GUEST COLUMN

My perspective with respect to Covid-19

Though the current state of affairs put the globe on pause, this gave me time and opportunity to  reflect on many aspects; it has driven me to innovate continuously and revisit my priorities.  Covid-19 is indeed new and unfamiliar to everyone, the isolation and separation we now face  does not feel amicable to many of us. However, in reality, the world (us) needed a time-out to  remember how to appreciate what (world) it had but forgot to experience. 

Let’s forget that pandemic spurred creative movements across platforms like Zoom, Instagram  and Facebook. Many people took to “going Live” on platforms to connect with their friends and  family at home for special occasions. We all witnessed the power of connecting socially – via  virtual celebrations, get-togethers, virtual graduations, happy hours, birthdays and more. I have  noticed that staying connected (using virtual links) played an important role in decreasing stress  in many and it has proven to be just as essential to our overall well being. By reaching out and  keeping up, we all can help create a stronger community in a time of uncertainty. 

Most of the businesses have been fast-tracking their processes so people are set up to work  from home, using programs like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and more. While they were not able to  talk to their co-workers face-to-face, it had made things better for their employees, as well as  potentially improving productivity. The only con I could see, is that while it’s huge that new  technology is being used as businesses adapt to working remotely, with new technology comes  new privacy and security concerns for users to cope with – not from technology perspective 🙂  you know what I am saying.…sometimes many of us forget to turn off camera when it is not  necessary and each one us have their own moments during these days of work from home.…  TMI visually. 

COVID-19 pandemic did affect older people way differently than younger generations. Older  adults faced dire outcomes from the virus. It has still been a challenge to prevent older people  from being exposed to the virus because they may not be fully independent. I strongly advocate  more time and care for elderly people, their families and their caregivers as it is an essential  part of the comprehensive response to the pandemic. Health experts have increasingly begun to  worry about the impacts of lockdown on this population. I am glad that Tech’s role in helping  seniors overcome loneliness amid COVID-19 pandemic is tremendous. My parents and elders in  my family have gotten used to these tech tools and using the same more than I. 

Whatever we have can be taken away at a moment’s notice. I further learnt to appreciate each  moment with near and dear, even the small ones, during this pandemic. I see that now more  than ever. Returning to “normal” isn’t something I’m very much excited about. Everyone  desperately wants to go back to normal sooner, but quite frankly, that’s not only something I am  looking for. When things settle down, I want something new — where the lessons learnt during  2020 are lessons we keep until 2021 and beyond. We may not have all the answers, but I know  that we’re going to leave this year 2020 with a level growth that could have only come from  what we’ve been through. Having my world shrunk to fit into four walls made me realize that 

there’s so much my family was buying into that means absolutely nothing. Both professionally  and personally, boundaries are a must. I have found a new-found appreciation for my loved  ones greater than anything I’ve ever known. 

I have seen that there is always lot goodness and humanity, even in the darkness. At the  beginning of the pandemic, there was a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE)  among hospitals and health care facilities, and many health care workers were reusing the same  disposable mask for days or weeks at a time. Immediately, our community members gathered  together to procure masks, face shields, and hand sew masks for health care workers. Some of  the restaurants were donating food to hospital workers and first responders. And people,  though busy, were volunteering to bring groceries to the elderly. These acts of kindness and  appreciation from the community has helped keep me and many of my friends going, working  day after day assisting the needed to best of our abilities during this pandemic. This pandemic  also made me realize how much I miss social interaction and things as simple as a hug or coffee  with a friend at the café because we humans are social creatures, and we all need social  interaction and human contact once in a while. 

The biggest lesson I learnt this year was to not let myself wobble on breaking points constantly.  It’s really very dreary, but enough sleep, good food, exercise, fresh air and most of all  communicating and keeping in touch with near and dear makes all the difference.  

Last but not the least, this crisis has taught us that during such times of pandemic  communication is vital; we need science and public health-based response that needs to be  regularly communicated clearly at the national level and all the more needs to be considered as  a social responsibility by everyone. I would encourage everyone to take a moment to pause and  reflect on the past year — and learn important lessons together.

– Ramakrishna Penumarthy 

President – Telugu Association of Greater Boston (TAGB) 2020-22

Immigration Matters-1

There is Hope

We have seen immense attack to the U.S. Immigration System by the current Administration over the last four years, and these attacks became more vigorous in the last 3-4 months. Although we can all agree that the U.S. immigration laws are overdue for reform, it is fortunate that the current administration was not able to change any existing laws and make it even harder for immigrants. The current administration was very aware that they would not get any support from Congress, so they attempted to use options not requiring any Congressional approval to make changes to existing processes.  

I will address some of the changes made by this administration below and I will indicate which ones are still ongoing.

1. Executive Orders/Presidential Action:

Executive actions, also called presidential actions, are actions that are taken by the President of the United States, usually through the following vehicles: Executive Orders; Presidential Proclamations; and Presidential Memoranda.

