REFUGEES IN CINCINNATO: A LOCAL LOOK AT A GLOBAL CRISIS IMMIGRATION PANEL PRESENTED BY GIVE BACK CINCINNATI AT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN CINCINNATI, OHIO March 12, 2016 |
GIVE BACK CINCINNATI PANELISTS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JOE SACK, CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOUTHWESTERN OHIO, NAZLY MAMEDOVA, ESQ, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY WANGLAW (SPEAKING), SAMIRA JAWEED, RAHMA COMMUNITY SERVICE, SARA HAAS, WORK INITIATIVE NETWORK (WIN) & ROBYN LAMONT, REFUGEECONNECT JUNIOR LEAGUE OF CINCINNATI |
VOLUNTEER IMMIGRATION LAWYERS AND STAFF Pro Bono Citizenship Assistance Day, February 27, 2016. Thanks to American Immigration Lawyers Association and Interfaith Justice and Peace Center (Peaslee Center), Cincinnati, Ohio |
NEW U. S. CITIZENS: Please register & VOTE! |
WHY AN APOLOGY BY CONGRESS FOR CHINESE EXCLUSION IS IMPORTANT TODAY The legal challenge mounted by Wong Kim Ark (U S Supreme Court 1898) against the constitutionality of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1992 involved issues as alive today as a century ago. Today, there is a movement in America to pass a Constitutional Amendment to repeal the 14th Amendment provision for citizenship by birth in USA and making citizenship only by birth to US Citizen parents. Therefore an apology by Congress today is very important and relevant - please think about this carefully. THE STORY OF WONG KIM ARK , A NATIVE SON WHO STRUCK A BLOW AGAINST THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT OF 1882. Wong Kim Ark was born in the year 1873 at No. 751 Sacramento Street , city of San Francisco , county of San Francisco, state of California , United States of America . His mother and father were persons of Chinese descent, simple subjects of the Emperor of China, were not engaged in any diplomatic or official capacity on behalf of China, but were residents of the United States. Wong Kim Ark grew up to be a laborer. In 1890, at the age of seventeen, Wong Kim Ark visited China , the distant land of his ancestors. He returned on the steamship Gaelic, and was admitted to his country of birth in the same year. After coming of age, he departed once more for China in 1894 and returned to the United States in August 1895. He sought to enter his country of birth but was refused entry by government officials. Wong Kim Ark was caught up in a time of intense public hysteria and agitation against the presence of Chinese and other Asian minorities (the “Yellow Peril”) in the American West. Local political and general public sentiment were bent on getting rid of the Chinese. The “Chinese must go” demands intensified with each cycle of economic slow-down when jobs became scarce and the Chinese were willing to work hard for less pay. In conformance with prevailing exclusionary prejudice, the local customs collector and later the local United States district attorney asserted that Wong Kim Ark was not a citizen of the United states and had no privilege to enter the country. For you see, in 1882, Congress had passed the racially discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act which was designed to stop Chinese from coming to America . Wong Kim Ark was held in confinement as an illegal alien awaiting deportation. Wong Kim Ark protested that neither he nor his parents have ever renounced his allegiance to the United States , and that he had never done or committed any act or thing to exclude him from his country of birth. Wong Kim Ark insisted on his right to come home. He initiated a lawsuit for habeas corpus (order to release a prisoner illegally detained) in federal district court for Northern California . The court ordered Wong Kim Ark to be discharged from confinement upon finding him to be a citizen of the United States . The United States government, not satisfied with the findings of the lower court, appealed to the United States Supreme Court. In United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the question presented to be answered by the high Court was this: Is a child born in the United States, of parents of Chinese descent, who at the time of his birth are subjects of the Emperor of China, but have a permanent domicile and resident in the United States, and are carrying on business, and are not employed in the any diplomatic or official capacity under the Emperor of China, a citizen of the United States? For the Supreme Court it was a simple case. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Civil Rights Act of 1866 expressly provided: All persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians not taxed, are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States . The United States Congress, shortly afterwards in 1868, obviously thinking it unwise to leave so important a concept of citizenship as an ordinary law, elevated it to constitutional stature through Section I of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Thus, the relevant part of the Constitution expressly provides: All persons born or naturalized in the United States , and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. It is not surprising, therefore that in 1898, the Supreme Court, true to its long but checkered tradition of rendering justice independent of public hysteria, popular emotions, and political pressure, addressed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 in this manner: Whatever considerations, in the absence of a controlling provision of the Constitution, might influence the legislative or executive