All posts by Elizabeth Elizalde

Praise For Supreme Court Decision To Hear Immigration Case

January 19th, 2016

Immigrants and immigration advocates immediately praised the Supreme Court decision to hear the legal challenge to President Obama’s immigration program.

“We are thrilled that the highest court in our land, the U.S Supreme Court has heard the voices of America’s immigrant communities, and will now take up the case of immigration relief. They have the opportunity to finally give our communities the justice they deserve, and allow millions of immigrants to change their lives for the better,” said Steven Choi, executive director of New York Immigration Coalition, in a statement.

In the fall of 2014, President Obama created a program to give 5 million undocumented immigrants legal status and the opportunity to apply for work permits. The plan, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) complimented the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which would have been extended.

Attorneys General from 26 states objected and the Texas Attorney filed a lawsuit to block the reforms. ConsumerMojo.com reported, in February 2015, that Texas Federal Judge Andrew Hanen ruled against the order and halted the expansion of DACA and the implementation of DAPA. That left people who qualify in limbo because while the U.S. appealed, the Federal Appeals Court for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans upheld the injunction.

Now the Supreme Court plans to hear the case of United States v. Texas in April and make its decision by late June.

“Millions of families have been waiting for this moment, including mine,” tweeted Erika Andiola, an undocumented activist who heads the “Latinos for Bernie Sanders” campaign.

The news comes after recent sweeps by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to roundup undocumented Central American families, some of whom were detained and await deportation.

On the campaign trail, support and opposition to the Obama initiatives fall along party lines. Democratic candidates promise to continue the program. But most Republican candidates challenge the president’s authority to act without Congressional approval and vow to shut them down.

The White House says it plans to move quickly to implement DAPA, if the Supreme Court rules its favor.

Featured Stories, Immigrant News, Latest News, News

Homeland Security Raids Homes of Central American Immigrants

January 7th, 2016 1 Comment

by Elizabeth Elizalde

If you or someone in your family sees a white van with a Department of Homeland Security logo pull up in front of your house, don’t open your door or panic. Stay inside and call an immigration advocacy hotline for help: 1-844-363-1423. The person at the other end will walk you through what you need to do during a deportation raid.

This week, according to immigration advocates, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers raided the homes of undocumented immigrants from Central America who entered the U.S. in 2014 and 2015.

ICE officers appeared at churches, businesses and immigrant gathering places surveilling people they suspect don’t have documentation. Carolina Canizales, National Deportation Defense Coordinator for United We Dream, based in Texas, said her group confirmed raids in Georgia and Maryland and received calls about possible ICE activity in Houston and New York.

Officers placed immigrants under arrest and brought them to detention centers to await deportation.

Many of these immigrants came to the U.S. to flee gang violence, murder and sex trafficking in their home countries. More than 69,000 unaccompanied minors from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala found themselves detained after an often frightening journey to the U.S. The government deported some and others still have cases working their way through the court system.

Last year the Obama administration set up the Central American Minors/Refugee Parole Program to help reunite children, still in Central America, with their parents living legally in the U.S.

But the Obama administration also deported more than two million people since 2008. And the latest sweep troubles advocates, who worry that many immigrants don’t understand their rights.

“If someone tells you they’re a police officer and that you should let them in, ask for a warrant,” said Ryan Campbell, communications director for Dream Action Coalition, an immigration advocacy group based in Washington D.C.

WHAT TO DO

Campbell advises you to remain silent and request to speak to an attorney if you get arrested. “Pay attention to social media circles that report on where ICE raids are occurring and try to avoid them,” he said.

He told ConsumerMojo.com that it’s important to understand the difference between a criminal warrant issued by a federal court and a removal warrant issued by an ICE official. The removal warrant authorizes the ICE officer to arrest people but not to enter their homes unless given consent.

That means ICE officers can arrest people in public places or the street in front of a home, store or church. But they can’t enter a private residence, business or church without permission.

