#U.S. Green Card 2024

[visaandimmigrations01]

Stay updated on US immigration, particularly the U.S. Green Card. Anticipate policy changes in 2024, including updates to the U.S. Green Card Lottery by 2025. Our platform provides the Latest US Immigration News, ensuring you stay ahead of regulatory shifts. Whether you're seeking residency or tracking immigration trends, trust our insights to guide you through your Green Card journey.

[darkmaga-returns]

by John Binder

Illegal aliens, tourists, and foreign visa workers delivered nearly 400,000 children across the United States in 2024 — exceeding the population of New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that almost 400,000 “anchor babies,” the term used to describe the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens and other foreign nationals with no ties to the country, are delivered across all 50 states each year.

Anchor babies are rewarded with birthright American citizenship despite their parents having no legitimate ties to the U.S., many having only recently arrived. Years later, when the child is considered an adult, they can sponsor their parents and foreign relatives for green cards — anchoring their family in the U.S. for generations.

In 2024, close to 300,000 anchor babies are estimated to have been delivered to illegal alien parents. In addition, about 72,000 anchor babies were estimated to have been delivered to foreign tourists, foreign visa workers, and foreign students.

President-Elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship in his second term. Recent polling finds that a plurality of Americans, including 48 percent of whites and 42 percent of Hispanics, support Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship.

“On day one of my new term in office, I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law going forward the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship,” Trump said in 2023.

The U.S. Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled that the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens must be granted birthright citizenship, and many legal scholars dispute the idea.

[the-whispers-of-death]

OC Information: "Death"

Full Name: Jason Maximovich Ivanov

Callsign(s): Death

Alias(es)/Nickname(s): Scythe-Bearer, Devil Incarnate, Lucifer, Grim Reaper, Shadow-Wolf

Nationality: American (Russian Immigrant)

Affiliations: U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marine Fleet Force

Rank: Captain (U.S. Marines)

Gender: Male

Status: Alive

Birthday: February 11th, 1989 (35 as of 2024)

Build: Burly

Height: 6'8"

Marks: Whip scars on his arms, legs, back, and torso. A very old burn scar on the nape of his neck. A jagged knife scar going through his left eye scar but didn't blind him.

Hair: Black

Eyes: Brown

Background: Jason is the oldest son out of three sons and a daughter. He grew up in Russia and when he was three, his mother died during childbirth. His father trained him to be a killer and when he was thirteen, his father found out he was gay and abandoned him in the U.S. He lived on the streets until he was eighteen, where he got a green card and enlisted in the military. He's been in the Marine Corps for fifteen years.

Extra: He is a sniper and has a Purple Heart. He has a twenty year-old son named Ilariy that he adopted when Ilariy was at the age of four. He still talks to his siblings.

Reblogs are welcomed & appreciated! Asks are open, feel free to pop in and request something! (Check the rules in "Rules for Requesting NSFW" before requesting.)

[tvseries420]

Anora 2024

Anora 2024 full movie download

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“Anora,” a 2024 American comedy-drama directed by Sean Baker, delves into the tumultuous life of Anora “Ani” Mikheeva, a 23-year-old stripper from Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach. The film intricately portrays Ani’s whirlwind romance with Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov, the 21-year-old son of a Russian oligarch, and the subsequent challenges they face due to familial opposition.

Plot Summary

Ani, portrayed by Mikey Madison, leads a modest life in Brighton Beach, a Russian-American enclave in Brooklyn. Her routine is disrupted when she meets Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of affluent Russian businessman Nikolai Zakharov. Vanya, ostensibly in the U.S. for academic pursuits, prefers indulging in parties and video games at his family’s opulent mansion.

Their relationship begins on a transactional note, with Vanya hiring Ani for several encounters, eventually offering her $15,000 for a week-long companionship. This arrangement leads them to Las Vegas, where Vanya proposes marriage, partly to secure a green card and avoid returning to Russia. Despite initial skepticism, Ani is swayed by Vanya’s declarations of genuine affection, and they elope in a spontaneous wedding ceremony. Following the marriage, Ani quits her job and moves into Vanya’s mansion, embracing her new life.

However, their union faces immediate challenges. Upon learning of the marriage, Vanya’s mother, Galina, dispatches his godfather, Toros, along with henchmen Garnick and Igor, to annul the marriage and bring Vanya back to Russia. The situation escalates when Ani confronts Garnick and Igor, leading to a physical altercation where she is overpowered and restrained. Toros offers Ani $10,000 to consent to an annulment, but she remains steadfast, asserting her love for Vanya.

The narrative intensifies as Ani collaborates with Toros and his men to locate Vanya, who has gone on a reckless spree. They find him intoxicated at Ani’s former workplace, indifferent to the unfolding crisis. A subsequent court attempt to annul the marriage fails due to jurisdictional technicalities, further complicating matters.

At the airport, Ani’s attempt to connect with Vanya’s parents is met with disdain, particularly from Galina. Under familial pressure, Vanya coldly dismisses Ani, declaring their marriage untenable. Galina threatens Ani with severe repercussions if she pursues a divorce, leading Ani to reluctantly agree to the annulment. In a poignant moment, Ani confronts Vanya and Galina with sharp words before departing, while Nikolai reacts with unexpected laughter.

The film concludes with Ani and Igor returning to the Zakharov mansion to collect her belongings. A complex interaction unfolds between them, culminating in a moment of intimacy initiated by Ani. However, when Igor attempts to kiss her, Ani breaks down, revealing the emotional toll of her experiences. This ending leaves audiences contemplating Ani’s future and the resilience of her spirit.

Critical Reception

“Anora” premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2024, where it won the prestigious Palme d’Or and received universal critical acclaim. Critics lauded Baker’s direction and screenplay, as well as the performances of Madison and Borisov. The film was released theatrically on October 18 by Neon and was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. It received five nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical, Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Comedy or Musical for Madison, and Best Director. The film grossed $31.2 million worldwide on a $6 million budget, becoming Baker’s highest-grossing film.

Wikipedia

Mikey Madison’s portrayal of Ani has been particularly praised, with critics highlighting her ability to convey both vulnerability and strength. The film’s exploration of themes such as socioeconomic disparity, the complexities of sex work, and the pursuit of the American Dream has resonated with audiences and critics alike.

“Anora” stands as a testament to Sean Baker’s commitment to telling nuanced stories about marginalized communities, offering a poignant and unflinching look at the intersections of love, power, and identity.

