Rawf

PHOENIX -- Anti-immigrant legislation in Arizona is creating hurdles for undocumented youth wishing to enroll in the new federal “deferred action” program announced by the Obama Administration last June, that would defer deportation for certain undocumented immigrants and allow them to obtain work permits for a renewable period of two years. To qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), applicants need to have been younger than 16-years-old when they entered the country illegally. They must also meet other criteria, such as being enrolled in high school or having earned a diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate, and an absence of certain criminal convictions. But in Arizona, a state law – Proposition 300 -- approved by voters in 2006, bars state-funded schools from offering free GED classes to undocumented immigrants, making the path to DACA eligibility difficult for those who may have aged out of the high school system but still wish to become eligible for the new federal program. Complicating matters further was Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer’s executive order last Wednesday that bans access to driver licenses and public benefits for immigrants participating in DACA. Advocacy groups like the Arizona Dream Act Coalition (ADAC), however, are now scrambling to shatter the myth that Proposition 300 removes their right to take the GED exam altogether. Rather, say advocates, it merely bars them from taking GED classes at state institutions. One alternative, said Dulce Matuz, chairperson of ADAC, is to enroll in GED classes offered for a fee by private institutions. “Don’t be confused, if you can’t take classes that doesn’t mean you can’t take the exam,” said Matuz, also one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. Although one need not be a legal resident to take the GED exam, test-takers are required to present two forms of identification, which also poses a problem for undocumented youth. Carmen Cornejo, an advocate at ADAC, said she’s been flooded with phone-calls from students who tried to take the GED exam but were turned away because they didn’t own a state issued ID. Cornejo said she has been encouraging those students to insist on taking the test, given they can provide a passport or matriculation card. For undocumented students who need to take the GED exam but can’t afford to pay for private classes, there are several other options. Non-profits like Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) offer free classes through the Workforce Development Center in West Phoenix twice a week, and do not require the presentation of legal documents. At least 75 percent of the calls the workforce center is currently receiving come from students trying to find out how they can take the GED classes. Demand for the classes, said those at the center, has already outweighed capacity. “We have a waiting list of at least 30 youth that are asking for our support (to take the classes) since President Obama made his announcement,” said Maria Jesus Cervantes, a spokesperson for CPLC. In response to the higher demand, CPLC will be expanding the number of classes they offer, said Cervantes. Since community colleges and other learning institutions are barred from offering the GED classes for free because they receive funding from the state, some schools, like Rio Salado Community College, have found a way to circumvent the state law by offering 14-week GED courses online for $90. “You have to be able to show (a state-issued ID card) in order to take a class in person,” said Tom Gariepy, a spokesperson for Maricopa County Community Colleges. “(But online), because you pay for it, there’s no requirement to show legal presence.” According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are roughly 1.76 million youth eligible for DACA nationally, and about 500 thousand of those are younger than 15-years-old. MPI estimates that 350 thousand of all who qualify for the benefit have neither a high school diploma, nor are enrolled in school. In Arizona, an estimated 80 thousand kids could benefit from DACA. There’s no data on how many of those are currently in high school or have received a diploma. Advocates like Matuz emphasize that deferred action is one positive step forward, but undocumented youth should continue to fight for the end goal -- legislation like the Dream Act, that could lead to permanent legal status. “We can’t get distracted from our goal,” said Matuz. “We need more youth to join the movement and find out what we can do to get a permanent solution.” Immigrant rights activists and attorneys from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in Arizona say that with DACA firmly in place for the foreseeable future, Dreamers should not be rushing to file their applications; rather, they should be taking their time to make sure they get it right. “There’s no expiration for [DACA] right now,” said Cornejo. The silver lining for many students in Arizona is that once they obtain their GED, if they qualify for DACA, getting a college education may become more affordable. Even though a separate provision of Proposition 300 – the same state law that prohibits undocumented youth from enrolling in free GED courses -- requires undocumented students to pay out-of-state tuition for their education (regardless of how long they lived in Arizona), Obama’s plan would allow those same youth to get a work permit and obtain temporary but renewable legal residency, meaning they would be eligible to pay in-state tuition at Arizona universities, after all. If a student presents a legal work permit and can prove they’ve been residing in the state for at least one year, said Gariepy, they would technically qualify to pay the in-state-tuition rate. Governor Brewer’s executive order does not specifically mention tuition costs for undocumented students, and immigration attorneys disagree as to whether or not the DACA work permit would allow those students to qualify for in-state tuition. “Students need to be proactively looking for the information (on how to prepare for the GED). It’s time worth investing,” said Cornejo. “This is a good step, for the student to start with the GED so they can follow that with a college education and (meet) qualifications for a future immigration process.”

