#U.S. asylum procedures

[minnesotafollower]

Skilled Immigrants Are Entering U.S. Illegally 

In recent years the U.S. numbers of undocumented migrants from India and China have increased dramatically. For example, in 2023 there were more than 65,000 such immigrants, most of whom are skilled. [1] They thereby avoid  the difficulties of doing so legally by first obtaining a U.S. job offer and then applying for a U.S. work visa (H-1B), which is time consuming and full of uncertainty. This…

[hoosbandewan]

No matter who someone votes for does not make them a bad person. If someone votes differently than you and you find that as a reason to not support them then you are part of the problem. I'm thankfully open-minded and glad I can have Democrat and Republican friends and we can all still be friends even with different beliefs and opinions. I don't understand how anyone can have that mindset.... You want Peace and love but are the first ones to throw someone under the bus if they think differently than you do.

And using Ewan to push your thoughts is shameful

Having friends on both sides of the aisle is fine. Having a difference in opinions is fine. I think it can be incredibly damaging for people to get caught in an echo chamber and be surrounded only by people who share their same viewpoint. And the fact that we can all have our own thoughts and opinions is what makes a free country like the U.S. so wonderful.

I even know a good number of Republicans and conservative-leaning people who didn't and wouldn't vote for Trump. And, you see, that's the difference.

Voting for Trump.

You cannot, in good conscience, look me in the eye and tell me that casting a vote for Donald Trump makes you a good person. I could have forgiven a Trump vote in 2016, but not in 2020 and certainly not in 2024.

Trump attempted to overturn a democratic election and was indicted for it. And on that day, he voiced support for the Capitol rioters who wanted to hang his vice president for failing to reject the electoral votes that proved Biden's win.

Trump nominated Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe v. Wade, a move that has already killed women and will continue killing people. In Texas alone, the maternal death rate rose by 56% between 2019 and 2022, the year that Roe was overturned. Since the reversal, the infant mortality rate has risen by 7% nationally - and by 13% in Texas alone.

Trump is unapologetically and unabashedly racist, displaying repeated and disturbing rhetoric aimed at immigrants, Mexicans, black Americans, Haitians, Muslims, and more. In his first term, he instituted new procedural barriers to prevent immigrants from seeking asylum in America. He put migrant children in cages. He has unjustly called for the death penalty for numerous people of color - remember the Central Park 5?

Trump has threatened to deploy the military and law enforcement to target his political opponents and left-leaning Americans.

Trump rolled back almost 100 policies focused on clean air, water, wildlife, and toxic chemicals in an era when mitigating climate change is more important than ever. And he plans on gutting even more.

Trump is a convicted felon with 34 felony counts under his belt.

Trump has shown time and time again that his views and policies align with fascist ideals. He wants very, very badly to turn the U.S. democracy into an authoritarian regime.

And if this isn't enough, Trump has been endorsed by the KKK since his 2016 campaign. He's the golden child of white supremacists and white nationalists everywhere.

So, yeah. If this is your guy, I don't want fucking anything to do with you.

I am so sick and tired of Trump supporters crying about peace and love and civility and "oh, but where are the tolerant left?" when they turn right around and vote for Donald Trump.

You don’t get to hold abhorrent views and beliefs and then be friends with us. You don’t get to be friendly to our faces all while supporting a man who wants us dead or oppressed. You can't profess to love your fellow Americans if you are condemning them.

I don't want to hang out with racists and fascists. Because if you choose to support and vote for a racist, fascist, misogynistic, dangerous person, then that makes you one, too.

[trump47actions]

Here are some of the orders Mr. Trump signed on his first day in office:

Federal Work Force

Freeze federal hiring, except for members of the military or “positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety.”

Restore a category of federal workers known as Schedule F, which would lack the same job protections enjoyed by career civil servants.

Halt new federal rules from going into effect before Trump administration appointees can review them.

Review the investigative actions of the Biden administration, “to correct past misconduct by the federal government related to the weaponization of law enforcement and the weaponization of the intelligence community.”

Grant top secret security clearances to White House staff without going through traditional vetting procedures.

End remote work policies and order federal workers back to the office full time.

Immigration and the Border

Bar asylum for people newly arriving at the southern border.

Move to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, for the children of undocumented immigrants. The president cannot change the Constitution on his own, so it is not yet clear how Mr. Trump plans to withhold the benefits of citizenship to a group of people born in the United States. Any move is all but certain to be challenged in court.

Suspend the Refugee Admissions Program “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”

Declare migrant crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border to be a national emergency, allowing Mr. Trump to unilaterally unlock federal funding for border wall construction, without approval from Congress, for stricter enforcement efforts.

Resume a policy requiring people seeking asylum to wait in Mexico while an immigration judge considers their cases.

Consider designating cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.”

Gender and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

Terminate D.E.I. programs across the federal government.

Recognize two sexes: male and female.

Remove protections for transgender people in federal prisons.

Tariffs and Trade

Direct federal agencies to begin an investigation into trade practices, including persistent trade deficits and unfair currency practices, as well as examine flows of migrants and drugs from Canada, China and Mexico to the United States.

Assess China’s compliance with a trade deal Mr. Trump signed in 2020, as well as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which Trump signed in 2020 to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Order the government to assess the feasibility of creating an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and duties.

Carry out a full review of the U.S. industrial and manufacturing base to assess whether further national security-related tariffs are warranted.

Energy and the Environment

Withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, the pact among almost all nations to fight climate change.

Declare a national energy emergency, a first in U.S. history, which could unlock new powers to suspend certain environmental rules or expedite permitting of certain mining projects.

Attempt to reverse Mr. Biden’s ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters.

Begin the repeal of Biden-era regulations on tailpipe pollution from cars and light trucks, which have encouraged automakers to manufacture more electric vehicles.

Roll back energy-efficiency regulations for dishwashers, shower heads and gas stoves.

Open the Alaska wilderness to more oil and gas drilling.

Restart reviews of new export terminals for liquefied natural gas, something the Biden administration had paused.

Halt the leasing of federal waters for offshore wind farms.

Eliminate environmental justice programs across the government, which are aimed at protecting poor communities from excess pollution.

Review all federal regulations that impose an “undue burden” on the development or use of a variety of energy sources, particularly coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power, hydropower and biofuels.

TikTok ban

Consult federal agencies on any national security risks posed by the social media platform, then “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.” Mr. Trump ordered his attorney general not to enforce a law that banned the site for 75 days to give the Trump administration “an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward.”

Other

Withdraw from the World Health Organization.

Rename Mount Denali and the Gulf of Mexico.

Ensure that states carrying out the death penalty have a “sufficient supply�� of lethal injection drugs.

Fly the American flag at full-staff on Monday and on future Inauguration Days.

