Dear John,
In case you missed it...this week the Voices for Human Needs blog reports on the bad news and good news emerging from the Biden Administration's latest immigration announcements. And we provide a detailed look at the effect of predatory phone rates on prison inmates, and commemorate the anniversary of the "other" January 6. Finally, we unveil CHN's latest COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship, a by-the-numbers look at how the pandemic harms the most vulnerable people and communities. Please share!
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This week on the blog...
Biden Administration offers mixed -- and disappointing -- steps on immigration
January 13
On January 5, 2023, the Biden Administration announced new border enforcement measures aimed at increasing security at the border and reducing the number of individuals crossing unlawfully. The first policy announced is two-fold: it includes a new pathway for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans with the requirement of having U.S.- based sponsors to enter the United States. But also announced is an expansion of Title 42, a policy that allows for the rapid expulsion of individuals back to those same countries without the opportunity to apply for asylum. READ MORE »
I was incarcerated. These are the consequences of prison predatory phone rates.
January 11
Have you ever had to choose between phoning your sick mother or brushing your teeth? How about between wearing shoes or calling your favorite niece to sing happy birthday? I’ve had to make these decisions before, and I don’t wish it on anyone — and that’s because I was once incarcerated. READ MORE »
The other January 6
January 10
When one thinks of January 6, one remembers the tragic and awful events of two years ago at our nation’s Capitol – anarchy and chaos and insurrection. Democracy bent that day but did not break. But there is another January 6 that plays a role in our country’s history – a day that contributes seminally and in an aspirational sense to the molding of our character as a nation. READ MORE »
CHN's latest COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship
January 13
The XBB.1.5 edition. New COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are on the rise in many parts of the country. Hospitalizations in particular are at the highest level they’ve been in almost 11 months. Some of this increase was anticipated due to the aftermath of the holidays – a time when many family members and friends gather indoors. But the increase in caseloads is also due to the rapid emergence of XBB.1.5, which is more transmissible than any other omicron subvariant we’ve seen so far. READ MORE »
Save the date -- you're invited!
We’d like to welcome you to join in new twice-monthly Zoom meetings and a listserv aimed at providing timely information about activity in Congress and the Biden Administration of importance to people with low incomes. We’re calling it The Federal Connection, and we hope you’ll sign up to get information and invitations to the Zoom meetings. Sign up for the meeting invite and listserv here. Who should sign up? Advocates and service providers, members of faith or other community groups are all welcome. We’re specially targeting The Federal Connection to people in organizations not based in the DC area, but those who work in DC are welcome too. Our first session will be Thursday, January 19, 3:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. CT/ 1:00 p.m. MT/noon PT. We hope to schedule them every other week on Thursdays, same time. Please note this listserv and the meetings are not open for press.
Coalition on Human Needs
www.chn.org
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