Tags: Anora 2024, Anora movie, Anora trailer, Sean Baker, Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Russian drama movie, American Dream movie, love and identity, Brighton Beach, Palme d’Or winner, critically acclaimed movie, 2024 movies, Anora movie review, Anora film analysis, emotional drama, movie trailers 2024, fair use policy, Oscar buzz 2024

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.9

Holidays

Anna's Day (Finland, Sweden)

Armed Forces Day (Peru)

Ball-Bearing Roller Skates Day

Battle of Ayacucho Day (Peru)

Christmas Card Day

Christmas Gift Memory Day

Cremation Day

Eggsmas (from “The League”)

Fatherland’s Heroes Day (Russia)

Fiesta of the Mother of Health (Mexico)

Genocide Prevention Day

Geologist Day (Tajikistan)

Grace Hopper Day

Heroes Day (Antigua and Barbuda)

Heroes of Fatherland Day (Russia)

Homecoming Day (Guernsey and Alderney)

Homemade Gift Day

International Anti-Corruption Day (UN)

International Day of Commemoration & Dignity of the Victims of the Crimes of Genocide & of the Prevention of this Crime

International Day of Veterinary Medicine

International Human Rights Defenders Day

Lady Gaga Day

Mail Your Cards Day

National Blake Day

National Heroes Day (Antigua & Barbuda)

National Llama Day

National Youth Day (Albania)

Navy Day (Sri Lanka)

Petrified Forest Day

Public Transit Day

Santa Marian Kamalen Day (Guam)

Savin Juniper Day (French Republic)

V.C. Bird Day (Antigua & Barbuda)

Weary Willie Day

World Alliance for Patient Safety Day

World Day of Computing

World Genocide Commemoration Day (UN)

World Patient Safety Day

World Smallpox Eradication Day

World SIUGR (Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction) Awareness Day

World Techno Day

Yuri's Day in the Autumn (Russia)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Lutefisk Day (Finland; Sweden)

Mariscada Day (Spain)

National Opal Apples Day

National Pastry Day

Pepparkakans Dag (Gingerbread Cookie Day; Sweden)

Search High and Low For Your Gingerbread Recipe Day

Independence & Related Days

Rino Island (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Tanzania (f.k.a. Tanganyika; from UK, 1961)

2nd Monday in December

Green Monday [2nd Monday]

Marinara Monday [2nd Monday of Each Month]

Meditation Monday [Every Monday]

Mindful Monday [2nd Monday of Each Month]

Monday Musings [Every Monday]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

National Tree Planting Day (Malawi) [2nd Monday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 9 (2nd Full Week of December)

Human Rights Week [2nd Week]

National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness Week [2nd Week]

Festivals Beginning December 9, 2024

Duhok International Film Festival (Duhok, Iraq) [thru 12.16]

NLS Food Quality Symposium (Cedar Creek, Texas) [thru 12.11]

Vermont Maple Conference (Various Locations, Vermont) [thru 12.14]

Feast Days

Ann Hood (Writerism)

Ashleigh Brilliant (Artology; Wrierism)

End of Days of Reckoning (Shamanism)

Evergreen Day (Pagan)

Feast of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by St. Anne (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Fiesta of the Mother of Health (Mexico; Everyday Wicca)

Galileo (Positivist; Saint)

Hanukkah Day #2 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

Jean de Brunhoff (Artology)

John Milton (Writerism)

Juan Diego (Christian; Saint)

Leocadia (Christian; Saint)

Ljubica Sokić (Artology)

Loch Ba on Mull Island (Celtic Book of Days)

Margaret Brundage (Artology)

The Martyrdom of St. Kenny (Church of the SubGenius)

Nectarius of Auvergne (Christian; Saint)

Noodle Ring Day (Pastafarian)

Peter Fourier (Christian; Saint)

Remembrance for Egill Skallagrimsson (Troth/Asatru/Norse Pagan)

Sage Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

The Seven Martyrs at Samosata (Christian; Martyrs)

This Day Deliberately Left Blank (Pastafarian)

Tropical Grossbill (Muppetism)

Wulfhilde (Christian; Saint)

Yuri’s Day in the Autumn (Russian Orthodox Church)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Very Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [58 of 60]

Premieres

The America Minerva (Daily Newspaper; 1793) [1st U.S. Daily]

The Bishop’s Wife (Film; 1947)

Brigg’s Bad Wolf (Super Chicken Cartoon; 1967) [#14]

Brokeback Mountain (Film; 2005)

Buddy’s Show Boat (WB LT Cartoon; 1933)

Charge of the Light Brigade (Poem; 1854)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (Animated TV Special; 1965)

Chi Chi Dog (George of the Jungle Cartoon; 1967) [#14]

Christine (Film; 1983)

A Christmas Story (Hanna-Barbera Animated tV Special; 1972)

Coronation Street (UK Soap Opera; 1960)

Dark Horse, by George Harrison (Album; 1974)

Davy Jones’ Locker, featuring Willie Whopper (MGM Cartoon; 1933)

Disclosure (Film; 1994)

Fiesta Fiasco (WB LT Cartoon; 1967)

Fresh Cream, by Cream (Album; 1966)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Animated Film; 2022)

Hot August Nights, by Neil Diamond (Live Album; 1972)

A Job for a Gob (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1955)

La La Land (Film; 2016)

Little Saint Nick, by The Beach Boys (Song; 1963)

A Love Supreme, recorded by the John Coltrane Quartet (Album; 1964)

Memories of a Geisha (Film; 2005)

Merbabies (Silly Symphonies Disney Cartoon; 1938)

Mississippi Burning (Film; 1988)

The Night Before Christmas (Silly Symphonies Disney Cartoon; 1933)

Nutty Notes (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1929)

Office Christmas Party (Film; 2016)

Peace on Earth (MGM Cartoon; 1939)

The Peachy Cobbler (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1950)

Pet Pink Pebbles (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

The Pink of Bagdad (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Pink Press (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Richard II, by William Shakespeare (Play; 1595)

R is for Rocket, by Ray Bradbury (Short Stories; 1962)

Salome, by Richard Strauss (Opera; 1905)

Scarface (Film; 1983)

SOS, by SZA (Album; 2022)

Soul Man, by The Blues Brothers (Song; 1978)

The Story of Babar, by Jean de Brunhoff (Children’s Book; 1931)

Sudden Impact (Film; 1983)

Syriana (Film; 2005)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Film; 2011)

Twins (Film; 1988)

The Whale (Film; 2022)

Words and Music (Film; 1948)

young Adult (Film; 2011)

Young at Heart, recorded by Frank Sinatra (Song; 1953)

Today’s Name Days

Liborius, Reinmar, Valerie (Austria)

Ana, Anna, Anushka, Nusha (Bulgaria)

Ciprijan, Diego, Liberan, Zdravka (Croatia)

Vratislav (Czech Republic)

Rudolph (Denmark)

Raid, Raido, Raidu, Raigo, Raigo, Raik, Raiko, Rait (Estonia)

Anna, Anne, Anneli, Anni, Annika, Annikki, Annu, Annukka, Anu (Finland)

Pierre (France)

Liborius, Reinmar, Valerie (Germany)

Ann, Anna (Greece)

Natália (Hungary)

Siro (Italy)

Joachims, Jukums, Sarmīte, Tabita (Latvia)

Gedenė, Leokadija, Vakaris, Valerija (Lithuania)

Annette, Anniken (Norway)

Delfina, Joachim, Joachima, Leokadia, Loda, Waleria, Wielisława, Wiesław (Poland)

Maria (Romania)

Izabela (Slovakia)

Diego, Juan, Leocadia (Spain)

Anna (Sweden)

Ambrose (Ukraine)

Delfina, Delfino, Delphina, Kirby, Kirk, Kirkwood (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 344 of 2024; 22 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 1 of Week 50 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 16 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 9 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 8 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 7 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 14 Black; Sevenday [14 of 30]

Julian: 26 November 2024

Moon: 62%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 8 Bichat (13th Month) [Harriot / Vieta]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 78 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 18 of 30)

[strictlyfavorites]

At least 59.4 percent of illegal immigrant-led homes use one or more welfare programs, compared with 39 percent of households headed by people born in the United States, according to the Dec. 19 report.

