Deportation and Rights of an “Out of Status” Immigrant discussed at the Immigration Forum and Book Launch at the Philippine Consulate of New York, May 2012
Immigration is arguably one of the hottest topics in the minds of Filipino-Americans, and immigrants of all origins. Many immigrants are not aware of the rights they possess and who to turn to for assistance.
On Friday, May 18, 2012, the Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund (FALDEF) officers Robert C. Rivas, JT Mallonga and Steven S. Siegel presented the services of their non-profit organization at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall in New York during the “Immigration Rights” event sponsored by the Philippine Consulate General Mario de Leon, Jr. The event also featured the book launch of “Out of Status”, a memoir by author, Jen Furer.
During the presentation FALDEF Chairman, Robert Rivas, commented on the importance of the services they provide to Filipino-Americans. He emphasized that in order to have an organization that serves the needs of a community, the community must help raise funds to facilitate outreach and provide services. In addition, FALDEF General Counsel, Steven S. Siegel, educated the attendees that “out of status” residents have many of the same rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution as do American citizens.
During his presentation about the overall mission of FALDEF, President JT Mallonga discussed various cases that the organization has undertaken. These include deportation, domestic violence, immigration proceedings, and even high profile death penalty cases.
The audience offered up many questions to the FALDEF officers about all aspects of immigration rights and protocol. They were intensely interested to find out how to navigate various real-life scenarios like deportation orders, securing reliable legal advice, petitioning family members, and whether legislation like Dream Act was applicable to current situations. Jen Furer’s actual experiences, as described in her book, were used as examples during the discussions.
JT Mallonga emphasized to the audience that it is very beneficial and less stressful if “out of status” residents seek help long before deportation proceedings begin, highlighting that legal strategy is most effective when used before a situation becomes a crisis.
The large turn-out reflected the widespread interest among the community in immigration issues. FALDEF and Furer, an Honorary Member of the organization, plan to bring the “show on the road” by organizing similar events in various communities in order to educate, raise awareness, inspire, and make a difference in the lives of those who need help.
FALDEF Board of Directors Ninfa D. Tinana and Rogers Alama also attended the event. “Out of Status” is a story of the American Dream, love, hope, and deportation. FALDEF is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing pro bono legal assistance to Filipino-American nationals who are suffering legal injustices by reason of their immigrant origins and status.