US Lawmakers Push Mental Health Days for Kids Amid Pandemic
When she was growing up, Sophie Corroon struggled to get through a ballet class or soccer tryout without having an anxiety attack.The idea of going to sleepovers or being home alone left her feeling panicked. Corroon’s anxiety grew even more during high school in Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah when the pressures of getting into college left her in tears at school or toiling for hours on assignments.Corroon, now 20, has struggled with her mental health since fourth grade, and she’s not alone. And now, the coronavirus pandemic has multiplied the pressures on kids — many have spent almost a year doing remote learning, isolated from their friends and classmates. The portion of children’s emergency-room visits related to mental health was 44% higher in 2020, compared with the year before.State lawmakers are increasingly seeking more support for kids. This year, legislation proposed in Utah and Arizona would add mental or behavioral health to the list of reasons students can be absent from class, similar to staying out with a physical illness. Similar laws have passed in the states of Oregon, Maine, Colorado and Virginia in the past two years.Offering mental health days can help children and …
Asylum Camp Swells at US-Mexico Border; Biden Aide Urges Patience
The Biden administration is urging migrants trapped in Mexico under restrictions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump to be patient, even as the population of a refugee camp in northeastern Mexico begins to swell with hopeful asylum-seekers.On Friday, a senior aide to U.S. President Joe Biden said the administration is working on a system to process the tens of thousands of asylum-seekers who have been forced to wait in Mexico under a Trump-era program.”We’re reviewing now how we can process the migrants who are already in this program,” the aide, Roberta Jacobson, said on a call with reporters. “How to prioritize the people who were enrolled not only months but years ago, and above all, people who are the most vulnerable.”Jacobson said all of those waiting in Mexico under the program, officially known as Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), will have an opportunity to present asylum claims.The protocols, in place since 2019, have pushed more than 65,000 asylum-seekers back into Mexico to wait for their U.S. court hearings. The Biden administration stopped adding people to MPP last week but has not yet outlined how it will process the claims of those already enrolled.Advocates have documented the dangers they face while …
Biden Extends, Expands Deportation Protection for Syrians in US
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Friday an extension of protected status for some 6,700 Syrian refugees living in the United States.Acting DHS Secretary David Pekoske said the department would extend Temporary Protected Status through September of 2022 and allow 1,800 more Syrians to apply for the status.Undocumented Immigrants Cheering Possible Citizenship Path Under Biden’It all depends on the Congress, especially the Senate,’ one immigrant advocate says“The Syrian civil war continues to demonstrate deliberate targeting of civilians, the use of chemical weapons and irregular warfare tactics, and use of child soldiers,” DHS said in a statement.“The war has also caused sustained need for humanitarian assistance, an increase in refugees and displaced people, food insecurity, limited access to water and medical care, and large-scale destruction of Syria’s infrastructure. These conditions prevent Syrian nationals from safely returning,” the department added.The administration of former president Donald Trump twice extended TPS status for Syrians due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, according to Reuters. …
Foreign Students View Capitol Riot With Fear
Shwe Einthe was about to leave her Washington apartment to grab a bite to eat when an emergency message blared on her cellphone, alerting her to violence at the U.S. Capitol building and a 6 p.m. citywide curfew. “My first thought was, ‘Oh, my God, this feels like dictator Myanmar, like I am back in my developing country,’” said Einthe, an international student at George Washington University. “‘This doesn’t happen in the States, curfew doesn’t happen in the States. That happens in countries like mine.’” Like other international students in the U.S., Einthe said she was shocked by the violent protests over President Donald Trump’s election loss on January 6 — and how closely they resembled political violence some international students have experienced in their home countries. “My family grew up during a revolution, coup after coup, we lived under a very brutal military dictatorship,” said Einthe. “Having experienced martial law and curfew, I’m very familiar with all of that.”International student enrollment in the U.S. was down by 0.9% for the 2018-2019 academic year, according to an annual Open Doors report released in November 2020 by the Institute for International Education (IIE). While the top reasons that academic year for choosing other countries, such as Canada, Australia and …
Bernie Sanders’ Mittens, Memes Help Raise $1.8 Million for Charity