Hi everyone, You may or may not know me. I've been part of this forum for sometime already and I have been on and off at times. I joined adreamact.com on August 12th, 2012 (wow, time goes by so fast). I became a moderator shortly after, same with most of the moderators here. Some of us became good friends and still are in contact with each other through facebook. Three of us were accepted pretty close to each other and we begin our journey, took advantage of the opportunity given to us by the president. Recently I discovered a few things that I would like to share about with everyone and just so you don't get your hopes up, this opportunity is only available in some states and I do not have a complete list. There is a website called healthsource and it is different for each state participating in this, each state has their own website that offers different types of medical plans. But I'm not here to talk completely about such websites. There are hospitals offering free medical insurance through blue cross blue shield. The tricky part here is to find the hospital that's going to sponsor your health insurance. Here where I live there are certain medical financial offices in hospitals that help you fill out the form to get medical insurance/coverage. It is not ObamaCare, it is not a free insurance! Yes it is to you for as long as the hospital pays for it. The person that helps you fill out the form is going to make you choose the most expensive "gold" plan that exist. Then you are going to need to provide the 2013 taxes, two pay stubs, latest bank statement, your social security card, your employment card and your license or identification card. After all the information is submitted, the insurance company is going to send you a bill to your home address. You take that bill to your assigned hospital and they are going to enter it in the system to pay for it from that date until they decide you no longer qualify for it. IF you get paid less than 16,000 a year, you will get state insurance (if available in your state).. if you get more than 16,000 you will get blue cross blue shield. This is information I know for a fact, because I did it myself and it works. It doesn't matter if you are DACA or a Resident. The point here is, there is help all around. You just have to find it! I'm going to provide more information soon, now it is your turn to look around and see if your state provide such resources. Good luck!

No.. not that type of question What I mean with that is, are you open to all your friends about your immigration status? Personally, none of my friends know about my immigration status other than my long time best friend and another very good friend.. within the family, everyone knows. We never talk about it and I know they are legal because they are under a working visa they renew every 3 years since they are all professionals already.. but they always think I'm a resident because of all the years I have been in the US. I know they wouldn't care, but I feel like the less people to know your status, the less worried you will be knowing they won't report you when you get into a bad argument. Opinions?

When it comes to presenting yourself for the Biometrics Appointment the first document you will require is the appointment sheet itself and a form of authentication. That's something we all already know and it is nothing new. The question most people have is what should I take? Will this work? Is this photo too old? What if don't have a way to get a proper updated identification before the biometrics appointment? I have those questions myself, and they keep coming up at random times during the day. I renewed my passport this year, at the beginning of the year before the news about deferred act was announced. There is one issue with this passport, as much as I use it to identify myself at the clubs, bars, or restaurants is the photo.. the photo was taken when I was around 13 years old back in 2000. I always had the idea that saving that passport would be useful in the future because it has all the immigration stamps for when I arrived to the US. Anyways, going back on topic.. I called the embassy a few weeks ago and because of the deferred act, they have no space left! At least not until the first days of october.. My case was accepted and I'm currently waiting for the Biometrics Appointment Date. From what I have heard the appointment doesn't take long to arrive and that is what worries me so much. Now, we also have another document in my country called D.N.I (Documento Nacional de Identidad). The DNI as we call it, has a more recent photo.. the problem is that we don't update that document, the last photo update is when someone turns 16 and then again around the age of 30+.. I look a little chubby in that photo, but the facial features are still the same. The DNI is in Spanish (Might have to do a translation). I hope the appointment I get is after the third week of october at least, if not.. I will have to take my passport, DNI, College ID, Credit and Debit Card (Both with photos in it). So the question here would be.. What will you be taking with you apart from appointment letter? What kind of Identification? Will you be wearing special clothes? More dressy/classy?

If yes, What steps are you taking? Are you enrolling into a college? Are you already graduated? Share with everyone the steps you're taking to be ready when it comes out.

As we know, some of those Approved DACA have been able to travel outside of the US and come back without problems. But lately a lot of reports are showing Approved DACA being denied the entry to the US when they have all the documents needed to come back. As you can see by reading this article: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/07/22-7 Do you think the DACA was created as a trap knowing people would request to go out of the country as soon as they became "documented"? What's the real reason to deny entry when they were approved for re-entry? What's your opinion on this subject?

