AALDEF Announces Free Legal Clinics for Undocumented Youth on Obama’s New Immigration Policy
AALDEF Announces Free Legal Clinics for Undocumented Youth on Obama’s New Immigration Policy
July 10, 2012 – On June 15, 2012, the Obama administration announced that it would grant “deferred action” status to undocumented youth who qualify for administrative relief. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will hold a series of legal clinics to provide free legal advice and representation to young people who qualify under this directive. These clinics will help to support the work of AALDEF’s undocumented Asian American youth group.
The first legal clinic will be at AALDEF’s office on Thursday, July 12, 2012 from 3pm – 7pm. Additional clinics will be scheduled in upcoming weeks.
“This new directive is a good first step,” said Bethany Li, staff attorney at AALDEF. “But for this policy to make any difference, undocumented Asian American youth need to understand its effect and continue to be at the forefront in asserting their rights. These legal clinics combined with the youth group will help to push the discussion around our immigration policy forward.”
AALDEF is also providing resources for undocumented youth on its website, including an in-depth set of FAQs on deferred action eligibility, which explains who qualifies for deferred action, and how this policy affects removal proceedings and encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
AALDEF is seeking pro bono assistance to staff our free legal clinics for undocumented youth. For more information, please contact staff attorney Bethany Li at 212 966-5932 ext 213 or bli@aaldef.org.
The legal clinics are only open to youth who potentially qualify for deferred action status and are seeking legal advice. They are not open to the press.
NAPABA Scholarship Opportunity: 2012 NAPABA Convention Scholarship Application
NAPABA strives to keep the Convention affordable for our members and offers one of the best values among legal education conferences. NAPABA also maintains a scholarship fund to help further defray costs for attendees through full or partial registration waivers, travel stipends, and lodging stipends.
Scholarship applications for the 2012 Convention are due July 31! Apply today if you need assistance with travel and registration costs. We look forward to seeing you in DC on November 15-18.
Please fill out the online form by clicking https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFoyZ0stXzRyRFlTY3daYmZtVE81N2c6MQ.
Informational Sessions on Deferred Action for DREAMers
The New York Immigration Coalition will provide several informational sessions on President Obama’s June 15th announcement about Deferred Action for certain young people who were brought into the United States through no fault of their own.
Come get the latest news on Deferred Action. Learn what Deferred Action is and who is eligible for it under this program.
We have already received reports that notarios and other unscrupulous people are trying to scam immigrants by calling this program an amnesty or a way to get your green card. That is false. The Deferred Action program is not an amnesty. Come to one of our sessions and get accurate up-to-date information about this program. These informational sessions are not legal clinics.
Where: The New York Immigration Coalition, 137-139 West 25th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10001 (Between 6th & 7thAvenues). The closest subway stops are 23rd Street on #1, F, and M and 28th Street on #1.
When: Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Time: Each session runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
These sessions are free but space is limited. Please RSVP to Jonathan Vidal to attend one of the sessions: jvidal@thenyic.org. For more information, please contact Jonathan at (212) 627-2227 ext. 227.
Are You Ready to Be the Change?
A National Day of Service coordinated by
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
Saturday, October 6th, 2012
What is Be the Change?
Be the Change is an annual national day of service, coordinated by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) that is held on campuses and in cities across the country. Be the Change is designed to meet Mahatma Gandhi’s inspirational challenge to “be the change you wish to see in the world” and provide opportunities for South Asian community members, advocates and allies to build community through service, develop leadership skills, and engage in social change. This year, Be the Change 2012 is on October 6th and SAALT wants you to be involved!
In 2011, over 2,500 people volunteered at over 130 service sites in 80 cities and campuses across the country. Get involved now to bring Be the Change to your community this October!
Visit the Be the Change 2012 webpage for more information!
How can I get involved now?
Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 6th and join us as a campus/city planning team member or as a national partner.
- Coordinate a Be the Change event on your campus
- If your campus traditionally organizes a Be the Change event or if you would like to start one on your campus, please complete this form by July 6th.
- Coordinate a Be the Change event in your city
- Join or start a planning team in your city! Please complete this form by July 6th.
- Join SAALT as a National Partner for Be the Change
- National Partners assist with volunteer outreach, commit to participating in a Be the Change event, provide a Be the Change service site and/or contribute in-kind or financial donations to Be the Change. National Partner logos appear on national materials, including the website, flyer, and t-shirt. If your organization, business, professional association, or community group would like to partner with SAALT to support Be the Change 2012, please email us at btc@saalt.org.
What does it mean to be part of a BTC planning team?
As a member of the planning team, you will be coordinating service events, recruiting volunteers and connecting with other planning teams around the country. SAALT will send you a planning guide and provide you with support from the national level.
Main roles/responsibilities of each planning team
- Organize a kick-off ceremony with one or more inspirational guest speakers
- Secure local service projects for your event volunteers
- Recruit volunteers to participate in your Be the Change event
- Coordinate logistical planning for your Be the Change event, including finding a kick-off venue, obtaining in-kind food donations, arranging for speakers, maintaining the budget, etc
- Communicate regularly with SAALT
Are you ready for Be the Change 2012?
Sign up here to join a planning team for your campus or your city!
If you have any questions or inquiries, contact btc@saalt.org.
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On Wednesday, June 27, AABANY’s In-House Counsel and Corporate Law Committees held the 5th Annual Winetasting and Networking Reception at the Aicon Gallery in downtown Manhattan. We had 120 attendees including in-house attorneys from 46 companies or organizations. We were delighted that the following GCs were able to attend:
- Vernon G. Chu, BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc.
- Pearl Hou, Sen Yu International Holdings, Inc.