Several Central American families picked up by ICE during New Year’s weekend won a temporary stay. The CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Project fought to halt deportation and appealed for asylum through the Board of Immigration Appeals.

But George Tzamaras of the American Immigration Lawyers Association told us these families remain detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas.

Lawyers say ICE officers failed to produce warrants when they entered the homes. “These families have bona fide asylum claims, but were deprived of a meaningful opportunity to present them at their hearings in immigration court,” said Katie Shepherd, Managing Attorney for the CARA Project.

“It’s beyond shameful that these families, who risked everything to seek protection in the United States, were being forcibly returned to the violence and turmoil they fled in Central America. ” she said.

Homeland Security did not respond to our requests for a comment.

New York College Grads Get Debt Repayment Gift For 2016

December 31st, 2015 1 Comment

by Elizabeth Elizalde

If you graduated from college in 2014 or later and went to school in New York State, you may find yourself eligible for a New Year’s gift of college debt repayment courtesy of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

This comes at a great time for many recent grads. The class of 2015 left school with an average debt of $35,051, according to Edvisors.com, a website that provides information to students and parents about college costs and financial aid.

That’s no surprise when you consider the steep price of an education. Tuition for in-state private universities like Columbia costs about $53,000 minus room and board. And while CUNY and SUNY college tuition ranges from $6,000 to $10,000, many borrow and struggle mightily to pay it.

So that’s why Governor Cuomo’s “Get on Your Feet” program seems really like a gift. It will pay the federal loan college debt of individual students for up to 24 months. Cuomo said, “Ensuring students are able to pay for college and not saddled with debt is critical for both their individual success and the continued economic growth of New York State. If you invest in New York’s future, we’ll invest in yours.”

College debt can cripple financial lives for a long time. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York found, in a 2014 study, that student loan debt prevented people in their late twenties and thirties from buying, homes and cars and fully participating in the American Dream.

So the Cuomo program, which again will repay up to 24 months of your debt, can take the edge off until you get started and earn enough to pay down your loan yourself.

It works this way:

You can apply now. The state began taking applications December 31st.

You qualify if you have federal college loan debt and enrolled in the federal Pay as Your Earn program or the Income Based Repayment plan.

You must apply within two years of your graduation and have an earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree from a college or university in New York State.

You must earn less $50,000 a year and show proof of employment.

Although the program just launched, 2,500 graduates from the class of 2015 registered on the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website. The repayment deal may extend to 2020 and the state expects about 24,000 students to participate.

Questions remain, however, for undocumented students who don’t receive federal aid. Cuomo didn’t specify whether the plan will cover students under President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Stay tuned on that front.

And despite the good news, I found people on social media a little wary. “I would like to see this put into action, but I would need more information on how it specifically works,” said Duke Nagrampa, a former Brooklyn College student who graduated in the class of 2014.

Dawn Eligio, who attended Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, asked a good question: “Is this applicable for graduates of community colleges?”

Unfortunately, the program doesn’t cover two-year schools.

We’ll keep you updated when we know more.

Featured Stories, Immigrant News, Latest News, News

Undocumented Immigrant Speaks Out Against Trump

August 21st, 2015

By Elizabeth Elizalde

A Mexican immigrant, a Dreamer and now a viral sensation, Ricardo Aca, is not afraid to let Donald Trump know his comments hurt immigrants, even if it costs him his job.

“Trump points out all these immigrants that have done all these terrible things, but those aren’t the immigrants that I know. That’s not what we’re like,” Aca said in a video published by New Left Media on Monday.

The video received more than 300,000 views on Facebook and people on social media praised Aca for speaking out against Trump.

“I wish people would stop being so racist and rude. He’s just trying to have a better life here just like everyone else,” Sabdi Vasquez from Delaware commented on Facebook.

“A brave young man – one of the countless thousands cleaning up after, cooking for, and waiting for Americans,” said Jan Bird, another Aca social media supporter.