• June 22, 2020 Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak

On June 22, 2020, the President issued Proclamation 10052 titled Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak. Effective June 24, 2020, the proclamation suspends “entry into the United States of any alien seeking entry pursuant to any of the following nonimmigrant visas” until December 31, 2020, subject to section 3 of the proclamation:

• “an H-1B or H-2B visa, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien;”
• “a J visa, to the extent the alien is participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien;”
• “an L visa, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien”

It is very likely that President Trump will extend these Proclamations; requiring the new Administration to affirmatively rescind them.

• Travel Ban 4.0 – Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020 Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats.

Also known as “Travel Ban 4.0.” Placed visa and entry restrictions on travelers from six additional countries: Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. The new ban (Travel Ban 4.0) became effective at 12:01 eastern standard time on February 21, 2020. Travel Ban 4.0 contains restrictions on immigrants but not on nonimmigrants, so Travel Ban 4.0 will not impact acquisition of nonimmigrant visas like F-1 student, J-1 exchange visitor, H-1B worker, etc., or of admission to the United States in those categories. Meanwhile, Travel Ban 3.0 continues in effect on certain citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen, and Somalia.

• Executive Order Limiting Birthright Citizenship. Various news agencies have reported that this order is expected, even though it is highly suspect to legal challenge.

I have only listed few of the several Executive orders. The next administration will be able to set side all the executives orders by just signing a new executive order.

1. Regulatory Actions 

It is likely that the current administration will seek to publish as many final regulations as possible before January 20th to make longer-lasting policy changes. This is because any rule that has been finalized cannot be rescinded unless it goes through rulemaking process, is set-aside by a court, or are rescinded by Congress by way of the Congressional Review Act.  The ability to finalize regulations will be very dependent on what phase the specific action is in the regulatory drafting and review process and how high of a priority it is for the Administration.

• Regulations that are pending review at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for publication as final rules. 

This means that a rule has already been issued as a proposed rule, comments have been received, and a final rule has been drafted, or the rule is being issued as a straight final rule. These rules are the closest to being finalized and published.

• • Joint DHS/DOJ Procedures for Asylum and Withholding Final Rule; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Interviews. 85 FR 36264, 6/15/20 (OIRA review completed on 11/24/20, awaiting publication of Final Rule)

• • DHS and DOJ Publish Final Rule Barring from Asylum Eligibility Individuals Who Transit Through a Third Country Without Seeking Protection

DHS and DOJ published a final rule that finalizes, with minor changes, the interim final rule published on July 16, 2019, that barred from asylum eligibility individuals who transit through a third country without seeking protection. The rule is effective January 19, 2021

• • DOJ/EOIR Proposed Rule on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding Rule; 85 FR 58692, 9/23/20; (Received by OIRA on 11/24)

I have only listed the proposed rule as they relate to Asylum. There are a few other rules that are pending at this stage.

• Interim Final Rules that have been set aside on procedural grounds by a court and comment periods have closed. 

These are rules that were published as interim final rules with a comment period and either took effect or were to take effect but were subsequently set aside by a Court because the government failed to take the proper steps to issue the rule. 

• • DOL Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States, 85 FR 63872, 10/8/20 (Comments closed on 11/9/20, 2,340 comments received). Rule struck down on 12/1/20.

• • Strengthening the H–1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program, 85 FR 63918, 12/7/20 (Comments closed on 12/7/20, 2,467 comments received). Rule struck down on 12/1/20.

• Proposed regulations where the comment periods have closed and final rules are being drafted. 

The ability to finalize these rules will be dependent on how many comments they have received. However, the administration may have things already in motion to finalize these rules, especially if they do not intend to make any policy changes based on comments.

• • DHS/ICE Elimination of Duration of Status Rule; 85 FR 60526, 9/25/20; (Comment period closed on 10/26/20; 32,083 comments received).

• •  DOJ/EOIR Proposed Rule on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding Rule; 85 FR 58692, 9/23/20; (comments closed on 10/23; 2,039 comments received)

This administration has finalized a sweeping regulation that will effectively end asylum protection in the United States. The regulation, which was proposed in June, is set to go into effect on January 1, 2021—only nine days before President Trump leaves office. If implemented, it will mean that very few people fleeing persecution will be able to obtain refuge in the United States. 

The regulation imposes radical new bars and obstacles in almost every aspect of asylum law and procedure. Some of the more devastating provisions include:

• • Making it harder to pass the “credible fear” screening at the border.
  • Letting immigration judges deny asylum without a hearing.
  • Severely narrowing the definition of key terms like “political opinion,” “persecution,” and “particular social group.”
  • Barring asylum for people who traveled through more than one country on their way to the U.S.
  • Restricting the types of evidence that asylum seekers may present.
  • Letting immigration judges label many more asylum applications as “frivolous”—which has serious negative consequences for people who seek other immigration protections.
  • Restricting eligibility for protection based on a fear of torture.

Together, these provisions and many others amount to a radical end-run around Congress erasing asylum protections in the U.S. 

