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As our country continues to struggle with historic teacher shortages, we ought to consider an untapped pool of aspiring teachers: Young immigrants who want to become educators.

They can connect with other newcomers by sharing their stories and serving as role models, like the ones I had when I arrived in Queens from Ecuador at the age of 14.

The bustling pace of rush-hour commuters, the tangled mix of languages and the loud rhythm of a sleepless city disoriented me for months.

Thanks to Mr. Bello, my supportive math teacher at Newcomers High School in Queens, I was able to quiet the cacophony with the anonymity of numbers.

Mr. Bello taught me much more than trigonometry and geometry. He taught me about probability, and helped me see that I could succeed as an undocumented student despite the uncertainty of my status.

Mr. Bello, himself an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, helped me build confidence in my potential, which allowed me to face a higher education and workforce system that systemically shuts doors to undocumented immigrants.

Another teacher, Mr. Palau, an immigrant from Paraguay, patiently guided me through my college application process. He made sure I understood that I was eligible for the in-state tuition rate despite my undocumented status.

Eventually, I qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. That allowed me to get a work permit and pursue a career in the immigration research field.

Today, I am the project director at the Initiative on Immigration and Education at the City University of New York (also known as CUNY-IIE), which produces research and resources that center the strengths of immigrant communities.

In this role, I see firsthand the importance and urgent need in our schools for more teachers like Mr. Bello and Mr. Palau.

Related: Teachershortagesare real, but not for the reason you heard

Congresss inability to pass any kind of immigration reform that would help undocumented immigrants become teachers makes easing the path of immigrants into educator roles a tough ask, especially as the 11-year-old DACA program is in peril of being eliminated for good by judicial decree.

Currently, immigrant educators may be granted work permits only if they qualify for DACA or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which has been extended to people from 16 countries. State and local lawmakers and policymakers can and should be creative in expanding options.

The situation is urgent. According to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state needs to hire 180,000 new teachers over the next decade to keep up with the demands of the workforce. Enrollment in New York States teacher education programs has declined by 53 percent since 2009.

Most disconcerting for our newest students: There is a significant shortage of bilingual teachers. In 2022-23, approximately 134,000 students who were enrolled in New York Citys public schools identified as English Language Learners, yet the United Federation of Teachers reported that the school system had fewer than 3,000 certified bilingual educators.

This shortage intersects with a political and social upheaval in the city. Since April 2022, New York has received more than 116,000 asylum seekers, including approximately 20,000 children who have now entered the public school system.

The majority of these students are from Latin America and the Caribbean and speak languages other than English.

Bilingual education is considered the best approach for immigrant students, according to Tatyana Kleyn, professor of Bilingual Education & TESOL at The City College of New York. Kleyn favors bilingual education because it allows students to continue learning in their home language while they also learn English.

For all New York teachers, an initial certification is valid for just five years. From there, they are expected to get a professional teaching certificate. For a while, DACA beneficiaries were not eligible for professional certification.

In 2016, the New York State Education Department began to allow undocumented students who are DACA beneficiaries to get professional teaching certificates.

Last year, the state expanded that guidance, allowing undocumented students without a social security number (and who are not DACA holders) to do fieldwork in certain schools and obtain initial certification.

These are two steps in the right direction.

Related: OPINION: In an era ofteacher shortages, we must embrace and develop new ways to unleash educator talent

However, undocumented educators who are not DACA holders cant make use of their education degree and initial certification because they do not have access to work permits.

In addition, some undocumented immigrants just missed the cutoff for DACA or have not been allowed to apply due to the litigation battles about the program.

Our working group, UndocuEdu, produced a report in 2021 titled The State of Undocumented Educators in New York that outlines the challenges undocumented educators face navigating teacher education programs.

One suggestion in the report is to eliminate testing fees for NYS certification exams for those in financial need.

Another recommendation is for policymakers to create municipal or state exceptions so that our citys schools can hire educators who have training and certification but lack a work permit.

State legislators and advocates in New York are already discussing the creation of municipal work permits for recently arrived asylum-seekers.

We urge the city and state to embrace these types of solutions and find others to address the current educational need. Its time to give more opportunities to a group of trained educators who are already in our communities.

Now more than ever, we need to expand our teaching pool for students who urgently need help. Undocumented teachers can become the Mr. Bellos and Mr. Palaus that every immigrant student deserves.

Daniela Alulema is project director of the CUNY-Initiative on Immigration and Education in New York City.

This story about immigrant teachers was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for Hechingers newsletter.