And other people who agree with Trump on immigration had not so nice things to say about Aca.

“He believes he is not a criminal, despite the fact (which he openly admits) that he broke the law. I wonder how he would define criminal,” said John Schutz.

But the 24-year old immigrant from Mexico who works at Koi Restaurant, which leases space in the Trump Hotel Soho says he worries he might get fired. “I know I could lose my job just for talking about Trump,” Aca said. “It doesn’t make me proud to go to work every day under his name.”

In response to Aca’s video, Trump told the New York Times, “He’s got a legal work permit. I’ve heard he does a good job. We thought he was an illegal immigrant at first.”

Aca didn’t make clear if he had legal papers to work in the U.S., but told the Times, he’s in the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program, which he has to renew every two years. Trump opposes the program that grants Aca a work permit, and shortly after the video went viral, the Koi payroll asked Aca to review his papers.

Aca came to the U.S with his family at age 14 and lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn, the place he has called home for more than ten years. He attended Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens and graduated from LaGuardia Community College with an associate’s degree in photography.

Featured Stories, Immigrant News, Latest News, News

Trump Makes Me Angry

August 18th, 2015 3 Comments

By Elizabeth Elizalde

When Donald Trump talks, he makes me and many of my friends in the immigrant community angry.

As the daughter of immigrants from Ecuador and Mexico, I know how hard my parents fought to become American citizens and how much it means to all of us. My family and the families of other immigrants from Latin America and all over the world, who call the United States home, find Donald Trump’s proposals and talk offensive.

Trump boasts that he would send the American-born children of immigrants back to their parents’ birth countries because they didn’t have the appropriate documents when they entered the U.S. to make a living.

He says he wants to end “birthright citizenship” for children of illegal immigrants born in the U.S., but he doesn’t seem to care that he’s ranting about American citizens. Nor does he seem to understand that thousands of young people know no other homeland than the U.S.

“We’re going to keep the families together, but they have to go,” Trump said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. His comments came after he issued his 1,900-word immigration proposal to deport the nation’s 12 million unauthorized immigrants.

“They’re illegal,” he said. “You either have a country or not.”

But yes, they do have a country — the United States of America, Mr. Trump.

Apparently, he doesn’t seem to understand, or care, that Latino U.S. citizens vote. Javier Valdes, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York, told ConsumerMojo, “Trump’s comments on immigration continue to hurt and offend immigrants. They are also doing untold damage to any hope for Republicans to engage Latino voters in the 2016 elections.”

In Washington, Cristina Jimenez of United We Dream, the nation’s largest immigrant youth-led organization, finds itself mobilized by Trump’s outrageous attacks on immigrants. “Donald Trump’s immigration plan is dehumanizing and hateful,” she told us. “His position, the mass deportation of people like me and my parents and millions more immigrants across the country go against the values of this country.”

In fact, Trump’s wrong-minded policy displays his ignorance of the law. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution, adopted on July 9, 1868, grants citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States.”

That means, regardless of a parent’s immigration status, children born in the U.S. or who gained citizenship here, can’t have their rights yanked because a politician wants to.

Trump also vows to block the progressive initiatives of President Obama’s executive order. It gave children and young people brought to this country by their parents an opportunity to get an education and to work without fear of deportation. Thousands of these DREAMers and DACA beneficiaries feel real anxiety and wonder why Trump chose to score political points by attacking them.

Even if we put the law, decency and fairness aside, Trump’s plan ignores the economics of his proposals for mass detentions and deportations. But other Republican candidates like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker joined the Trump bandwagon to deport citizens born to undocumented parents.

A 2010 study by the Center for American Progress found mass deportation could cost American taxpayers $100 to $200 billion. And holding immigrants in American jail cells could cost $29 billion.

One more thing to consider: It would cost $23,482 to apprehend, detain, prosecute, and then physically remove one person from the U.S. Multiply that by 12 million and then ask Trump about his budget plans.

