In The Community
In a significant policy shift, President Joe Biden is set to announce new executive actions that will protect an estimated half a million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation. This is what’s known.
The plan will provide “parole in place” to undocumented individuals who have been living in the country for at least a decade. It will also open a path for eligible immigrants to apply for legal permanent status and obtain work permits. The plan provides a road to documented status not only for spouses of U.S. citizens but also for their noncitizen minors and stepchildren.
According to a senior White House official who requested anonymity, "These actions will promote family unity and strengthen our economy, providing a significant benefit to the country and helping U.S. citizens and their noncitizen family members stay together," as reported by NPR.
This announcement follows recent executive actions that severely restricted asylum eligibility for most undocumented immigrants. The Biden administration has stressed that while securing the southern border is a priority, so is reforming the immigration system to provide better support for families in America. The Biden administration program will provide two main benefits for immigrants. On one hand, it will allow those eligible to work and live in the country on a legal yet temporary basis. It will also allow immigrants to overcome legal hurdles that keep them from achieving permanent legal status.
Contrary to popular belief, undocumented immigrants cannot simply marry U.S. citizens to obtain legal status. While immigrants who marry U.S. citizens are generally eligible for a green card, it depends on how they entered the country. Those who entered without proper immigration documentation and married a U.S. citizen need to re-enter the country through proper channels to be eligible for a green card. Living in the U.S. after entering without the required immigration documents can lead to a 10-year ban, causing long-term separations for mixed-status families. This is the main reason they don’t go ahead with this process.
The new “parole in place” policy changes that process by allowing eligible immigrants to obtain a green card without having to leave and re-enter the country. After 5 years of being green card holders, they will be able to apply for citizenship. To qualify for "parole in place," undocumented individuals must have been in the U.S. for at least 10 years and married to a U.S. citizen since June 17 or earlier. The plan excludes immigrants who have been previously deported.
According to a communication distributed by the White House, approximately 500,000 undocumented spouses and 50,000 non-citizen stepchildren with a U.S. citizen parent are expected to benefit from this new policy. The Department of Homeland Security will assess each case individually, granting approved individuals three years to apply for permanent residency.
The announcement is set to mark the 12th anniversary of DACA, the program that provides temporary protection to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors. The White House plan includes new provisions for expedited work visas for DACA recipients, also known as “Dreamers,” who have earned degrees from U.S. institutions and have job offers in their fields of study.
While the new plan offers hope to many, it’s expected to face significant legal and political challenges. However, for many immigrant families, especially Latinos, it represents a crucial step toward stability and unity, offering a chance to build a future without the constant fear of separation and the uncertainty that comes with it. In the coming weeks, more information about the application and eligibility process will become available in the Federal Register.
The public is encouraged to rely on the Federal Register as a trustworthy source of information as things develop further and the process is unveiled step-by-step. It’s essential to seek credible sources of information to avoid scams perpetrated by fraudulent lawyers and notaries seeking to profit from the public’s need for guidance with the application process and required paperwork.
Every year on March 17th, Ireland and many other countries in the world where there are Irish communities, turn green to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. This religious celebration has been around for over 1,000 years and it commemorates the death of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, who introduced Christianity to the country in the 5th century.
Over time, this religious celebration has turned into a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, packed with parades, good luck charms like the three-leafed shamrock, green clothes, and all things Irish, including food and drinks, particularly Irish beer. Among the countries that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day are the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.
The reason why so many countries in the world have thriving Irish communities is, of course, immigration. Ireland is no stranger to economic hardship, political unrest, and famine, so Irish people have immigrated by the millions in search of a better life. This is a type of life experience they have in common with Latinos.
Actually, Latinos and Irish people have a lot of connections. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about the Irish in Latin American countries:
Most of the Irish people who chose Latin America landed in Argentina
Argentina is home to the fifth-largest Irish community in the world and the largest in Latin America. In the 18th century, Buenos Aires welcomed over 50,000 immigrants from outside the English-speaking world. They moved to rural areas, working as cattle ranchers and sheep farmers, and Argentina became their home away from home. Today, their descendants still live in the country, and they have a rich history there.