The Hechinger Report provides in-depth, fact-based, unbiased reporting on education that is free to all readers. But that doesn't mean it's free to produce. Our work keeps educators and the public informed about pressing issues at schools and on campuses throughout the country. We tell the whole story, even when the details are inconvenient. Help us keep doing that.

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OPINION: To solve teacher shortages, lets open pathways for ... - The Hechinger Report

Gov. Hochul, who had pursued the idea of issuing state-approved work papers to migrants, took the plan off the table Monday, saying she would not have been able to protect New York employers from criminal exposure under federal laws.

Im constrained by the law, Hochul said at a news conference in Midtown Manhattan, two months after sheindicated she was looking into thepermitting concept. Pursuing it has led us to the conclusion that I cannot protect employers under this scenario.

Thousands of asylum seekers have been languishing for months in the city without federal work authorization, with the city and state marshaling significant resources to shelter the arrivals.

Asylum seekers must wait for months to get their work papers approved: the standard 150-day gap between when migrants submit asylum papers and work permit applications is complicated by a backlogged work authorization system, creating extensive delays.

Changes to the 150-day gap are subject to the whims of Congress. Immigration reform efforts have long been deadlocked in Washington.

New York officials have spent the last year calling on the federal government to expedite asylum seekers work authorizations, finding limited success. At one point, Hochul warned the White House that she may be having to begin to distribute state work papers. (The White House said it would not encourage such an effort.)

But on Monday, Hochul said the plan was not tenable. She said the state had considered an approach in which it would have hired the migrants directly and then subcontracted them to employers.

I cannot indemnify or protect the employers from any kind of federal prosecution for violating immigration laws, Hochul said. Thats the only barrier. And its a big one.

No state has ever tried to supersede the federal governments role as the dispenser of work papers, said Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law at Cornell University. He said the approach that Hochul described likely would have invited long-running litigation, and would not have helped the state in the short-term.

Since spring 2022, more than 139,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City, and about 66,000 remain in the citys overstretched shelter system, according to government tallies. The population of the shelter system has jumped from below 50,000 in July 2022 to about 120,000 this month.

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Hochul says NY will not give state work permits to migrants: 'I'm ... - New York Daily News

FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday said that the number of illegal immigrants evading Border Patrol agents and escaping into the country is a source of "great concern" for the agency, as he told lawmakers that threats from the other side of the border are "consuming" FBI field offices.

Wray testified to lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee about "worldwide threats" to the U.S. Chairman Mark Green asked Wray about the numbers of gotaways illegal immigrants at the border who evaded Border Patrol which have exceeded 600,000 in FY 23. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) sources tell Fox News there have been over 47,000 gotaways since the beginning of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

Green said the number of gotaways since the beginning of the Biden administration could be well over two million.

HOUSE HOMELAND CHAIR GREEN TO WARN US IS AT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES' IN HISTORY DURING THREAT HEARING

"Can the FBI guarantee American people that known or suspected terrorists, including any from Hamas or other terror groups, are not amongst those gotaways?" he asked.

"Well, certainly the group of people that you're talking about are source of great concern for us. That's why we're aggressively using all 56 of our joint terrorism task forces," Wray said.

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He later said that "any time you have a group of people in the United States that we don't know nearly enough about, that is a source of concern for us from a perspective in our lane of protecting Americans."

Wray testified that there has been an increase in the number of known or suspected terrorists attempting to cross the border in the last five years the number of those encountered on the terror watchlist hit record numbers in FY 23.

Wray said he couldnt speak to why that is, but added "the threats that come from the other side of the border are very much consuming all 56 of our field offices, not just in the border states."

FBI DIRECTOR WRAY WARNS TERROR THREAT TO AMERICANS AT 'WHOLE OTHER LEVEL' AMID HAMAS-ISRAEL CONFLICT

The testimony comes amid renewed concern, particularly from Republicans but also from within the Biden administration, about the potential for terrorists to use the border to gain access to the United States, particularly as Border Patrol agents are dealing with record migrant numbers.

There were over 249,000 migrant encounters in October alone, after an FY 23 which broke records for migrant encounters. Republicans have pinned the blame on the Biden administration for its policies, while the administration says it needs immigration reform and more funding to address a "broken" immigration system.

Those concerns about terrorism have been renewed in the wake of the Hamas terror attack on Israel. Green told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the U.S. is at "heightened risk," and said the "open door policy" at the border is largely to blame.

Wray has previously told lawmakers in the Senate that the threat of a terror attack against Americans has been raised to a "whole other level" due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. He said the most immediate concern includes homegrown violent extremists who are inspired by foreign terrorist organizations, or by domestic violent extremists who are targeting Muslim or Jewish targets.