Implement the Department of Government Efficiency, the Elon Musk-led cost-cutting initiative.

Revoke security clearances for 51 signers of a letter suggesting that the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop could be Russian disinformation.

[rauthschild]

"Francis Fukuyama: we are entering a new, dangerous period of history." Fukuyama has changed his mind, the end of history is not imminent - instead, he has heaped on new prophecies that the West is in for a host of problems.

"Expect general destabilization. Trump's rule will give confidence to populist parties, especially in France and Germany. We are already seeing defections in Eastern Europe: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo is already in Putin's camp. I fear this phenomenon will intensify. There are geopolitical implications as well.

✔️ I am struck by what has happened recently. Trump has suddenly started calling for US expansionism. He has announced the takeover of Greenland, the Panama Canal and even Canada. Probably two-thirds of these can be considered fantasies that will never come true. But they still have a major impact on international relations.

✔️ One of the basic rules of the old system was that you can't just take away someone else's territory. That's why the attack on Ukraine in 2022 was such a shock. And now the US is saying "we want this or that territory and we can use military force" . This completely undermines the arguments we make against Putin. And Putin is taking advantage of that. He has suggested that Russia and the US should divide Greenland between them because no one cares about borders and sovereignty anymore.

✔️ Let's think about China. Their claim to Taiwan is certainly stronger than America's claim to Greenland. If the Chinese decide that the American president agrees that great powers militarily intimidate smaller countries, why not try to get Taiwan back? I think we are indeed entering a dangerous period.

✔️ The war in Ukraine is entering its fourth year. And it doesn't look good for the Ukrainians. Let's see what kind of deal Trump will make , and whether he will negotiate at all.

✔️ The US will surely be less reliable than before. Never before have we had a president who questioned the need for NATO. However, I think that in a practical sense Trump will have trouble implementing this idea. There is one thing he definitely doesn't want - a bad image. That's why Trump won't give up on Ukraine right away. He will approach big changes, such as cutting off aid to Ukraine, slowly. But that doesn't change the fact that he has already weakened NATO.

✔️ A common problem in the U.S. and Europe is that the rules provide for lengthy and expensive legal procedures to determine whether a person is eligible for asylum. In practice, such proceedings are impossible for large numbers of people. Migrants have realized that it is sufficient to request refugee status and thus trigger procedures that provide them with legal protection.

✔️ The idea that Europe can create a separate military entity without the US doesn't make sense. I don't think it's possible.

✔️ I think in 2016 Trump didn't believe he was going to win, and when he took office he didn't have people ready. He had to rely on the party. For the first 3 years he was very unhappy with his cabinet that was disloyal to him. It was only in the fourth year of his term that he started to allocate his people. This time, the most important criteria for nominations will be loyalty to Donald Trump. His candidates so far are already showing how radical he will be.

✔️ Musk is like an unguided missile that sows destruction wherever it appears. And at the same time, his character makes a pretty strong argument that democracies should not allow anyone to accumulate so much money. Billionaires used to be businessmen. Now this guy wants to rule the world. I don't know what he's going to do. Obviously, Musk is already breaking away from Trump himself and his hard-line supporters."

[starstruckbyacomet]

Trump’s Executive Orders: Reversing Biden’s Policies and Attacking the ‘Deep State’

The president moved swiftly in his first hours in office, signing a slew of executive orders in front of a roaring crowd and then in the Oval Office.

Source: The New York Times. This is the complete version of the summary provided by @e-the-village-cryptid.

The Capitol building in Washington on Monday. Credit: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times.

By Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Michael D. Shear, and Noah Weiland. Reporting from Washington.

Published Jan. 20, 2025. Updated Jan. 21, 2025.

Leer en español 阅读简体中文版 閱讀繁體中文版

Follow live updates on the start of the Trump administration.

President Trump on Monday issued a barrage of executive orders, kicking off his presidency with a muscular use of power intended to signal a sharp reversal from existing policies on issues including immigration, the environment and diversity initiatives.

The flurry of executive actions was an effort to roll back many of President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s most significant domestic policies, primarily on climate and immigration, while also reimposing a Trump agenda that would launch drilling and mining on natural resources and fundamentally upend the United States’ global role as a sanctuary for refugees and immigrants.

In a speech on Monday evening, Mr. Trump said he was also revoking almost 80 “disruptive, radical executive actions of the previous administration.”

Among those revoked Biden orders were directives that the federal government rebuild the refugee program, and gradually end the Justice Department’s use of private prisons.

Some of Mr. Trump’s orders are almost certain to be challenged in court, and others will be largely symbolic. But taken together, they represent his intention to sharply turn away from the direction of the Biden administration, and to make good on his campaign promises to break what he and his aides cast as a “deep state” effort to thwart his agenda.

Here are some of the orders Mr. Trump signed on his first day in office:

Federal Work Force

Freeze federal hiring, except for members of the military or “positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety.”

Restore a category of federal workers known as Schedule F, which would lack the same job protections enjoyed by career civil servants.

Halt new federal rules from going into effect before Trump administration appointees can review them.

Review the investigative actions of the Biden administration, “to correct past misconduct by the federal government related to the weaponization of law enforcement and the weaponization of the intelligence community.”

Grant top secret security clearances to White House staff without going through traditional vetting procedures.

End remote work policies and order federal workers back to the office full time.

Immigration and the Border

Bar asylum for people newly arriving at the southern border.

Move to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, for the children of undocumented immigrants. The president cannot change the Constitution on his own, so it is not yet clear how Mr. Trump plans to withhold the benefits of citizenship to a group of people born in the United States. Any move is all but certain to be challenged in court.

Suspend the Refugee Admissions Program “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”

Declare migrant crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border to be a national emergency, allowing Mr. Trump to unilaterally unlock federal funding for border wall construction, without approval from Congress, for stricter enforcement efforts.

Resume a policy requiring people seeking asylum to wait in Mexico while an immigration judge considers their cases.

Consider designating cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.”

Gender and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

Terminate D.E.I. programs across the federal government.

Recognize two sexes: male and female.

Remove protections for transgender people in federal prisons.

Tariffs and Trade

Direct federal agencies to begin an investigation into trade practices, including persistent trade deficits and unfair currency practices, as well as examine flows of migrants and drugs from Canada, China and Mexico to the United States.

Assess China’s compliance with a trade deal Mr. Trump signed in 2020, as well as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which Trump signed in 2020 to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Order the government to assess the feasibility of creating an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and duties.

Carry out a full review of the U.S. industrial and manufacturing base to assess whether further national security-related tariffs are warranted.

Energy and the Environment

Withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, the pact among almost all nations to fight climate change.

Declare a national energy emergency, a first in U.S. history, which could unlock new powers to suspend certain environmental rules or expedite permitting of certain mining projects.