branch of the government to decline to admit persons of the Chinese race to the status of citizens of the United States, there are none that can constrain or permit the judiciary [i.e. the Supreme Court] to refuse to give full effect to the preemptory and explicit language of the Fourteenth Amendment, which declares and ordains that “all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” The United States government was thus ordered to release Wong Kim Ark from confinement and to admit him to his country of birth as a full fledged citizen. Having struck a legal blow against the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, a natural born, native son had finally come home. Today, most immigrants in America know that their children who are born in the United States are automatically vested with natural citizenship by virtue of the birth. Some may know that this is because of the 14th Amendment. Now, we should know and remember how this fundamental right was attacked, defended and won at law: Wong Kim Ark, a simple Chinese laborer, refused to accept the attempted infliction of an unjust act and chose to vigorously pursue his rights under the law. His efforts were fruitful and the fruits continue to benefit many people to this day. Today some people actively want to do away with the Citizenship Clause of the 14 Amendment. See, e.g. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,246798,00.html Defend Our 14th Amendment – Child of Steel and Fire The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution came into existence on July 9, 1868, only after the end of the Civil War – a child born of trial by fire and steel. Section One begins with the Citizenship Clause which provides that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The purpose of the Citizenship Clause was to reverse the ignominy of Dred Scott v. Sanford , an 1857 decision of the United States Supreme Court which barred African Americans from becoming citizens of the land in which they were born, a decision that affirmed the institution of slavery, a decision that led to war. Slavery was profitable because the children of those enslaved were automatically the property of the slave-owner and never a free citizen of the Nation into which they were born, never to be protected by the Constitution and the laws of the land. To emasculate the 14th Amendment of its Citizenship Clause is to take a step backwards into the time when slavery marred the humanity of this land and the fairness of our politics. It is to disrespect all those who gave their lives to end the institution of slavery and of Jim Crow. Furthermore, to take out the Citizenship Clause is to endanger the remaining Clauses of the Section - the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses as they are to be applied in the several States: “Nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Chinese Americans may take pride in the fact that Wong Kim Ark challenged the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 that sought to deprive persons born in the United States of Chinese parents their right to natural born citizenship and won a decision from the U S Supreme Court (U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark, 1898) upholding the born- in-the-USA Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment. In 1954, the Equal Protection Clause became the foundation for Brown v. Board of Education (1954), a decision of the Supreme Court which called for an end to racial segregation all across these United States. Does the fact that these Clauses protect all “persons” who are “within the jurisdiction” of a state within the Union cause offense to anyone? This ideal is a vital cornerstone of the majesty of American law, a beacon of hope and a guiding example to all Nations of the world. It is a shining light proclaiming that our laws apply fairly and equally to all who live within our borders, without regard to our status but just because we are vulnerable human beings deserving of and entitled to due process and equal protection of our laws. This I believe was the dream deep in the hearts and souls of those who wrote the Constitution, as amended, and of the many more who fought to defend it. An opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang, Memorial Day, 5/30/2011 |
TO SEARCH THIS SITE click options above & select "only search in this domain/site" for www.wangnews.net |
On 07/26/2007, a federal judge declared unconstitutional the entire ordinance passed during July 2006 by the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania. U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley, in a well analyzed 206 page opinion, ruled that "Federal law prohibits Hazleton from enforcing any of its provisions of its ordinances." Hazleton had sought to impose fines on businesses that hire and penalize landlords who rent to undocumented immigrants. Hazleton has a population of 31,000 and once was a key coal mining town which during the end of 19th century drew its labor from Eastern Europe. Ironically, Hazleton was the hub of the Lattimer Mine which provided coal to the Bethlehem steel mills. On 9/10/1897, a sheriff's posse fired on unarmed labor strikers comprised of Polish, Slovak, Lithuanian, Italian and Hungarian anthracite miners, killing 19 and wounding 3 dozen more, some whom later died. This bloody incident is remembered as a turning point in the American labor movement as reports of the shooting drew nationwide sympathy for the plight of Slavic immigrants and added 15,000 to the membership of the United