Immigrant News, Latest News, News, Student News

USCIS Visits DACA Homes

July 17th, 2015

by Elizabeth Elizalde

If you have DACA status and the government calls or comes knocking at your door during the next few weeks, be polite, cooperate and try not to feel scared.

Government workers want to collect the three-year work permit or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that they issued to you by mistake and swap it for a two-year work permit.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) workers began to visit the homes of 2,100 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) youths on July 16, 2015, to collect the cards. If you have a three-year card, they want it back by July 31, 2015.

While immigrant rights groups across the country urge you cooperate, they say USCIS made a bad judgment call when it decided to take back the permits.

Important to note: If you’re one of the 108,000 people who received the three-year work permit as part of President Obama’s executive order to expand immigrant rights before February 16, 2015, you can continue without fear. This doesn’t affect you.

A USCIS spokesperson told ConsumerMojo the agency notified DACA recipients in May about its plan to retrieve the work permits by the end of July. It decided to retrieve them physically after letters requesting the return of the three-year permits failed to get results.

Immigration groups all across the country disagree with the visits and the way USCIS plans to deal with the problem. The program was created in February 2015, when Federal Judge Andrew Hanen halted President Obama’s executive order on immigration.

After the order, USCIS made an error and mailed the three-year permits to at least 2,100 young people.

Marielena Hincapié, executive director of National Immigration Law Center, said, “We encourage the small number of DACA recipients who received the three-year work permits after February 16, 2015, to answer any letters, calls, or visit by USCIS officials.”

But Cristina Jimenez, managing director of United We Dream, based in Washington D.C., worried that some may find themselves at risk.

“It’s alarming that a mistake by USCIS could cost hundreds of immigrant youth their DACA and their work permits. The administration’s mistake could cost immigrant youth jobs, opportunities for school, and drivers licenses,” she said.

The spokesperson for USCIS didn’t acknowledge that the agency made a mistake but emphasized that the deadline at the end of July is mandatory, or people won’t have the right documentation.

“It doesn’t change their authorization or their ability to work whatsoever,” the USCIS spokesperson said. “But they will have to renew their authorization at the end of the two-year mark.”

BOTTOM LINE

Save yourself a hassle and return the EADs as soon as possible for your legal protection.

Consumer News, Featured Stories, Immigrant News, Money News, News, Student News

How Latino Students Pay For College

July 13th, 2015

By Elizabeth Elizalde

The challenges facing undocumented students and their families thinking about applying to college are huge.

While many families plan for their children to reach college from the moment they are born, the concept of college for some undocumented immigrant families doesn’t become real until much too late in their children’s life.

Bernandino Camilo, an undocumented student living in New York is struggling to simply apply to a four-year college. “I don’t have certain documents. That’s why it’s hard for me to apply for financial aid and scholarships,” he told ConsumerMojo at the Latino College Expo this month.

The 17-year-old immigrant from Mexico qualifies for the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) but doesn’t have the money to pay for the $465 application. And even if he had the money, he couldn’t apply right away.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) put new applications on hold in February, after U.S. Federal District Court Judge Andrew Hanen issued a preliminary injunction to halt expansion of the DACA program.

Nevertheless, Bernandino remains hopeful. “I’m trying to get a better education in this country,” he said. He told us he wants to “. . . get a good education, have a career and live a good life.” He also plans to apply for the DACA once the ban is lifted.

He did apply to community colleges in the City University of New York system and he’s excited about getting the results. He made a smart move, according to Michael Turner of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). Turner said all students, especially those without papers, should research friendly colleges that offer financial aid.

“Whether you’re a DACA student, a citizen, or Latino and plan to go to college with as little debt as possible,” Turner said, “it’s about being honest with yourself in the process to find the best fit.”

Some big private colleges like NYU offer aid to help DACA students. To qualify at NYU they must apply for financial aid and provide student or parent documentation of utility bills or a housing lease to reflect three years of New York state residence and an official high school transcript.