A CBP memo warned fighters from Hamas, Hezbollah and other groups may seek entry into the U.S., although the agency said last month it has had no indication of fighters attempting to enter the U.S.

"CBP has seen no indication of Hamas-directed foreign fighters seeking to make entry into the United States," a CBP spokesperson said at the time.

The Department of Homeland Securitys FY 24 threat assessment warned that agents have encountered a growing number on the watch list and warned that "terrorists and criminal actors may exploit the elevated flow and increasingly complex security environment to enter the United States."

"Individuals with terrorism connections are interested in using established travel routes and permissive environments to facilitate access to the United States," the assessment also said.

However, the agency has also stressed that it works "tirelessly to screen, vet, and prevent anyone who poses a threat from entering the country" and that encounters of known or suspected terrorists are rare with watchlist encounters also including those associated with known or suspected terrorists, including relatives.

"Our border security efforts include biometric and biographic screening and vetting," a DHS official said. "CBP screens and vets every individual encountered, and if an individual is determined to pose a potential threat to national security or public safety, in coordination with the Joint Terrorism Taskforce (JTTF), we either deny admission, detain, remove, or refer them to other federal agencies for further vetting and prosecution as appropriate. "

Fox News' Aubrie Spady and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.

Original article source: FBI Director Wray says border gotaways a source of 'great concern' for agency

Originally posted here:
FBI Director Wray says border gotaways a source of 'great concern' for agency - Yahoo News

Civic Engagement

Written ByCarlota Morgado de Almeida

In our Icon Series, we reflect upon individuals who have laid the foundation for our journey toward justice and equity. The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity celebrates the extraordinary life of John Lewis.

John Lewis, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement, dedicated his life to fighting for justice, equality, and human rights. From his early activism as a student to his decades-long tenure as a respected congressman, Lewis left an invaluable mark on the struggle for racial equity and social justice in the United States. Through his commitment to nonviolent protest and his persistent pursuit of equality for all, John Lewis became synonymous with courage and perseverance. In this article, we delve into the extraordinary life and legacy of John Lewis, the conscience of the Congress.

John Lewis was born on February 21, 1940, in Troy, Alabama, at a time when racial segregation and discrimination ran deep in the American South. The son of sharecroppers, Lewis leaned toward activism from an early age. Even before turning 16 years old, Lewis preached a sermon at his family church that made it to his hometowns newspaper. He took inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s leadership and Rosa Parks courage that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. These experiences fueled Lewis passion for social justice and set him on a lifelong path of advocacy and activism.

As a young man, Lewis was drawn to the philosophy of nonviolent resistance and became involved in various civil rights activities, including sit-ins, freedom rides, and voter registration campaigns. In February 1960, he was arrested for the first time, along with other students who organized a series of sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Nashville. In 1961, Lewis was arrested once again with other Freedom Riders for defying to observe the segregationist practices aboard interstate buses. The repetition of these experiences throughout his youth shows Lewis commitment to the principles of nonviolence and justice, despite the beatings and aggression that protesters were often met with.

In 1963, John Lewis was elected to replace Chuck McDew as the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which made him more visible in the public space. In the same year, Lewis played a key leadership role in the historic March on Washington, one of his most notable contributions to the civil rights movement. Still in his 20s, and as the youngest speaker at the event, Lewis delivered a passionate speech emphasizing the urgency of civil rights legislation and racial equality.

By the mid-1960s, Lewis was considered one of the Big Six leaders of the civil rights movement, along with Roy Wilkins, Philip Randolph, Whitney Young, James Farmer, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was instrumental in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, where he and other civil rights activists faced brutal violence at the hands of state troopers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The events of what became known as Bloody Sunday brought national attention to the cause and ultimately led to the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

After years of grassroots movements, John Lewis activism culminated in his first run for Congress in 1977. Although Lewis first campaign was unsuccessful, President Jimmy Carter appointed him to direct ACTION, the umbrella federal volunteer agency that included the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). Lewis transitioned to a career in politics when he entered elective office as an Atlanta city councilman in 1981 and later won a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1986.

Throughout his tenure as a Democratic congressman, representing Georgias 5th congressional district, Lewis remained a steadfast advocate for civil rights, social justice, and equality. He championed voting rights, healthcare, and immigration reform and held vocal anti-war positions relating to Iraq. Lewis also had an instrumental role in the creation of the National Museum of African American History, co-authoring and sponsoring the legislation that created the museum. Showing the same perseverance he had demonstrated during his lifelong activism, he submitted the bill for discussion every year for 15 consecutive years until it was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2003.

