March 2023 Migration Update
March 2023 Migration Update
New Deal for New Americans Act Reintroduced
Global Cleveland is proud to be an endorsing organization on the New Deal for New Americans Act. The New Deal for New Americans proposes a number of significant policy changes including:
- Creating a Federal Office of New Americans whose job it would be to work on and propose solutions to International Newcomers facing issues
- Establishing multiple grant programs that would provide funding for naturalization and permanent residence applications, English education, and workforce programming
- Increasing Displaced Persons admissions levels, remove financial barriers to citizenship, create an automatic voter registration at naturalization, among others
Fairness to Freedom Act to be Introduced in Congress in April
This act being introduced for the first time seeks to accomplish two primary goals:
- To establish the right to counsel in Migration court as a federal right
- To provide funding for and guidelines for the creation of a system to provide individuals in Migration who cannot afford representation with legal representation
There is substantial evidence that one of the greatest factors in determining the result of deportation proceedings, asylum hearings, and other Migration court functions is whether or not the migrant has legal counsel. This bill seeks to make a fairer Migration court process and ensure that all regardless of economic status receive fair hearings and equitable results in Migration courts.
Texas Senator John Cornyn proposing a potential legislative veto on the Process for Cuban, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans
As we mentioned in our January Newsletter, the Biden-Harris administration as part of their effort to relief tension at the border began a new Humanitarian-Parole process for Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans comparable to the U4U parole process for Ukrainians. Senator John Cornyn is preparing to bring a challenge against this executive action in the legislature. If it were to pass with a simple majority in both houses of congress, than the Process for Cubans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans would end.
U.S. and Canada Announce Shared new Asylum Policy for the U.S.-Canada Border
This deal contains a large number of details, but fundamentally it means harsher punishments for migrants crossing the border between ports of entry both ways on the U.S. Canada Border. This will mean greater enforcement and more deportations on the U.S. Northern Border It also means that a migrant who arrives in Canada most apply for asylum in Canada and cannot cross to United States and claim asylum, and vice versa. The intent is to discourage border crossings as the rate at the North Border has steadily been increasing over the last year. Its effectiveness remains to be seen. As part of the deal the Canadian government has agreed to accept an additional 15,000 per year migrants from Central and South America.
USCIS Redesignates TPS for Somalia
All Somalians residing in the United States as of January 11,2023 are eligible to apply or reapply for TPS. This redesignation has been implemented as of March 18, 2023 and will expire on September 17, 2024
Reparole of Ukrainians
Prior to the implementation of the Uniting for Ukraine parole program last summer, over 20,000 Ukrainians were admitted to the United States at the Southern Border. Unlike Ukrainians that came later through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program and received a 2-year legal status and work authorization, those who came during March and April of 2022 only received a 1-year legal status and work authorization. The Biden-Harris Administration has announced that they will be reviewing and reparoling Ukrainians who came before U4U was implemented and are at risk of losing their legal status and work authorization this Spring.
U.S. to extend legal stay of Ukrainian Displaced Personss processed along Mexican border – CBS News
As a reminder, many Afghans who were given 2-year parole after the U.S. Withdrawal in 2021 are facing a similar concern this fall. Tens of thousands of these Afghans have yet to receive a permanent legal status. The Afghan Adjustment Act in congress was supposed to avert this crisis by creating a path to permanent status. However, after it failed to pass last year and it is looking doubtful that it will pass this year, the Biden-Harris Administration may need to step in to avert the crisis of tens of thousands of Afghans losing their work status and deportation protections.
Potential Resumption of Family Detention Processes
Multiple unnamed sources with the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS leaked to the press that the Biden-Harris administration is considering a resumption of Family detention at Migration facilities along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Family Detention was started by the Obama-Biden Administration in 2014 and continued under the Trump-Pence Administration until the Biden-Harris Administration ended in early 2021.
Many Migration experts believe that the resumption of Family Detention would be a major misstep. It was found to be inhumane, with conditions in facilities being severely lacking, and the program was also very costly.