The Expo, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year at New York University. It hopes to help students like Bernandino connect with admissions recruiters supply tips for college applicants and connect them with successful, college-educated Latino professionals.

Antonio Aponte, founder and director of the Expo created this college fair in 1990 because, at that time, he noticed few Latinos went to college without the support of their parents.

Over the years, he watched the diverse Latino community in the U.S. become more powerful.“Our (Latino) population is huge and it’s become evident that we can transform a nation,” he said.

At the event, undocumented immigrant students like Camilo mingled with American-born Latino students, naturalized citizens and students who have received Deferred Action status.

The 2015 gathering attracted more than 1,500 high school students and their parents to hear panelists talk about subjects like “Life After College,” “Admissions Basics,” “2 Year Option,” “Free Money,” and “Inside Info on Standardized Tests.”

Panelists also talked to students one-on-one. Some specifically focused on DREAMERS and DACA students who want to attend college.

Aponte thinks if these students get good grades, they deserve to go to college. “If someone gives their effort to be in the city, work hard, and generate income then they should also benefit by getting a quality education,” he said.

REGARDLESS OF DOCUMENTATION

Financial aid and the high cost of tuition are a challenge to most families regardless of citizenship. Often students choose schools without fully understanding the cost. Colleges expect students to pay even though they don’t have the money and that means students must borrow.

“It’s kind of like when we go shopping, we want all the brand names,” said Higher Education Services Corporation’s Turner.

Students who qualify for state funding programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which HESC administers, and receive a PELL grant, might have enough to pay for city or state schools, but not enough to cover the cost of a private college.

Whatever your status, understanding the realities of admission and the cost of attending school can make a huge difference and prevent you from getting stuck with outrageous college loan debt later.

Featured Stories, First Person, Helpful Tips: Student, News, Student News

How to Score Your Dream Internship And Entry Level Job.

February 15th, 2015

By Elizabeth Elizalde

I intern at the CBS News program 48 Hours. Last semester, I interned at NY1 and CNN. Other students always ask how I balance my internships, school and my social life. It may sound corny, but my key to success is organization, persistence, strategy and patience.

The point of an internship is to get your feet wet in the industry you plan to pursue. Some internships even pay a small salary or stipend and can lead to a full-time job after graduation. Others provide college credit. You may pay for the credit, but it’s worth it if you choose the right company.

I’m a journalism student in my last semester of college and all during school I have interned at companies in print and broadcast. The internships taught me how to conduct myself in a professional setting and helped me figure out what I really want to do.

When I graduate, I want to get a job as a broadcast or print reporter. I’m passionate about the news and want to report about issues that concern my community and stories that impact our society. And that’s why these news internships matter so much.

You may have different goals. But we all play the important internship game the same way.

Here’s how to score your dream internship or entry-level job.

Finding the right internship often seems overwhelming, but you need to dedicate time to search and learn about the company before you apply.

1. Research, Research, Research!

Research the company. Employers want candidates who understand their brand and product. Human resource representatives told me they think a good intern candidate is one who researches and knows about the company.

Broadcast companies expect candidates to know about their history, programming and on-air personalities.

Financial companies like JP Morgan Chase might question you about their banking services, accountability and stocks on Wall Street.

I guarantee employers will ask you what you know about them.

2. Social Media

Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook help. They let employers know about you and that you connect with social media in a serious and useful way. You might also see which companies want interns.

3. Job Postings

Websites like Indeed, Monster and Glassdoor.com filter job options. Follow or subscribe to job listings on the Web to get their alerts.

4. Resume and Cover Letter

Resumes and cover letters count. Employers who read your letter and resume will get a feel for what you offer on a professional and personal level. Make sure to proofread your application before you submit it.

One-page resumes are best. Keep it short and use bullet points to highlight accomplishments. Put skills and work experience at the top and then your educational background and volunteer work. Make the information current and relevant to the position. You might have to revise your resume for each application.