I have listed only few of the many provisions proposed by this administration. There are few others that are pending at this stage.

• Proposed regulations that were published but the comment period remains open. 

These rules will be even harder to finalize as all comments have not yet been received. The agency will need to review and respond to the comments, draft, and clear the final rule at agency and department level, as well as OIRA. To help slow down the finalization of rules, it is important for the public to submit as many unique comments as possible.

• • DHS/USCIS H-1B Lottery Proposed Rule – 85 FR 69236, 11/2/20; (Comment period closes on 12/2/20).  
  • DHS/USCIS NPRM Elimination of Employment Authorization for individuals with Orders of Removal – 85 FR 74196, 11/19/20 (comment period closes on 12/21/20).
  • DHS/CBP Proposed Rule Collection of Biometric Data from Aliens Upon Entry to and Departure from the United States – 85 FR 74162, 11/19/20 (comment period closes on 12/21/20).
  • DOS Proposed Rule on Intercountry Adoptions, 85 FR 74492, 11/20/20 (comment period closes on 1/19/21).

• Proposed Regulations that are pending OIRA review. These regulations will be nearly impossible to finalize by January 20, 2021 given the number of steps remaining.
  • DHS/USCIS Proposed Rule on Provisional Waivers – sent to OIRA on 9/29/20.
  • DHS/USCIS Proposed Rule Rescinding H-4 EADs – sent to OIRA on 2/20/19.

DACA UPDATE

DACA temporarily protects certain people without immigration status from deportation and provides them with a work permit. The Trump administration’s previous effort to end the initiative altogether was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. DHS responded by attempting to severely limit participation in the initiative, which the court in New York rejected. A federal judge in New York has overturned this administration’s latest effort to limit the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. The latest decision means that starting December 7, 2020, hundreds of thousands of people should be able to apply for DACA for the first time.

It is clear to most that the current administration declared an attack on immigration from the moment they took office a few years ago.  This unsolicited war has had a deep impact on the immigrant community and it continues to terrorize many seeking legal status in the U.S. Unfortunately, this attack will most likely not stop until the end of this administration’s reign and it is very possible that we will see more changes over the next month. In response, the immigrant community will continue to adapt to these changes and fight for their right to be in this country. 

The new administration is set to take office by the end of January and it is predicted that they will have a more meaningful and sympathetic approach to immigration laws. They might not be able to make every change right when they take office but they will be able to overturn many of the nonsensical policies in place and will most likely start the process to overturn prior regulatory actions. There is hope!

– Trupti Patel

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER

Senior Initiatives

8 out of 10 covid 19 deaths reported in the U.S have been in senior adults 65 and older. IAGB is planning on liaising with Councils on Aging in various towns to implement some simple, no expense steps that younger people and adults can take to help seniors cope right now. Of course, there are many other ways we can serve elderly communities at large, which we are also planning to ideate on and implement. 

IAGB CARE CALLS FOR SENIORS:

 To do the following:

1. Covid Safety & Nutrition check calls:
   • WHAT: CONNECT WITH LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS (Medical Assistants, Home Health Aides, LPN-s, CNA-s, etc. at local hospitals) AND ARRANGE TO HAVE THEM MAKE CALLS TO SENIORS TO ENSURE THIS. 
2. Basic Tech. Help calls:
   • WHAT: Teach seniors how to get better at technology. Liaise with local middle schools, high schools in Middlesex county and college students to get a list of volunteers in a callers list to take turns to make late afternoon or early evening calls to seniors to teach them basic technology as basic as teaching them how to use a smart phone, do a face time, do a zoom call, skype, help them.
3. Mental health check calls:
   • WHAT: Calls from volunteers to just do a 30 mins chat by phone or zoom – just to check on them and ask how they are doing, how they are feeling – just let them vent – just be a good listener.

IAGB CARE CONNECT WITH LOCAL SENIOR CENTERS:

WHAT: Many local Senior Centers and councils of aging have been super active and proactive in the covid phase, doing outreach, grocery delivery and other connections to community resources for food/meals and basic hygiene needs. 

We are working on liaising with them to raise funds and increase manpower to help them run meals on wheels or grocery on wheels programs. We will have smaller fund-raising events to donate to these senior centers, and volunteer sign up drives to deliver groceries put together by the senior centers.

IAGB CARE HEALTH BENEFITS WORKSHOPS AND Q & A:

WHAT: While many seniors are navigating their nutritional needs on a tight budget, they are also struggling to pay for their medications. They may not be receiving all benefits they are eligible for. We will connect with local pharmacies and healthcare payers/health insurance companies to set up monthly workshops for updated info sharing and a Q & A session.

These are a few initiatives we are working on, during this covid crisis, for senior citizens. To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors. Our seniors need our support during these testing times. Let us love, care and treasure the elderly people in our community and beyond. We cannot do this alone – please come forward and join us in ideating, planning a feasible course of action, and implementing all those effectively, in the true interest of the seniors.

-Sutanaku Basu