High rates of welfare use among illegal immigrants “primarily reflect their generally lower education levels and their resulting low-incomes, coupled with the large share who have U.S.-born children who are eligible for all welfare programs from birth,” the report reads.

“More than half of all illegal immigrant households have one or more U.S.-born children.”

Children born to illegal immigrants in the United States, also known as “anchor babies,‘ are considered to have automatic birthright citizenship even though the U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t explicitly ruled on the matter. Illegal immigrants can’t access most welfare programs, a restriction that eases for their children who are born in the country.

“The American welfare system is designed in large part to help low-income families with children, which describes a large share of immigrants,” CIS states in the report.

A dozen states offer Medicaid to all low-income children regardless of immigration status. Such children also have access to various government food and meal programs.

Programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program, free or subsidized lunch and breakfast for students, and Medicaid for children (Children’s Health Insurance Program) were “explicitly created for minors,” the report states.

The CIS report is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).

“The reality is that illegal immigrants are included in the SIPP, a large share of them are poor, and they or their U.S.-born children have welfare eligibility; and many take advantage of this eligibility,” CIS stated.

“A very large share of immigrants come to America, have children, struggle to provide for them, and so turn to taxpayers for support. This can be seen as especially problematic given that there is already a large number of Americans who are also struggling to provide for their children.”

According to data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the total number of U.S.-born children of illegal aliens in the United States as of June stood at 5.78 million, a population more than two times that of Chicago.

FAIR estimates that “illegal aliens and their U.S.-born children impose a net annual cost of $150.6 billion on American taxpayers as of the beginning of 2023.” Over the past five years, the annual cost has risen by almost $35 billion.

“This burden will only continue to grow as a result of the Biden administration’s open-borders policies,” the organization warns.

Ending Birthright Citizenship

Multiple GOP members have taken a strong stance against birthright citizenship. In 2018, former President Donald Trump said he would remove birthright citizenship via executive order, which didn’t happen.

In his 2024 campaign, President Trump has reiterated his position on the matter. In a May video, President Trump promised to sign an executive order on day one of his second term to solve the issue.

Such an order would end the “unfair practice known as birth tourism, where hundreds of thousands of people from all over the planet squat in hotels for their last few weeks of pregnancy to illegitimately and illegally obtain U.S. citizenship for the child, often to later exploit chain migration to jump the line and get green cards for themselves and their family members.”

“At least one parent will have to be a citizen or a legal resident in order to qualify,” President Trump stated.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called for an end to birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants during the second GOP debate, in September.

“Now, the left will howl about the Constitution and the 14th Amendment. The difference between me and them is I’ve actually read the 14th Amendment. And what it says is that all persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the laws and jurisdiction thereof are citizens,” Mr. Ramaswamy said.

“So nobody believes that the kid of a Mexican diplomat in this country enjoys birthright citizenship—not a judge or legal scholar in this country will disagree with me on that. Well, if the kid of a Mexican diplomat doesn’t enjoy birthright citizenship, then neither does the kid of an illegal migrant who broke the law to come here.”

In July, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced a proposal called “End Birthright Citizenship Fraud Act of 2023,” which aims to abolish automatic birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

Under the legislation, at least one parent of the child must be a U.S. national or a refugee, have lawful permanent citizenship, or be an active member of the military.

“My legislation recognizes that American citizenship is a privilege—not an automatic right to be co-opted by illegal aliens,” Mr. Gaetz said in a statement.

“This is an important step in preserving the sanctity of American citizenship and ensures that citizenship is not treated as a loophole to be exploited but rather a privilege to be earned when legally migrating to our country.”

[saintmeghanmarkle]

EXCLUSIVERevealed: The real reason Prince Harry may be on a 'golden ticket' diplomatic visa in the U.S. and why getting a green card could be a financial 'dagger to the heart' for the Royal Family by u/Von_und_zu_

EXCLUSIVERevealed: The real reason Prince Harry may be on a 'golden ticket' diplomatic visa in the U.S. and why getting a green card could be a financial 'dagger to the heart' for the Royal Family The Royal Family may want Prince Harry to remain on a diplomatic visa indefinitely so it does not have to reveal aspects of its finances to the U.S. Government.If the Duke of Sussex was to become a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident with a green card, it could be a financial 'dagger in the heart' for the royals, one tax expert told Dailymail.com.It would mean the Duke having to report his entire worldwide income to America's Internal Revenue Service, including details of any British bank accounts or trusts.And documents relating to any joint finances involving the rest of the Royal Family would have to be disclosed.It comes amid growing speculation about the Duke's immigration status in the U.S.Immigration experts have suggested to Dailymail.com that he may be on an extremely rare A-1 Head of State visa.This reporting makes no sense to me. Maybe he is on an A-1 - I do not know. But claiming that he has an A-1 because the RF wants him to be on an A1 because that would save Harold and the RF the embarassment of reporting to the US government any joint financial interests he has with the RF? What? Is anyone with a brain on duty at the DM today? https://ift.tt/sGlLzJZ post link: https://ift.tt/w1LEmyU author: Von_und_zu_ submitted: September 07, 2024 at 11:27PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[dertaglichedan]

Biden Considering Granting Amnesty, Handing Out Green Cards To Illegal Immigrants

P Resident Joe Biden is currently considering granting amnesty to illegal migrants in a bid to act on the worsening immigration crisis, according to Politico.

Biden and his administration are weighing several ideas to take a tougher stance on the southern border crisis and illegal immigration amid criticisms he has thus far failed to act on either. The administration could start dolling out green cards to illegal immigrants who have long stayed inside the United States, thereby giving them amnesty to stay in the country, three people familiar with the planning told Politico. (RELATED: Immigration Overtakes Inflation As Top Voter Concern In 2024: POLL)

The plan would grant migrants who have been in the country for more than 10 years access to the cancellation of removal program provided that they have relatives who would suffer if they were deported, according to Politico. Migrants could then receive a green card — a permanent residency grant —  if they meet the cancellation of removal requirements and an immigration judge rules in their favor.

It would represent a larger effort by Biden to take action on behalf of illegal immigrants who have long stayed inside the U.S., the three officials told Politico. The Obama administration took similar action in 2012 with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which delayed the deportation of illegal migrants who came to the U.S. when they were minors.

[ausetkmt]

Congrats on your citizenship! If you’ll be 18 before Election Day, you have the right to vote in federal, state, and local elections. This is your chance to influence the leadership in your community — and in the United States as a whole. In this article, we’ll walk you through the voter registration process.

Learn the voting rules in your state

Voting rules are different in every state. However, with exception to North Dakota, all states require citizens to register if they want to vote. How you register to vote can vary too. In many cases you can register to vote online, at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or by using the National Voter Registration form.