Attempt to reverse Mr. Biden’s ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters.

Begin the repeal of Biden-era regulations on tailpipe pollution from cars and light trucks, which have encouraged automakers to manufacture more electric vehicles.

Roll back energy-efficiency regulations for dishwashers, shower heads and gas stoves.

Open the Alaska wilderness to more oil and gas drilling.

Restart reviews of new export terminals for liquefied natural gas, something the Biden administration had paused.

Halt the leasing of federal waters for offshore wind farms.

Eliminate environmental justice programs across the government, which are aimed at protecting poor communities from excess pollution.

Review all federal regulations that impose an “undue burden” on the development or use of a variety of energy sources, particularly coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power, hydropower and biofuels.

TikTok ban

Consult federal agencies on any national security risks posed by the social media platform, then “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans.” Mr. Trump ordered his attorney general not to enforce a law that banned the site for 75 days to give the Trump administration “an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward.”

Other

Withdraw from the World Health Organization.

Rename Mount Denali and the Gulf of Mexico.

Ensure that states carrying out the death penalty have a “sufficient supply” of lethal injection drugs.

Fly the American flag at full-staff on Monday and on future Inauguration Days.

Implement the Department of Government Efficiency, the Elon Musk-led cost-cutting initiative.

Revoke security clearances for 51 signers of a letter suggesting that the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop could be Russian disinformation.

Reporting was contributed by Erica L. Green, Zach Montague, Ana Swanson, Hamed Aleaziz, Lisa Friedman and Brad Plumer.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent, covering President Trump and his administration. More about Zolan Kanno-Youngs.

Michael D. Shear is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Biden and his administration. He has reported on politics for more than 30 years. More about Michael D. Shear

Noah Weiland writes about health care for The Times. More about Noah Weiland

A version of this article appears in print on Jan. 22, 2025, Section A, Page 13 of the New York edition with the headline: Trump’s Executive Orders. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

[reasonandempathy]

So do you have a clue about Borders. what constitutes requirements for asylum.

Probably country specific, but internationally there are a few rules around requesting asylum.

In the U.S. the difference between refugee and asylum seeker is mainly a procedural one. Without busting out a legal dictionary, it's applies to people fleeing persecution (ex. Jews in Germany in 1938) of fear of persecution (ex. Jews in Poland in 1938) for one of a person's demographic characteristics.

Race

Creed

Nationality

Political Ideology

Group Identity

Under international law there isn't really a universal process everyone goes through, but people can generally apply for refugee/asylum status in any country from any country, with different procedures for each application.

Along the border, under existing law it is basically "show up and request asylum; we'll begin the application process." They can do it at any point of entry as well as when inside the country itself.

Again, being very general here.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Globalists are cultivatating professional thugs of anarchists whose goal is to usher in their so called "new world order" through the destruction of the world's cities.

It pains me to see people who look like me rewarded for theft, vandalism and even murder. Once upon a time in black culture, lawlessness was discouraged. Now, mayors (like the one in Baltimore) tell the police to give rioters "space to destroy." Morally corrupt Maxine Watters threatened jurors in Minnesota that a "not guilty" verdict in the case against officer Derek Chauvin would cause violence & destruction.

Two (2) of these gangs have names: Antifa and BLM. Antifa recruits students or entry level young professionals who seek career advancement. This first rung up the anarchist's ladder of success serves as an initiation into more sophisticated anarchist circles. It can lead to lucrative job opportunities and political appointments.

Participants are often rewarded with tenured teaching posts in colleges and universities. They also move up the ladder in various corporate and legal firms and they are positioned for political appointments.

BLM and the lower level "gangs" are made up of the nameless, disposable radicals meant to be sacrificed for "the greater good." Organizations like the NAACP and so called "black leaders" like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Michelle & Barack Obama serve as plantation DRIVERS who are assigned to manipulate the minds of the "disposable" anarchists.

The collapse of American cities into lawless cities is strategic. It is no coincidence that over 400,000 Americans have fled "Gotham" NYC as it is destroyed from the inside out.

New York is redefining what constitutes an actual crime. The result is their statistics don't tell the full story of how failure to prosecute criminals has destroyed New York City and in turn, millions of lives. The dirty cop, DA Alvin Bragg only has dismal 49% success rate prosecuting crime.

A native New Yorker:

A silver lining to these fraudulent Trump indictment(s) is a bright spotlight on criminal INJUSTICE at the hands of dirty DAs, AGs, State's Attorneys, Judges and so-called special prosecutors.

Our American House of Representatives hosted a NYC field hearing for victims of violent crime.

Below please find heartbreaking testimonies of the victims. They are cautionary tales of how lawlessness has impacted everyday people around the United States of America. Sadly, the residents of these cities don't understand that they voted for their demise.

America's Lawless Cities

Seattle

Los Angeles

Philadelphia

Washington, DC

Portland

New Orleans

Chicago

New York City

San Francisco

Starbucks, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, Whole Foods fleeing due to "security concerns."

Portland, OR

"An open air insane asylum." Portland's Meltdown: "A Progressive Experiment That Has Gone Colossally Bad. Controlled Demolition."

Chicago, IL

Walmart Closes 4 Chicago Stores Shoppers complain but they just voted for another mayor who is soft on crime.🤦‍♂️

The company has pledged to offer more safety training for workers and clarify safety procedures, such as when to call 911, and making changes to store formats and layouts. The measures include “closing a restroom, or even closing a store permanently” where safety is no longer possible, according to a letter posted on the company website. 

Social Disorder Insurance Claims $2 Billion during a Historic Summer of Anarchy

"The most expensive outbreak of civil unrest in U.S. history, costing insurance companies an estimated $2 billion to cover protestor wreckage in the days following George Floyd’s death.

The sky high price tag comes from an assessment by Property Claims Services (PCS) published in Axios which has tracked claims related to social disorder since 1950. The company classifies any violent outbreak sparking more than $25 million in claims a “catastrophe.”

The $2 billion figure covering claims made from rioting across 20 states between May 26 and June 8 dwarfs the dollar-amounts doled out by insurance companies in the aftermath of previous periods of unrest isolated to individual cities.

“It’s not just happening in one city or state – it’s all over the country,” Loretta L. Worters, a spokesperson for the group told Axios. “And this is still happening, so the losses could be significantly more.”

Indeed, the initial Floyd riots merely kicked off a historic summer of anarchy sweeping the nation’s cities where

in Portland, Oregon, militant social justice warriors surpassed 100 days of consecutive terrorism. Protestors launched repeated assaults on state and federal law enforcement featuring mortar-style fireworks and lasers that can cause permanent blindness.

Protestors launched repeated assaults on state and federal law enforcement featuring mortar-style fireworks and lasers that can cause permanent blindness.

