Group of Fil-Am lawyers defend illegal immigrant Vargas

By Carol Tanjutco | Philippine Inquirer News

Jose Antonio Vargas, the acclaimed multi-media journalist,  has retained the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education  Fund, Inc.(FALDEF)  to help him in his advocacy of the DREAM Act as well as to render legal assistance on his quest and that of thousands of fellow DREAMers to pursue the American Dream.

(Jose Antonio Vargas' initial consultation with FALDEF President, Atty. JT Mallonga)

In the June 22 article posted on the New York Times entitled My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant, Vargas tells his story which is representative of all DREAMers.  They came to the US at a tender age,  went to high school and college, got gainfully employed but for the unfortunate incident of not having the right immigration papers, find themselves unable  to fully integrate into American society.

“Jose Antonio Vargas’ story and thousands of young people like him has gone beyond legal, it has now become a moral issue,” comments J.T. Mallonga, founder of FALDEF.

(Jose Antonio Vargas' initial consultation with FALDEF President, Atty. JT Mallonga)

The volunteer attorneys’ group, which also include several Ateneo Aquila Legis fraternal brothers and NaFFAA members like Merit Salud, Lito Pernia, former Queens prosecutor Steven Siegel and Philippine Consul Lindy Lachica, renders free legal advice and represents its clients up to the highest judicial and legislative tribunal, advocating both questions of law and morals.

(Jose Antonio Vargas with FALDEF, his legal defense team)

Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize winner when he was a staff writer in the Washington Post, has also announced the launching of “Define American” campaign, an organization he co-founded dedicated to changing the conversation about immigrants in America. The campaign will “build off Vargas’ story to provide a platform for others to share their own backgrounds and will encourage members of Congress and the Obama administration to prioritize immigration reform.”

At the helm of this exposé, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is calling on the US Congress once again to pass the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, commonly known as the DREAM Act. Recently reintroduced in the US Senate last May 11, the measure passed in the US House of Representatives last year, but failed in the US Senate.

The bill would provide conditional permanent residency to illegal alien students who graduate from US high schools, are of good moral character, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years before the bill’s enactment if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning.

“Approximately 40 to 44 percent of the undocumented student population in the Asian community are Filipino students,” says NaFFAA National Chairman Eduardo Navarra. “They are among hundreds of committed activists whose tireless energy and relentless advocacy made last year’s historic vote possible. Their courage in speaking out and telling their stories made a big difference in moving this legislation forward.”

Navarra commends Vargas for coming forward, own up to what he has done and tell his own story.  “As a national organization, we completely support Jose’s personal advocacy to get the DREAM Act passed,” adds Navarra. “I urge all Filipino Americans to play an active role in getting Congress to act on this measure this year.  Tens of thousands of students who came to the US without legal status would benefit from passage of this act.”

What happens next, is up to the federal government agencies to act on Vargas’ petition, and for the US representatives to hear the plea of similarly situated immigrants.

Weblink: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/4829/group-of-filam-lawyers-defends-illegal-immigrant-vargas

Here since 7 yrs. old, he’s told to leave U.S

Exclusive to the Filipino Reporter

Almost all his life, Miguel Gulfin called the United States home.

He was only seven when his parents brought him to the U.S. in 1991.

He completed grade school and high school in New Jersey and at one point pursued a college degree in communications, where he was on the Dean’s List.

Until recently, he served as president of the Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) and regularly participated in its mission trips to as far as Florida to do evangelization work among students.

But Miguel, now 27, is undocumented and, through no fault of his own, the U.S. Government wants him out of the country.

Worse, it also wants his parents, Carmelo and Aurelia Gulfin of Tinton Falls, N.J., out for overstaying.

They have a final deportation order and were given until the end of September to pack up and leave.

Miguel is not alone.

Toms River. NJ Couple Facing Deportation Wishing for a Miracle

By EDMUND M. SILVESTRE | Exclusive to the Filipino Reporter

Gideon and Rica Tonog, both 37, recently received a notice of voluntary departure from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) following the denial of Rica’s application to adjust her working permit to permanent residency after the USCIS ruled that the petitioning company — a Fil-Am-owned staffing company — had no financial capability to sponsor.

Gideon, who was a dependent of Rica in her USCIS application, had previously lost his labor certification when his sponsoring company shut down following the 9/11 tragedy.

But the Tonogs want to stay in the United States, with Rica currently undergoing aggressive treatment for severe endometriosis and endometrial hyperplasia.

CFO Vows Legal Aid to Needy

(Article from Filipino Reporter.  MOU SIGNING: Seated, l.-r.: Loida Nicolas Lewis, JTS Mallonga, Imelda Nicolas and Lirio Covey. Standing, l.-r.: Fr. Joseph Constantino, SJ, Niles Perlas, Consul Leandro Lachica, Angie Cruz, Judy Arteche-Carr, Mila Manalac and Jenny Fernan.  (Photo by Virgie Camarinas)

The New York-based Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) and the Philippine Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to better serve Filipinos and Filipino-Americans suffering legal injustices across the United States.

The memorandum was signed on Dec. 28 in Manhattan between Secretary Imelda Nicolas, chairman of CFO; and lawyer JTS Mallonga, president of FALDEF, in the wake of increasing number of human trafficking of Filipinos into various parts of the U.S., as well as those entangled in immigration woes.

A highlight of the memo is the extension of pro bono legal service to whoever deserves it most.

“Both CFO and FALDEF agree to work together and initiate special projects aimed at promoting, as well as protecting the welfare and interests of Filipinos overseas,” Mallonga told the Filipino Reporter, citing salient points in the MOU.