USCIS Ends Pandemic Related Paperwork Deadline Flexibility
During the COVID-19 Pandemic USCIS provided deadline flexibility for those who filled paperwork with the agency. This flexibility has come to an end as of March 23rd, 2023. Applications for extensions in individual circumstances will still be considered on a case-by-case basis.
USCIS Announces New Service Center
USCIS has announced a new Humanitarian, Adjustment, Removing Conditions, and Travel Documents (HART) Service Center. This center is the sixth USCIS service center and will focus on handling applications and processes related to Humanitarian Visas, status adjustment, removing conditions for visa holders, and issuing travel documents to non-citizens.
February 2023 Migration Update
February 2023 Migration Update
Welcome Corps
Disclaimer: The information provided in this video does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available in this video are for general informational purposes only. Information may not constitute the most up-to-date information.
Senate Introduces 2023 Version of the DREAM Act
Senator Lindsay Graham (R- South Carolina) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) reintroduced the DREAM Act to the Senate on February 9th, 2023. If passed into law, the DREAM Act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented International Newcomers who came into the country as minors and colloquially known as Dreamers.
Biden-Harris Administration announces end to COVID-19 Pandemic Health Emergency Declaration
Title 42, the current health policy used to rapidly expel asylum seekers and other migrants at the Southern Border, will end with expiration of COVID-19 Emergency Status. Title 42 is a health and safety policy it has effectively been used as a de facto imMigration policy for the last 3 years.
- Title 42 allows for the closure of ports of entry and rapid expulsion of individuals crossing the border, ostensibly to prevent the spread of disease
- The last two Presidential administrations have used Title 42 to expulse asylum seekers caught crossing the border
- A Title 42 expulsion is not the same as a formal deportation order and bears none of the same long-term legal ramifications
- As a result, the use of Title 42 was relatively ineffective as many individuals who were apprehended and expulsed were apprehended again, sometime multiple times, as people tried to cross the border again with days or weeks of their initial apprehension and expulsion
This will have a major impact implantation of rules and security regulations at the border.
Biden-Harris Administration proposes new Asylum policy
With Title 42 moving out of effect in May the Biden-Harris Administration has announced a new 153-page rule on Asylum Policy to attempt and prevent the Asylum system from being overloaded immediately. This new rule is similar to several Trump-Pence policies that would have placed eligibility limits on asylum seekers, however the Trump-Pence era rules were struck down for unconstitutionality.
These new policies raise some concerns for asylum seekers:
- Lack of reliable access to internet connection for asylum seekers to set appointments
- High demand for appointments and low availability is making it very difficult for full families with children to acquire an adequate number of appointment slots
- The exemption for Unaccompanied Minors may lead to more desperate families sending children alone to try and get across and get access to Asylum procedures
State of the Union Address
During his State of the Union Address, President Biden encouraged both Houses of Congress to Act on Migration Reform, specifically pushing for passage of the DREAM Act
Update on Special Process for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans
A group of states, led by Texas, are suing the Biden-Harris Administration to end this program. DHS has reported that over 7,000 people have applied through sponsorship through this program, with over 1,700 having already been resettled as Humanitarian Parolees in the United States.
January 2023 Migration Update
January 2023 Migration Update
The Afghan Adjustment Act Fails To Pass In Congress
The Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide a path to permanent residency for over 70,000 Afghans evacuated from Kabul, and expand protections for those left behind in Afghanistan, has failed to pass at the end of the last congressional session. We hope to see this bill passed in the next Congress.
USCIS Proposes Changes to Naturalization Fees
USCIS has proposed a hike in fees. If approved, it will cause naturalization fees to go up 18 to 20 percent. In the most extreme case, green card fees with travel documentation and work authorization to rise from $1,225 to $2,820.
Task Force on New Americans Reestablished
The Task Force on New Americans has been reestablished by the Biden Administration. It seeks to address five key areas for International Newcomers:
- language learning and access
- health and wellbeing
- workforce development training
- financial access and education
- data and research
TPS Extension
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended and redesignated for 18 months for individuals from Haiti and Yemen already present in the United States as a result of continued conflict, natural disaster, and political instability.