Mine Workers. During recent years, the Latino population in Hazleton had risen from 5% to 30%. The Hazleton ordinance appears to have severe constitutional defects as it contravenes the Congressional preemption of immigration policy and has drawn a pledge from civil rights groups to have the legislation reviewed in court.The Court found that the city exceeded its police powers, violated the Supremacy Clause of the U. S. Constitution (upon which federal preemption is based), violated the 14th Amendment (both Due Process & Equal Protection Clauses) and violated the freedom to contract of illegal aliens, who are held to be "persons" under our federal civil rights statutes and more important, under our U. S. Constitution. The City intends to appeal. To read the decision, click here. This federal court ruling casts doubt on the enforceability of numerous, but similar local legislation promulgated by towns and cities in the rush to control the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants within the United State, including that of Sycamore Township in Hamilton County, Ohio. Trustees there on 6/21/2007 voted to fine any contractor on a township project $5,000 or 10% of the total value of the project, whichever is higher, if that contractor is caught using illegal immigrants. Not to be deterred or discouraged are Ohio Representative Courtney Combs and Senator Gary Cates, who at the urging of Sheriff Richard Jones of Butler County, Ohio are proposing to jointly introduce into the Ohio Legislature, yet another round of bills directed at undocumented immigrants. They propose to: o Require public employers to use a "status verification system" when hiring new employees. o Require jails and prisons to make a reasonable effort to determine inmate citizenship. o Prohibit employers from laying off citizen employees in favor of aliens. o Require public agencies to verify that people who apply for certain public benefits are U.S. citizens or "qualified aliens." o Regulate non-resident tuition and fees at state colleges and universities. o Establish a fraudulent-documents identification unit within the Ohio Department of Public Safety to catch fake IDs. To read draft of the Ohio immigration statute as proposed by Mr. Combs, click here. |
CLICK TO GO TO >PAGE 1> >PAGE 2> >PAGE 3> >PAGE 4> >PAGE 5> >PAGE 6> >PAGE 7> >PAGE 8> >PAGE 9> >PAGE10> >PAGE11> >PAGE12> >PAGE 13> >PAGE 14> >PAGE 15> |
On 09/29/2006, the U, S. Senate by a vote of 80-19 gave congressional approval for a 700 mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. This bill was signed into law by President Bush on 10/04/2006. |
On 09/21/2006, the U S House of Representatives approved 3 bills aimed at controlling the border. A bill to criminalize the building of border tunnels passed unanimously. A bill giving authority to state and local governments to enforce federal immigration laws passed by 277-140. A proposal to allow U.S. agents to detain dangerous illegal immigrants beyond 6 months if they cannot otherwise be deported and speed up deportation of criminal immigrants, especially illegal immigrants who are gang members passed 328-95. Earlier in the week, the House also passed a bill to require voters beginning in 2010 to present at the federal election polls photo identification that also proves citizenship. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist wants a quick approval on the House bill but there is no agreement in the U S Senate which has indicated preference for comprehensive immigration reform. |
OTHER NEWS (Click Where Indicated) |
Current U. S. Eastern Time: |
On 09/07/2006, Jing Fei Jiang, 37, the owner of Bee's Buffet on Nilles Road in Fairfield, Ohio was indicted by a federal grand jury with 12 counts of criminal violations of federal immigration law and making a false statement on a loan application. The federal government is also seeking forfeiture of his assets which includes two parcels of real estate, |
his 2004 Nissan Titan and about $300,000 in cash which were seized during the immigration raid. Jiang will be arraigned in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The immigration charges allege that Jiang had helped illegal immigrants enter the United States, transported them to and from his restaurant and had been providing them a place to live in a house owned by Jiang. Jiang was arrested from his home during an immigration raid on 06/05/2006. If convicted, Jiang is facing up to 30 years in prison and he will be facing deportation charges after serving his sentence. |
04/21/2006: Feds Raid Workplaces for Undocumented Immigrants. On Wednesday, federal Immigration Agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security conducted coordinated operations at 40 plants run by IFCO Systems North America across the nation, including one in Evendale, Ohio. Detained were a handful of company executives and a greater number of undocumented workers. Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that this is the kick-off of a comprehensive federal effort to enforce the immigration law and that large-scale hiring of illegal immigrants is often a form of organized crime and laws used against the mob can be applied against employers. |
