QUEENS SOLON REASSURES FIL-AMS

New York Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) reaffirmed his solid support to two major causes being pushed today by the Filipino-American communities across the United States — the passage of the SAVE Our Industries Act and the DREAM Act.

Crowley, a chief deputy whip in the Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives, is a co-sponsor of the SAVE Our Industries Act that would allow Philippine-made apparel using U.S. fabrics to enter the U.S. duty free and benefit both countries tremendously.

In a town hall meeting on June 25 at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, he met with Filipino diplomatic leaders headed by Philippine ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., as well as leaders of the Fil-Am community headed by lawyers J.T. Mallonga and Merit Salud, both representing the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

REACTION FROM 2 FILIPINOS: Obama unveils new immigration doctrine

WRITTEN BY EDMUND M. SILVESTRE ,, Filipino REPORTER

The White House caught some shadowy immigrants off guard, particularly the so-called “dreamers,” when in the morning of June 15 it announced that President Barack Obama would issue an executive order allowing over 800,000 qualified undocumented young immigrants to remain in the United States and obtain work permit.

John Quidilla, an undocumented 24-year-old Filipino who previously lived in New York before his family settled in Plano, Texas, was still asleep when he received a text message from a friend who told him to watch the news.

“This can’t be happening,” Quidilla recalled telling himself while hearing for the first time the breaking news.

“Na-surprised ako...it’s so surreal,” he told the Filipino Reporter in a phone interview last Tuesday.

“My mother and siblings are all excited for me. They have been supportive of me all the way...they are my strength.”

Jose Antonio Vargas Featured in Time Magazine

"Inside the world of an ILLEGAL immigrant." - Jose Antonio Vargas

Jose Antonio Vargas as featured in Time Magazine, June 14, 2012

Click HERE to read the story.

Department of Homeland Security Updates

Secretary Napolitano Announces Deferred Action Process for Young People Who Are Low  Enforcement Priorities

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced that effective immediately, certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings. Those who demonstrate that they meet the criteria will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and will be eligible to apply for work authorization.

Transcript of Pres. Obama's Speech on Immigration

Remarks by the President on Immigration

Rose Garden

Click here for video. 

2:09 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  This morning, Secretary Napolitano announced new actions my administration will take to mend our nation’s immigration policy, to make it more fair, more efficient, and more just -- specifically for certain young people sometimes called “Dreamers.”

These are young people who study in our schools, they play in our neighborhoods, they’re friends with our kids, they pledge allegiance to our flag.  They are Americans in their heart, in their minds, in every single way but one:  on paper.  They were brought to this country by their parents -- sometimes even as infants -- and often have no idea that they’re undocumented until they apply for a job or a driver’s license, or a college scholarship.