Check your state’s deadline for registration

You can check your state’s deadline for registering here, and learn about specific details on your state’s voter registration process, by visiting your state or local territory’s election office website. Whether or not you can vote in the upcoming midterm elections, registering to vote now will allow you to vote in the presidential election in 2024, so just do it!

Confirm you’re registered to vote

To confirm you’re registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status online, over the phone, by mail, or in person. Like registering itself, this varies state by state, so it’s helpful to check with your local election office.

When you’re confirming your registration, there are a few things to watch out for:

Your name is accurate and on the voter list

Your address is up to date

The polling place is correct

If you can’t find your name on the voter list, reach out to your election office as soon as possible! Every time you move or change your name you have to update your registration or re-register.

Determine your polling place

Once you’ve registered to vote, your election office will likely send you a voter registration card that tells you your polling place. On Election Day, you’ll go there to vote. You’ll probably need to show an ID before you can vote and if you know you can’t make it to your polling place on Election Day, you might qualify to vote by mail.

Important!

If you’re a lawful permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen, you cannot vote in federal and state elections. It can be confusing because if you’re at the DMV to get your license, the clerk might ask if you want to register to vote. If you accept, there is a risk of deportation.Non-citizens, such as green card holders cannot vote in federal, state, and most local elections. Learn more about who can vote here.

If you have any questions about the U.S. voting process process, USAGov can help! Call at 1-844-USA-GOV1 (1-844-872-4681).

Learn more about the other benefits of U.S. citizenship, and congrats again!

[kdevasier]

Understanding the Current Border Debate in Congress

On Joe Biden's first day in the White House, he sent a bill to Congress to reform America's immigration system. Called the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, it would have done what Republicans have been wanting, which has been to provide more security for the U.S./Mexican border. The bill did not pass, but lately, Republicans have been arguing that Biden has done nothing to address the influx of migrants at the southern border. So lets discuss what the bill would specifically have done, and why it did not pass.

First, briefly, here is a quick overview of what the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 would have done:

1.) Provide a roadmap for undocumented immigrants to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years if they pass criminal and national security background checks and pay their taxes. 

2.) Allocate additional funding for the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and implement a plan to deploy technology to expedite screening and enhance the ability to identify narcotics and other contraband at every land, air, and sea port of entry. 

3.) Improve the immigration courts by expanding family case management programs, reducing immigration court backlogs, expanding training for immigration judges, and improving technology for immigration courts.

3.) Create a $4 billion four-year inter-agency plan to address the underlying causes of migration in the region, which would include increasing assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, conditioned on their ability to reduce the endemic corruption, violence, and poverty that causes people to flee their home countries. 

There is a lot more to the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, but the point is that the bill would have tackled the root cause of migrants from Central America, provided a pathway for undocumented individuals to escape legal limbo and become citizens, and bolstered security at the southern border. Everything that the Republicans would want, right? Nope.

In a recent interview with CNN, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) said: "Let me tell you, I’m not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to help Joe Biden’s approval rating." In another interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), in response to Tapper's questions of accepting Biden's offer to allocate $14 billion in supplemental aid to bolster security at the border for right now, he responded with "no." With the economy improving and the 2024 elections rapidly approaching, Republicans recognize that the issue at the border will an excellent cudgel for them to hit Biden and Democrats with. Sadly, it also means that no serious measures will not be taken unless voters decide to put serious people in charge to solve the problem.

[visaandimmigrations01]

Stay updated on US immigration, particularly the U.S. Green Card. Anticipate policy shifts in 2024, with updates to the U.S. Green Card Lottery expected in 2025. Access the latest US Immigration News on our platform to stay informed about regulatory changes. Whether you're pursuing residency or monitoring immigration trends, trust our insights to guide your Green Card journey.

[reasonsforhope]

More details below. Thanks for posting, OP!

Article

"President Biden will clear the way on Tuesday [June 18, 2024] for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to apply for legal residency in one of the most expansive immigration programs of his presidency, administration officials said...

Marrying an American citizen is typically a fast track to U.S. citizenship, but immigrants who cross the border illegally are subject to significant bureaucratic hurdles that have left them in limbo for years. Federal law requires such immigrants to leave the United States for up to 10 years and then apply to return, but immigrants call the penalty excessive.

Biden will allow undocumented spouses to apply for legal residency without having to leave the United States, a major relief for those who have jobs and are raising young children and worry that there is no guarantee they will be allowed back into the country.

“It’s just too much risk for me to leave my wife, my son and everything we’ve established in the United States,” said Foday Turay, a 27-year-old immigrant from Sierra Leone who is married to a U.S. citizen and is among those invited to Biden’s announcement at the White House.

Turay crossed the Mexican border unlawfully in 2003 when he was 7 to join his mother, who had earlier fled that country’s war. He is now an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia and has a work permit through Obama’s 2012 program [DACA - Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. But he said he wants to become a citizen.

About 500,000 undocumented spouses and 50,000 undocumented stepchildren of U.S. citizens are expected to be eligible to apply, according to a copy of the plan released by the White House and the Department of Homeland Security. To be eligible, immigrants must have lived in the United States for at least a decade as of Monday, have been married by that date, and meet other requirements. Their immigrant children must be under 21 to qualify, officials said.

Officials said the majority of immigrants expected to benefit from the program are Mexican nationals who have lived in the United States for an average of 23 years. Applicants who are approved will have three years to apply for permanent residency, also known as a green card, and will have work permits in the meantime.

Permanent resident spouses are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after three years, faster than the usual five-year requirement.

Biden is also expected to announce a work-visa program for current enrollees in Obama’s 2012 program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and others who were shut out of the program after the Trump administration called it an illegal amnesty and tried to terminate it in 2017."

-via The Washington Post, June 17, 2024

source 1

source 2

source 3

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Amazing what you can get done when you're not golfing everyday.

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

August 1, 2024

Heather Cox Richardson

Aug 02, 2024

“This is a very good afternoon,” President Joe Biden said today. “[A] very good afternoon.”

“Today, we’re bringing home Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir—three American citizens and one American green-card holder. 

“All four have been imprisoned unjustly in Russia…. Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials, and sentenced them to long prison terms with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever. None.” 

In a complicated prisoner swap involving the U.S., Russia, and at least seven other countries, Americans Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva and British-Russian activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who openly opposed the invasion of Ukraine, came home from Russia. Four German citizens who had also been wrongfully detained—meaning they had not broken laws but were being held as political bargaining chips—were also part of the exchange, along with a fifth who was released from Belarus. 

Also in the swap were seven Russian citizens who had been detained as political prisoners, four of whom worked with Alexei Navalny, the political opposition leader who died in February in a Russian prison. They have left Russia and will make their way to other countries. It is extraordinary that the U.S. government managed to force Putin to release his own citizens, and Biden called it out. “It says a lot about the United States that we work relentlessly to free Americans who are unjustly held around the world,” he said. “It also says a lot about us that this deal includes the release of Russian political prisoners. They stood up for democracy and human rights. Their own leaders threw them in prison. The United States helped secure their release as well. That’s who we are in the United States.

“We stand for freedom, for liberty, for justice—not only for our own people but for others as well. And that’s why all Americans can take pride in what we’ve achieved today.” 