The only prior outbreak to come close to producing the same level of carnage as the 14 days of rioting after Floyd’s death, measured by insurance claims, are the 1992 Los Angeles riots causing $775 million in insured losses, or more than $1.4 billion in today’s dollars, according to PCS.

Consequent research on the nation’s pandemic of domestic terrorism this summer has further highlighted the breadth of the destruction. The map below shows where the nation suffered nearly 570 violent riots between May 24, the day before Floyd’s death, and Aug. 22, the day before Jacob Blake was shot in Kenosha, Wisconsin triggering a second wave of chaotic demonstrations reaching smaller communities."

Cracker Barrel Manager Killed During Robbery

An Inconvenient Truth: To neutralize the threat, you fire until the threat is neutralized.

[beardedmrbean]

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Minn. (AP) — For more than two hours on a Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Gustavo Castillo led the Pentecostal congregation he’s been growing in this Minneapolis suburb through prayer, Scriptures, rousing music and sometimes tearful testimonials.

But it all may end soon. A sudden procedural change in how the federal government processes green cards for foreign-born religious workers, together with historic highs in numbers of illegal border crossers, means that thousands of clergy like him are losing the ability to remain in this country.

“We were right on the edge of becoming permanent residents, and boom, this changed,” Colombia-born Castillo said as his wife rocked their 7-month-old boy, a U.S. citizen by birth. “We have done everything correctly, from here onward we believe that God will work a miracle. We don’t have any other option.”

To become permanent U.S. residents, which can eventually lead to citizenship, immigrants apply for green cards, generally through U.S. family members or employers. A limited number of green cards are available annually, set by Congress and separated into categories depending on the closeness of the family relationship or the skills needed in a job.

Citizens of countries with disproportionately high numbers of migrants are put in separate, often longer green card queues. Currently, the most backlogged category is for the married Mexican children of U.S. citizens – only applications filed before March 1998 are being processed.

For faith leaders, the line historically has been short enough to get a green card before their temporary work visas expired, attorneys say.

That changed in March. The State Department announced that for nearly seven years it had been placing in the wrong line tens of thousands of applications for neglected or abused minors from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, and would now start adding them to the clergy queue. Since the mid-2010s, a surging number of youth from these countries have sought asylum after illegally crossing into the U.S.

This change means that only applications filed before January 2019 are currently being processed, moving forward the Central American minors by a few months but giving clergy with expiring visas, like Castillo, no option but to leave their U.S. congregations behind.

“They’re doing everything they’re supposed to be doing and all of a sudden, they’re totally steamrolled,” said Matthew Curtis, an immigration attorney in New York City whose clients, like an Israeli rabbi and a South African music minister, are running out of time. “It’s like a bombshell on the system.”

Attorneys estimate so many people are now in the queue that the wait is at least a decade long, because only 10,000 of these green cards can be granted annually.

Curtis’ firm advises potential clergy applicants that “there is no indication when you can receive a green card.”

That’s likely to dissuade religious organizations from hiring foreign workers precisely when they’re most needed because of the growing demand for leaders of immigrant congregations who can speak languages other than English and understand other cultures.

“There’s a comfort to practice your religion in your native tongue, in someone close to your culture celebrating Mass,” said Olga Rojas, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s senior counsel for immigration. The U.S. Catholic Church has also turned to foreign priests to ease a shortage of local vocations.

At one Chicago-area parish that’s been helping with this year’s surge of new arrivals from the border, two Mexican religious sisters have started ministries for women in the shelters as well as English classes, Rojas said.

“These two sisters know they won’t get green cards,” she added, and they expect to lose other religious sisters and brothers who are teachers, principals and serve in other key roles. “That’s catastrophic.”

Those from religious orders with vows of poverty, like Catholic nuns and Buddhist monks, are especially hard hit, because most other employment visa categories require employers to show they’re paying foreign workers prevailing wages. Since they’re getting no wages, they don’t qualify.

Across all faith traditions, there are few options for these workers to continue their U.S.-based ministry, attorneys say. At a minimum, they would need to go abroad for a year before being eligible for another temporary religious worker visa, and repeat that process, paying thousands in fees, throughout the decade – or for however long their green card application stays pending.

“A big concern is that leaving is not really viable. The church will replace the pastor or shut down, it’s too much instability,” said Calleigh McRaith, Castillo’s attorney in Minnesota.

Being in limbo is challenging for the affected religious workers, including Stephanie Reimer, a Canadian serving a nondenominational Christian youth missionary organization in Kansas City. Her visa expires in January.

“I’ve done a lot of praying,” she said. “There are days when it feels overwhelming.”

Martin Valko, an immigration attorney in Dallas whose clients include imams and Methodist pastors, said many rely on their faith to stay hopeful.

But realistic options are so few that the American Immigration Lawyers Association and faith leaders, like Chicago’s Catholic cardinal and coalitions of evangelical pastors, have lobbied the Biden administration and Congress to fix the problem.

Administrative solutions could include allowing religious workers to at least file for their green cards, so they can get temporary work authorization like those in other queues awaiting permanent residence.

The most effective and immediate fix would be for Congress to remove from this category the vulnerable minors’ applications, attorneys say. Despite being humanitarian, they make up the vast majority of the queue they share with religious workers, said Lance Conklin, a Maryland attorney who co-chairs the lawyer association’s religious workers group.

“They shouldn’t be pitted against each other in competition for visas,” said Matthew Soerens, who leads the Evangelical Immigration Table, a national immigrant advocacy organization.

Back at the Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Latinoamericana, Castillo said he has ministered to a family with two young children who survived the Darien Gap, a jungle in Central America favored by smugglers that’s among the most dangerous parts of migrants’ journeys, and a mother and daughter who said they came “through the hole” in the border wall.

“Some of them are in a better migration situation” than himself and his wife Yarleny, Castillo said. But he added that his call to minister to them is undaunted. “I serve God. He will take charge of these affairs while I lead those he has entrusted to me.”

That’s why, even as they face having to leave the country when their visas expire in February, the Castillos are fundraising to buy the building where they now rent worship space. They also regularly drive 10 hours to South Dakota, where they’re establishing another church.

“In this work, one is constantly helping destroyed migrant families,” Yarleny Castillo said. “And they need a space like this.”

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

TSA tests facial recognition technology to boost airport security (AP) A passenger walks up to an airport security checkpoint, slips an ID card into a slot and looks into a camera atop a small screen. The screen flashes “Photo Complete” and the person walks through—all without having to hand over their identification to the TSA officer sitting behind the screen. It’s all part of a pilot project by the Transportation Security Administration to assess the use of facial recognition technology at a number of airports across the country. The effort comes at a time when the use of various forms of technology to enhance security and streamline procedures is only increasing. TSA says the pilot is voluntary and accurate, but critics have raised concerns about questions of bias in facial recognition technology and possible repercussions for passengers who want to opt out. Travelers put their driver’s license into a slot that reads the card or place their passport photo against a card reader. Then they look at a camera on a screen about the size of an iPad, which captures their image and compares it to their ID. The technology is both checking to make sure the people at the airport match the ID they present and that the identification is in fact real. A TSA officer is still there and signs off on the screening.