Colorado Restricts Benefits to Undocumented Immigrants. On 07/11/2006, the state of Colorado passed a bill that would bar adult undocumented immigrants in that state from receiving most non-emergency state benefits such as health care including Medicaid and Medicare, unemployment insurance, energy assistance programs and aging and adult services. All persons, estimated to number about 1 million, applying for or renewing state and federal public assistance must prove legal residency. An estimated 50,000 persons can be denied benefits under this bill which passed the Colorado Senate by a vote of 22-13 and the state House 48-15, both of which have a majority of Democrats. The bill also requires employers to verify the status of employees and an employer can be penalized for "reckless disregard." Republican Governor Bill Owens is expected to sign the bill into state law, one that is touted as the toughest in the Nation. The constitutionality of this non-federal law under federalism is yet to be determined. |
U. S. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEPORTATION: On 06/22/2006, the U. S. Supreme Court upheld the deportation of a truck driver who had lived in the U. S. for the last 20+ years. In the case of Fernandez-Vargas v. Gonzales, 04-1376, the Court by a vote of 8-1 held that he was subject to the stricter provisions of the 1996 amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 aka IIRIRA) which bars a person who had been deported from getting any immigration benefits upon reentry. Mr. Fernandez- Vargas had been previously deported several times since the 1970's and after his deportation in 1982, he again returned to the U.S., became a father, started a trucking business, and in 2001, married his longtime girlfriend who was a U.S. Citizen. None of these facts persuaded the Court to grant relief from removal to Mexico. Instead, the Court held that the reinstatement statute could be retroactively applied to a pre-1996 deportation order of the Immigration Court. Justice Stevens filed the lone dissent, citing "harsh consequences ... to thousands of individuals." |
04/17/2006 UPDATE: Today, Georgia Governor Sunny Perdue signed into law at the state level a bill which requires verification of adults seeking state-administered benefits for legal immigration status, penalizes employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants, requires that companies with state contracts check the immigration status of employees, and directs state police to check the immigration status of people under arrest. The constitutional viability of this new state law in the face of federal primacy in immigration matters is yet to be tested. |
U. S. CONGRESS HINTS AT A LACK OF INTEREST IN GRANTING PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP THIS YEAR. On 06/20/2006, GOP legislators, after attending a strategy session with House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, declared that the legislative priority this election year is to enact laws that secure the border. Pointing to polls taken recently, and to the recent campaign experience of Rep. Brian Bilbray who won a special election this month in the San Diego area, GOP members of Congress suggested giving a low priority to legislation that provide for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrations already in the United States. Speaker Hastert said that while planning to open hearings in August, he would not set a firm time-line for the completion of immigration hearings in the House. Community hearings directly involving the public are in the plans and may begin as early as July. Hastert and other Republican leadership avoided answering questions pertaining to the time-frame for the compromise with the Senate version which favors comprehensive immigration reform, again suggesting that the possibility of compromise will be remote, especially on the question of "amnesty." Members of the House who run for office every two years tend to be more sensitive to public opinion which they believe to be prevailing in the short-term while Senators, who hold six year terms, are able to take a longer term view on public policy. The President has signaled preference for comprehensive immigration reform along the lines of the Senate proposal. The divisiveness of immigration reform will heat up politically at the grass-roots even as the nation enters the first days of summer and politicians will be scrambling before their various constituencies for electoral advantage on this question . |
On 04/23/2006, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that he is ready to re-open the debate on immigration reform soon after Congress returns on Monday from spring recess. This sentiment is echoed by Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), the Majority Leader of the Senate, who went further to say that he expects Senate passage of immigration reform by Memorial Day. Not to be left behind, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) said passage can happen in Senate if "the administration will weigh in and the president will take a leadership role on this," and he further called for a bi-partisan, comprehensive bill. If and when a bill is passed by the Senate, it must then be compromised with HR 4437, the Sesenbrenner Bill, a strict enforcement oriented version passed in the House of Representatives since December 2005. The two versions are very far apart in approach. |
FEDERAL AGENTS RAID HOME IN FAIRFIELD, OHIO. On 06/05/2006, agents of the U. S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement with the assistance of City of Fairfield Police raided a home and detained 10 persons on federal immigration charges. Detained were the owner and employees of Bee's Buffet located on Nilles Road in Fairfield. |