Title 42 Expansion
The Biden-Harris administration has expanded Title 42 to immediately expel nationals from Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti from the U.S., expediting removal and while establishing a limited parole process for individuals from these nations and Venezuela. The limited parole process allows migrants to enter the US legally with a financial-based sponsor. There is a monthly cap of up to 30,000 admissions.
Welcome Corps
On January 19th, the Biden-Harris administration launched Welcome Corps, a private sponsorship program for Displaced Personss coming to United States. Private sponsor groups of five or more individuals will be able to sponsor Displaced Personss.
The Cleveland Ballet Welcomes The World
The Cleveland Ballet Welcomes The World
By Fatimah Harris
Images By New Image Photography
“My advice would be to keep going, no matter what. Do not let anyone tell you it is impossible or that it is not worth it. Even though there may be sacrifices you have to make, the outcome is worth every bit of effort you have to give,” said Diego Castillo, a Cleveland Ballet dancer originally from Columbia.
As we know it, professional ballet has always been challenging to break into, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This process is considerably more difficult for International Newcomer artists who rely on artist visas to stay in the United States. Visa restrictions, coupled with the common pressure of mastery that artists endure – have made this journey even more grueling. But as members of the Cleveland Ballet have demonstrated, the challenges were well worth it in order to bring their artistry to Cleveland
The Birth of the Cleveland Ballet
Cleveland, Ohio, is known in part for it’s impressive arts and theater scene, including, of course, the Cleveland Ballet. It stages over 15 ballet performances a year, exhibiting elegance, grace, precision, and nobility. Performances include fan favorites such as Swan Lake and Shakespeare’s riveting ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Playhouse Square.
The birth of the third edition of the Cleveland Ballet sprouted from the beautiful love story of Dr. Michael Krasnyansky, a successful Ukrainian businessman, and Gladisa Guadalupe, a decorated dancer from Puerto Rico. Together they utilized their imaginative vision, business abilities, and mastery to successfully fill the lack of classical and modern ballet in the city of Cleveland. The tagline of the Cleveland Ballet speaks volumes: “A Great City Deserves A Great Ballet Company.”
Cleveland's International Dance Community
Beyond stunning performances, the Cleveland Ballet is eminent for being a beacon of inclusivity and diversity – embracing ballet dance for all cultures, nationalities, and walks of life. Their ballet company is a beautiful reflection of our globe. The team is constructed of dancers and staff from nations all around the world, including Armenia, Japan, Brazil, Ukraine, Italy, Cuba, Columbia, and more.
Although the Cleveland Ballet creates a welcoming environment for International Newcomers, there are still some obstacles to overcome. Dance performers from all over the world come to America to share their gift of dance, just to be faced with unique hurdles such as a period of rising hate crimes, new legislation, increasingly strict Migration policies, visa restrictions, and even the horrific invasion of Ukraine.
Global Cleveland had the pleasure of interviewing a handful of international dancers from the Cleveland Ballet to get their insights on their International Newcomer experiences.
Dancing Around Hurdles
Global Cleveland asked international dancers and staff members at the Cleveland Ballet about their biggest challenges as international dancers and artists. Many talked about how difficult it was to secure visas, distance from family, and lack of work opportunities.
2021-2022 season dancer Nicola Marchionni, who was born in Italy and has lived in different countries, explained, “Migration is very tough here in the USA; I had to wait to get into the USA for almost half a year.”
Obtaining a work visa in America can be a very complex process that requires International Newcomers to meet a lengthy list of standards. Most international artists strive to get an O-1 Visa (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement) which is for the individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, according to U.S Citizenship and Migration Services.
Emmanuel Martirosyan trained at the Yerevan State National Choreographic College in Armenia and joined the Cleveland Ballet in 2021. Martirosyan immigrated to the United States after receiving a full scholarship from the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. He told us, “Dealing with Migration is the biggest challenge as an international dancer. It is complicated for an International Newcomer to live, work, and stay in America legally.”
Although immigrating to the United States has been an arduous journey for Emmanuel, he shared some silver linings with us about his positive experience living in Cleveland, “The Armenian Community in Cleveland is amazing, and it really feels like home. I love the food in Cleveland too. There are so many great places to eat.”