The Irish built the Cuban railroad
While Cuba isn’t usually associated with Irish immigration, Irish people did immigrate there even before the 1940s potato famine. That’s because Cuba and Latin America, in general, were prime destinations for struggling laborers. One of the waves of Irish immigration to Cuba happened in 1835, when over 370 workers, most of them Irish, were sent from New York to Havana to work on the Cuban Railway Commission. While the Irish were responsible for helping develop Cuba’s infrastructure, many of them died in the process. Moreover, once the railroad was done, they were abandoned there. This led to some Irish influence in Cuba’s economic, political, and cultural development, though the available research on it is minimal.
The Irish supported Mexico during the Mexican-American War
Battle of Buena Vista, lithograph by Currier & Ives, c. 1847
During the Mexican-American War, a group of Irish immigrants, known as the “San Patricios” or “Saint Patrick’s Battalion,” played a major role. They fought alongside Mexican forces against the U.S. and were driven by a common Catholic identity with the Mexicans. The San Patricios were brave and quite skilled in artillery, so they were of great help. Unfortunately, their support wasn’t enough to avoid the turn of the war against Mexico. Eventually, most of the San Patricios were captured at the Battle of Churubusco and punished, which included execution by hanging.
Simón Bolívar asked Irish soldiers for support during independence
Painting of Simón Bolívar by Arturo Michelena 1895
Simón Bolívar, known as the "Libertador" of South America, didn’t have a smooth campaign for independence from Spanish colonialism. He found himself in difficult situations because his army lacked experience, so he asked British and Irish soldiers for support, recruiting them into his army. The British Legions were mostly Irish veterans (1,700 of them) with extensive military and combat experience. They formed several units, such as the Venezuelan Lancers and Venezuelan Hussars. The help of the British Legions was essential in the fight for independence and the birth of the new republics of South America.
An Irish doctor established the first medical school in Buenos Aires
Sculpture in Buenos Aires dedicated to Miguel O'Gorman by the artist Miguel Blas y Fábregas
Born in Ireland, Miguel O’Gorman was a part of the expedition of the first viceroy of Río de la Plata (now Argentina) in 1777. When peace was reached with Portugal, he settled in Buenos Aires at 62 years old and is considered the father of modern medicine in the country. With over 10 years of experience and a medical degree from Paris, he established the Academy of Medicine in Montevideo, the first medical school in Buenos Aires. He also focused greatly on public health measures, introducing the latest vaccination methods to prevent the spread of disease.
Eliza Lynch became the unofficial “Queen of Paraguay”
Born in Charleville, North Cork, Eliza Lynch became a symbol of resilience in Paraguay. She lost her father during the Irish famine and then fled to France with her mother where she married at 16 to a French army officer. In high society, she met General Francisco Solano López, the billionaire heir to the President of Paraguay. They fell in love and went together to South America. Though they never got married, they lived together and she became not only the unofficial “Queen of Paraguay” (loved by the people and hated by the elite), but also one of the wealthiest women in South America. After witnessing López and their son's death in battle, Lynch was imprisoned and deported to Paris, where she spent her remaining days. Eventually, she was posthumously honored for her patriotism, with her remains repatriated to South America.
Cecilia Grierson became the first female physician in Argentina
Irish Argentine Cecilia Grierson was the first woman to obtain a medical degree in Argentina and she went on to accomplish so much more. She had a remarkable life that went beyond medicine because she challenged societal norms and advocated for the inclusion of women in professions like obstetrics. She founded the School of Nurses and Massage Therapists, pioneered specialties like gynecology, and was elected president of the First International Women’s Congress. You may have heard her motto before: “Deeds. Not words,” which perfectly summarizes her legacy.