NYC converts hotels to shelters as pressure mounts to accommodate asylum seekers (AP) The historic Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan shuttered three years ago, but it will soon be bustling again—reopening to accommodate an anticipated influx of asylum seekers just as other New York City hotels are being converted to emergency shelters. Mayor Eric Adams announced Saturday that the city will use the Roosevelt to eventually provide as many as 1,000 rooms for migrants. Across the city, hotels like the Roosevelt that served tourists just a few years ago are being transformed into emergency shelters, many of them in prime locations within walking distance from Times Square, the World Trade Center memorial site and the Empire State Building. A legal mandate requires the city to provide shelter to anyone who needs it. Even so, Adams says the city is running out of room for migrants and has sought financial help from the state and federal governments.

Title 42 Is Gone, but Not the Conditions Driving Migrants to the U.S. (NYT) Relative quiet has prevailed along the southern U.S. border since Friday, despite widespread fears that ending a pandemic-era policy to immediately expel most migrants, even asylum seekers, would set off a stampede from Mexico. A surge in migrants did in fact happen. On some days last week, apprehensions reached about 11,000, among the highest recorded. But the lull could be the calm before another storm. Beyond U.S. borders, political instability, gang violence and climate change will continue to spur emigration. Much of the developing world, from Africa and Asia to South America and the Caribbean, is still reeling from economic ruin wrought by Covid-19 and exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. “Everyone is looking at the arrivals at the border, but the root of the problem lies in push factors inside countries of origin that are going to persist,” said Justin Gest, a political scientist at George Mason University who studies immigration. “When crises occur, they generate northbound flows,” he said. And, beyond the factors pushing migrants out of their home countries, the magnet drawing people to the United States is the labor market. Unemployment stands at its lowest level in decades, yet there are millions of unfilled jobs.

France pledges more military aid as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy makes surprise Paris visit (AP) France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday, including light tanks, armored vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces, following surprise talks in Paris between the Ukrainian and French presidents. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and France’s Emmanuel Macron met for about three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace—an encounter kept under wraps until shortly before the Ukrainian leader’s arrival in Paris from Germany on a French government jet, extending his multi-stop European tour. With Ukraine planning to go on the offensive hoping to retake Russian-occupied territory, military aid was a top agenda item. Macron’s office said France will supply dozens of light tanks and armored vehicles “in the weeks ahead,” without giving specific numbers. Also promised were more air defense systems, but again details weren’t made public.

As Ukraine Makes Inroads in Bakhmut, Devastation Still Reigns (NYT) For nearly a year, Ukraine has been simply trying to hold on in Bakhmut as Russian forces pressed in on the city from both sides while at the same time laying waste—block by bloody block—to what had once been a vibrant salt-mining city of 80,000. Over time, Bakhmut has taken on an outsize importance: a symbol of Ukrainian defiance and of Russian leaders’ determination to blast their way to a small victory in a little-known corner of eastern Ukraine. Last week, for the first time, Ukrainian forces launched a series of coordinated counterattacks and in a matter of days won back territory north and south of the city that it had taken Russian forces months to capture. But Russian forces still control more than 90 percent of the city, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials. The commander of the 24th Motorized Rifle Brigade, who goes by the call sign Prince, said on Saturday that after taking a short tactical pause, Russian forces were furiously assaulting the city again. “Artillery fire, rocket and airstrikes do not stop for a minute,” he said. “Every meter of the city is now under shelling.”

The Ivy-educated opposition leader who could end Thai military rule (Washington Post) For nearly a decade, Thailand has been led by an authoritarian military establishment—but Pita Limjaroenrat, an Ivy League-educated business executive and leader of a liberal opposition party, is seeking to change that. The results of Sunday’s election appear to have gone largely in his party’s favor, potentially setting the stage for Pita to become the country’s next prime minister, but rules set in place after a 2014 military coup could complicate that process. At 42, Pita is nearly 30 years younger than Thailand’s current leader, retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took power after the 2014 coup. Pita was born in Thailand but raised in New Zealand before he returned to his native country and completed an undergraduate degree in finance and banking at Thammasat University in Bangkok. He went on to earn master’s degrees in public policy and business from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to his legislative biography. Before becoming a member of Thailand’s parliament in 2018, he worked as the head of ride-share company Grab’s operations in Thailand and earlier as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group. He has pledged to move Thailand out of what he calls a “lost decade” of slow economic growth. Part of that plan, he says, includes diversifying Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy and spreading it out beyond the capital, Bangkok. In a televised interview with Bloomberg last month, Pita said three main points of his agenda are to “demilitarize, de-monopolize and decentralize.”

China launches projects to build ‘new-era’ marriage, childbearing culture (Reuters) China will launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a “new-era” marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly child bearing environment, the latest move by authorities to boost the country’s falling birth rate. China’s Family Planning Association, a national body that implements the government’s population and fertility measures, will launch the projects to encourage women to marry and have children, state backed Global Times reported on Monday. The projects come amid a flurry of measures Chinese provinces are rolling out to spur people to have children, including tax incentives, housing subsidies, and free or subsidised education for having a third child. China implemented a rigid one-child policy from 1980 until 2015—the root of many of its demographic challenges that have allowed India to become the world’s most populous nation. The limit has since been raised to three children.

China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison on spying charges (AP) China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years. Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released. Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou. Relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest in decades amid disputes over trade, technology, human rights and China’s increasingly aggressive approach toward its territorial claims involving self-governing Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Off-grid solar power brings light to remote villages LAINDEHA, Indonesia (AP)—As Tamar Ana Jawa wove a red sarong in the fading sunlight, her neighbor switched on a light bulb dangling from the sloping tin roof. It was just one bulb powered by a small solar panel, but in this remote village that means a lot. In some of the world’s most remote places, off-grid solar systems are bringing villagers like Jawa more hours in the day, more money and more social gatherings. Now, villagers frequently gather in the evening to continue the day’s work, gather to watch television shows on cellphones charged by the panels and help children do homework in light bright enough to read. Some 775 million people globally lacked access to electricity in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are home to some of the largest populations without access to electricity. Not having electricity at home keeps people in poverty, the U.N. and World Bank wrote in a 2021 report.

