoop. “Immigration reform is a part of that process. … ”.  For the full article, GO TO:  https://cyberscoop.com/national-cyber-workforce-and-education-strategy/?utm_ .  Meanwhile, the Biden administration just gave a shout out to MassBay Community College’s cybersecurity program for its role in a “first-of-its-kind comprehensive approach aimed at addressing both immediate and long-term cyber workforce needs.”  

LITIGATION:>>The American Immigration Council, SPLC, ACLU, ACLU of Florida, and Americans for Immigrant Justice filed suit in district court to challenge Section 10 of Florida’s SB 1718. (Farmworker Association of Florida, et al. v. DeSantis, et al., 7/17/23).  The lawsuit focuses on the provisions outlined in Section 10 of the law, which criminalizes the transportation of individuals into Florida who may have entered the country unlawfully and have not been “inspected” by the federal government since. The complaint states that it is unconstitutional for a state to unilaterally regulate federal immigration and subject people to criminal punishment without fair notice and that Florida’s use of the term “inspection” is incoherent and unconstitutionally vague. The case was filed against Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Florida Statewide Prosecutor Nicholas B. Cox and the attorneys general for all 20 Florida Judicial Circuits, on behalf of the Farmworker Association of Florida and various impacted individuals, including U.S. citizens and undocumented drivers and passengers who routinely travel into and out of Florida.  Section 10 is only one of a host of new laws within SB 1718 that harm Florida immigrants and their families and seeks to target and intimidate immigrant families in every facet of their lives. The law inhibits and intimidates immigrant Floridians seeking health care, expands E-Verify requirements and penalties on businesses, prohibits local government funding of new community identification cards, and invalidates certain driver’s licenses from states like Connecticut, Vermont, Delaware and Hawaii.For a copy of the Complaint, go to: https://www.aila.org/infonet/the-council-and-partners-file-complaint?utm_source=Recent%20Postings%20Alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RP%20Daily

 NATIONAL NEWS:>> The Wall Street Journal reports that, “Canada Woos American H-1B Visa Holders Fed Up With U.S. Immigration System”
SEE: https://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-woos-american-h-1b-visa-holders-fed-up-with-u-s-immigration-system-5f7e866. Then FORBES published an article, “International Students Key To AI As Researchers And Entrepreneurs”.See: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2023/07/16/international-students-key-to-ai-as-researchers-and-entrepreneurs/?sh=29c8907b681a.  And another reason to amend the immigration laws of the US from Barrons, “The Chips Act’s Big Problem” https://www.barrons.com/articles/chips-act-immigration-reform-ebf3144f.     The press has recently noted that the US birthrate has dropped and there is a crying need for nurses, physicians, and another medical personnel.  The military cannot meet its volunteer quota for recruits and is actively seeking immigrants to join the military.  {It really is time to fix our broken immigration law to meet the challenges of today.} 
>> And then recent polls show that Americans are not supportive of immigration reform.  See US News, “Americans Who Say Immigration Is a ‘Good Thing’ Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade”.(https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2023-07-13/americans-who-say-immigration-is-a-good-thing-falls-to-lowest-level-in-a-decade).
>> NBC News reports that as police departments struggle to recruit and retain officers, some look to a previously untapped pool of applicants to fill job vacancies. States have begun to pass laws that would permit DACA recipients who are authorized to work in the United States to become police officers, with several states set to vote on the policy. Beneficiaries of the DACA program have historically been barred from holding jobs in law enforcement because of various provisions in state laws. 
>> Politifact published an article “Immigration plans by Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis face obstacles” is worth reading.  {It puts to rest why both the Trump and and DeSantis’ mirror image of their immigration plans are without basis in logic or law.}. SEE: https://www.politifact.com/article/2023/jul/20/why-donald-trumps-and-ron-desantis-immigration-pla/

LOCAL NEWS:>> REALLY good news:  On July 31 CommonWealth Magazine reported that in-state tuition for the undocumented may come to realty.  “After two decades of advocacy on Beacon Hill, Massachusetts is set to join about two dozen other states in removing a high-profile barrier to undocumented students in higher education.  The final $56.2 billion compromise budget for fiscal year 2024 includes a Senate provision that would allow all students, regardless of immigration status, to qualify for in-state tuition rates at Massachusetts public colleges or universities. Both chambers handily voted the document through on Monday afternoon, sending it to Gov. Maura Healey for consideration”. SEE: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/in-state-tuition-financial-aid-in-sight-for-undocumented-students/

 LOCAL REQUESTS:>> The Needham Community Council is looking for tutors in its ELL program.  Please contact:Julie Tovar, ELL Program ManagerNeedham Community Council570 Hillside AveNeedham, MA  02494781-444-2415jtovar@needhamcouncil.orgwww.needhamcouncil.org further information on how you can make a difference!
 

Please let me hear from you,

Enjoy the rest of the summer, 
Gerry Rovner