Rómulo Antonio O'Farrill Jr. became one of Mexico’s media barons
Born in Puebla, Mexico, Rómulo Antonio O’Farrill Jr. was of Irish descent and he became one of the biggest media barons in Mexico. Alongside his dad Rómulo O’Farrill Silva, he set up Mexico’s first TV station in 1949. The family also started a newspaper chain “Novedades de México,” with a sister paper “The News,” which ran until 2002 and was one of the most-read English newspapers in Latin America. O’Farrill became known as a man of vision for growth and development, no matter the challenges.
Ambrose O’Higgins’s son became the first leader of independent Chile
Ambrose O'Higgins, born in Ballynary, Co Sligo in 1720, was an Irish man who became an essential figure in the history of Chile. He rose through the ranks of the Spanish colonial imperial service and went to South America in 1756, where he helped establish communication channels between Argentina and Chile. O'Higgins's career eventually led him to become the viceroy of Lima, the highest royal official in Spanish America. His son, Bernardo O'Higgins, inherited his wealth and ideals, becoming a revolutionary leader and the first ruler of an independent Chile.
William Brown became the father of Argentina’s navy
Born in Foxford, County Mayo, William Brown was a sailor and naval commander who founded the Argentine navy and is considered one of the nation’s heroes. He played a pivotal role in Argentina’s fight for independence, securing major victories against the Spanish. Brown served Argentina his entire life in wars that followed their independence from the Spanish and then he became governor of Buenos Aires until he died in 1857. His legacy endures to this day and Admirals of the Argentine Navy wear a replica of his sword.
Food is much more than the substance that feeds us. It is a living narrative that threads cultures, migrations, exchanges, memories, and emotions. Every bite we take is packed with stories; every smell we perceive evokes memories. I am convinced that when food comes into our lives and into our mouths, it permeates who we are, it stays living in our memory and, without us realizing it, it joins the whole that defines us.
If I had to describe who I am through food, I would present myself as a freshly blended papaya juice, a fruit that I did not feel particularly fond of in my childhood, a tropical fruit, always in season, always at a good price, always available in the refrigerator at home, a recollection of sunny and calm mornings, without grown-up worries. Or maybe I would present myself as the wheat flour arepas that my grandma Rosita used to make in that city, surrounded by mountains that now feel so far away.
These are not simple meals, nor is their choice random. They are fragments of my childhood, often taken for granted, pieces of the puzzle that build me. I spent years with my grandma, learning not only to cook but also to live. When I left her home, in search of a better life thousands of kilometers to the south, those meals that no longer nourished my body, did nourish my memory and my heart.
A few years after leaving Venezuela, I found myself one morning with a glass of freshly blended papaya juice. I did not expect the impact; the rush of emotion was overwhelming, and I found myself carried away by its force. I went back in an instant to my grandma’s home. At that moment, I was sure: certain foods are time machines, and their taste and scent take you away.
But what would happen if we delved deeper into the symbols and stories behind each dish? We could discover the profound family history of a friend who was born in another corner of the world, or that the flavor of a mole carries with it centuries of Mexican history. Even a humble chicken soup can be a reminder of the care and love your mom gave you that time the flu got the better of you.
If our lives were narrated through food, what dishes would we choose to represent us? What stories would those flavors and scents tell?
Migrating is not just leaving, it is also arriving. With that arrival comes the experience of everything anew. For me, food is a fundamental pillar in the experience of being alive. Perhaps this perception is influenced by my moon in Taurus – in astrology, this signifies a deep appreciation for the pleasures and comforts of life, like good food. Or, it could simply be because I heard countless times while growing up that 'it's cheaper to clothe me than to feed me.
The truth is that when you emigrate, the doors are opened to new foods and stories that sneak in and begin to become part of you. They come to stay, they settle in, and the idea of the home you once had is nourished and grows with new flavors, new fruits, and new narratives.
It is almost miraculous to be sitting in front of a dish that was once merged into the shaping of my identity. Whether it's a dish prepared by a loved one, by myself, or by a new person in the land I am beginning to call home, eating that dish goes far beyond mere survival; it is an act that threads the past with the present, a constant dialogue between who I was and who I am at this exact moment.