FALDEF GIVING FREE LEGAL/IMMIGRATION ADVICE IN NEW YORK

Posted in Balitang Pinoy.

One on one free consultations on immigration issues with pro-bono lawyers

Filipino-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF)

(A Legal Arm of NaFFAA Region 1)

invites you to 

UGNAYAN SA FALDEF

As part of its 2010 program, FALDEF, in cooperation with FILAM community organizations, is launching its first community outreach program on August 20, 2010, from 6 p.m. -9 p.m., at the LOVING LIFE LEARNING CENTER, 4 West 43rd Street, New York, New York 10036

Top Lebanese envoy charged

Article from the Filipino Reporter.

A Filipina domestic worker who has a pending slavery and maltreatment lawsuit against her former employers, the current Lebanese ambassador to the United States and his wife, has asked the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) to assist in her pursuit of justice.

Lawyers for Araceli D. Montuya, 50, of Washington, D.C. filed the federal suit on May 4, 2010 at the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia against Ambassador Antoine Chedid and his wife Afife Nicole Chedid.

But nine months after the civil complaint was filed, Montuya is worried about its progress.

The lawyer for the Chedids, Mary Gately, categorically denied all the accusations and immediately filed a motion to dismiss the case.

Gately pointed out in court papers that her clients are entitled to diplomatic immunity from the suit under the Vienna Convention.

Meanwhile, FALDEF president J.T. Mallonga said he is now in touch with Montuya’s counsels — Aaron Uslan and Laurence F. Johnson — to see what FALDEF can do to help.

Doc, wife stuck in immigration limbo

Article from Filipino Reporter. Dr. Pedro Servano (right) and wife, Salvacion.  (File photo)

Filipino doctor Pedro Servano and his wife, Salvacion, both U.S. permanent residents from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, made headlines in 2007 when they were nearly deported back to the Philippines due to a long-ago error on their immigration paperwork that was discovered when they tried to apply for American citizenship.

But with the overwhelming support of their community, including some politicians, to keep Dr. Servano — who was the only primary care physician in Selinsgrove, an underserved Pennsylvania town — the “model immigrants” were granted a stay of deportation.

Four years later, however, the Servanos are still in legal limbo — tirelessly “hoping and praying” that they find closure.

Having been unable to visit the Philippines since they got entangled in a legal battle, Dr. Servano told the Filipino Reporter he is dreaming of traveling to his hometown in San Ramon, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur in August next year to be with his mother who will celebrate her 100th birthday.

He said the whole Servano clan is holding a grand reunion and “I hope and pray I can attend” along with his wife, who is a nurse, and their four U.S.-born children, now ages 28, 26, 19 and 17.

The Servanos were ordered deported because of a change in their marital status during their visa-application process in the late 70s.

They were young and single when their mothers applied for visas on their behalf, but they were already married by the time the visas were granted in the early 80s.

Immigration officials said they were never told of the change and accused them of lying.

The Servanos and their lawyers claim it was “an honest mistake.”

The couple claimed they were unaware they their marriage could have violated the terms of their green cards.

The Servanos were first served with a deportation notice in 1992, two years after the discovery of the discrepancy.

The order was affirmed in successive appeals — by the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The U.S. Immigration ordered the Servanos to leave the United States by November.

Numerous supporters and patients of Dr. Servano protested and held candlelight vigil, with a petition signed by 20,000 people in support of the Servanos who were often described by many as “model immigrants.”

A Filipino American Action Task Force has been formed specifically to generate support for the couple.

On Dec. 5, 2007, the deportation order was put on hold and the couple was granted an indefinite “Deferred Action Status.”

Their whole community celebrated.

In the next four years, the Servano case remained status quo.

According to the couple’s attorney at the time, Gregg Cottler, a private bill — or a special congressional legislation — was their only hope to fix the problem.

A private immigration bill applies to extraordinary immigration cases like the Servanos, who have come to represent law-abiding immigrants who contribute productively to their community but whose status is under review because of a technicality in the law.

The chances of a private bill passing, however, are slim, Cottler said.

The Servanos, nonetheless, want to be positive.

They sought the help of Rep. Thomas Marino and Sen. Patrick Toomey, both Republicans from Central Pennsylvania, to sponsor a private bill on their behalf.

Servano got the chance to personally meet with Marino on Oct. 22 in a town hall meeting in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and follow up his appeal for help.

“I had plenty of time to interact with the congressman,” Servano told theReporter.

“He is very supportive and aware that a congressional resolution is now being drafted. According to Servano, Marino told him that he (the congressman) is now in contact with the U.S. Immigration regarding legal ways and means to help me and my wife. So the process is actively going on and we are very happy and hopeful.”

The Reporter has learned that Marino’s office in Washington, D.C. has assigned Philip Pulizzi, a special assistant to Marino, to handle the Servano case.

On Nov. 19, a meeting will be held in Cameron Park in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, to gather signatures for a congressional resolution to be sponsored by the Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Council of Republican Women headed by Irene C. Harris.

Fil-Am lawyer J.T. Mallonga, who currently heads the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), has also been helping the couple since 2007.

Servano said Mallonga is now in touch with Pulizzi, who suggested that Mallonga help draft two possible resolutions to be presented to the U.S. Congress — one for extension of the deferred status and another for the final solution to the case.

Meantime, Servano said life goes on for him and his wife.

He continues to practice medicine with the Geisinger Health System, based in Selinsgrove for the last 17 years and with a patient panel of about 2,000 to 3,000.

He serves as a clinical preceptor/teacher for third and fourth year medical students at Temple University College of Medicine and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

His wife, Salvacion, works part time as a nurse and tends a small business in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

“We never lost hope,” the soft-spoken doctor said.

“We never lost our faith.”