TASK FORCE INFORMATION:

             >> Special thanks to Karen Price for the preparation of a new brochure that we will use at public events to familiarize the community about us.  A copy is attached below.

       >> On SUNDAY, Oct 3 we have been invited by the Needham Diversity Initiative to join its table at the Needham Harvest Fair, on the Town Common, from Noon – 4:00.  I already have 2 volunteers to be at the table to answer questions from the crowd, but would like to have 2 more for 1 hour each:  2:00-3:00 and 3:00-4:00.  The brochures and a poster will be at the table.

Please contact me asap if you can volunteer.

 >> Our next meeting is scheduled for Oct 11th.  It too will be conducted via zoom.  Please contact me if you think it should be re-scheduled.
           >> MIRA publishes a newsletter jammed full with immigration news.  If you don’t already subscribe I urge you to do so.  Contact: dpereira@miracoalition.org

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEWS      >>   Here is the answer to the countries eligible for TPS: The citizens of the following countries are currently eligible for TPS, based upon country-specific dates of eligibility: 
Burma(Myanmar), El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela

            >> The Hill is reporting that human rights advocates are enraged at the Biden administration for resuming repatriation flights to Haiti, despite the country’s ongoing political, economic, and environmental disasters. This comes after ICE expelled 86 Haitian nationals from the United States and flew them back to Haiti on Wednesday. SEE:  https://thehill.com/latino/572588-advocates-in-utter-disbelief-after-biden-resumes-haitian-repatriations?utm_campaign=HubSpot-AILA8-09-17-2021&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=160687685&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–9wrgU6Sa2yNSm_lU7NVBNXPiUSicU-JbX-jVHscb8JWKkSRo3PlLf8xcfPooAMvdEwUMnO2jdNrXXp6m2zspk0yYf0w&utm_content=160687685&utm_source=hs_email

 LITIGATION
            >> A U.S. district judge of the Southern District of  California declared unlawful the government’s practice of systematically denying asylum seekers access to the asylum process at ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S.-Mexico border. The court ruled that CBP officers are required by law to inspect asylum seekers when they arrive at POEs and to refer them for asylum interviews, rather than turning them back to Mexico on the basis that the ports are “at capacity”.

 GOVERNMENT REPORTS
           >> For those of you interested in foreign nations detained  or released under alternatives to detention by ICE and/or CBP, see the Report from TRAC, https://trac.syr.edu/immigration/quickfacts/?utm_source=Recent%20Postings%20Alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RP%20Daily
NATIONAL NEWS:
 >> Axios is reporting that the U.S. government has lost contact with thousands of migrant children released from its custody, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Roughly one-in-three calls made to released migrant kids or their sponsors between January and May went unanswered, raising questions about the government’s ability to protect minors after they are released to family members or others in the United States. SEE:
https://www.axios.com/migrant-children-biden-administration-a597fd98-03a7-415c-9826-9d0b5aaba081.html?utm
            >> Axios is also reporting that Senator Manchin backs as little as $1 trillion of Biden’s $3.5 trillion plan.  This may have drastic consequences for immigration reform,SEE: https://www.axios.com/scoop-manchin-backs-as-little-as-1-trillion-of-bidens-35-trillion-plan-91d079e0-84a7-4f8f-94d4-212827a61339.html?utm_campaign=HubSpot-AILA8-09-08-2021&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=157405534&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-86Dkt8Ac_w2TIluMD2k1nD4w4i_0qzB77Ro1aMcT_FcBYtciooLPahwgHbOsPJaD3JMa_BqKkydevi315Bk1UBbtIjsA&utm_content=157405534&utm_source=hs_email
>> While on the other hand, The Hill is reporting that a broad array of local officials from throughout the country called on Democratic leadership and President Biden to include immigration provisions in the upcoming federal budget. The coalition of mayors, council members, local legislators, school board members, and commissioners called for a path to citizenship for essential workers, Dreamers who entered the United States illegally as child and TPS beneficiaries and their families in a letter sent on Wednesday.
            >> The Boston Globe reported on the end of MA Sheriff contracting with ICE Plymouth County to enforce immigration laws , leaving only Barnstable County to continue to do so.  SEE: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/13/opinion/sheriffs-ice-contracts-are-their-way-out-mass-heres-why-thats-good-thing/

LOCAL NEWS:
            >> Once again, the United States is poised to resettle thousands of refugees who will bring their strengths and skills and add to the country’s cosmopolitan richness. But will they be welcomed? Increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric has polarized the American public. How can we foster a more balanced, compassionate narrative around immigration?   The Immigrant Learning Center is sponsoring a webinar  program entitled “How to Shift the Public Discourse on Immigration”.  It submitted the following information:
Register now for Immigrant Storytelling in the American Narrative, a free webinar on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT, part of the Library of Congress’ 2021 National Book Festival.  In this free webinar, we will learn how to tell immigrant stories as part of the American narrative. Experts will examine the latest book by NPR’s Maria Hinojosa, Once I Was You: A Memoir, outline the history of immigrant narratives in the U.S., and offer strategies to shift the public discourse on immigration.

    >> The Boston University student independent Free Press published a story about Boston area getting ready to welcome Afghan refugees.  SEE: https://dailyfreepress.com/2021/09/13/boston-advocacy-groups-prepare-for-afghan-refugees-arrival/

 LOCAL REQUESTS:
>> On Sept 15th I met with Alberto Colon, Anna Gdalevich and Santiago Glan, seniors at Needham High School to discuss our Task Force.  They are part of an honors class which focuses on community service and action.  They videoed the Q&A and it will be available after editing.  Their names have been added to our email list and I invited them to join our future meetings.

 That is it for this week.

 Stay safe

Gerry Rovner