Monthly Archives: December 2018

December 23, 2018. This article discusses the benefits of reinstating access to driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants in New York State. Granting access to driver's licenses would ensure that more motorists have proven basic competency through written and practical exams, and also would allow crime victims to feel more confident in reporting crime and interacting with the criminal justice system. According to Fiscal Policy Institute, state and county governments would receive an estimated $57 million in combined annual revenue and $26 million in one-time revenue, based [...]

December 14, 2018. In this op-ed by Steve Tobocman, executive director of Global Detroit, he argues that the Trump administration's proposed "public charge" rule will go against the United States' history of refugee resettlement and the country's welcoming legacy. This rule would withhold green cards from immigrants who have used specific public benefits or are likely to use them in the future. Tobocman highlights the importance of immigrants to Michigan, who reversed the state's population decline and how the "public charge" rule will effect the [...]

December 12, 2018. This article discusses the work of advocacy organizations who are opposed to the Trump Administration's proposed "public charge" rule, which would make it harder for immigrants to obtain a green card or citizenship if they have received or are likely to receive specific public benefits. The article goes on to discuss the efforts of organizations to post comments during the 60-day comment period that ended Monday in order to show their opposition and the harm that this rule could do to immigrants. At [...]

December 10, 2018. In this op-ed by Luis Sepulveda & Javier Valdés, the authors argue that providing driver's licenses to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, is a necessity because a routine traffic stop can lead to a deportation case. This op-ed cites FPI's report, "Expanding Access to Driver's Licenses," which estimates the revenue benefits to the state that include $57 million in annual  revenues, plus $26 million in one-time revenues. The authors argue that in areas of New York, where public transportation is [...]

December 10, 2018. This article discusses the work of advocates, community-based organizations (CBOs) and city officials on early preparation for the 2020 census given the challenges that will have to be faced including the possibility of a citizenship question. These advocates and CBOs are calling on the federal government for funding to help complete early preparation work that includes educating people on the importance of the census, efforts to reach hard-to-count communities and provide resources for census completion. Advocates argue that federal under-funding and the [...]

December 10, 2018. On Monday, multiple national advocacy organizations reiterated their opposition to the Trump administrations's proposed "public charge" rule, which would make it harder for immigrants who receive public services to acquire green cards or become citizens. With Monday marking the final day for the public to comment on the proposed regulation changes, leaders from groups like National Immigration Law Center, Planned Parenthood, and the UndocuBlack Network convened to encourage one last push against the rule. A report from the Fiscal Policy Institute estimates that 24 million [...]

December 1, 2018. In this op-ed, the author, Phineas Baxandall, argues that the Trump Administration's proposed "public charge" rule, which would require immigrants applying for legal permanent residence to demonstrate that they have not received, and will not receive specific public benefits including SNAP and Medicaid. He argues that this rule goes against the tradition of Thanksgiving in America, which is a holiday known for helping European immigrants who were facing starvation during the winter months. The author goes on to argue that this rule [...]