In exchange, Russian president Vladimir Putin got the prisoner he wanted most, hit man Vadim Krasikov, back from Germany. In addition, the U.S. released three Russians, Slovenia released two, and Norway and Poland each released one. All told, eight Russians went home. 

Foreign affairs journalist Anne Applebaum noted that “a group of brave journalists and democracy activists are being exchanged for a group of brutal spies.” The exchange included no money or sanctions relief. 

The U.S. had been calling for the freedom of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as part of the negotiations when he died abruptly in Russian custody in February 2024. His death briefly derailed the negotiations that had been going on since shortly after Biden took office. Even before he took office, he had asked his national security team to dig into all the cases of hostages being wrongfully detained, which they were inheriting from the previous administration. “I wanted to make sure we’d hit the ground running,” Biden said today, “and we did.” 

He noted that with today’s releases, his administration “has brought home over 70 Americans who were wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad, many since before I took office.” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later noted that the administration has reclaimed U.S. citizens from “Afghanistan, Burma, Gaza, Haiti, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Rwanda, and elsewhere.”

Asking Germany to release Krasikov was a big ask, but the government was willing to exchange him for Navalny. After Navalny’s death, it seemed likely the deal could not be revived. But Sullivan believed he saw a way forward, and Biden called German chancellor Olaf Scholz and asked him to continue to move forward. “For you, I will do this,” Scholz said. The president told Sullivan to get it done. In April President Biden sent a formal request to Scholz asking him to make the complicated swap that transpired today. When a reporter today asked Biden what Scholz had demanded in return, Biden answered: “Nothing.”

In his remarks today, Biden emphasized that the deal was “a feat of diplomacy and friendship—friendship. Multiple countries helped get this done. They joined difficult, complex negotiations at my request. And I personally thank them all again.  And I’ve thanked them personally, and I’ll thank them again.”

“This deal would not have been made possible without our allies Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. They all stepped up, and they stood with us. They stood with us, and they made bold and brave decisions, released prisoners being held in their countries who were justifiably being held, and provided logistical support to get the Americans home. So, for anyone who questions whether allies matter, they do. They matter. 

“And today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world—friends you can trust, work with, and depend upon, especially on matters of great consequence and sensitivity like this. 

“Our alliances make our people safer.”  

Sullivan was clear about where specific praise was due. “Today’s exchange is a feat of diplomacy that honestly could only be achieved by a leader like Joe Biden,” he said at a press conference this afternoon.” He directed the team and was personally engaged in the diplomacy necessary. “There is no more singular or concrete demonstration that the alliances that the president has reinvigorated around the world matter to Americans—to the individual safety of Americans and to the collective security of Americans,” Sullivan said. “And honestly, guys, I can just say this was vintage Joe Biden, rallying…American allies to save American citizens and Russian freedom fighters and doing it with intricate statecraft, pulling his whole team together to drive this across the finish line.” 

Tearing up, Sullivan added, “Today…was a very good day.”

This deal was in the works during the weeks when the press was hounding the president and suggesting he was not fit to do the work of the office. In fact, a senior administration official briefing reporters this morning pointed out that on July 20, an hour before he announced to the nation that he would not accept the Democratic nomination for president, Biden “was on the phone with his Slovenian counterpart, urging them to make the final arrangements and to get this deal over the finish line.” 

This is the largest prisoner swap since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The administration warned journalists that no one should think that there has been a breakthrough in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia or that tensions have eased. Putin’s continuing attacks on Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and our European partners, as well as his growing defense relationship with China, North Korea, and Iran, all mean that “you will not see a policy change from President Biden or the administration when it comes to standing up to Putin’s aggression as a result of this,” an official said. 

But the deal does suggest that Putin might be finding it in his own interest to look like he might be willing to negotiate on different issues going forward, a reflection of the damage the Ukraine war has inflicted on his own society. Russia has recently pulled its ships from the Sea of Azov, Russian mercenaries just suffered big losses in Mali, and today, Russian media reported that the country’s largest oil refinery was on fire. Putin might also be seeing that Trump’s path to the White House has gotten dramatically steeper in the past couple of weeks. 

Indeed, Putin’s decision to go ahead with the swap was a blow to Trump. Gershkovich was a Wall Street Journal reporter when he was taken into custody in March 2023, and the Wall Street Journal covered the negotiations in quite some depth today. Reporters Joe Parkinson, Drew Hinshaw, Bojan Pancevski, and Aruna Viswanatha noted that Trump got wind that a deal was coming together and began to insist at his rallies and in interviews that Putin would free Gershkovich only for him.

Putin has proven Trump wrong. 

That did not, however, stop Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance from claiming that Trump deserved credit for the swap despite Trump’s insistence that Gershkovich would be released only after Trump was reelected. For his part, Trump didn’t express any joy at all in the deal, simply claiming that Biden got fleeced and saying “[o]ur ‘negotiators’ are always an embarrassment to us!”  

And from the Department of Poor Timing, MAGA representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina tweeted this morning: “Biden is MIA. Why is no one talking about it?”

At today’s White House announcement, a reporter noted that former president Trump “has said repeatedly that he could have gotten the hostages out without giving anything in exchange,” and asked President Biden: “What do you say to that?”

“Why didn’t he do it when he was president?” Biden answered.  

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[norajworld]