Emmanuel gave us excellent advice for international artists interested in immigrating to the U.S.
He says, “If they are lucky enough to get a contract in America, they should seize every opportunity because there is so much more opportunity [here]. Every opportunity opens up another window for another opportunity.”
The Cleveland Ballet Experience
While the journey to Cleveland may have been bumpy at times, it’s clear that the staff and company of the Cleveland Ballet are proud to call Cleveland their home.
Consultant Lana Krasnyansky Sokolinsky of Ukraine explains:
I think Cleveland is very cultured, truly. Being that I lived in New York for nine years and Chicago for seven years, I have been able to see a lot of cultures throughout my adult life. Cleveland does have an incredible orchestra, beautiful state-of-the-art museum, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospital, gorgeous architecture, terrific arts, and a food scene. So, I think people in Cleveland are used to having access to the best of everything that life has to offer! That is why it really is amazing to see the Cleveland Ballet Company rise and truly thrive through the best people all around, from the co-founders, staff, and dancers all the way to the artistic production staff. We are proud!
Diego Garcia Castillo is a Columbian ballet dancer who began his training at the national school Incoballet at the age of eight. He was offered a company contract with Cleveland Ballet in 2019 and has since performed Carmen, The Nutcracker, Sinatra, The Magic Flute, and other works.
Diego said:
“The people I have met in my time here are truly one of a kind. I came to a new place, completely in the dark, and they all took me in like family and made me feel at home. That is not something you get everywhere you go! The people are definitely a wonderful part of living here, but I am also just in love with the city’s experiences and sights.”
Advice for Other International Artists Who Are Interested in Immigrating to the U.S.
We concluded our interview by asking the talented group at the ballet what advice they would share with other international artists who are considering immigrating to the United States in hopes of pursuing their dreams.
“I say follow your dreams, your passions, and work hard! Take the hard road and not the easy road. That is always the road to remember and one that will be most rewarding! Life can be a challenge. Find joy in the challenges; after all, it is the journey and not the destination! I remind myself of this as well – almost daily,” shares Sokolinsky.
For her, that meant acknowledging that it is essential to take things one day at a time.
Eduardo Permuy, a 16-year seasoned dancer from Cuba, advises, “I would tell them to prepare themselves mentally and emotionally to deal with the separation. Being homesick is very real, especially now with all the travel restrictions because of the pandemic.”
Cleveland Ballet Supports Their Own
It’s safe to say that the Cleveland Ballet doesn’t just understand, but embodies, Global Cleveland’s belief that we strengthen our city by welcoming our world. It’s thanks to their International talent that they have thrived, and thanks to their international roots that they were formed in the first place. It’s no surprise that the Cleveland Ballet has embraced giving back to the international community.
Dr. Michael Krasnyansky, Co-Founder and President & CEO at Cleveland Ballet and Chairman of the board at School of Cleveland Ballet, came to Cleveland from his home of Ukraine. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted the ballet to give back to the Ukrainian community.
The Cleveland Ballet will be gifting the net profits of their Saturday, May 7th matinee performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to children in Ukraine.
“Ballet dancers can be described as being many things, but essentially to me, they are artists, athletes, and storytellers, Permuy concludes. “We have it all, music, dance, scenery, costume, stories, drama, comedy, magic, and we work tirelessly to bring quality art to Cleveland and its surrounding areas. So, if you have not seen us perform, I recommend that you give it a chance. Art feeds the soul.”
To support the Cleveland Ballet, visit their website: https://clevelandballet.org/ and check out upcoming shows https://clevelandballet.org/2022-2023-season/.
Hear More From The Cleveland Ballet
Global Cleveland spoke with Albina Ghazaryan of the Cleveland Ballet to speak about her internationally renowned dance career and how she’s making a home for herself in Cleveland. Watch the video below!