Massive new US embassy complex in Lebanon is raising eyebrows (CNN) A massive new US embassy complex in Lebanon is causing controversy for its sheer size and opulence in a country where nearly 80% of the population is under the poverty line. Located some 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) from the center of Beirut and built on the site of the current embassy, the US’ new compound in Lebanon looks like a city of its own. Sprawling over a 43-acre site, the complex in the Beirut suburb of Awkar is almost two-and-a-half times the size of the land the White House sits on and more than 21 soccer fields. Many Lebanese on Twitter questioned why the US needs such a large embassy in their capital. Lebanon is smaller than Connecticut and has a population of just six million and few American tourists go to the country. “Did the US move to Lebanon??” tweeted Sandy, a social media activist. “Maybe you’ll have enough room to work on all those pending visa applications,” tweeted Abed A. Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, responding to the grandiosity of the new complex.

[cyber-polemics]

GUARANTEEING THE STATES PROTECTION AGAINST INVASION

Jack: On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation titled "Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion." This proclamation declares that the situation at the southern border constitutes an invasion under Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution. It suspends the entry of individuals involved in this "invasion" and restricts their access to provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that would allow them to remain in the United States. The administration argues that these measures are necessary to protect state sovereignty and maintain national security. whitehouse.gov Imani Jefferson: This proclamation is deeply troubling as it misinterprets the constitutional definition of "invasion" to justify extreme immigration restrictions. Labeling migrants seeking asylum as invaders disregards international law and humanitarian obligations. Suspending their entry and denying access to asylum processes violate fundamental human rights and due process. This action sets a dangerous precedent by conflating immigration with invasion, potentially leading to further erosions of civil liberties and the militarization of border policy. Preston Bancroft: The proclamation is a necessary and decisive response to the crisis at the southern border. The unprecedented influx of individuals has overwhelmed border security and strained state resources, constituting a de facto invasion. By invoking Article IV, Section 4, the administration is fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect states against invasion. Suspending the entry of those involved and restricting their access to legal provisions that would allow them to stay are appropriate measures to restore order and uphold the rule of law. Imani Jefferson: However, this approach fails to address the root causes of migration and ignores the plight of individuals fleeing violence and persecution. By denying them entry and access to asylum procedures, the administration is turning its back on international commitments and moral responsibilities. A more compassionate and effective strategy would involve comprehensive immigration reform, investment in border infrastructure, and collaboration with neighboring countries to manage migration flows humanely. Preston Bancroft: While humanitarian concerns are important, the primary responsibility of the federal government is to ensure the security and sovereignty of the nation. The proclamation addresses the immediate threat posed by uncontrolled border crossings and reaffirms the government's commitment to protecting its citizens and states. Long-term solutions can be pursued concurrently, but immediate action is necessary to address the current crisis

[lawofficeofalenashautsova]

Winning Your Asylum Case in the USA: Expert Tips from an Asylum Lawyer

Just as you begin the complex and often daunting process of seeking asylum in the United States, it's crucial to understand the importance of presenting a strong application. Your goal is to persuade the authorities that you qualify for asylum, and this requires careful preparation and a deep understanding of the legal process. You are not alone in this pursuit, as many individuals have successfully navigated this system with the right guidance. A strong asylum application is vital because it is the foundation upon which your entire case is built, and it must be convincing enough to demonstrate that you face a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country.

With respect to winning your asylum case, there are several key factors that you must consider. Providing credible evidence is one of the most significant aspects of your application. You need to gather and present documentation that supports your claim of facing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. This evidence can include personal testimony, witness statements, medical records, news articles, and any other relevant documents that substantiate your story. Additionally, preparing for the asylum interview is a critical step. You will be questioned by an asylum officer, and your responses must be detailed, consistent, and truthful. It's advisable to practice your testimony beforehand to ensure that you can effectively communicate your experiences and reasons for seeking asylum.

There are common pitfalls that you should avoid in order to strengthen your case. Incomplete applications are a frequent issue, as failure to provide all the necessary documentation or information can significantly delay or even lead to the denial of your case. Lack of legal representation is another mistake; navigating the complex asylum process without the guidance of an experienced asylum lawyer can lead to misunderstandings of the legal requirements and procedures, ultimately hurting your chances of approval. An asylum lawyer in the USA can significantly increase your chances of success by helping you prepare a robust application, guiding you through the interview process, and advocating on your behalf.

An expert asylum lawyer understands the intricacies of U.S. immigration law and can help you highlight the strengths of your case while addressing any weaknesses. They can assist in gathering and organizing evidence, preparing you for the asylum interview, and presenting compelling legal arguments to support your claim. If you are seeking to win your asylum case, it is highly advisable to seek the guidance of a skilled asylum lawyer who can provide personalized advice and representation tailored to your specific situation.

In summation, winning your asylum case in the USA requires meticulous preparation, a deep understanding of the legal process, and often, the expert guidance of an asylum lawyer. To ensure the best possible outcome, seek legal guidance for your asylum application. For professional assistance, consider booking an appointment at https://www.shautsova.com/ with Alena Shautsova Law Offices, located at 2908A Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235, United States. With the right legal support, you can navigate the asylum process with confidence and significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome.

[minnesotafollower]

Proposed New U.S. Restriction on Asylum Applications 

On May 9, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a proposed new restriction on applications for asylum in U.S. that would allow U.S. asylum officers to remove any foreigner deemed to be a danger to U.S. security at the initiai credible fear screening immediately after being apprehended at the U.S. border.[1] The Announcement “Federal law bars individuals who pose a national security…

[alenashautsovalawoffices2]

Winning Your Asylum Case in the USA: Expert Tips from an Asylum Lawyer

Just as you begin the complex and often daunting process of seeking asylum in the United States, it's crucial to understand the importance of presenting a strong application. Your goal is to persuade the authorities that you qualify for asylum, and this requires careful preparation and a deep understanding of the legal process. You are not alone in this pursuit, as many individuals have successfully navigated this system with the right guidance. A strong asylum application is vital because it is the foundation upon which your entire case is built, and it must be convincing enough to demonstrate that you face a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country.

With respect to winning your asylum case, there are several key factors that you must consider. Providing credible evidence is one of the most significant aspects of your application. You need to gather and present documentation that supports your claim of facing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. This evidence can include personal testimony, witness statements, medical records, news articles, and any other relevant documents that substantiate your story. Additionally, preparing for the asylum interview is a critical step. You will be questioned by an asylum officer, and your responses must be detailed, consistent, and truthful. It's advisable to practice your testimony beforehand to ensure that you can effectively communicate your experiences and reasons for seeking asylum.

