Currents reporter looks ahead at National Migration Week to be celebrated from January 8, 2017 – January 14, 2017. This years theme is “Creating a Culture of Encounter”.
See Currents NET TV’s coverage of the event: Preparing for National Migration Week 2017
Ruth Samalca-Manligoy, center, is pictured with her son Margoux, left, and daughter, Francesca. (Photo: Marie Elena Giossi, The Tablet)
Ruth Samalca-Manligoy represented the diocesan Filipino Ministry, one of 29 ethnic ministries whose members were honored at two separate dinners at Gargiulo’s, Coney Island, in October. Marie Elena Giossi, reporter with The Tablet shares her story.
Read the full article in The Tablet: Stars Shine Brightly in the Diocese of Immigrants
Over the years, Catholic Migration Services has helped countless permanent residents on their path to become US citizens. Recently, two very special clients attended ceremonies to become proud new Americans.
Daniel Marshall and Monyfa Alexander, who both came to the US from Guyana as children and entered into New York’s foster care system, were referred to our Citizenship and Integration Program from Heart Share St. Vincent’s Services. Working together with their caseworkers from the foster agency, immigration counselors at CMS were able to help Daniel and Monyfa obtain fee waivers for the application and guide them through all of the steps in the naturalization process.
Now that they have become citizens, Daniel and Monyfa are able to further pursue their dreams of voting in the upcoming elections and working toward college degrees. Read more about these inspiring new Americans in a blog post by our partners at the New Americans Campaign.
Congratulations, Daniel and Monyfa! If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a US citizen, call us on our Citizenship Hotline at (646) 597-8797.
On Wednesday, April 8th, Joe Crowley, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, and NYS Assembly Member Francisco Moya hosted an immigration forum in Jackson Heights, Queens. During this meeting leaders and experts on immigration discussed the status of President Obama’s executive action on immigration, the future of the NY DREAM Act, fraud prevention, the Central American Minors program, and different benefits and services available to immigrants in New York. This meeting provided members of the local community an opportunity to receive information and ask questions on the various programs that effect immigrants. CMS Immigration Counselor Marisol Canales was a member of the panel, she discussed CMS’ role in empowering immigrant communities and providing valuable resources and services. Other participating organizations included the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Legal Aid Society, SCO Family of Services, International Rescue Committee, Make the Road New York, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, FWD.us, Queens Community House, and CUNY Citizenship Now. New York State Senator Jose Peralta also joined the meeting held by Crowley and Moya.
A federal court in Texas has issued a preliminary injunction preventing USCIS from accepting requests for the expansion of DACA. Therefore, the program is on hold for now. We believe that this is just a temporary setback and we are optimistic that the program will go into effect in the near future. Therefore we encourage everyone who qualifies to continue to prepare and gather the documents they need and the fees for the application. This ruling does not affect the DACA program that is currently in effect from 2012 and those who are eligible should continue to apply and/or renew their status. Please check back for updates.
A dedicated hotline has been established at CMS to provide up to date information on this topic. All interested individuals are encouraged to call the hotline at 347-979-9360.
For more information about CMS, please contact our Brooklyn office at 718-236-3000 or the Queens office at 347-472-3500. You can also visit Catholic Migration Services.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will honor Presidents Day by welcoming approximately 5,000 new U.S. citizens during nearly 40 Presidents Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country Feb. 13-22.
“Congratulations to the nearly 5,000 immigrants who will become U.S. citizens around Presidents Day,” said USCIS Director León Rodríguez. “Citizenship is a critical component of immigrant integration. It provides immigrants with an equal footing, and fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion that strengthens the bonds of shared ownership in society. As we celebrate Presidents Day, I encourage anyone who is eligible for naturalization to consider the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of citizenship.”
USCIS Deputy Director Lori Scialabba will provide congratulatory remarks to 200 people at a naturalization ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Feb. 17. Rodríguez will administer the Oath of Allegiance to 50 people and deliver keynote remarks atGeorge Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia on Feb. 22.
USCIS encourages new citizens and their families and friends to share their experiences from the ceremonies through Twitter and other social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit uscis.gov.