International Newcomer Women in HealthcareData Observations
By Collin Derrig
In two short years, the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed life as we knew it. It has also deepened our knowledge of and appreciation for the role which healthcare workers play in our society. Unfortunately, there is a key demographic essential to our healthcare system at large that is recognized more by the color of their skin or their accents they carry than by their life saving work. This demographic is International Newcomer Women, and we all owe them a heartfelt ‘thank you.’ Sadly, female International Newcomer healthcare workers still often get lost in the big picture. The following observations will partially explain the important role International Newcomer women play both nationally and locally in healthcare.
There are over 3.2 million foreign-born healthcare workers in the United States, comprising more than 17 % of the industry workforce. This is a disproportionate amount compared to the foreign-born percentage of the total population, only 13.7%. Of these 3 million+ International Newcomer healthcare workers, 2.39 million are female, or approximately 70%. While the most common career for foreign-born women working in healthcare is nursing (over 20%), these women are essential to the healthcare industry as a whole. Holding direct care roles such as physicians, home health aides, and therapists; as well as indirect care including administrative, technology, and other support staff, you will find an International Newcomer woman in every career in the healthcare industry. The national trend of International Newcomers being key here at home in Ohio and Cuyahoga County, however the details vary. Cuyahoga County is home to a total of 102,000 workers in healthcare related fields, while Ohio is home to a total of 867,000. Respectively there are 10,000 International Newcomer healthcare related workers in Cuyahoga County and 49,000 in the state. Interestingly, 1/5 of International Newcomer healthcare workers in Ohio reside in Cuyahoga County, while Cuyahoga County is home to only 1/10 of Ohio’s total population.
Healthcare Workers in Cuyahoga County by Gender and Nativity (ACS 2019 5-year Estimates)
Taking a closer look, excluding administrative and other non-medical healthcare positions, there are an estimated 77,600 healthcare workers in Cuyahoga County. Out of this number, 7,000 are International Newcomers and over 4,500 are female International Newcomers. That there are more female International Newcomers than male International Newcomers working in healthcare is unsurprising as over 79% of the county’s healthcare workers are female. Notably, International Newcomers as whole, and especially International Newcomer women play an outsized role as medical doctors. Although female International Newcomers comprise only around 6% of total healthcare workers in Cuyahoga County, they are 12% of all doctors and 30% of female doctors. Below are two charts showing in detail the proportion of International Newcomer women compared to other women across healthcare fields and their total numbers in said fields.
Both nationally and locally, healthcare workers have felt an outsized impact from the pandemic. According to numerous medical studies rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues have greatly increased for medical staff over the course of the pandemic. These intense psychological and physiological effects are frequently worse for minority healthcare workers, including International Newcomers, who already face other challenges in the workplace. Healthcare workers are also at much higher risk of being exposed and infected with Covid-19 and experiencing its potential life altering effects compared to the general population. Cuyahoga County is home to almost 20% of the state’s International Newcomer healthcare workers we can safely assume they have been similarly adversely affected by the pandemic. Especially with our COVID-19 case rates at times being among the highest in the state and the entire county. The thousands of International Newcomer healthcare workers here in Cuyahoga County and throughout Ohio have been key to stemming the effects of the pandemic and protecting all our lives. Recognizing this important role they play is the bare minimum they are due.
The data discussed above is just a small example of the key roles and impact that International Newcomer women play throughout our society. International Newcomer women own businesses, hold essential jobs, and support families and entire communities. The millions of International Newcomer women that work in essential industries like agriculture, retail, food service, and shipping have been just as key to our survival during this pandemic as those working in healthcare. These contributions of international women have existed long before the pandemic and will undoubtedly continue to be a key to our success as a community in the future.
To learn more about the impact of International Newcomer women, join Global Cleveland during our 2nd annual celebration of International Women’s Month Celebration throughout the month of March. You can find a link to our programming here.
Sources
Article 2020: International Newcomer Health-Care Workers in the.. | Migrationpolicy.org
International Newcomers in the United States | American Migration Council
International Newcomers as Essential Workers During COVID-19 – Center for American Progress
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers (nih.gov)
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers – PubMed (nih.gov)
COVID-19: a heavy toll on health-care workers – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
ACS 2019 1 and 5 year Estimates/ US. Census Bureau
Women in healthcare | McKinsey
Women’s Safety and Health Issues At Work | NIOSH | CDC
Gateways For Growth Research Report
Our organization was awarded a grant to receive a customized research report that will help us improve International Newcomer inclusion in our communities!