There are common pitfalls that you should avoid in order to strengthen your case. Incomplete applications are a frequent issue, as failure to provide all the necessary documentation or information can significantly delay or even lead to the denial of your case. Lack of legal representation is another mistake; navigating the complex asylum process without the guidance of an experienced asylum lawyer can lead to misunderstandings of the legal requirements and procedures, ultimately hurting your chances of approval. An asylum lawyer in the USA can significantly increase your chances of success by helping you prepare a robust application, guiding you through the interview process, and advocating on your behalf.

An expert asylum lawyer understands the intricacies of U.S. immigration law and can help you highlight the strengths of your case while addressing any weaknesses. They can assist in gathering and organizing evidence, preparing you for the asylum interview, and presenting compelling legal arguments to support your claim. If you are seeking to win your asylum case, it is highly advisable to seek the guidance of a skilled asylum lawyer who can provide personalized advice and representation tailored to your specific situation.

In summation, winning your asylum case in the USA requires meticulous preparation, a deep understanding of the legal process, and often, the expert guidance of an asylum lawyer. To ensure the best possible outcome, seek legal guidance for your asylum application. For professional assistance, consider booking an appointment at https://www.shautsova.com/ with Alena Shautsova Law Offices, located at 2908A Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235, United States. With the right legal support, you can navigate the asylum process with confidence and significantly improve your chances of a successful outcome.

[executive-orders]

Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions (Executive Order 14148 of January 20, 2025)

Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-01901

Here are some insights into the implications and potential impacts of this order:

Policy Reversal and Political Statement:

Revocation of DEI Initiatives: This order explicitly targets what it describes as "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) policies instituted by previous administrations. By revoking these executive orders, there's a clear intent to dismantle structures aimed at addressing systemic inequalities, potentially signaling a return to policies emphasizing meritocracy over equity considerations.

Immigration and Border Policies: The rescission of orders related to immigration, border control, and refugee resettlement suggests a policy shift towards stricter immigration controls and possibly less focus on humanitarian considerations for asylum seekers and migrants.

Climate Policy Reversal: The revocation of numerous orders related to climate change action indicates a potential rollback of environmental regulations and commitments to reducing carbon emissions, aligning with a narrative of economic deregulation over environmental protection.

Public Health and Safety: The nullification of orders concerning public health, particularly those related to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, could imply a shift away from federal mandates on health policies, possibly favoring state-level or individual responses to public health crises.

Administrative and Economic Implications:

Federal Agency Actions: Agencies will need to reassess their policies and procedures which were aligned with the previous executive orders. This might lead to a period of administrative confusion or realignment, potentially impacting the efficiency and direction of federal services.

Economic Impact: The order's focus on deregulation and the critique of climate policies as inflationary might aim to stimulate economic activity through reduced regulatory burdens. However, this could also lead to environmental degradation if not managed with alternative strategies.

Legal and Compliance: Agencies must ensure compliance with the new directives while also adhering to existing laws, which might lead to legal challenges or clarifications from courts regarding the legality of such broad executive actions.

Public and Political Reaction:

Support and Opposition: This order is likely to polarize public opinion, with support from those who advocate for less government intervention in social issues and opposition from those who see DEI, climate action, and public health measures as crucial for societal equity and safety.

Legislative Pushback: Congress might react by attempting to legislate back some of these policies or by scrutinizing new executive actions more closely.

International Perception: Globally, the U.S.'s retreat from climate commitments could affect international relations, particularly in the context of global climate agreements like the Paris Accord.

Long-term Effects:

Cultural and Social Impact: The long-term cultural impact could be significant, potentially affecting workplace diversity, educational policies, and social justice movements.

Institutional Memory: The rapid policy shifts might lead to a loss of institutional knowledge or expertise in areas like public health response or environmental management.

In summary, Executive Order 14148, if enacted as described, would mark a profound change in U.S. policy across multiple domains, reflecting a return to conservative principles of governance with potentially wide-reaching effects on American society, economy, and its international standing.

Legal Evaluation of Executive Order 14148

Authority to Issue Executive Orders:

The President of the United States has broad authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution to issue executive orders. These are directives from the President to agencies or officers in the executive branch, which must be within the scope of the President's constitutional or statutory authority.

Revocation of Previous Executive Orders:

Constitutional and Legal Basis: The President has the power to revoke or modify previous executive orders as part of their executive authority. However, the legality of such actions often depends on whether the initial orders were based on statutory or constitutional mandates that might necessitate Congressional action to alter.

Specific Concerns: Civil Rights and Discrimination: Several of the revoked orders (e.g., EO 13988 on preventing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation) were grounded in broader civil rights legislation like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as interpreted by subsequent court decisions. Revoking these could potentially conflict with current interpretations of law if not replaced with equivalent protections under new executive directives or legislation. Health and Environmental Regulations: Orders like EO 13990 on climate change and public health might involve regulations under laws like the Clean Air Act or the National Environmental Policy Act. Revoking these without alternative policy could lead to legal challenges based on agencies' obligations to protect public health and the environment under these statutes. Immigration and Border Policy: The revocation of policies on immigration and border control (e.g., EO 13993, 14010) must align with federal immigration laws. Changes in policy that affect rights or procedures might require Congressional action to be fully effective or could be subject to judicial review if seen as conflicting with statutory law or constitutional rights.

Implementation and Immediate Actions:

Administrative Law: The order mandates immediate actions by agency heads to end certain practices. This must be done in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which requires notice and comment periods for new regulations or significant policy changes unless there's an immediate need for change under an exception like "good cause."

Potential Legal Challenges:

Standing and Ripeness: Parties affected by these changes (e.g., federal employees, environmental groups, civil rights organizations) might have standing to challenge the revocations in court if they can demonstrate injury from the policy shift.

Judicial Review: Courts might review these actions for: Substantive Due Process: Ensuring that policy changes are not arbitrary or capricious. Procedural Due Process: Checking if proper administrative procedures were followed. Conflict with Statutory Law: Whether the changes align with or contravene existing laws.

General Provisions:

The order acknowledges that it should not impair existing legal authorities or functions, indicating an awareness of legal constraints. However, the broad scope of revocations might still invite scrutiny on how these changes align with or necessitate changes in law.

Conclusion: While the President has the authority to issue such an executive order, the actions taken under EO 14148 could face significant legal scrutiny, particularly where they impact civil rights, environmental protection, public health, and immigration policy. Legal challenges might focus on the legality of revoking protections without adequate replacements or Congressional action where statutory law might require it. The success of these changes in court would largely depend on the specifics of implementation and whether they align with or can be justified under current laws or constitutional principles.

Ethical Evaluation of Executive Order 14148

Purpose and Context:

Restoration of Traditional Values: The executive order aims to revert numerous policies instituted by a previous administration, focusing on undoing what it describes as "divisive and dangerous" practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), climate action, immigration, and public health responses.

Economic and Social Implications: The rescission of these policies is framed as a move towards economic prosperity, national unity, and traditional governance, implicitly critiquing the previous administration's approach as inflationary, illegal, and radical.