Over the past few years, U.S. television fans have "overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles" and discovered the wide world of international TV, thanks in no small part to Netflix. According to the streaming giant, more and more U.S. subscribers are watching foreign series each year, with Korean, Spanish, and Japanese shows being the most popular. 2024 was a huge year for Japanophiles, between Shōgun's awards dominance and everyone you know planning a trip to Tokyo.Excellent shows and movies have been coming out of Japan for decades, from thrilling anime series and action films to engrossing reality shows and everything Studio Ghibli. Netflix already has a solid catalog of Japanese series, and even more highly-anticipated shows are set to drop this year, including the long-awaited return to the show every Squid Game fan needs to watch. Below, read on for our selection of the best Japanese shows to watch on Netflix.'Aggretsuko' (2018–2023)(Image credit: Netflix)If you've never dipped your toe into the world of anime (at least beyond Pokémon), let this relatable comedy series lead the way. Retsuko the red panda is in her 20s and works a mundane job in the accounting department of a Tokyo corporation. When all the office politics and her horrible boss become too much, she lets out her frustration at night...through death metal karaoke sessions.WATCH NOW'Alice in Borderland' (2020– )(Image credit: Kumiko Tsuchiya)This live-action survival thriller based on Haro Aso’s manga series is an absolute must-watch for fans of the hit K-drama Squid Game fans. One day in Tokyo, slacker Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) is transported to a parallel universe where he has to survive lethal games, represented by the suits in a deck of playing cards. Along the way, he, Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), and the other players struggle to keep their will to live and survive. Now's the perfect time to catch up with the series, with season 3 set for September 2025.WATCH NOW'Asura' (2025)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)This acclaimed period drama from Palme d'Or-winning filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda takes place among a tight-knit family in 1979 Tokyo. When they suspect that their father (Jun Kunimura) is having an affair, the four Takezawa sisters—ikebana teacher Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), housewife Makiko (Machiko Ono), librarian Takiko (Yu Aoi) and waitress Sakiko (Suzu Hirose)—reunite at home, while trying to keep the secret from their mother, Fuji (Keiko Matsuzaka). Once the truth comes out, even more secrets surface that change their lives forever.Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.WATCH NOW'The Boyfriend' (2024– )(Image credit: Netflix)Last year, Netflix debuted Japan's first-ever same-sex dating show. The global reality TV sensation brought together nine queer men together for a month-long stay in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, where they lived together in a space called "the Green Room" and ran a mint-green coffee truck. Over its episodes, the cast members found deep friendships and adorable romances, including one still going strong over a year after filming. Make sure to catch up on the show before the highly-anticipated second season.WATCH NOW'Burn the House Down' (2023)(Image credit: Netflix)13 years ago, Anzu Murata's (Mei Nagano) family fell apart when her mother was accused of burning down their childhood home. Their parents eventually divorced, with her father marrying one of her mother's former friends soon after. Now an adult and convinced that her mother was wrongly accused, Anzu gets a job as the housekeeper for her unwitting stepmother, to discover the truth in this fiery revenge J-drama.WATCH NOW'Chastity High' (2024)(Image credit: Netflix)When a prestigious high school for Japan's elite goes co-ed, it institutes an unusual rule: Anyone caught in a romantic relationship will be expelled. As some students begin hunting for couples in and out of school grounds, Ichica (Ai Mikami) becomes an anonymous Love Keeper, funding her tuition by helping violators in exchange for cash. When she partners with Ryogo (Ryubi Miyase), a governor's son who needs cash, "their partnership evolves into a romance that defies the school’s policies," per the show's description.WATCH NOW'First Love' (2022)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)Make sure to grab the tissues before diving into this epic romance across 20 years. Inspired by Hikaru Utada‘s songs "First Love" and "Hatsukoi," the series centers on Yae Noguchi (Hikari Mitsushima) and Harumichi Namiki (Takeru Satoh), high school sweethearts who met in the '90s and went down different paths. According to the description, "two decades later, Yae is a single mom to a teenage son, while Harumichi is engaged to marry someone else. However, they soon discover that their love story is not quite over."WATCH NOW'Fishbowl Wives' (2022)(Image credit: Netflix)This soap-like melodrama chronicles the lives of housewives living in the same building, who become tempted into extramarital affairs. The series follows Sakura (Ryoko Shinohara), a woman in an abusive relationship who meets a kind fish store owner (Takanori Iwata); Saya (Anna Ishii), whose workaholic husband is always absent; Noriko (Saori Seto), who is often belittled by her ungrateful husband; and Yuriha (Anzu Lawson), whose husband only listens to his mother.WATCH NOW'Good Morning Call' (2016–2017)(Image credit: Netflix)In this youth rom-com drama, teenager Nao Yoshikawa (Haruka Fukuhara) gets the chance to stay behind in the city when her parents inherit her grandfather's country farm. She moves into her own apartment, only to discover that the place has also been rented to Hisashi Uehara (Shunya Shiraishi), the most popular guy in school. Scammed with nowhere else to go, the pair become flatmates and keep their cohabitation a secret from their class.WATCH NOW'House of Ninjas' (2024– )(Image credit: Netflix)This action-packed comedy brings the world of ninjas, or shinobi, out of history into modern-day Japan. The Tawaras are the last shinobi family directly descended from samurai Hattori Hanzō, but after the eldest son dies, the family left the world of fighting behind. When a new threat emerges six years later, the dysfunctional household is called back to action, as they're still grieving the loss.WATCH NOW'The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House' (2023)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)Another gorgeous drama from Hirokazu Kore-eda, this live-action manga adaptation is half-friendship drama and half-food porn. The show is set in the Saku House, an all-female lodging where the makanai, or cook, cares for apprentice maiko training to become geishas (or geiko, in Kyoto dialect). While the main characters are 16-year-old teenage besties Kiyo (Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi), who arrive in Kyoto from their small town of Aomori, the series follows all of the women in the house as they pursue their happiness in life.WATCH NOW'Midnight Diner' (2016–2019)(Image credit: Netflix)Another series where food is an essential part of the story, Midnight Dinner takes place in the titular late-night eatery, a fictional izakaya in Tokyo's Shinjuku district. The stoic chef, only known as "Master" (Kaoru Kobayashi) will cook his regulars anything they want, as long as they bring the ingredients. Each episode of the anthology series follows a new customer as they trade stories about their lives.WATCH NOW'Old Enough!' (1991– )(Image credit: Netflix)The Japanese title of this long-running docuseries, Hajimete no Otsukai, translates to "My First Errand." Each episode follows kids ages 2 to 6 as they set off alone (minus the camera crew) to navigate chores like picking up a few items from the grocery store or dropping off an item to their parents. It's impossible not to root for the adorable little ones as they safely complete their tasks and build confidence by going out in the world.WATCH NOW'Terrace House' (2012–2020)(Image credit: Netflix)In case you missed this smash-hit Japanese reality franchise during its heyday, each installment of Terrace House follows a group of Japanese 20-somethings who live together as they go about their day-to-day lives. As they hang out, share meals, and inevitably fall for each other, the series gives a chill yet engrossing look into the housemates' lives, as a panel of actors and comedians provide commentary on each scene.WATCH NOW'Tokyo Swindlers' (2024)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)This stylish crime thriller from creator Hitoshi One is inspired by a real-life con, where a Japanese development company was scammed out of over 5 billion yen. Set in 2017, as land prices are rising in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, the show follows a "notorious group of real estate crooks," led by Harrison Yamanaka (Etsushi Toyokawa), as they "defraud major developers out of large sums of money. Their next target is the biggest yet: a 10-billion-yen plot of land next to a Buddhist temple. Can they pull it off without getting caught?"WATCH NOW Source link

[chilimili212]

