MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. As Trump targets immigrants, the elderly brace for losing caregivers - Haitian Source: Haiti Sun a daily paper out of Port-au-Prince.
Translated Summary: The elderly are bracing for losing their immigrant caregivers as Temporary Protection Status (TPS) comes to an end. People living with disabilities, serious illness and the frailty of old age are bracing to lose caregivers due to changes in federal immigration policy. Many immigrants work in health care, often in gruelling, low-wage jobs as nursing assistants or home health aides. Now these workers’ days are numbered in Boston, the city with the nation’s third-highest Haitian population, the decision has prompted panic from TPS holders and pleas from health care agencies that rely on their labor. The fallout offers a glimpse into how changes in immigration policy are affecting older Americans in communities around the country, especially in large cities. Ending TPS for Haitians “will have a devastating impact on the ability of skilled nursing facilities to provide quality care to frail and disabled residents,” warned Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, which represents 400 elder care facilities, in a letter published in The Boston Globe. Nursing facilities employ about 4,300 Haitians across the state, she said. Nationwide, 1 million immigrants work in direct care — as CNAs, personal care attendants or home health aides — according to the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, a New York-based organization that studies the workforce. Immigrants make up one in four workers. Originally published March 26 2018
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Multilingual and ethnic media join the discussion surrounding March For Our Lives
When 17 children were killed at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, the usual, rehearsed national mechanisms were triggered. News coverage, outrage, grief, public acknowledgement of pure tragedy of losing young lives, and plenty of #thoughtsandprayers.
But this time, something was different. A perfect storm perhaps, where students and teachers had been engaging in meaningful conversation about gun control, even on the day that 17 of their classmates would be killed by an AR-15. It could be the fact that the US saw their largest mass shootings in decades in 2017, helped by the fact that the average income for parents living in the district was around $130,000 a year--meaning these kids were educated and felt empowered. Regardless, the Parkland students have started a national movement, acknowledging their privilege and working hard to include youth from minority communities who face gun violence every day. They made a call for action, and their actions rose to a force this past weekend across the country and around the world, as millions of youth and adults joined student leaders in over 70 “March For Our Lives” events. After the shooting in Parkland, ethnic media across the country took part in the conversation, which has only grown in volume and weight since then. As students painted their posters and packed their bags in anticipation for the March—happening not just in Washington, but cities from coast to coast—ethnic and multilingual media were publishing editorial, opinion and feature stories. Hoy Los Angeles spoke with Edna Chávez, one of 15 students from LA to attend the march in Washington. Her “goal” she said, was to “draw attention to a wider type of violence, one that permeates her community almost every day.” This point of view was expressed often in ethnic media from Spanish or African American communities. Reports from all languages across the country covered the events of the day. The figures stating the number of attendees wasn’t always consistent, but the message these students set out to share was being heard: Better gun control, now. Italian La Voce di New York said you’d have to go back to the Vietnam war to see protests on this scale. Voice of America Urdu called the marches “some of the biggest US youth demonstrations for decades.” And described the the whole day, including the moment when Pro-Trump counter protesters arrived at the end of the rally in New York, as “what democracy looks like.” There was coverage of celebrity appearances and shutouts, from Obama and Hilary Clinton’s tweet of support, to mentions of Amy Schumer. But the majority of coverage was focused on the students and their messaging.