On 5/19/2006, the U. S. Senate by a vote of 62-36 approved a comprehensive immigration bill that balances border security with America's need for immigration labor. Both Senators Voinovich and DeWine from Ohio voted in favor of passage. The Senate version will go to the House of Representatives for final compromise. The House version is concerned only with border security and if a compromise is made, then the bill can go to the President for signature into national law. Mr. Bush has signaled preference for comprehensive immigration reform. The Senate provides for the following: Addition of 1,000 new Border Patrol agents this year and 14,000 by 2011, short-term deployment of National Guard to the southern border, the construction of 370 miles of triple-layered fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers and new surveillance equipment, new guest worker program of 200,000 individuals a year and 1.5 million temporary agricultural workers who eventually may self-petition for permanent residency. Persons who have been unlawfully present for five years or more would be permitted to remain, continue working and eventually apply for citizenship, but must pay at least $3,250 in fines and fees, settle any back taxes and learn English. Those with between two and five years must exit to a point of entry before re-entering and are subject to the same fines, fees and requirements. Those in the country illegally for less than two years must leave with no guarantee of reentry. |
On 04/24/2006, President Bush, speaking before a business gathering in Orange County, California, suggested that he preferred the more comprehensive Senate plan than the enforcement oriented HR 4437 passed by the House of Representatives in December, 2006. Unfortunately, the draft proposed by the Senate Judiciary Committee has not been approved by the full Senate due to partisan wrangling. Senate leaders have called upon the President to assist in making immigration reform a reality this year, but a second-term president with record low approval figures may have much difficulty in jawboning the severely divided legislature to compromise during this mid-term election year. On the same day, the federal crackdown continued with the arrest in Florida of 183 alien fugitives (under deportation orders) and other immigration law violators. |
On 5/19/2006, as part of immigration reform, the United States Senate approved two complementary proposals in support of the use of the English language in the United States. First, by a vote of 63-34, the Senate declared English as the national language because it will promote national unity. Next, in deference to critics, the Senate also approved by a vote of 58-39, an alternate proposal to make English the nation's "common and unifying language." Both versions will go to the House of Representatives, along with the rest of immigration reform, for final compromise before an English language bill is presented to the President for signature into law. Mr. Bush signaled that he would accept either one of the two proposals. |
BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF ARRESTS, THEN RELEASES SUSPECTED UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. On 5/18/2006, Sheriff Deputies were summoned to a Wayne Township construction site on report of an argument. They found a group of workers on the site and upon the authority of the Butler County Sheriff, 18 of the men were taken into custody on suspicion of being undocumented aliens. On the same day, the 18 were released without being charged. On 5/19, Sheriff Rick Jones explained that he had released the men because he lacked the authority to enforce immigration law. U S Immigration Enforcement's resident Agent-in-Charge Richard Wilkens confirmed that the arrests had been made without the knowledge of the federal authorities and that the Sheriff generally may make an arrest only if he was charging those arrested of breaking Ohio law. This unusual episode has the unfortunate effect of reinforcing the public impression that America's border is broken. |
On 04/25/2006, President Bush held a plenary session with leading Senators from both parties to discuss completion of immigration reform in the U. S. Senate. The Senate and the House of Representatives must then agree on a final bill for the signature of the President. |
On 5/15/2006, President George W. Bush gave a prime-time television address to set forth his vision for immigration reform. In a concession to conservatives, he agreed that the southern border was broken, and promised to deploy up to 6,000 National Guard troops to help secure the border against unauthorized crossings into the United States. The President gave his support for a guest worker program. Mr. Bush also outlined his prerequisites for the gradual naturalization of undocumented immigrants. These are (1) payment of a fine for breaking the law, (2) a record of paying taxes, (3) absence of a criminal record, and (4) the ability to speak English. This is the first instance of this President addressing domestic policy from the Oval Office via prime-time television. |
On 04/27/2006, federal agents of U S Immigration & Customs Enforcement, in conjunction with the Butler County Sheriff arrested 10 persons in Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield, and West Chester Township. These persons were detained pursuant to federal and local warrants and being held in a federal facility in Cincinnati. They are being processed by the federal government for deportation from the United States. All but one were picked up at residences and one was arrested at the workplace. To date, no employer has been charged. According to Sheriff Richard K Jones of Butler County, often outspoken about federal inaction, further enforcement sweeps are to be expected. |
