TASK FORCE INFORMATION:

            Our first meeting of the year will be held via Zoom on Monday Sept 13 starting at 7:30pm.  If you have an item for the agenda please email before  September 9 at noon.  I will be unavailable from sunset, Sept 6th until sunset, Sept 8th.  You will receive a Zoom link towards the latter part of the week.  We will discuss the Special Immigrant Visas available to Afghans who supported US Forces, what agencies we will support in the effort and what we can do with our active participation.  In addition I will update you on the request from a Needham High School civics class.  Please make every effort to attend.

 BIDEN ADMINISTRATION NEWS

            >> Roll Call is reporting that immigrants in the United States applying for legal permanent residence must show proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19 under a new policy beginning October 1, according to the CDC. The agency said it now classifies COVID-19 as a “Class A inadmissible condition,” and failure to vaccinate against a vaccine-preventable disease would render a person ineligible for a visa.  SEE:  https://www.rollcall.com/2021/08/26/covid-19-vaccinations-required-for-most-green-card-applicants
            >>   Slate is reporting that Tuesday night’s order by the Supreme Court regarding the Trump administration’s Remain in Mexico policy constitutes an attack on the president’s authority to conduct foreign policy. By compelling the Biden administration to revive the policy, which required all asylum seekers who arrive at the southern border—including many fleeing violence in Central America—to wait for their U.S. immigration hearings in Mexico, the conservative justices issued one of the most radical orders in recent memory. SEE:  https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/08/supreme-court-remain-in-mexico-trump-judge-biden-policy.html. Roll Call is also reporting that the Biden will continue to fight for the termination of the Remain in Mexico for asylum seekers, the policy of the Trump administration, despite the set back in the Supreme Court.  SEE:  https://www.rollcall.com/2021/08/25/biden-administration-will-continue-challenging-remain-in-mexico/
            >> DHS released a memo with guidance on immigration processing for certain Afghan nationals, stating that they will be paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis for a two-year period and may be eligible to apply for status through USCIS.

NATIONAL NEWS:

      >> On Aug 21, the NY Times reported that a former Pence aide says Trump and senior immigration advisor Miller tried to stymie Afghan refugee efforts  SEE:  https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/21/world/asia/pence-troye-trump-miller-afghan-refugees.html?searchResultPosition=2

            >> NPR aired a program entitled, “Waves Of Afghan Refugees Are Arriving In The U.S. Here’s Some Help They Can Expect”. It would be well to listen to the broadcast prior to our Sept 13th meeting.  SEE:  https://www.npr.org/2021/08/28/1031854899/afghan-refugee-aid-resettlement?utm_campaign=HubSpot-AILA8-08-31-2021&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=154577399&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–2peAwYPmTS3p1z9ruIIgenmw5xBbBRT-83qYn7jTyKAzIPhDeqO2Gqd8SoaTTJGlb_ilkFvgY8h7OcB8_RXPUCMAH0A&utm_content=154577399&utm_source=hs_email
            >> 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
LOCAL REQUESTS:

            Beverly sent along the following request dealing with a petition being circulated to seek addition of gender based discrimination to a ground for seeking asylum.  SEE:  https://www.change.org/p/u-s-laws-should-explicitly-protect-women-and-girls-seeking-asylum?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=dcb76b70-3f4c-11e4-a4f4-758138bca54f

Enjoy the weekend and stay safe.

Gerry Rovner