The Epoch Times reported on the White House applauding the students and activists saying “keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President” and cited a poll saying that 53% of Americans said protecting people from guns is more important than protecting their right to own arms. However, in Hoy Los Angeles, authors Michael Livingston, David Savage, David Montero criticized the governments’ lack of support for the students saying “Neither President Trump nor the Republican-controlled Congress support the students' proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity devices,” adding that “Trump was not at the Capitol to hear the roar of the march and the students' speeches, as he spent Saturday at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.” New York’s The World Journal, a Chinese source, was among the outlets reminding readers of the “serious differences” among Americans around opinions on gun control. Sing Tao Daily in San Francisco quoted David Farmer from Maine who had lead gun control efforts back in 2016, warning that the argument was lost “at the kitchen table, the bar and the bowling alley." Adding that "The gun enthusiasts eventually persuaded people to their side in one-on-one encounters with their friends and relatives and neighbors.” A commentary in La Voce di New York by Vito De Simone predicts all the effort will be “for nothing.” Saying that “the problem is the government has fallen into the hands of powerful interests.” Absent from the coverage, however, were any strong pro-gun sentiments in editorial and opinion pieces, as well in news reports. Reflecting upon the impact of the marches Voice of America Ukrainian reported “Among the issues facing the organizers and participants of the march will be how to translate a one-day event, regardless of the number of participants, into meaningful legislative changes. Similarly, an editorial from Miami’s El Nuevo Herald heeds the same warning. Saying that “a difficult and uphill path follows.” It continues to say that “the NRA has a lot of money” and guns are going to stay on the streets, whether they are legal or illegal. “Life is going to go on,” the editorial says “which creates the possibility that the revolution will lose momentum.” Sing Tao USA out of New York reported on a more hopeful effect of the March, saying that normally the NRA controls the discussion on gun control, but now that political discussions have started, voters can take “the details of the gun bill into further considerations, and the situation changes.” As students returned to their homes and classrooms this week, it is possible that the adults doing the reporting were unable to feel and communicate just exactly all they were feeling. After speaking in Washington on Saturday, Edna Chávez added to her comments that in her community in South Los Angeles gun violence has become “normal.” She said that she and her classmates have committed to putting an end not only to the mass shootings, but also to the violence that families suffer from day to day.” As this issue remains in the forefront of Americans’ minds, there is great value in listening to these communities, especially Hispanic and African American, for whom the issue of gun violence is a “normal” part of their daily lives.
Edna Chávez from South Los Angeles' speech. She talked about gun violence being 'normal' in racialized communities like hers.
MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Four female Chinese-Americans run in the Illinois primary election - Chinese Source: Sing Tao USA, New York, NY.
Translated summary: These four candidates are Theresa Mah, Grace Chan, Anne Shaw and Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. Mah is a second generation Chinese, and the first-ever Chinese to be elected in Illinois. Her campaign platform is to boost the quality of life of citizens in the community, to fight for the rights and interests of immigrant communities and to ensure the government invests in education support. Gong-Gershowitz is determined to speak out for human rights, and to protect the rights and interests of immigrants. Orignally published March 20, 2018. MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Attack on Alfurqaan Mosque in a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota - SomaliSource: VOA Somali
Translated summary: In the month of August 2017, the office of Alfurqaan Mosque in a suburb of Minneapolis was attacked with grenades. The aim was to kill the Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Waleed. The explosives caused a lot of damage and destruction to the mosque, but fortunately, the Imam was unharmed because he was not present at the time. This week the FBI apprehended three men who were the alleged perpetrators of the crime. These men all pleaded guilty because they were caught in the possession of grenades and other explosives in their homes. Mahmoud Arab, the director of Alfurqaan Mosque, stated that all the men are from the state of Illinois and are believed to be part of one of the American white supremacist movements. When Arab was asked about the men’s reasons for committing this attack, he mentioned a couple of points that he thought might be the root cause. Arab mentioned that one of the primary goals of the American white supremacist movement is to destroy well established none white communities and organizations. The mosque played a vital role in the Muslim community in Minnesota by providing an array of social services. It functioned as a school and university where Islamic studies where taught. He also mentioned the growing popularity of Islamophobia in America. Originally published March 14 2018 MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Number of visas issued to foreign students fell by 17% - ChineseSource: The Epoch Times a weekly paper and online news site from Boston, MA.
Translated summary: With the tightening of immigration policy, the number of visas that the United States issued to foreign students last year dropped. Chinese student visa numbers fell by 24%, which had to do with a 2014 visa policy change. Immigration attorney Leon Fresco said he visited consulates across India and was told the State Department has an emphasis on checking that students actually plan to return to their home country after graduation. Originally published March 16 2018. MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Somali refugees who came to the United States to start a new life are fleeing to Canada - SomaliSource: Voice of America Somali, a radio story boradcast out of Washington, DC.
Translated Summary: The refugees who fled the war-torn country of Somalia came to the United States of America to start a new life. Unfortunately, the new immigration policies being implemented by the Republican leadership have left many Somali immigrants and refugees in a state of limbo. This is due to the fact that they have been living in the country for many years but lack proper legal immigration documents. The new administration has been putting into effect new immigration regulations that are based on racial biases held in the American public. According to interviewees, President Donald Trump, his administration and his supporters do not view the Somali people due to the fact that they are black, Muslim and immigrants. Many of the immigrants who have sought refuge in Canada since the new American administration came to power have found that they were plagued with a lot of the same difficulties when they came to Canada. They have found language barriers, a lack of job opportunities, a harsh climate and a general lack of hope for a prosperous future in Canada, which is similar to the problems that they had faced in the US. They are also struggling with additional problems because it often takes several years for their immigration cases to be processed. This causes Somali immigrants to struggle with trauma, psychological problems and a general lack of hope, which is negatively affecting their lives. Originally aired March 5 2018. MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Congressman Joe Crowley calls for unity on immigrant issue - BengaliSource: Khabor, a weekly Bengali source from New York, NY.
