Vaccine information and advocacy is especially critical right now, as the world learns more about the new Omicron variant.
** Upcoming PIF Webinar + Thaw the Chill
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Dear Allies,
We are excited to share again our recently published videos encouraging everyone - regardless of citizenship status - to get the COVID vaccine. This information is especially critical to share right now, as the world learns more about the new Omicron variant. Please share these videos ([link removed]) widely with your networks and communities.
Continue reading for more information about the videos, as well as an upcoming webinar on assistance available for Afghan refugees and an updated public charge interagency letter.
** Upcoming PIF Webinar: Providing Health, Nutrition and Other Assistance to People Evacuating Afghanistan
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Join us on Tuesday, December 14, at 2 PM ET/ 11 AM PT for a webinar focused on providing health, nutrition and other assistance to people evacuating Afghanistan. On the webinar, we will provide background about Afghans arriving in the U.S. in the last few months, where they are being processed and resettling, what their immigration process looks like, and what some of their needs are. We’ll also clarify potential eligibility for public benefits, including documentation requirements, and any public charge implications. Finally, we’ll offer ideas about providing support to refugee resettlement agencies and state public benefits agencies.
Speakers:
* Sunil Varghese, International Refugee Assistance Project
* Kat Lundie, National Immigration Law Center
* Maripat Pileggi, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia
Register Here ([link removed])
** Join Us in Sharing Important Vaccine Information With Your Community!
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In partnership with allies in California, with the generous support of The California Endowment, and in collaboration with film producer Variant Strategies, PIF has developed an animated video aimed at communicating that receiving the COVID-19 vaccination has no immigration consequences.
Available in 30-second, 60-second, and two-minute versions, these videos tell the story of Diana, a permanent resident who was concerned that getting the COVID vaccine could harm her citizenship application and affect her ability to sponsor her husband. In the video, Diana learns that getting the vaccine is a safe way to protect herself and her family and will not put future immigration applications at risk.
The video is available in 9 languages and in a variety of formats best for different social media platforms. Here is a link to the videos ([link removed]) , and unbranded versions are available upon request (please email Isobel Mohyeddin at
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected]?subject=Request%20for%20Unbranded%20Videos) ). We welcome the opportunity to work with you to identify the best ways to reach immigrant families with this important educational resource. For more information about ways to disseminate this video, please contact Ed Walz at
[email protected] or Alicia Wilson at
[email protected] (mailto:
[email protected]) .
** ICYMI: Updated Public Charge Interagency Letter
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The Department of Homeland Security sent an updated interagency letter on public charge to their partners at other federal agencies on November 16th, and it is now on USCIS website’s public charge page ([link removed]) . The big change, compared to the earlier (April) version ([link removed]) , is an expanded list of programs not covered by the public charge regulation. There is also language on the various statuses that are statutorily exempt from public charge. There’s also language describing ongoing and planned regulatory and outreach efforts, and there’s language aligned with the Biden EO on the importance of interagency collaboration “to ensure eligible immigrant individuals and families are not dissuaded from applying for certain public benefits.”. While state agencies are not USCIS’ intended audience for the
letter, we encourage partners to share it with agencies that administer safety net programs in their states.
** Public Charge in the News
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* Framingham Daily News ([link removed]) – Immigration concerns continue to deter AAPI families from getting the care and help they need.
* San Jose Spotlight ([link removed]) – New rapid response group aims to address housing insecurity among immigrant families denied pandemic relief.
* Colorado Public Radio ([link removed]) – Colorado Health Foundation survey finds Latino families are hit hardest by the pandemic, in part due to immigrant families’ exclusion from safety net programs.
In Solidarity,
Eddie Carmona, on behalf of the PIF Team
Visit us at [link removed]
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