Newsletter From the Chair July 2, 2023

TASK FORCE INFORMATION:>>. SAVE THE DATE:  Our next meeting will be held on September 11, IN PERSON !!, at the Congregational church, 1154 Great Plain Avenue, across from the Post Office.  Parking is plentiful behind the Church.Details to follow in August.  Thanks to Val Kistler for arranging the use of facility.  Please make every effort to attend.

>>HAPPY 4th:  See you at the festivities and  Fireworks at Memorial Field on July 3d and the Parade on the morning of the 4th!BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEWS:>> On June 13th,  the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the rescission of the prior Administration’s terminations of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua and the extension of TPS for these four countries for 18 months. Notices will be published in the Federal Register. 

>> Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it began limited testing in Denver of a wrist-worn GPS monitoring device as part of its ongoing efforts to provide additional technology in the Alternatives to Detention suite of options. (It is a fraction of the cost of detention $166.20/day)  to use this type of electronic monitoring ($5.60/day) as well as allowing a person to remain with the family.The last figures from ICE were published in 2017. Using an inflation calculator I came up with these figures for 2023. )

>> ICE recently announced that its online change-of-address form for noncitizens is fully operational. Noncitizens now have the option to update their information online in addition to the existing options of doing so by phone or in-person.SEE:  https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-online-change-address-tool-noncitizens-fully-operationalNATIONAL NEWS:>> New report for/about Asylum practitioners:  AILA released a major report on asylum timelines, “High-Stakes Asylum: How Long an Asylum Case Takes and How We Can Do Better”.  The report is based on a survey of over 300 AILA and other attorneys about how much time it takes to prepare an asylum application, and what complications add significant time.  The report finds that even a relatively straightforward asylum case takes50 to 75 hours of preparation.  The complexity and time needed for preparing an asylum case has significant implications for how asylum seekers are processed today and demonstrates why accelerated timeframes like expedited removal significantly undermine meaningful access to asylum.    SEE:  https://www.aila.org/highstakesasylum?utm_campaign=Hubspot-GR-Asylum-Report-6-14-23&utm_LOCAL NEWS:>>  The rubber now hits the road!We worked hard to legalize residents of MA to obtain drivers licenses, regardless of immigration status.  WGBH reports that the MA  RMV prepares for over 100,000 driver’s license applications from undocumented immigrants.  Go to:  https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2023/06/14/rmv-prepares-for-over-100-000-drivers-license-applications-from-undocumented-immigrants

>> The Mass Taxpayers Foundation has published a report at https://www.masstaxpayers.org/sites/default/files/publications/2023-06/230620%20In-State%20Tuition%20Conference%20Preview.final_.pdfthat establishes “expanding access to in-state tuition rates to undocumented students could generate $2.6 to $3.5 million in new revenue for community colleges, state universities, and the University of Mass.If you are interested in working on a committee to work on having legislation passed allowing undocumented students to receive in-state tuition, please contact me.
>> WBUR, our local NPR station, aired a program entitled, “ Why so many U.S.-educated foreign students don’t stay for work” that is worth listening to.  Go to: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/06/26/why-so-many-u-s-educated-foreign-students-dont-stay-for-work

>> Do you miss the Needham Times? There’s a new free on-line paper that may make it a little better. SEE:  https://needhamobserver.comYou can subscribe and if you like, make a donation too. LOCAL REQUESTS:The Needham Community Council seeks ESL tutors:

Gerry Rovner