Over the past few years, U.S. television fans have "overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles" and discovered the wide world of international TV, thanks in no small part to Netflix. According to the streaming giant, more and more U.S. subscribers are watching foreign series each year, with Korean, Spanish, and Japanese shows being the most popular. 2024 was a huge year for Japanophiles, between Shōgun's awards dominance and everyone you know planning a trip to Tokyo.Excellent shows and movies have been coming out of Japan for decades, from thrilling anime series and action films to engrossing reality shows and everything Studio Ghibli. Netflix already has a solid catalog of Japanese series, and even more highly-anticipated shows are set to drop this year, including the long-awaited return to the show every Squid Game fan needs to watch. Below, read on for our selection of the best Japanese shows to watch on Netflix.'Aggretsuko' (2018–2023)(Image credit: Netflix)If you've never dipped your toe into the world of anime (at least beyond Pokémon), let this relatable comedy series lead the way. Retsuko the red panda is in her 20s and works a mundane job in the accounting department of a Tokyo corporation. When all the office politics and her horrible boss become too much, she lets out her frustration at night...through death metal karaoke sessions.WATCH NOW'Alice in Borderland' (2020– )(Image credit: Kumiko Tsuchiya)This live-action survival thriller based on Haro Aso’s manga series is an absolute must-watch for fans of the hit K-drama Squid Game fans. One day in Tokyo, slacker Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) is transported to a parallel universe where he has to survive lethal games, represented by the suits in a deck of playing cards. Along the way, he, Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), and the other players struggle to keep their will to live and survive. Now's the perfect time to catch up with the series, with season 3 set for September 2025.WATCH NOW'Asura' (2025)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)This acclaimed period drama from Palme d'Or-winning filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda takes place among a tight-knit family in 1979 Tokyo. When they suspect that their father (Jun Kunimura) is having an affair, the four Takezawa sisters—ikebana teacher Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), housewife Makiko (Machiko Ono), librarian Takiko (Yu Aoi) and waitress Sakiko (Suzu Hirose)—reunite at home, while trying to keep the secret from their mother, Fuji (Keiko Matsuzaka). Once the truth comes out, even more secrets surface that change their lives forever.Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.WATCH NOW'The Boyfriend' (2024– )(Image credit: Netflix)Last year, Netflix debuted Japan's first-ever same-sex dating show. The global reality TV sensation brought together nine queer men together for a month-long stay in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, where they lived together in a space called "the Green Room" and ran a mint-green coffee truck. Over its episodes, the cast members found deep friendships and adorable romances, including one still going strong over a year after filming. Make sure to catch up on the show before the highly-anticipated second season.WATCH NOW'Burn the House Down' (2023)(Image credit: Netflix)13 years ago, Anzu Murata's (Mei Nagano) family fell apart when her mother was accused of burning down their childhood home. Their parents eventually divorced, with her father marrying one of her mother's former friends soon after. Now an adult and convinced that her mother was wrongly accused, Anzu gets a job as the housekeeper for her unwitting stepmother, to discover the truth in this fiery revenge J-drama.WATCH NOW'Chastity High' (2024)(Image credit: Netflix)When a prestigious high school for Japan's elite goes co-ed, it institutes an unusual rule: Anyone caught in a romantic relationship will be expelled. As some students begin hunting for couples in and out of school grounds, Ichica (Ai Mikami) becomes an anonymous Love Keeper, funding her tuition by helping violators in exchange for cash. When she partners with Ryogo (Ryubi Miyase), a governor's son who needs cash, "their partnership evolves into a romance that defies the school’s policies," per the show's description.WATCH NOW'First Love' (2022)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)Make sure to grab the tissues before diving into this epic romance across 20 years. Inspired by Hikaru Utada‘s songs "First Love" and "Hatsukoi," the series centers on Yae Noguchi (Hikari Mitsushima) and Harumichi Namiki (Takeru Satoh), high school sweethearts who met in the '90s and went down different paths. According to the description, "two decades later, Yae is a single mom to a teenage son, while Harumichi is engaged to marry someone else. However, they soon discover that their love story is not quite over."WATCH NOW'Fishbowl Wives' (2022)(Image credit: Netflix)This soap-like melodrama chronicles the lives of housewives living in the same building, who become tempted into extramarital affairs. The series follows Sakura (Ryoko Shinohara), a woman in an abusive relationship who meets a kind fish store owner (Takanori Iwata); Saya (Anna Ishii), whose workaholic husband is always absent; Noriko (Saori Seto), who is often belittled by her ungrateful husband; and Yuriha (Anzu Lawson), whose husband only listens to his mother.WATCH NOW'Good Morning Call' (2016–2017)(Image credit: Netflix)In this youth rom-com drama, teenager Nao Yoshikawa (Haruka Fukuhara) gets the chance to stay behind in the city when her parents inherit her grandfather's country farm. She moves into her own apartment, only to discover that the place has also been rented to Hisashi Uehara (Shunya Shiraishi), the most popular guy in school. Scammed with nowhere else to go, the pair become flatmates and keep their cohabitation a secret from their class.WATCH NOW'House of Ninjas' (2024– )(Image credit: Netflix)This action-packed comedy brings the world of ninjas, or shinobi, out of history into modern-day Japan. The Tawaras are the last shinobi family directly descended from samurai Hattori Hanzō, but after the eldest son dies, the family left the world of fighting behind. When a new threat emerges six years later, the dysfunctional household is called back to action, as they're still grieving the loss.WATCH NOW'The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House' (2023)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)Another gorgeous drama from Hirokazu Kore-eda, this live-action manga adaptation is half-friendship drama and half-food porn. The show is set in the Saku House, an all-female lodging where the makanai, or cook, cares for apprentice maiko training to become geishas (or geiko, in Kyoto dialect). While the main characters are 16-year-old teenage besties Kiyo (Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi), who arrive in Kyoto from their small town of Aomori, the series follows all of the women in the house as they pursue their happiness in life.WATCH NOW'Midnight Diner' (2016–2019)(Image credit: Netflix)Another series where food is an essential part of the story, Midnight Dinner takes place in the titular late-night eatery, a fictional izakaya in Tokyo's Shinjuku district. The stoic chef, only known as "Master" (Kaoru Kobayashi) will cook his regulars anything they want, as long as they bring the ingredients. Each episode of the anthology series follows a new customer as they trade stories about their lives.WATCH NOW'Old Enough!' (1991– )(Image credit: Netflix)The Japanese title of this long-running docuseries, Hajimete no Otsukai, translates to "My First Errand." Each episode follows kids ages 2 to 6 as they set off alone (minus the camera crew) to navigate chores like picking up a few items from the grocery store or dropping off an item to their parents. It's impossible not to root for the adorable little ones as they safely complete their tasks and build confidence by going out in the world.WATCH NOW'Terrace House' (2012–2020)(Image credit: Netflix)In case you missed this smash-hit Japanese reality franchise during its heyday, each installment of Terrace House follows a group of Japanese 20-somethings who live together as they go about their day-to-day lives. As they hang out, share meals, and inevitably fall for each other, the series gives a chill yet engrossing look into the housemates' lives, as a panel of actors and comedians provide commentary on each scene.WATCH NOW'Tokyo Swindlers' (2024)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)This stylish crime thriller from creator Hitoshi One is inspired by a real-life con, where a Japanese development company was scammed out of over 5 billion yen. Set in 2017, as land prices are rising in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, the show follows a "notorious group of real estate crooks," led by Harrison Yamanaka (Etsushi Toyokawa), as they "defraud major developers out of large sums of money. Their next target is the biggest yet: a 10-billion-yen plot of land next to a Buddhist temple. Can they pull it off without getting caught?"WATCH NOW Source link

[oliviajoyice21]