Translated Summary: Joe Crowley, Chairman of the Bangladesh caucus in the US Congress and Chief of the Democrat caucus, exchanged greetings with Bangladeshi immigrants at an Irish Day celebration at a party hall in Queens, New York, on March 11. In order to emphasize the rights and dignity of immigrants, he called on everyone for unity on immigrant issue and expressed his disagreement with the anti-immigrant steps taken by Trump’s government. He urged everyone to reply to President Trump’s anti-American policy in the midterm election in November. A Democrat victory in Congress can stop Trump from taking further anti-immigrant measures. Queens is the home of the majority of the immigrants. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz assured everyone that Trump’s policies are against American values and will not be followed in Queens. Originally Published March 8 2018 MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. E-Verify system provoked the growth of crime - Russian Source: Russian Bazaar, a weekly newspaper out of New York, NY.
Translated Summary: Vadim Dimarskiy - E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and to Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. Immigration experts who cooperate with the Cato Institute reached the surprising conclusion that the E-Verify system has a great influence on the growth of crime in particular U.S. areas, cities and states. In the state of Arizona, researchers have found that E-Verify checks reduce the chances of illegal immigrants finding jobs and earning money honestly. As a result, they are forced to break the law and earn money with drugs, theft and other crimes. The conservatives have already criticized the new study and accused its authors of justifying the actions of illegal immigrants. E-Verify was created by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with good intentions, and it is at least unpatriotic to accuse the system of being ineffective. Over the past 10 years, E-Verify prevented thousands of employers from hiring illegal immigrants and people with criminal records. However, in some regions, E-Verify is harmful to both employers and illegal immigrants. For example, farmers in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico check the identity of 100% of potential workers. It often turns out that 95% to 98% of them are illegal immigrants. US citizens do not take the hard jobs of harvesting vegetables and fruits. As a result, farmers lose crops, and illegal immigrants the opportunity to earn money. Writted by: Vadim Dimarskiy Originally Published March 8 2018
A month ago, MIREMS reviewed how ethnic media is discussing immigration reform in the US. We saw how immigration reform was widely seen as a divisive wedge issue and how, contrary to the perception that it mostly affects Hispanics, each ethnic minority feels the impact on members of their community.
With the March 5 deadline for an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program come and gone - thus rendered merely symbolic by court action - there is still no permanent solution for the Dreamers in sight. In fact, the deadline passed almost unnoticed in the ethnic media, where not only the Parkland shooting and calls for gun control but also reports on Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) raids and abuses, Trump's war on sanctuary jurisdictions, and growing fear of deportation in the immigrant community dominated the news. The national Spanish TV station Univision has almost daily reports on raids by immigration authorities and their impact on the Hispanic population. Many immigrants, even with legal papers, are afraid to drive, take public transit and go to work after news spread that ICE was conducting operations on buses and at work places. "A nut factory outside Fresno lost 5-10 percent of its employees when a raid was announced, even though the employer checks all employees' status on e-Verify as required" (Univision, New York, 1 Mar. 2018). While the Hispanic weekly La Raza denounced that ICE was targeting Dreamers for arrest (La Raza, Chicago, 6 Mar. 2018), the weekly Hoy Los Angeles criticized immigration authorities for separating children from their parents at the border as "cruel and unnecessary" (Hoy Los Angeles, 5 Mar. 2018).
Univision reported that only 2,000 out of 11,000 unaccompanied minors who filed asylum claims were accepted because many are unable to articulate their legitimate fears well enough (Univision, New York, 1 Mar. 2018).