I've been thinking about this a lot. Most of us has been working and still work using a fake ssn, how are you going to go about changing the fake ssn to the real one when you get it? How will you explain the change of number without getting fired? Do anyone have any useful information about this matter?

One of my friends couldn't send his application because he didn't have the Police Record a.k.a Criminal Record, whether you have a bad or good record it seems to be needed even thought it isn't mentioned anywhere. To obtain your Police record simply take a non-expired passport and a money order ($5 in RI) and request it at your local Police Department, all requests are private and will not affect you in any way. (No cash is accepted, it has to be a money order. Check your local police department website) Has anyone else gathered such record? I will do it on Tuesday before going to my attorney.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy vowed to move swiftly on immigration legislation despite calls from conservatives, including Sen. Marco Rubio, to slow down the process. Reacting to a letter from Rubio over the weekend calling for extensive hearings on the soon-to-be-unveiled immigration bill by a group of eight senators, the Vermont Democrat said his panel would “consider” holding a single hearing on the measure when it is introduced. But Leahy raised concerns that waiting too long could undermine the... http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/immigration-reform-patrick-leahy-89546.html

Nanoparticles carrying a toxin found in bee venom can destroy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) while leaving the surrounding cells unharmed. The research was conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The Nanoparticles carry melittin, which is the principal active component of bee venom. Melittin fuses with the HIV virus and destroys it’s protective envelope while molecular bumpers prevent the nanoparticles from harming the body’s normal cells. Bee venom is known to disrupt cellular walls and destroy tumour cells as well. Bee venom contains a potent toxin called melittin that... http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/03/13/bee-venom-destroys-human-immunodeficiency-virus-hiv/ Extremely interesting to read.

Well I couldn't stop laughing at this, so I thought I would share it. [it's in Spanish]

When you go out to a public place, do you usually wait in line or pay extra to get in right away and feel the power of VIP? Personally I usually do not stand in line, haven't in so long.. but if I have no other option I would do it. A few examples, When I go to the movies I use the ticket machine, or get the tickets online and simply slide the card at the kiosk to get my tickets. When I travel around by train, I get business or first class depending on the train.. it isn't that much of a difference but you are actually buying a seat, unlike the coach class.. and you get priority boarding. Now that I remember I have been in line, on starbucks.. lol. Anyways, anyone else hates to stand in line?!

CORE PRINCIPLES FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM DIRECT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD ROADMAP TO CITIZENSHIP Because of the integral role that 11 million undocumented immigrants play in the economy, culture, and communities of the United States, we must reform our immigration system to create a fair and reasonable pathway to citizenship for members of our community. This includes DREAMers, individuals who came to the U.S. as children, our parents, families, friends, and neighbors. This inclusive approach is the only solution consistent with our nation’s values of fairness and equality and the only one that will get the job done. THE TIMELINE FOR THE ROADMAP TO CITIZENSHIP SHOULD BE REASONABLE AND FAIR. Individuals who came to the U.S. as adults should be eligible to apply for a temporary immigration status immediately, eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency status within 2 years of the bill’s passage and qualify for citizenship after another 5 years – consistent with the current law. Those granted temporary status through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or any other temporary immigration status, should be eligible for lawful permanent resident status immediately as they have already paid fees and undergone background checks. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGALIZATION SHOULD BE REASONABLE AND FAIR All 11 million undocumented immigrants present in the U.S. at the time of the bill’s enactment or temporarily abroad with permission from the government should be eligible for a pathway to citizenship. No one should be permanently barred from citizenship. Any provision which pertains to “DREAMers” must include individuals who moved to the U.S. as children regardless of their current age. Fees related to the roadmap to citizenship must be affordable for working-class families. Individuals should not be excluded from citizenship for minor crimes, including those related to undocumented status, such as driving without a license. The immigrant community has been subject to racial profiling and unequal justice and all individuals deserve a second chance. Individuals eligible for temporary status should have access to healthcare, student financial aid, driver’s licenses, and professional and commercial licenses – all necessary to live life and prosper in the United States. FAMILY UNITY AND VISA REFORM The Separation of immigrant families is both morally unacceptable and economically harmful. Immigration reform must allow families legally and remain together in the United States. MAKE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE TO FAMILY NEEDS In immigration proceeding, judges should be directed to take into consideration family ties and the best interests of children. The three- and ten-year bars that keep families apart for many years must be eliminated, and immigrants must be permitted to adjust to lawful permanent resident status from within the U.S. OUR FAMILY- AND EMPLOYMENT-BASED VISA SYSTEMS MUST ALLOW FAMILIES TO MOVE AND STAY TOGETHER IN THE U.S. Immigration Reform must reduce backlogs by increasing the overall and per-country visa caps. Family members, such as immediate relatives of lawful permanent residents, should be exempt from such caps. The caps on immigrant visas should be proportionate to the demand for visas. Reduce the waiting time after a visa petition is filed. ALL FAMILIES MUST BE RECOGNIZED EQUALLY All individuals must be treated equally in immigration reform, regardless of sexual orientation. LGBT individuals must be allowed to petition for their partner just like any other family. Immigration reform should not codify discrimination. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT Our immigration enforcement agencies and policies are out of control and must be reformed. The artificial quota of 400,000 deportations per year must be eliminated immediately. Immigration reform must include measures to mandate new leadership at our immigration enforcement agencies to instill a culture of professionalism, non-discrimination, and accountability. Congress must reverse erosion of due process and human rights protections for all immigrants caused by these agencies, the immigration courts and detention facilities and should not direct more tax dollars to unaccountable and discriminatory practices. Border state governors with a history of engaging in anti-immigrant politics should not decide when the roadmap to citizenship begins. Federal and state immigration data-sharing programs that encourage racial profiling and pretextual arrests, such as “Secure Communities” and 287g, must be terminated immediately. To maintain labor and worker rights, no federal mandate of E-Verify should be created. -Last Updated: February 6,2013 http://unitedwedream.org/principles/ =========================================== What do you all think?