Over the past few years, U.S. television fans have "overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles" and discovered the wide world of international TV, thanks in no small part to Netflix. According to the streaming giant, more and more U.S. subscribers are watching foreign series each year, with Korean, Spanish, and Japanese shows being the most popular. 2024 was a huge year for Japanophiles, between Shōgun's awards dominance and everyone you know planning a trip to Tokyo.Excellent shows and movies have been coming out of Japan for decades, from thrilling anime series and action films to engrossing reality shows and everything Studio Ghibli. Netflix already has a solid catalog of Japanese series, and even more highly-anticipated shows are set to drop this year, including the long-awaited return to the show every Squid Game fan needs to watch. Below, read on for our selection of the best Japanese shows to watch on Netflix.'Aggretsuko' (2018–2023)(Image credit: Netflix)If you've never dipped your toe into the world of anime (at least beyond Pokémon), let this relatable comedy series lead the way. Retsuko the red panda is in her 20s and works a mundane job in the accounting department of a Tokyo corporation. When all the office politics and her horrible boss become too much, she lets out her frustration at night...through death metal karaoke sessions.WATCH NOW'Alice in Borderland' (2020– )(Image credit: Kumiko Tsuchiya)This live-action survival thriller based on Haro Aso’s manga series is an absolute must-watch for fans of the hit K-drama Squid Game fans. One day in Tokyo, slacker Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) is transported to a parallel universe where he has to survive lethal games, represented by the suits in a deck of playing cards. Along the way, he, Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), and the other players struggle to keep their will to live and survive. Now's the perfect time to catch up with the series, with season 3 set for September 2025.WATCH NOW'Asura' (2025)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)This acclaimed period drama from Palme d'Or-winning filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda takes place among a tight-knit family in 1979 Tokyo. When they suspect that their father (Jun Kunimura) is having an affair, the four Takezawa sisters—ikebana teacher Tsunako (Rie Miyazawa), housewife Makiko (Machiko Ono), librarian Takiko (Yu Aoi) and waitress Sakiko (Suzu Hirose)—reunite at home, while trying to keep the secret from their mother, Fuji (Keiko Matsuzaka). Once the truth comes out, even more secrets surface that change their lives forever.Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.WATCH NOW'The Boyfriend' (2024– )(Image credit: Netflix)Last year, Netflix debuted Japan's first-ever same-sex dating show. The global reality TV sensation brought together nine queer men together for a month-long stay in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, where they lived together in a space called "the Green Room" and ran a mint-green coffee truck. Over its episodes, the cast members found deep friendships and adorable romances, including one still going strong over a year after filming. Make sure to catch up on the show before the highly-anticipated second season.WATCH NOW'Burn the House Down' (2023)(Image credit: Netflix)13 years ago, Anzu Murata's (Mei Nagano) family fell apart when her mother was accused of burning down their childhood home. Their parents eventually divorced, with her father marrying one of her mother's former friends soon after. Now an adult and convinced that her mother was wrongly accused, Anzu gets a job as the housekeeper for her unwitting stepmother, to discover the truth in this fiery revenge J-drama.WATCH NOW'Chastity High' (2024)(Image credit: Netflix)When a prestigious high school for Japan's elite goes co-ed, it institutes an unusual rule: Anyone caught in a romantic relationship will be expelled. As some students begin hunting for couples in and out of school grounds, Ichica (Ai Mikami) becomes an anonymous Love Keeper, funding her tuition by helping violators in exchange for cash. When she partners with Ryogo (Ryubi Miyase), a governor's son who needs cash, "their partnership evolves into a romance that defies the school’s policies," per the show's description.WATCH NOW'First Love' (2022)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)Make sure to grab the tissues before diving into this epic romance across 20 years. Inspired by Hikaru Utada‘s songs "First Love" and "Hatsukoi," the series centers on Yae Noguchi (Hikari Mitsushima) and Harumichi Namiki (Takeru Satoh), high school sweethearts who met in the '90s and went down different paths. According to the description, "two decades later, Yae is a single mom to a teenage son, while Harumichi is engaged to marry someone else. However, they soon discover that their love story is not quite over."WATCH NOW'Fishbowl Wives' (2022)(Image credit: Netflix)This soap-like melodrama chronicles the lives of housewives living in the same building, who become tempted into extramarital affairs. The series follows Sakura (Ryoko Shinohara), a woman in an abusive relationship who meets a kind fish store owner (Takanori Iwata); Saya (Anna Ishii), whose workaholic husband is always absent; Noriko (Saori Seto), who is often belittled by her ungrateful husband; and Yuriha (Anzu Lawson), whose husband only listens to his mother.WATCH NOW'Good Morning Call' (2016–2017)(Image credit: Netflix)In this youth rom-com drama, teenager Nao Yoshikawa (Haruka Fukuhara) gets the chance to stay behind in the city when her parents inherit her grandfather's country farm. She moves into her own apartment, only to discover that the place has also been rented to Hisashi Uehara (Shunya Shiraishi), the most popular guy in school. Scammed with nowhere else to go, the pair become flatmates and keep their cohabitation a secret from their class.WATCH NOW'House of Ninjas' (2024– )(Image credit: Netflix)This action-packed comedy brings the world of ninjas, or shinobi, out of history into modern-day Japan. The Tawaras are the last shinobi family directly descended from samurai Hattori Hanzō, but after the eldest son dies, the family left the world of fighting behind. When a new threat emerges six years later, the dysfunctional household is called back to action, as they're still grieving the loss.WATCH NOW'The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House' (2023)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)Another gorgeous drama from Hirokazu Kore-eda, this live-action manga adaptation is half-friendship drama and half-food porn. The show is set in the Saku House, an all-female lodging where the makanai, or cook, cares for apprentice maiko training to become geishas (or geiko, in Kyoto dialect). While the main characters are 16-year-old teenage besties Kiyo (Nana Mori) and Sumire (Natsuki Deguchi), who arrive in Kyoto from their small town of Aomori, the series follows all of the women in the house as they pursue their happiness in life.WATCH NOW'Midnight Diner' (2016–2019)(Image credit: Netflix)Another series where food is an essential part of the story, Midnight Dinner takes place in the titular late-night eatery, a fictional izakaya in Tokyo's Shinjuku district. The stoic chef, only known as "Master" (Kaoru Kobayashi) will cook his regulars anything they want, as long as they bring the ingredients. Each episode of the anthology series follows a new customer as they trade stories about their lives.WATCH NOW'Old Enough!' (1991– )(Image credit: Netflix)The Japanese title of this long-running docuseries, Hajimete no Otsukai, translates to "My First Errand." Each episode follows kids ages 2 to 6 as they set off alone (minus the camera crew) to navigate chores like picking up a few items from the grocery store or dropping off an item to their parents. It's impossible not to root for the adorable little ones as they safely complete their tasks and build confidence by going out in the world.WATCH NOW'Terrace House' (2012–2020)(Image credit: Netflix)In case you missed this smash-hit Japanese reality franchise during its heyday, each installment of Terrace House follows a group of Japanese 20-somethings who live together as they go about their day-to-day lives. As they hang out, share meals, and inevitably fall for each other, the series gives a chill yet engrossing look into the housemates' lives, as a panel of actors and comedians provide commentary on each scene.WATCH NOW'Tokyo Swindlers' (2024)(Image credit: Courtesy of Netflix)This stylish crime thriller from creator Hitoshi One is inspired by a real-life con, where a Japanese development company was scammed out of over 5 billion yen. Set in 2017, as land prices are rising in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, the show follows a "notorious group of real estate crooks," led by Harrison Yamanaka (Etsushi Toyokawa), as they "defraud major developers out of large sums of money. Their next target is the biggest yet: a 10-billion-yen plot of land next to a Buddhist temple. Can they pull it off without getting caught?"WATCH NOW Source link