Civics 4/16

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

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News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from the URL Media network.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 10: Charles Lwanga, R, of Cameroon, is among the crowd gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to remember the Black immigrants who have been recently deported, on Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Immigration narratives erase Black undocumented immigrants: "Being a DACA recipient is a rollercoaster of anxiety," writes Dr. Felecia S. Russell in this first-person narrative for Prism. Dr. Russell shares how being a Black Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient or an "undocuBlack" person comes with its own unique challenges in America. 

Dr. Russell, who was born in Jamaica and immigrated to California at the age of 12, learned in high school that, unlike her U.S. citizen peers, she could not access federal financial aid for college. Currently, fewer than a dozen states deny undocumented students access to in-state tuition, and three states actively ban them from enrolling in all or some public colleges.

When we think of immigration and immigrants in America, we often think of Latinos, due to narratives perpetuated by the media. "[Latinx perspectives] are needed voices, but they are not the only ones, and one-sided narratives have long flooded the immigration space," Dr. Russell writes. 

Over 619,000 Black undocumented people currently live in the U.S., a subgroup often ignored by the media and in national discussions and narratives about "Dreamers." Many of these Black undocumented immigrants were twice as likely to be deported than non-Black undocumented immigrants, and they accounted for 20% of the population facing deportation on criminal grounds. Read the full piece here.

USC cancels speech by Muslim Valedictorian citing safety concerns: It's a bewildering time for Asna Tabassum, a South Asian Muslim American, who is about to graduate from the University of Southern California with a degree in biomedical engineering. Slated to speak as Valedictorian at her soon-to-be alma mater, Tabassum was recently told that she will no longer have this privilege due to reported safety concerns. “After careful consideration, we have decided that our student valedictorian will not deliver a speech at commencement,” Provost Andrew Guzman said in his announcement. “While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety.” 

This week, Tabassum gave this statement released through the Council on American-Islamic Relations: "I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the University is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice. I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own university – my home for four years – has abandoned me.” AsAmNews has more here.

Bangladeshi victims of domestic violence face an uphill battle for safety: In 2020 and 2021, the NYPD reported 214,000 domestic violence incidents involving intimate partners, and of those, roughly 5% involved an Asian American or Pacific Islander victim. Furthermore, roughly one quarter of the 200 domestic violence emergency calls received in the NYPD's 66th Precinct (which includes Kensington's "Little Bangladesh" community) are from the Bangladeshi community, reports Khushali Haji for Documented. 

In a community where women are often isolated and speaking out against their abusers is taboo, victims of domestic abuse need safe spaces and culturally sensitive resources to end the cycle of violence. Haji describes the hardships Bangladeshi women face in seeking support, including the fear of deportation (if they are undocumented), as well as being the subject of damaging rumors, being excluded from social events, and being shunned by the community — all consequences of speaking out against their abuser(s). Read more about one community leader’s effort to convince victims to seek help here.

NYC's response to skyrocketing demand for English language classes: New York City is experiencing a higher demand for English language classes, and it doesn't appear that this need will slow down anytime soon. The demand comes as more migrants continue to get bussed into the city, with the goal of learning English to better position themselves for jobs, reports Ambar Castillo for Epicenter-NYC. “English learning has always been in demand — we have been receiving newly arrived migrants all the time,” said Shaina Coronel, spokesperson for the Migrant Office for Immigrant Affairs. Migration has always been present in NYC, but this growing need matches the realities of newly arrived migrants today. 

The need is especially evident in places like libraries, especially at the Brooklyn Public Library, which held 42% more language sessions between July and December 2023 than in the previous six months, and is currently facing a longer waitlist for classes. (See this breakdown of the primary languages of people on the waitlist for Brooklyn Public Library English language learning classes between October 2023 and January 2024.) 

But come July, when the new fiscal year begins, the city will allocate significantly less funding to civics-focused English language learning programs. And we're talking about more than a $255,000 reduction. Read more to learn how immigrant-serving organizations are responding to the demand for English language classes in NYC.

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