The Vietnamese daily Viet Bao reported on an incident where 92 Somalis were shackled at the wrist, waist and legs for over 48 hours during their deportation, were not allowed to use the rest room and were beaten and threatened (Viet Bao, Los Angeles, 7 Mar. 2018). Also according to Viet Bao, Vietnamese immigrants across the country have filed a lawsuit alleging US authorities are rounding them up and holding them in detention facilities for deportation even though Vietnamese immigrants who came to the US before 1995 cannot be deported (Viet Bao, 1 Mar. 2018). The national Chinese daily paper Sing Tao reported on the conflicts between mayors of sanctuary cities like Oakland and New York on the one hand and national authorities on the other. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf warned undocumented residents of an ICE operation in 77 California businesses and identified ICE activities as a tactic to create fear (Sing Tao USA, New York, 26 Feb. 2018). Chinese organizations, including Chinese For Affirmative Action and Chinese Progressive Association, participated in a demonstration outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in San Francisco in solidarity with the more than 10,000 undocumented Chinese migrants in San Francisco (Sing Tao Daily, San Francisco, 1 Mar. 2018). The expiration of the DACA deadline was reported in Voice of America Vietnamese, which noted that options for a resolution were "on the back burner" and the White House apparently expecting a Supreme Court victory (VOA, Washington, DC, 6 Mar. 2018). The weekly Russian Bazaar was hopeful that the court rulings meant that DACA beneficiaries could renew their permits indefinitely, would not be deported and would eventually get permanent residence, even if it is under the next president (Russian Bazaar, New York, 28 Feb. 2018).
However, Spanish media including the Miami daily El Nuevo Herald did not believe President Trump's assurance that Dreamers "don't need to worry" about deportation and feared that their migratory limbo could be "lethal in the anti-immigrant era of Trump" (El Nuevo Herald, Miami, 6 Mar. 2018). Hoy Los Angeles and La Raza reported on high rates of anxiety and depression among Latino parents and adolescents and avoidance of medical attention, police help and social services support due to fear of immigration authorities and family separation on the part of both legal and undocumented residents (Hoy Los Angeles, 1 Mar. 2018; La Raza, Chicago, 2 Mar. 2018).
Meanwhile, Haitian and African American media focused on a lawsuit by Haitian and Salvadoran immigrants who claim President Trump's cancellation of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, Salvadorans and Nicaraguans was racially motivated (South Florida Times, Fort Lauderdale, 1 Mar. 2018, and Haitian Voice of America, Washington, DC, 2 Mar. 2018). While the DACA deadline passed with little notice or end in sight, immigration issues remain a central preoccupation of the ethnic media. Each community has its own concerns and perspectives, which are reflected in the papers, websites, radio station and TV programs they turn to for news, analysis and perspectives relevant to their own lived experience. At MIREMS, we continue to tap into these voices, and make them accessible to decision makers. For immigrants - undocumented or not - and their families, raising their voices is more imporatant now than ever. MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaries are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. Uncertainty and fear stick with the Dreamers - SpanishSource: El Nuevo Herald is a print and online news source serving the South of Florida.
March 5 has arrived. It's the arbitrary "expiration" date for DACA, which President Donald Trump artificially set. And although the recent decisions of the courts, including the US Supreme Court, allow DACA beneficiaries to continue renewing their permits, perhaps for months, the big question is if the Dreamers who lose their protection or those who don't have it will become targets for detention or deportation by an out of control Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Let's recall that Trump and his administration have repeatedly said that contrary to other undocumented immigrants, Dreamers "don't need to worry", because they will not be a target for deportation. But with the harshly anti-immigrant stance of this administration, who can trust in Trump and ICE? No one. National attention is currently focused on other matters such as gun control following the Parkland shooting. Sadly, just like on other occasions, immigration and DACA are like a bride abandoned at the altar, all dressed up and nowhere to go. As DACA's future is debated in the courts, the reality is that the Dreamers, with or without DACA, continue to be in a dangerous migratory limbo which could turn out to be lethal in the anti-immigrant era of Trump. Written by Maribel Hastings Opinion story published March 6 2018. MIREMS chooses a story from our daily advisory reports to share on our blog. These cross-cultural translation summaires are a first hand look at what ethnic and multilingual media are reporting on across the country. TPS: A group a Haitians and Salvadorians took the Trump administration to court - Haitian Source: Voice of America Creole in Washington DC, Radio The US administration will be before the courts since a Haitian and Salvadoran group seeks justice for the decision to end the TPS program in 2019 - a subject that attracts many people. Haitians and Salvadorans have a lot of doubt about whether they can stay in the country or whether they will be deported. They prefer to go to Canada because many people have told them that Canada will accept them, so they do their best to get there. Unfortunately, once they arrive to Canada, they realize that the problem is very difficult. Instead of running and going to Canada, they are asked to wait because we are fighting for them to find a solution. We are sure and certain that there will be a solution, and we don't want them to get into trouble when they arrive in Canada. Story published on 02/03/2018 MIREMS consultants translate and summarize hundreds of stories daily across North America. Making language barriers transparent, bringing diverse voices to the forefront.
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