On 05/09/2006, the U. S. Department of Home Security - Immigration & Customs Enforcement, after an two year investigation, conducted an arrest sweep. Targeted was Fischer Homes located in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. In addition to a search and arrests at the corporate office, construction sites in Hebron, Union, and Florence, raids were made at residences. 4 supervisors and 76 workers were detained. Fischer Homes has denied any immigration violations and the case against those detained will proceed in Federal District Court for Eastern Kentucky which is located in Covington, Kentucky. Commentng on the raid, the federal government issued a "no tolerance" statement against future employers who hire or "harbor" undocumented workers. |
EATING IN AMERICA WITHOUT CHOPSTICKS But ever since my childhood days in multicultural Malaysia, I acquired the habit of using a fork at meals. Once at table, a dinner guest, a friend of my wife who is also from Taiwan, saw me commence to eat without chopsticks and asked me, in a sharp, disapproving tone in Chinese, this question: “Why are you [a Chinese] not using chopsticks?” The first time this happened to me, it was in my home where I was the host, and the outspoken objector, my invited guest. I was frankly taken completely by surprise and my jaw dropped and I had a hard time keeping the food from falling out. There was an awkward silence for what seemed like infinity. I looked at him and saw that he had been properly provided with chopsticks. He glared back at me. It was I, the host and master of the house (together with my wife) who was affronting him, a dinner guest! A range of emotions passed through my brain. Finally, I decided to keep my decorum and out of sheer courtesy for my guest, for he was not only a friend of my wife, but also her former tutor, I quietly asked my wife to bring me a pair of chopsticks. A broad smile beamed from my guest and dinner was finished before things got too cold. I have had this same protest directed at me at other Chinese social events. Over the years, as I grew older and more set in my ways, I simply smile at my detractor, silently dismiss the comment as a lack of dining etiquette and continue eating Chinese food with a fork, as I preferred. These days, when I felt sufficiently feisty, I even rebuke that person for not speaking in English, as the chopsticks demand is inevitably made in Chinese . I feel the same way about the failure to use English in public, and especially in political discourse. This is why I feel that it is a poor idea to publicly sing the “Star-Spangled Banner,” especially in the context of political protest, in any other language than the original composed English by Francis Scott Key in 1814. And so it is for "Nuestro Himno." An Opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang, Publisher. |
The New Colossus Emma Lazarus (1883) Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp! cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" |
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety - Benjamin Franklin (1759). |
Abraham was an Immigrant: A Theological Reflection Abraham is widely accepted as a patriarch of the three great monotheistic faiths of the World. Abraham was an immigrant. His father, Terah was from the land of Ur of the Chaldeans (somewhere in present day Iraq) and while the tribe was resting at Haran, Terah died. Abraham, then known as Abram, heard God tell him to get out of his country and from his father's house to a land that God will reveal. Abram, whose obedience is renowned, complied. .... For rest of reflection click here. |
To read the antil-alien House Bill 654 introduced by Representative Bill Seitz of Cincinnati in the previous term of Ohio General Assembly which failed to pass click here. |
WANG NEWS SERVICE An Independent Source of News & Views |
Natalie Fair-Albright is interviewed about the children's rally |
WITH MALICE TOWARDS NONE, WITH CHARITY FOR ALL ... With fewer than six weeks before his untimely death, President Abraham Lincolnsaid these words: "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Now nearly a century and a half later, these enduring words carry the same wisdom for us. While not facing the aftermath of four years of bloody civil war, we, nonetheless, are a people in need of healing among ourselves and with all nations. Four years after invading Iraq and expenditure of lives and treasure, we are faced with a stalemate and quite possibly withdrawal in the midst of sectarian civil war in that country. At home the Senate just voted, once again, to set aside much needed comprehensive immigration reform because some see an invasion of illegal aliens who do not deserve amnesty. President Bush who prematurely declared “Mission Accomplished” vis-à-vis Iraq, and “See you are the signing,” respecting legislation on immigration reform is burdened with record low approval ratings The Congress too has similar or even lower ratings by the people who elected them. The American people, facing the humiliation of the lack of progress in the war in Iraq and the looming specter of an ignominious retreat is understandably divided, frustrated, and angry. In my opinion, it is this division, coupled with the inability of the President to rally the national will, that are the reasons for the failure to complete long overdue reform of our federal immigration law. I fear worse. Given the inability of America to succeed in Iraq, our national psyche will pressure some of us to turn our frustration inward against those who are politically most vulnerable amongst ourselves, the undocumented immigrant. If we cannot impose our will in Iraq, we can surely get our way against those who break our immigration laws. But before we raise the hue and cry once again to round up and deport all those who do not have proper immigration papers, let all of us pacify our spirits, calm our hearts, and focus our reason by reflecting on the immortal words of our great martyr for freedom: "With malice towards none, with charity for all …" An Opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang - July 16, 2007 |
