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China News Digest - US Regional Services (Bo Xiong) --------------- Date: Mon, 16 Oct 1995 22:12:24 -0400 Reply-To: acca-l@DRAGON.SUPERPRISM.NET Sender: Newsletter on Chinese Community Comments: Resent-From: acca-l@dragon.superprism.net Comments: Originally-From: ACCA From: acca-l@DRAGON.SUPERPRISM.NET Subject: News Release #9522 To: Multiple recipients of list CCNL Status: R >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> National * Committee * on * Immigration <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< News Release #9522 Monday, October 9, 1995 ============================================================================ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= The National Committee on Immigration is a coalition of Chinese Students, Scholars & Professionals who work against the anti-immigration bill HR1915 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+= ============================================================================ 1. Pro-Immigration Lobby Impressive, More Push is Needed! ............... 98 2. Immigration Still Needs Your Help! .................................. 138 3. Justice for Yong Xin Huang .......................................... 101 ============================================================================ 1. Pro-Immigration Lobby Impressive, More Push is Needed! ............... 98 From: ACCA National HQ During the last several weeks, ACCA HQ has received overwhelming support and signature endorsements from all over the country. Some of them are from as far as Europe and Asia. ACCA National HQ wants to express the greatest appreciation to our readers for their wholeheartedly support to preserve the Immigration categories and the rights of immigrants. Our efforts have been paid off handsomely. As this writing, the numbers of pro-H.R.2202 phone calls and letters to the Congress have been out-numbered by those that are against the bill. This outcome has made some ill-spirited epresentatives feel uncomfortable to vote for the bill. ACCA HQ urges our readers to reinforce our lobby efforts by launching another wave of phone calls and letter writings to the Congress - The Judiciary Committee will resume its mark-up on the bill on Wednesday, October 11, after the Yom Kippur and Columbus Day holidays. Most of the achievements made by pro-Immigration lobbyists are in the family-preferences during the markup of their respective sections. Several ill-spirit amendments were defeated, others were softened. As the process drags on, the Representatives are forced to vote uneasily for mean-spirited amendments. As the mark-up moves into the sections concerning the employment-preferences, ACCA HQ urges our readers to follow the encouraging efforts made by our family coalitions and make our voice even stronger. Because "all politics is local," the work you are doing to combat HR 2202 is essential. If you are in a Judiciary Committee's district (list attached), your contact to his/her office is even more important. If your member is not on the Judiciary Committee, urge him/her to relay your concerns to him to a Judiciary Committee member. Remember, YOUR phone calls and letter writings DO COUNT. Not only ACCA HQ has received positive responses from Judiciary Committee members, the sponsor of H.R. 2202 himself, Congressman Smith, begins to defend his own bill by stressing how his bill would "increase high-skilled immigration", therefore is "a pro-business position", as if it was not him but someone else who wants to CUT employment-based Immigration. This change of words (not change of the Bill) indicates how he feels the pressure and the heat! Call him up and tell him HOW do you believe his words and demand his actions! When writing or calling your Representatives, relay the following messages, along with personal stories: Restore the employment preference categories: HR 2202 would eliminate the possibility or make it extremely difficult for the skilled professionals this country needs the most from immigrating to the United States. In addition, those highly skilled professionals are coming in the prime of their life and are making significant contributions to U.S. society. Most of them have obtained higher education degrees in their own countries without spending a penny of tax dollars. When they come to the U.S., they bring with them skills, knowledge and job creating abilities that contribute to the international competitiveness of U.S. businesses. It is highly impossible this group of people will become the burden of this country. In contrast to the proposed elimination/limitation on employment preference, we should encourage more skilled workers to immigrate. House Judiciary Committee Members's Name Telephone/Fax #'s (area code: 202) Republicans Henry Hyde (IL) - Chairman 225-4561/225-1166 Carlos Moorhead (CA) 225-4176/226-1279 Jim Sensenbrenner (WI) 225-5101/225-3190 Bill McCollum (FL) 225-2176/225-0999 George Gekas (PA) 225-4315/225-8440 Howard Coble (NC) 225-3065/225-8611 Lamar Smith (TX) 225-4236/225-8628 Steven Schiff (NM) 225-6316/225-4975 Elton Gallegly (CA) 225-5811/225-1100 Charles Canady (FL) 225-1252/225-2279 Bob Inglis (SC) 225-6030/226-1177 Bob Goodlatte (VA) 225-5431/225-9681 Steve Buyer (IN) 225-5037 Martin Hoke (OH) 225-5871/226-0994 Sonny Bono (CA) 225-5330/225-2961 Fred Heineman (NC) 225-1784/225-3269 Ed Bryant (TN) 225-2811/225-2814 Steve Chabot (OH) 225-2216/225-3012 Michael Patrick Flanagan (FL) 225-4061/225-3128 Bob Barr (GA) 225-2931/225-2944 Democrats John Conyers (MI) - Ranking Minority 225-5126/225-0072 Patricia Schroeder (CO) 225-4431/225-5842 Barney Frank (MA) 225-5931/225-0182 Charles Schumer (NY ) 225-6616/225-4183 Howard Berman (CA) 225-4695/225-5279 Rick Boucher (VA) 225-3861/225-0442 John Bryant (TX) 225-2231/225-0327 Jack Reed (RI) 225-2735/225-9580 Jerrold Nadler (NY) 225-5635/225-6923 Robert Scott (VA) 225-8351/225-8354 Melvin Watt (NC) 225-1510/225-1512 Xavier Becerra (CA) 225-6235/225-2202 Jose Serrano (NY) 225-4361/225-6001 Zoe Lofgren (CA) 225-3072/225-3336 Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) 225-3816/225-3317 ============================================================================ 2. Immigration Still Needs Your Help! .................................. 138 FROM: Vicki Shu, OCA - National Headquarters (abridged) RE: HR 2202 -- Immigration in the National Interest Act of 1995 As most of you know, mark-up on Title V of HR 2202 began last week. Below are the family-related amendments passed: Rep. Hyde (R-IL): amendment to delete the requirement that in order to sponsor a parent to come to the U.S.. 50% of the children must already be here. Rep. Gekas (R-PA): amendment to add a category for adult children of U.S. citizens, between the ages of 21-26, never been married and financially dependent on the parent according to U.S. tax codes. This would only give the adult child a "probationary" visa, where after three years, the child must go back to INS and prove that he/she still satisfies the requirements. Rep. Gekas originally introduced an amendment that would restore to current law the adult unmarried hildren category. Rep. Smith (R-TX) introduced the modifications, whieh Rep. Gekas accepted. R p. Berman (D-CA) introduced a modification to Smith's modification to delete the "financially dependent" requirement, arguing that it is in the interest of the U.S. to bring in immigrants who are financially independent and working. His modification was defeated. Rep. Becerra (D-CA) introduced a modification to Smith's modification to change "never been married" to "unmarried," arguing that Smith's requirement would prevent those individuals who got a divorce because of an abusive spouse and those who were widowed. His modification was defeated. When writing or calling your Representatives, relay the following messages: Restore the family preference categories; At the very least, take care of the backlog; and Split the bill so that a more coherent and intelligent debate on legal immigration can occur at a later time. For those in districts of Republican Judiciary Committee members, let them know you are very disappointed that they voted for Smith's modifications; For those from Rep. Hyde's district, thank him for voting against Smith's modifications; For those living in districts of Democratic Judiciary Committee members, thank them for voting against Smith's modification; For those in Gekas's District, thank him for introducing his amendment, but also express profound disappointment for accepting Smith's modifications. Attached are some talking points for the adult children categories and the siblings category. Again, grassroots efforts are working, despite the apparent grimness of it all. Thanks for everyone's efforts in organizing the community! ADULT CHILDREN FAMILY REUNIFICATION -- Talking Points HR 2202 would eliminate the possibility for adult children of U.S. citizens from immigrating to the United States. The categories to be eliminated are: 1st (adult unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens), 2nd B (adult unmarried sons and daughters of legal permanent residents) and 3rd (married sons and aughters of U.S. citizens). These categories have up to a five to ten year backlog for over 300,000 adult children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. A child, at any age, should not be considered a distant family member. HR 2202 claims that it is prioritizing family immigration to the immediate family -- spouses, minor children and parents. Just because a child turns 26 does not make the child any less a family member. In addition, many adult children applied as minors but because of the long waiting list, aged out of the category and had to start the process over as an adult child. Adult children come to the United States to help care for their aging parents. As social security, Medicare