Immigration Law: Glancing At History
President Donald Trump’s dedication to enacting a travel ban was finally approved by the Supreme Court on June 26 after the administration’s third revision of the policy finally passed in a 5-4 vote. It may appear that America is in a new era of immigration law, but U.S. presidents have always teetered back and forth […]
Arts & Culture: Yellow Rage Explores Asian-American Experiences With Poetry
Catzie Vilayphonh, 37, and Michelle Myers, 46, known as the poetry duo Yellow Rage, met and penned their first poem together at a writing workshop at Asian Arts Initiative in 2000. The poem, “I’m a Woman Not a Flava,” expresses the women’s anger over the sexual fetishization of Asian women. After working on the poem together, Vilayphonh and […]
Immigration: The History Of ICE And The Controversy
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE, has recently found itself at the center of national discussions surrounding immigration policy. Locally, Philadelphia’s ICE Field Office, which is the most aggressive in the nation, has found itself under fire from activists while the agency defends its actions. Founding and Structure ICE was […]
Immigration: NSC Board Member Michele Hangley Discusses NSC Services, Refugees And ICE
Michele Hangley is a lawyer and a litigation shareholder at the law firm Hangley Aronchick. She is also a board member at the Nationalities Service Center, a local organization which provides various services to immigrants and refugees in the region. In addition to the services offered, it also looks to empower immigrants and refugee, giving them dignity, stability, […]
Immigration: The Welcoming Center For New Pennsylvanians Assists Those New To Philadelphia
The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that seeks to help those in need, including immigrants and refugees, with improving their lives and socioeconomic status. Philadelphians who are foreign born often find themselves at a disadvantage in the job market and require additional assistance in getting the education, language skills and connections […]
Immigration: Shaloo Jose Found Her Second Family At HIAS
Shaloo Jose came to America in January 2005 after her husband decided to take a job overseas. She has since visited other big cities in the United States, but her and her family consider Philadelphia to be “home.” After starting at HIAS as an ordinary volunteer, Jose quickly fell in love with the family-like atmosphere […]
Immigration: When English Isn’t The Native Language, Difficulties Arise
Viral incidents of people berating others for not speaking English have gripped the internet. In one case, a New Jersey teacher insisted students “speak American.” In another, a New York lawyer threatened to call Immigration and Custom Enforcement officers after hearing employees and customers speaking Spanish at a lunch spot. “It’s America,” he cried. For […]
Immigration: Haitian Roots Inspire Art That Examines ‘Unconventional Bodies’
Didier William is originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and came to the United States in 1990 at the age of 6 with his father and brother to seek asylum. His mother and another brother arrived just a year prior. The political instability at the time that caused many Haitians to come to the U.S. during this […]
Immigration: Saida Harpi Uses ESL Classes To Find Common Ground And Unite Communities
In Saida Harpi’s English language classroom, immigrants from any country are welcome. The blanket offering means the students in Harpi and her coworkers’ classes often come from a variety of countries — including Vietnam, Russia and Algeria — with an equally staggered set of native languages and English skills. Since becoming the lead English teacher […]
Immigration: Maria Sotomayor Leads Refugee And Immigrant Youth In Social Advocacy
Immigrating to the United States from Ecuador when she was 10 years old, Maria Sotomayor quickly realized immigrants to the U.S. faced an entirely different world than she expected. “My parents had lived here before that, and I had expected them to have a really big house and a nice job and all the things […]