LULAC OPPOSES COMBS IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL FOR OHIO ASSEMBLY On 8/10/2007 the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) sent a 4 page letter to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland setting forth opposition to the Immigration Bill to be proposed by Ohio Representative Courtney Combs of Butler County for the 127th General Assembly. The letter contends that Mr. Combs’ assertion that “illegal immigration is causing economic hardship and lawlessness in Ohio” unfairly sensationalizes the issue and that the Combs proposal merely restates federal provisions. Instead, the LULAC letter points out that "undocumented immigrants typically provides sorely-needed labor to United States industries that lack sufficient workers," and "work in some of the lowest paying and toughest jobs in the nation." The LULAC letter opposes the Combs proposal because “by granting local law enforcement immigration authority, the state of Ohio will create a society of fear,” and immigration reform should be left as a federal topic. The letter was signed by Mr. Jason Riveiro, Ohio Deputy Director LULAC. To read the entire LULAC letter including 16 footnotes to references, click here. To read draft of the Ohio immigration statute proposed by Mr. Combs, click here. |
ARCHBISHOP DANIEL E. PILARCZYK ADDRESSES IMMIGRATION REFORM |
Immigration Panel At HUMAN RELATIONS SUMMIT, 11/19/2007, City of Cincinnati Human Relations Commission |
On 3/3/08, the Wise Center hosted a forum on immigration issues. Photo shows Rabbi Lewis H. Kamrass introducing from right to left Brooke Menschel, Assistant Legislative Director, American Jewish Comittee, D.C., Amy Marmer Nice, Esq. Dickstein, Shapiro, LLP, D.C. and Prof. Monica Schneider, Miami University, Ohio. |
IMMIGRATION PANEL AT WISE TEMPLE CENTER |
BY VOTING WE SAY NEVER AGAIN TO PEOPLE V. HALL In the court case of The People v. George W. Hall, the California Supreme Court decided that a white man cannot be convicted of murder in a court of law by the testimony of Chinese witnesses. The opinion of that court was mainly based upon the prevailing view that the Chinese were "a race of people whom nature has marked as inferior, and who are incapable of progress or intellectual development beyond a certain point, as their history has shown; differing in language, opinions, color, and physical conformation; between whom and ourselves nature has placed an impassable difference" and as such had no right "to swear away the life of a citizen" or participate "with us in administering the affairs of our Government." (To read the complete opinion of People v Hall, click here. Our readers can take cold comfort in the fact that People v. Hall was rendered in 1854, but can one really afford such an approach? Are the Chinese a race of people who are “inferior,” “incapable of progress,” and “incapable of development beyond a certain point?” The Chinese certainly have a different language from English, Spanish, and German - it can be argued that the color is also different and there are distinguishing physical traits - but is People v. Hall dead and gone after the baptism by fire and steel of the American Civil War and with the discovery of civil rights in America? The answer to this perplexing and disturbing question is that it is and is not. To say it is not, all we need to do is to look at the recent example the portrayal of Asian Americans by CNN in its Anderson Cooper 360. To read the protest letter of the Japanese American Citizen's League, click here. On the positive side, Asian Americans, as citizens of the United States, have that most fundamental of civil rights – the right to vote. By voting we get to participate in the selection of our legislators, executive officers, and in Ohio, even our judges. Legislators will make the statutes that regulate society and the executives such as the President, Governor, and county Commissioners get to carry out the statutes on a day-to-day basis. Judges will resolve any constitutional or legal issues regarding the statutes being enforced The good news is that the 2008 Presidential Elections is coming on the first Tuesday of November! Never again the likes of People v. Hall. On Election Day, get out there and participate with America in administering the affairs of our Government. Before we can do anything more, we must first get out there and VOTE. An opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang updated 3/7/2008. |