His support of the Affordable Care Act during the Obama administration made Lewis the target of racial slurs, and his advocacy continued throughout the Trump administration. In the wake of the 2016 presidential election, Lewis took to non-violent protesting once again by not attending President Trumps inauguration ceremony, citing his concerns about the legitimacy of the elections outcome.

Lewis literary pursuits blossomed later in life, with the exception of the memoir Walking in the Wind, which he co-wrote with Michael DOrso in 1998. From the 2010s onwards, Lewis coauthored or authored several new books, including a trilogy of autobiographical graphic novels titled March (2013, 2015, 2016) recounting his experiences in the civil rights movement. Lewis hoped the series would impact young people in the same way that he was inspired by the graphic novel Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story (1958).

John Lewiss legacy is one of resilience, bravery, and unwavering commitment to the cause of justice. He was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize in 1975, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2001, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP) Spingarn Medal in 2002. In 2011 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Lewiss dedication to public service was guided by his belief in the power of ordinary people to effect positive change in their communities and the world. He often emphasized the importance of getting into good trouble, necessary trouble in the pursuit of justice and equality. His commitment to nonviolent protest and his belief in the inherent goodness of humanity served as guiding principles throughout his life and made him remembered as the conscience of Congress.

John Lewis passing on July 17, 2020, from pancreatic cancer, marked the end of an era, but his work laid the foundation for significant legislative changes and paved the way for a more inclusive and equitable society. His impact on American politics and society remains profound, serving as a reminder of the importance of perseverance, courage, and the relentless pursuit of justice and equity.

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LEWIS, John R. History art and Archives: The United States House of Representatives

John Lewis Biography

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John Lewis: Courage, Activism, and the Pursuit of Equality - InDepthNH.org

ALBANY After the U.S. House of Representatives approved a stopgap bill to continue to fund the government Tuesday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced Wednesday that she would vote in favor of the bill to avoid a government shutdown.

Speaking during a virtual press conference Wednesday morning, Gillibrand criticized the chaos in the Republican-controlled House.

The plan devised by House Speaker Mike Johnson, which passed the House yesterday, is not perfect, nor is it something that Democrats would have proposed, the New York Democrat said. In fact, the continued chaos in the Republican-controlled House was a major reason why Moody's lowered the U.S. credit rating from stable to negative, but it allows us to avoid some of the devastating consequences that a shutdown would have.

The stopgap bill put forward by newly-elected speaker temporarily funds some federal agencies, like housing and transportation, until Jan. 19, and others, such as defense spending, until Feb. 2.

Notably, the bill does not include any cuts to the Internal Revenue Service, as proposed by House Republicans, nor any aid for Israel and Ukraine.

Anyone who has heard the horror stories coming out of the Middle East and Ukraine right now knows that time is of the essence, Gillibrand said. At a time when Russia, Iran and China are actively colluding against American interests, it is critical that we deliver the necessary resources to protect our national security and the security of our allies.

In reaction to the removal of the funding for Israel and Ukraine, Gov. Kathy Hochul urged federal lawmakers to approve President Joe Bidens supplemental funding request for the aid.

New Yorkers feel the urgency of this moment: with the largest Jewish and Ukrainian populations in America, my constituents are eager to see additional security support. And as the site of major flooding as well as the epicenter of the migrant and asylum seeker crisis, New York urgently needs federal dollars to support our emergency efforts here at home, Hochul said in a statement. "I know our Senators and our Democratic Members of Congress are working to support President Biden's efforts but bipartisan action is needed to accomplish these critical goals.

Gillibrand said she is still optimistic a bipartisan deal can be reached to fund both.

One of the things that the House Republicans want is a border security bill and immigration reform bill, she said. So, the challenge is to see if that can be negotiated, but I believe if the House do get a border security bill, they will give us a Ukraine bill.

The U.S. Senate is poised to pass the bill by the end of the week to avoid a government shutdown Friday. Both U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have said they will vote in favor of the stopgap bill. Gillibrand said they expect to vote on the bill on Thursday.

Gillibrand once again criticized the chaos among House Republicans for the competing interests among their conference that has disrupted negotiations over a funding bill.

It's one of the reasons why I'm actually working to raise money and to create a coordinated campaign in New York so we can win those five House seats back, Gillibrand said. Those new Republican members have not led. They have not gotten anything done on immigration. They've gotten nothing done on SALT. They've gotten nothing done on just keeping the government running properly. So, I think those are real issues that will be brought to the voters about the lack of function and a lack of leadership in the House right now."

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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to vote in favor of stopgap funding bill to ... - The Daily Gazette