Free deferred action clinic to help Undocumented immigrants apply. February 9, 2013 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Miami Dade College - Interamerican College 627 SW 27th Ave. Miami, FL 33135 US For more information visit FLDream.org

Lately, I've been hearing around that there's something coming for parents of DACA Approved people. Has anyone heard anything about this? I'm very interested in getting informed since it is apparently coming up next month, but I can't seem to be able to find any news about it. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Has anyone other than myself have always wanted to change your first or middle name to something different than what your parents gave you? Is it even possible without having a legal status in the US?

This game has been around for years and I've always thought it was very interesting. Instructions: 1. You have to reply using four words, any 4 words you want and keep the story going! 2. Keep it family friendly. 3. Have a laugh ============================================= Here we go! =============================================

I'm trying to request Wednesday off work to do certain stuff, plus make sure I look around for the big news. Who's going to skip work?

This year has been the most blessed year of them all to me and I'm sure to some of you as well. This year started with a brand new house for the family, my sister and myself were approved for DACA and doing extremely well. We have both gotten a raise and still at the same jobs with out newest ssn and no one made a single comment about it. I personally got a job, after 5 months I was promoted to manager assistant and this week I'm going to be trained for a higher position! I feel so blessed to have such opportunities now, this country has showed me that hard work does pay. Not when we want, but when the time is right we all get what we deserve. Next year I will be continuing college, that is my main priority right now. I already have a car and a stable job to pay my own expenses as well. Gosh I'm so pleased with life that I could continue typing forever. If this sounds too cocky, please don't take it like that.. I'm just so thankful for everything I got this year Anyone else would like to share a little bit of their story for the year of 2012 and what your plans are for the year 2013? Let's keep it rolling and motivate others with our stories!

Amazing lol.

Today December 11th, 2012 I got home from work and when I went to see if there was any letter for me, I was surprised to see a selective service envelope. I was in shock because I haven't registered on that site, neither have I attempted to since I'm 25 and I thought I was way past the age limit. The letter shows most of my information including This is what the envelope says: Selective Service System P.O. Box 94736 Palatine, IL 600-4736 Official Business/Penalty for Private Use $300 {Name and address here} Enclosed Is Your Official Registration Acknowledgement Card. The card which is just paper includes the following information: Selective Service Number XX-XXXXXXX-X Social Security Number XXX-XX-XXXX Sex M Date of Birth MM-DD-YYYY Last Action Date MM-DD-YYYY ------------------------------------------------- Once again, I have visited the site but never attempted to register. ------------------------------------------------- Has anyone else experienced this? Are we getting registered automatically?

Every case is different, it can take a month or more to get a decision. I would send the renewal package as soon as possible.

That was quick, congratulations!

You should be able to without issues. Every place has it's own set of rules, you would have to call and ask the landlord, building manager, etc.