Think of writing a cover letter as an art form. You want to clearly and concisely explain why you qualify for the position.

a. Explain how you heard about it.

b. Highlight skills, strengths and reasons why employers should pick you.

c. Conclude with contact information and explain your availability. If you have class five days a week, it’s hard to intern during the week. But an employer may want you on the weekend.

5. Inside Tip

Internship coordinators told me that volunteer work and extracurricular activities on campus make students stand out and put them ahead of the bunch.

6. Network

Use your social skills and get out there and mix it up. Attend job fairs to mingle with professionals and recruiters in the industry. Join associations that pertain to your field. I am a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and that helped me expand my network.

I met a lot of wonderful professional people who offered helpful career advice.

When you go to a meeting or a forum, remember to ask for business cards from the people you meet so you can contact them.

As cliché as it sounds, it is all about connections. Be nice and make a good impression. You never know when you may need a reference for a position.

7. Practice your interview skills

The interview is a crucial part of the process. Employers interview you one-on-one. Sometimes they’ll screen you with a phone interview. Ask questions to show your interest and before you know it, the interviews turn into a conversation.

a. Ask a friend to conduct a mock interview or practice in front of the mirror.

b. Employers typically ask: “Tell us about yourself,” “Why do you want to work for us?” and “What makes you different from other candidates?”

Be prepared.

Let them know you are a team player. Working at a company is all about teamwork, which is a quality employers look for in their candidates.

8. Show Your Passion for the Job.

Employers figure out right away if you’re passionate about your career goals. Someone I know interviewed for a job at a major network and told the interviewer he never watched the network. He didn’t get the job.

Show them you are motivated and enthusiastic about their company. Be confident and most importantly, be yourself.

Good luck and happy job-hunting!

Tell us about your experience. We’ll post your story!

Why Free Community College Is Good For Hispanics

February 5th, 2015 1 Comment

by Elizabeth Elizalde

Abigail Miguel plans to go to community college in the fall. The 17-year-old New York City High School of Telecommunications senior said she’s ready to tackle the responsibilities that come with it. She knows about the work load that will include writing papers, studying for finals and she feels she can handle it all. But she worries about paying for her college tuition.

“It’s mostly about the money,” she said. “I have to find the money to pay for my textbooks.” That’s why she thinks President Obama’s free community college plan will benefit her.

The “America’s College Promise,” highlighted by the President in his State of the Union address, could help about nine million people who want to continue their education.

“I think this is an amazing idea!” said Andy Marte, a teacher and community activist in Brooklyn. “It would benefit so many low income working class people.”

That’s why free community college is good for Hispanics. They often start college and then drop out because they can’t afford to continue.

A recent Pew study found that while more Hispanics attend college than ever before, almost half of Hispanic college students attend two-year public schools.

Students enroll in community college when they don’t qualify for a four-year school, or can’t afford higher tuition. Some don’t meet academic standards because the schools they attend don’t prepare them adequately.

They pay about $3,800 for community college tuition. Under the Obama plan, the federal government would pick up most of it, and the states would pay a quarter of the cost

To qualify, part and full-time students would have to maintain a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate progress and commitment to the programs. Community colleges would have to offer courses that can lead to high demand degrees and credits that allow students to eventually transfer to a public four-year college or university.

Abigail Miguel wishes the Obama free tuition program was in place now. She’ll start Kingsborough Community College, part of the City University of New York, with partial financial aid, but she’ll pay a big portion of the tuition herself. “It’s going to be hard for me and for my parents,” she said.

Nevertheless, she can help herself thanks to another Obama initiative. She’s one of the millions of Dream Act young people brought to the United States by their parents. And the President’s Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) gave her temporary legal status and allowed her to get a work permit and a driver’s license. So she plans to find a part-time job to pay for her college expenses.

Abigail and others will keep an eye on what the new Republican-controlled Congress does. They hope the lawmakers will back the President’s idea to help people who can use the financial leg-up.

“It could make a lot of changes towards my education,” she said.