- Charles Kwak, GE Capital Real Estate – Global Investment Management
- Carol Lee, Taconic Capital Advisors LP
- Parkin Lee, The Rockefeller Group
- Bobby Liu, MD Sass Investors Services, Inc.
- Don Liu, Xerox Corporation
- Sonia Low, Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc.
- Joseph Yi, Lam Group
We thank Gail Inaba,Managing Director and Associate General Counsel in the Legal Department of J.P. Morgan, for addressing the attendees at the event. Gail is currently the Global Group Practice head for the securities financing and prime brokerage business in the Investment Bank.
Thanks to our sponsors for making this 5th Annual Winetasting and Networking Reception possible and thanks to everyone who attended. Congratulations to the In-House Counsel Committee and Corporate Counsel Committee on a successful event.
To learn more about the In-House Counsel Committee, contact the co-chairs Duane Morikawa and Vincent Hull at inhouse-chairs@aabany.org To learn more about the Corporate Law Committee, contact the co-chairs John Rogers and Stephen Kim at corporatelaw-chairs@aabany.org.
AALDEF Registers Asian American Voters in NY, NJ, and PA for Independence Day
In the week leading up to July 4th, 2012, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a 38-year-old civil rights organization, will conduct a series of non-partisan voter registration drives for New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania residents in anticipation of the upcoming 2012 elections. The drives will take place from Thursday, June 28th through Tuesday, July 3rd in five locations.
Asian Americans are the nation’s fastest growing minority group and now account for the largest number of immigrants to the United States.
In Queens, where the Asian American community grew 300 times faster than the rest of the borough’s population to almost half a million people, AALDEF will register voters in Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Richmond Hill, and Flushing. In New Jersey, AALDEF will register voters in East Brunswick. In Manhattan, AALDEF will register voters by the World Trade Center PATH station to reach voters in both New York and New Jersey. In Philadelphia, AALDEF will register voters in Chinatown.
Translated registration forms in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Gujarati, and Bengali, as required by the Voting Rights Act or voluntarily provided by the State, will be available, as well as bilingual volunteers to assist citizens who want to register to vote.
“What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than by registering to vote?” said Glenn D. Magpantay, Director of the Democracy Program at AALDEF. “We intend to increase the numbers of Asians Americans at the polls in 2012.” According to AALDEF’s exit poll data from the 2008 presidential election, 30% of Asian Americans were first time voters, compared to 10% of voters overall.
Only 43% of the Asian American voting age population in New York, 58% in New Jersey, and 50% in Pennsylvania are registered to vote, based on 2008 Census estimates. However, voter turnout of those registered was 83% in New York, 93% in New Jersey, and 50% in Pennsylvania.
“These voter registration drives are crucial for engaging our community in the political process,” said Chi-Ser Tran, Voting Rights Organizer at AALDEF.
New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania Voter Registration Drives Schedule
Thurs, 6/28 in Elmhurst (5-6:30 pm) – Broadway & Whitney Ave.
Thurs, 6/28 in Jackson Heights (5-6:30 pm) – 74th St., between Roosevelt Ave and 37th Ave.
Fri, 6/29 in Richmond Hill (5-6:30 pm) – 118th St. & Liberty Ave. and 120th St & Liberty Ave.
Sat, 6/30 in East Brunswick, NJ (11 am – 3 pm) – Hong Kong Supermarket (265 State Rte. 18)
Mon, 7/2 at, Philadelphia, PA (1-2 pm) – Chinatown “Friendship Arch” at 10th & Arch Streets
Mon, 7/2 at Manhattan (4:30-6 pm) – Corner of Church and Vesey Streets near the World Trade Center PATH
Tues, 7/3 in Flushing (5-6:30 pm) – Queens Library (41-17 Main St.) near bus stops
KALCA Law Panel
Monday, July 9th
7 – 8 p.m.
Location will be emailed to the attendees.
Because most seats are reserved for KALCA students, seating is very limited and only the first 10 RSVPs will be honored.
Please RSVP to sandy.kalca@gmail.com.
KALCA Law Panelists
Joon Hong, Esq. – Partner, Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP
Jean Lee, Esq. – Vice President & Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Liza Sohn, Esq. – Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, Special Federal Litigation Division
Jimmy Yan, Esq. – General Counsel, Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer
Michael Yim, Esq. – Partner, Lee Anav Chung LLP
Moderator
Judy Kim, Esq. – Associate Counsel, New York Liquidation Bureau, Bureau & Estates Litigation Division
The panel discussion topics will include the panelists’ reasons for choosing the legal field, day-to-day tasks and activities, likes/challenges of the job, and advice on how to succeed and network in the field.
Obama Healthcare Legislation Upheld
IT’S A TAX! Today, in a 5-4 ruling, the SCOTUS upheld President Obama’s health care legislation. Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion finding that Congress has the authority to require everyone to have healthcare.
- Americans will have to buy health insurance or pay a penalty of 1% of their income.
- Insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage to those with preexisting conditions or charge higher premiums based on one’s gender or health.
- Employers who have more than 50 employees and don’t offer insurance will also begin to face a penalty.
- Children may stay on their parents’ healthcare plans until the age of 26.
The law is well over 2000 pages. These are just a few changes in our healthcare system. How will it affect you? For better? For worse?
To read the 59-pages of “poetry” – http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-393c3a2.pdf
At the May 22 production of “Revisiting Vincent,” one of our Community Presenters that were present at the event was POV, the documentary program on PBS. They kindly took the time to edit together the video footage taken at New York Law School. For those who were there, you can relive the power and impact of the performance and the engaging talkback that followed, led by Hon. Denny Chin and Dean Frank Wu. For those who missed it, now is your chance to see what everyone has been talking about. Thanks to POV for making this happen!
(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)