A Conversation With Albina Ghazaryan
Migration is Economic Development
Executive Summary
The sponsor of this analysis, Global Cleveland, is an organization, but global Cleveland is also a reality. Elaborating, when it comes to the task of economic and community development, think of a city as a feather in the wind, or a stick in a rapid of water. Global forces push and pull at places, affecting a city’s relevance, or it’s standard of living. Yet some indicators are better measures of where a city fits into the global order of things than others. This analysis shows that standard measures of “success”, like population size, are relics of a bygone era where size mattered. In today’s idea economy, a better measure is gauging the quality of life in city, not the quantity of lives. This analysis looks at GDP per capita for the nation’s large metros, defined as “the amount of output or income per person in an economy…that’s indicative of average productivity or average living standards.[i]”
The GDP per capita in the Cleveland metro is currently $ 57,700 and ranks 78th out of 374 metros. This is up from an inflation-adjusted $51,320 in 2010. To the extent Cleveland can prepare for progress entails examining what explains progress. The analysis looked at what features are driving GDP per capita growth across America’s metros from 2010 to 2019. To do this, Rust Belt Analytica deployed a machine learning algorithm called permutation feature importance. This is our “Progress Model”. Out of hundreds of variables analyzed, two clusters of features dominated the model results: educational attainment and Migration. That is, the rate of a metro’s GDP per capita growth could be predictively explained by the educational attainment of a region, and the Migration rates of a region. Migration features included the in-Migration of college- and non-college-educated foreign born, and the in-Migration of college- and non-college-educated native born, particularly if the domestic migrants were arriving from the Northeastern or Western parts of the U.S. This latter Migration pattern of coastal-to-inland Migration has been dubbed “The Rise of the Rest”, characterized as the convergence of American tech labor from the costly coast into the American heartland.
It is a pattern of Migration that highly-educated International Newcomers have in fact been doing for some time. The analysis found that the percent of Cleveland’s International Newcomers with an advanced degree was 21.4%, which ranked 8th out the nation’s largest 40 metros. Interestingly, 6 out of the top 10 most highly-educated cities for International Newcomers were in the geographic area of the Rust Belt, led by Pittsburgh.
The analysis finds that Migration is crucial to the evolution of cities. Migration does not only allow for the accumulation of human capital, but for global connectivity as well. Connectivity is part and parcel with the act of Migration, allowing for the deepening of a city’s “thought bank”. This depth of ideation is crucial to the process of innovation which, in turn, is crucial economic evolution. Put another way, Migration is economic development. It is today. It was yesterday. And it will be tomorrow. The issue for Cleveland is whether the region can leverage its global assets to incur its global relevance, and ultimately the increased well-being of its people.
State Budgets’ Fair School Funding Plan Includes Important Provisions for English Learners
Global Cleveland is proud to see the Fair School Funding Plan included in the final draft version of HB110, the state budget for FY 2022-2023. The Fair School Funding Plan includes important provisions that will provide key funding to support English as a learning language Students here in Cleveland and throughout Ohio. These provisions include changes that make additional funding for English Learners proportional to the average cost to educate a student in Ohio. Previously, funding for English Learners was locked to set numbers provided in earlier spending bills. By making funding proportional to the rising cost of education, state lawmakers are ensuring that English Learners are not left behind. However, the most important change from these provisions is that the additional funding provided for English Learners must now be used to support English Learners’ education and cannot be redirected for other uses. This ensures that the funding is used for its intended purposes and the needs of our English Learners are not neglected.
Learning to understand and use English proficiently is key for Ohio’s International Newcomers and their children to obtain higher education, pursue successful careers, and participate fully in our communities. The above provisions more adequately provide for this important education, helping to ensure greater educational equity. We believe that these provisions will help lead to a better future for all Ohioans as it will help create a better prepared and better educated population. We are thankful that our state legislators see the value of our English Learners and hope to see more legislation beneficial to International Newcomer and international communities in the future.