and Medicaid programs are being reformed, funds for the elderly are decreasing. Adult children support their parents, emotionally and financially. They strengthen the family unit. Of the 824,000 immigrants waiting in the adult children preference categories, over 300,000 are from Asian countries. Elimination of the categories, with no provisions to take care of the backlogs, sends a message to Asian Pacific Americans that the U.S. is returning to the days of the Chinese Exclusion Act when they were not welcome here, despite their many contributions to U.S. society, economy and culture, and despite comprising only 3% of the U.S. population. Rep. Gekas' amendment, as modified by Rep. Lamar Smith, will do nothing to bring in adult children, only adult children, between the ages of 21 and 26, who have never been married and who have been claimed as a dependent on U.S. tax forms will be allowed to immigrate to the United States. The last requirement is impossible to fulfill because the IRS does not allow for someone filing U.S. income tax returns to claim an individual as a dependent if that individual does not reside with him/her or have lawful residency in the United States. In addition, the amendment is unfair to those adult children who have been married, but are now divorced because of an abusive spouse, or those who are now widowed. It is unfair to change the rules for those who have been patiently waiting for years to reunite with their families; Congress should at least take care of the existing backlog. U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents have filed petitions, and paid filing fees and attorney fees in their legitimate expectation that the United States will honor its own laws. In addition, the waiting list for Asian adult children is up to ten years. It is especially unfair to those families who have organized their lives during the waiting period. For example, the adult child will hold off marriage in order to stay in a preference category and cannot commit him/herself to long term work projects or certain career paths. BROTHER AND SISTER FAMILY REUNIFICATION -- Talking Points HR 2202 terminates the family fourth preference category covering brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens. This category has a 10 to 17 year backlog for over one million siblings of Asian American citizens, yet the bill covers only one year of the backlog. It would be highly unfair to change the rules for those who have been patiently waiting for years to reunite with their families; Congress hould at minimum take care of the existing backlog. Asian immigrants face an average 10 years wait. The families of many on the waiting list filed the petitions and paid filing fees and attorneys fees as long as 17 years ago in the legitimate expectation that the United States would honor its own laws. Their siblings have not been able to visit them in the U.S. for many years because of these pending applications. U.S. citizens have arranged their lives and made decisions and sacrifices in the belief that they would be reuniting with their brother or sister. Brothers and sisters help stabilize the family as an economic and social unit. The ability of immigrants to become economically stable and socially integrated into society increases when families are united. Brothers and sisters are able to contribute to the support of parents, and provide economic and emotional back-up support for each other and each other's children. Brothers and sisters often provide critical financial support to each other in times of economic crisis or to help with college tuition for nieces and nephews, and purchases of homes or businesses. For some citizens, particularly for those who came to the U.S. as refugees, a brother or sister may be the only close family member still alive. HR 2202 will strip these citizens of the ability to reunite with their only remaining family member and, particularly when this sibling is left behind in a communist country, will put emotional and psychological burdens of guilt and separation on these citizens who will have to leave this family member behind. Currently, only 65,000 immigrants are allowed visas under the Fourth Preference each year. Given the U.S. population, these numbers are very small. Brothers and sisters tend to come to the U.S. in the prime of their working lives and have contributed much to the U.S. economy and society. Asian Pacific Americans believe that the deletion of this category is unfairly aimed at decreasing immigration from Asia. Of the 1.6 million brothers and sisters waiting for family visas, over a million are from Asian countries. Asian Pacific Americans see this attempt as a continuation of this country's history of racially biased immigration, beginning with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This bias was not eliminated until 1965. ============================================================================ 3. Justice for Yong Xin Huang .......................................... 