Ethical Considerations:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI):

Positive Aspects: Critics of DEI might argue that such policies can lead to reverse discrimination or lower merit-based standards. Proponents, however, see DEI as vital for addressing systemic inequalities, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring that all groups have equal opportunities.

Ethical Concern: The revocation of DEI policies could be seen as a step backward in recognizing and addressing systemic biases within government and society. This could potentially marginalize groups that have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against.

Climate and Environmental Policies:

Economic vs. Environmental Ethics: The order revokes actions aimed at combating climate change, which could be interpreted as prioritizing short-term economic relief over long-term environmental sustainability. This raises questions about intergenerational equity and the rights of future generations to a livable environment.

Global Responsibility: Withdrawing from climate leadership might weaken international efforts to address global warming, affecting not just the U.S. but the planet as a whole.

Public Health and Safety:

Pandemic Response: Revoking executive orders related to managing the COVID-19 response could be ethically contentious, especially if it leads to weakened public health infrastructure or increased vulnerability to future pandemics.

Healthcare Access: Policies like those ensuring access to healthcare or addressing discrimination in healthcare settings are critical for vulnerable populations. Removing these could lead to disparities in health outcomes.

Immigration and Civil Rights:

Human Rights and Dignity: Revoking orders that facilitate humane immigration policies or combat discrimination could lead to increased human suffering and rights abuses, particularly at borders or within marginalized communities.

Legal and Moral Responsibility: There is an ethical obligation to ensure that immigration policies are humane and that civil rights are protected for all individuals regardless of their background.

Government Transparency and Accountability:

Public Trust: The swift revocation of numerous executive actions might signal to the public a lack of continuity in government policy, potentially undermining trust in government stability and commitment to certain values or protections.

Conclusion:

The ethical implications of Executive Order 14148 are profound, touching on issues of equality, environmental justice, public health, and human rights.

While some might view this order as a return to traditional governance, it could also be seen as a significant rollback of progressive policies aimed at rectifying systemic issues.

Ethically, the order raises questions about the balance between maintaining cultural and economic norms versus advancing social equity, environmental responsibility, and public health safety.

This evaluation underscores the complexity of policy decisions, where ethical considerations must weigh not only immediate impacts but also long-term societal and global implications.

[jadestormcloud2]

Some more bullshit he's already signed:

Freeze federal hiring, except for members of the military or “positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety.”

Grant top secret security clearances to White House staff without going through traditional vetting procedures.

Bar asylum for people newly arriving at the southern border.

Move to end birthright citizenship

Suspend the Refugee Admissions Program “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”

Declare migrant crossings along the U.S.-Mexico border to be a national emergency, allowing Mr. Trump to unilaterally unlock federal funding for border wall construction, without approval from Congress, for stricter enforcement efforts.

Terminate D.E.I. programs across the federal government.

Recognize two sexes: male and female.

Remove protections for transgender people in federal prisons.

Withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, the pact among almost all nations to fight climate change.

Declare a national energy emergency, a first in U.S. history, which could unlock new powers to suspend certain environmental rules or expedite permitting of certain mining projects.

Attempt to reverse Mr. Biden’s ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters.

Begin the repeal of Biden-era regulations on tailpipe pollution from cars and light trucks

Roll back energy-efficiency regulations for dishwashers, shower heads and gas stoves.

Open the Alaska wilderness to more oil and gas drilling.

Eliminate environmental justice programs across the government, which are aimed at protecting poor communities from excess pollution.

Ensure that states carrying out the death penalty have a “sufficient supply” of lethal injection drugs.

source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/20/us/trump-executive-orders

[atlantagaimmigrationlawyer]

Atlanta GA Immigration Lawyer: Guiding You Through the Immigration Process

The immigration process in the United States can be complex and daunting, especially for individuals unfamiliar with the intricate laws and procedures. For those in Atlanta, Georgia, an experienced immigration lawyer can provide invaluable assistance, ensuring that your journey toward legal residency or citizenship is as smooth and efficient as possible. With personalized guidance and a deep understanding of the legal landscape, Atlanta immigration attorneys are dedicated to helping clients achieve their immigration goals.

The Importance of Legal Representation

Immigration laws in the U.S. are multifaceted and subject to frequent changes. Navigating the process without professional assistance can lead to delays, errors, or even denials. An Atlanta immigration lawyer can help you avoid these pitfalls by offering expert advice, preparing accurate documentation, and representing you in legal proceedings when necessary. Their role is to act as your advocate, protecting your rights and maximizing your chances of success.

Key Steps in the Immigration Process

The path to legal residency or citizenship typically involves several steps, each with its own set of requirements and challenges. An immigration lawyer can assist with:

Determining Eligibility: Your lawyer will assess your situation to determine the most suitable visa category or immigration pathway. Options may include family-based visas, employment-based visas, or humanitarian programs such as asylum.

Application Preparation: Filing the appropriate forms and gathering the necessary documentation is crucial. Your lawyer will ensure that your application is complete, accurate, and submitted on time.

Petitions and Sponsorships: Many immigration processes require sponsorship by a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or employer. Your attorney can guide both you and your sponsor through this process.

Interviews and Biometrics: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) often requires applicants to attend interviews and submit biometric data. A lawyer can help you prepare for these appointments, providing insights into what to expect and how to present your case effectively.

Addressing Challenges: If your application is delayed, denied, or questioned, an immigration attorney can file appeals, motions, or waivers to address the issues and advocate on your behalf.

Common Immigration Services Offered in Atlanta

Atlanta-based immigration lawyers offer a wide range of services tailored to the diverse needs of their clients, including:

Family-Based Immigration: Assisting with petitions for spouses, children, parents, and other relatives.

Employment-Based Visas: Guiding employers and workers through visa categories such as H-1B, L-1, or EB-1.

Adjustment of Status: Helping individuals already in the U.S. transition to lawful permanent resident status.

Naturalization and Citizenship: Preparing applicants for the naturalization process, including the citizenship test and interview.

Humanitarian Relief: Representing clients seeking asylum, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Choosing the Right Immigration Lawyer

When selecting an immigration lawyer in Atlanta, it’s essential to consider their experience, specialization, and client testimonials. Look for an attorney who is responsive, knowledgeable, and committed to your case. A strong attorney-client relationship built on trust and communication can significantly impact the outcome of your immigration process.

Conclusion

The U.S. immigration process is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning, attention to detail, and legal expertise. With the support of a skilled Atlanta immigration lawyer, you can navigate the complexities of immigration law with confidence. Whether you’re seeking a visa, permanent residency, or citizenship, a dedicated attorney can provide the guidance and advocacy you need to achieve your American dream. Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional assistance to start your journey today.