IMMIGRATION SEMINAR AT CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL IN THE CITY OF CINCINNATI, 01/11-2/1/2009 For four consecutive Sundays ending with the first Sunday in February, Christ Church Cathedral hosted a seminarseries entitled "Immigration & the Church." Shown in photo on right is Mr. Alfonso Cornejo, president of the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA presenting demographics on Hispanic immigration and explainingthe contribution of Hispanics to the Greater Cincinnati economy. Other speakers were Mike Phillips, formerly Director of Editorial Development with Scripps Newspapers who developed an Hispanic cultural awareness training program with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Charleston Wang, immigration attorney. This seminar series focused on immigration from Latin American countries, the prospects of legislative reform for all immigrants in 2009 and the role of the Church in crucial immigration issues. |
BISHOP THOMAS BREIDENTHAL TOUCHES ON PLIGHT OF IMMIGRANTS DURING EASTER SERMON |
THE MYTH OF THE MODEL MINORITY One Sunday morning in October, our community was jolted awake by the morbid news of an apparent double murder-suicide at a local Chinese restaurant. The comments that were triggered by this tragedy on the internet and elsewhere are just as disturbing. Some people pointed to the economic slowdown and linked it with the stereotype of Asians committing suicide to escape the dishonor of business failure. Yet others manifested a glib “they are not like us” attitude. Asian American small businesses, many of which are restaurants, are an inseparable part of our economy and they share in the hard times and well as good. We are not isolated islands but every one is part of this land. The stereotype of the model Asian minority who can outwork the rest is just a myth. I know of more Asian American businesses which have closed or are closing along with the others in this downturn of economic fortunes. The unexpressed tragedy I have sensed, beginning with my own gut reaction, is that the Asian American community tends to pretend that “no big matter” has happened and life for the rest somehow will go on as normal if only we take care of our own business. This is followed by an inability to talk about and deal with such problems as a community. Because of cultural differences and language complications, generally there is also reluctance within those afflicted to reach out for help early when tragedy may yet be prevented. Beyond this, the reality is that there is limited availability of organizations and professionals to help Asian Americans who are suffering domestic violence and other severe social and mental health problems that may lead to homicide. I hope our greater community can come to view the lives lost with compassion and then reach out to help when help will still make a difference. We should realize that during these difficult times, misfortune can strike any of us. In the final reflection, we will be seen as helping ourselves. An opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang 11/11/2008. |
CINCINNATI MAYOR JOHN CRANLEY WITH RABBI MARGARET J. MEYER PRESIDENT OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA RELIGIOUS COALITION OF CINCINNATI (MARCC) ANNOUNCING THE CINCINNATI ID CARD May 12, 2016 |
BISHOP THOMAS BREIDENTHAL OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTHERN OHIO WITH THE EPISCOPALIANS |
NAZLY MAMEDOVA, ESQ, A MEMBER OF THE MAYOR'S IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE WITH MR. CRANLEY |
TESTIFYING BEFORE THE CINCINNATI CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF THE CINCINNATI ID RESOLUTION, CINCINNATI COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5/12/2016 |
OUTSIDE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AFTER THE RESOLUTION PASSED 5-1-3. TO CHARLESTON'S LEFT ARE MARGARET A. FOX, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MARCC AND TED BERGH CEO OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN OHIO |
CLOSURE OF U. S. IMMIGRATION COURT IN CINCINNATI PROMPTS CONGRESSIONAL LETTER OF INQUIRY The April 6, 2009 closure of the U. S. Immigration Court (Executive Office of Immigration Review) located on the 4th Floor of the Federal Office Building, 550 Main Street, Cincinnati, Ohio and the transfer of currently pending and future cases to Cleveland, Ohio has prompted a joint letter of inquiry from U. S. Senator Sherrod Brown and U.S. Representative Steve Driehaus. Click here to read their letter dated April 14. The sudden closure of the Cincinnati location is expected to impose additional expenses on immigrants who are to appear before the U. S. Immigration Court. A number of such persons are still waiting for an Employment Authorization Document and therefore have no legal documentation to obtain an Ohio Driver's License and do not own a car. The 500 mile round trip is a heightened burden, especially if an immigrant must spend 1 -2 days to travel the round-trip to Cleveland by bus. It is feared that some immigrants will be deported in absentia. The better approach is to resume court proceedings in the Federal Office Building in Cincinnati as that courtroom is fully equipped with tele-video conferencing capability which facilitates appearances before Immigration Judges in Cleveland, Ohio, Arlington, Virginia or anywhere else. Tele-video appearances are currently in use for immigrants who are detained in the Butler County Jail in the City of Hamilton, Ohio. The re-opening of the Cincinnati court will also benefit the environment as it is a conservation of unnecessary highway travel for thousands of individuals which add up to millions of miles. |
FIRST MIAMI VALLEY IMMIGRATION FORUM Challenges and Opportunities for Immigrants in the Dayton Area |
On 2/27/08, Charleston C. K. Wang, Esq. delivered the Keynote Luncheon Address: "Primal Fears & Hope Eternal" Shown in photo above is Professor Theo Majka (right) welcoming Mr. Wang. |