101 From: Coalition Against Anti-Asian Violence, (CAAAV) On March 24 1995, 16-year old Yong Xin Huang was senselessly killed by a New York City police officer- another victim of police brutality inflicted on a young male of color. While standing in the doorway of friend's house in Brooklyn, Yong Xin was shot in the back of the head and killed by police officer Steven Mizrahi. Yong Xin and three of his friends had been playing with a pellet gun in the backyard of one of his friend's homes when a neighbor's call brought several officers, including officer Mizrahi, to the scene. Mizrahi claims that his gun accidentally discharged while he was engaged in face to face struggle with the youth. However, Mizrahi's account of the incident is riddled with inconsistencies and contradicts the testimony of eye witnesses. Witnesses have testified that Yong Xin, weighing merely 115 pounds, in fact, offered no resistance. Mizrahi's claim of face to face struggle also contradicts the medical examiner's report which found that Yong Xin was killed at close range by a gundshot in the back of the head. Despite these facts, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office of Charles Hynes decided not to indict Officer Mizrahi. We are outraged by the gross incompetence and bias demonstrated by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office in its refusal to indict Officer Mizrahi for the murder of Yong xin Huang. We believe that the decision made by the District Attorney's office is part of a pattern of bias against victims when the perpetrators are the police, and that the increasing cases of police brutality against people of color cannot go unprosecuted. We demand that NYPD Commissioner Bratton hole Officer Mizrahi accountable for the killing by removing him from the police force immediately. We demand a federal investigation and prosecution be commenced as soon as possible. We demand justice for all victims of police killings. Please write: US Attorney Zachary Carter/ Eastern District of NY/ 225 Cadman Plaza East/ Brooklyn, NY 11201 And demand that a federal investigation of this case be opened immediately! >>> Sample Letter for Yong Xin Huang <<< Honorable Zachary Carter US ATTORNEY, Eastern District of NY 225 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, New York 11201 Honorable Zachary Carter, I urge you to investigate the killing of Yong Xin Huang by NYPD Officer Steve Mizrahi in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, on March 24, 1995. In broad daylight, officer Mizrahi shot 16-year old Yong Xin Huang in the back of the head while he stood on private property, in the doorway of his friend's house. I, the undersigned, am outraged at this senseless killing of an innocent boy and believe that Yong Xin Huang's civil rights were violated. I urgently request that your office conduct a federal inquiry into his death. Very truly yours, ============================================================================ For donations to NOI/ACCA, please make your checks payable to Association for Chinese Community Affairs, and mail them to Mr. Frank Chen c/o ACCA; 361 Ogden Avenue, Jersey City, NJ07307 ============================================================================ To endorse ACCA's petition letters to Congress, write to acca@superprism.net Your mail header and body should look like the following: ---------------------- cut here ---------------------- From: *your e-mail-address here* To: acca@superprism.net Subjest: Signature #NJ 07307, Mr. Frank Chen, 361 Ogden Avenue, Jersey City, or #NJ 07307, Mr. Frank Chen, (291)-299-8909 ---------------------- cut here ---------------------- Where "Signature" will direct your mail to our Processing Center, "#" is the computer retrieve identifier, followed by your zipcode, name, address, (with- out zipcode), or telephone number. Please retain an extra copy for yourself. If your submission is correct, you will receive a copy of the petition letter you just endorsed. If you do not receive it in two hours, PLEASE TRY AGAIN. ============================================================================ More info about HR 1915: ftp at superprism.net:/pub/acca www at http://superprism.net:/~acca/ gopher://cnd.cnd.org/11/English-Menu/InfoBase/HR1915 or, write to acca@superprism.net, with "help" in the "Subject:" field. Further inquiries or inputs send to hr1915@math.luc.edu **************************************************************************** To sub/unsub acca-l@superprism.net send to: acca-l-request@superprism.net with "sub" or "unsub" in the "Subject:" field. ACCA is formerly CBS-IC, to know more: ftp superprism.net:/pub/cbs-ic or http://superprism.net:/~cbs-ic/ **************************************************************************** Editor of this issue: Anne Frank ****************************************************************************