About those wooly mittens that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration, sparking endless quirky memes across social media? They’ve helped to raise $1.8 million in the last five days for charitable organizations in Sanders’ home state of Vermont, the independent senator announced Wednesday. The sum comes from the sale of merchandise with the January 20 image of him sitting with his arms and legs crossed, clad in his brown parka and recycled wool mittens. Sanders put the first of the so-called “Chairman Sanders” merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers, on his website Thursday night and the first run sold out in less than 30 minutes, he said. More merchandise was added over the weekend and sold out by Monday morning, he said. FILE – A Bernie Sanders cutout sits in the stands during a basketball game at Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jan 23, 2021. (Harrison Barden-USA Today Sports)Sanders’ mittens were made by Jen Ellis, a Vermont elementary school teacher who has a side business making mittens out of recycled wool. His inauguration look, also featuring the winter jacket made by Burton Snowboards, sparked countless memes from the photo taken by Agence France-Presse: The former presidential candidate could be …
Biden Administration Suffers Early Blow to Key Immigration Priority
The Biden administration’s push to undo former President Donald Trump’s restrictive and enforcement-focused immigration policies hit its first speed bump this week as a federal judge temporarily blocked a 100-day deportation moratorium. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday after the Texas governor and attorney general challenged a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo directing immigration agencies to halt most deportations of undocumented immigrants. The court said the Biden administration had failed “to provide any concrete, reasonable justification for a 100-day pause on deportations.” Tipton, a Republican appointed by Trump, paused the policy for at least 14 days while he considered the lawsuit for a preliminary injunction. Why did Texas state officials sue? The 100-day moratorium, which went into effect January 22, was signed by Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske and applied to most individuals who entered the United States without authorization before November 2020. President Joe Biden directed the DHS to focus on public safety threats, national security and anyone apprehended while illegally entering the U.S. after November 1. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued the memo violated both federal law and an agreement Texas signed with …
SAT Cancels Tests in US and Abroad
The trend to deemphasize standardized tests in admissions decisions at U.S. colleges and universities moved ahead this week. The College Board, the organization that administers the tests, said it will discontinue some and improve others. Subject tests such as biology, chemistry and world history, for example, will be discontinued in the United States but not abroad.”We are no longer offering the subject tests in the U.S.,” the College Board announced January 19. “Because subject tests are used internationally for a wider variety of purposes, we will provide two more administrations in May and June of 2021 for students in international locations.” Subject tests have been on the decline since they peaked in 2011. “Most universities have eliminated Subject Test requirements, either making the Subject Tests optional or not considering scores at all,” the website explained. “Overall, Subject Tests have played less and less of a role in admissions every year, except at the 50-60 most selective colleges in the country.” “In addition, the language Subject Tests were mainly being taken by native speakers, which didn’t give colleges helpful information in making admissions decisions,” College Board continued, “so colleges started to discount strong scores on those exams.” “Finally,” tweeted high-school counselor Brittanie Davis in Indiana, …
Judge Bars Biden From Enforcing 100-day Deportation Ban
A federal judge Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which on Friday challenged a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. Tipton said the Biden administration had failed “to provide any concrete, reasonable justification for a 100-day pause on deportations.” Texas Sues Biden Administration Over Halt to DeportationsTexas claims moratorium violates agreement, signed in waning weeks of Trump presidency, that required federal government to run changes in immigration enforcement past state firstTipton’s order is an early blow to the Biden administration, which has proposed far-reaching changes sought by immigration advocates, including a plan to legalize an estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Biden promised during his campaign to issue the moratorium. The order represents a victory for Texas’ Republican leaders, who often sued to stop programs enacted by Biden’s Democratic predecessor, President Barack Obama. It also showed that just as Democratic-led states and immigration groups fought former President Donald Trump over immigration in court, often successfully, so too will Republicans with Biden in office. …
Nursing Students Train with Virtual Patients During Pandemic
Virtual patients are stepping in for real ones and allowing nursing students to continue their training during the pandemic. Tina Trinh reports. …
First Lady Jill Biden to Focus on Education Policy
Jill Biden, the wife of recently inaugurated President Joe Biden, has made it clear that education policy will be a priority for her in the White House. Biden, who has a doctorate in education, is familiar with life in Washington as her husband spent 36 years in the U.S. Senate and eight years as vice president under Barack Obama. VOA’s Esha Sarai and Carolyn Presutti bring us more about the new U.S. first lady in this profile.Video editors: Marcus Harton, Esha Sarai …
Dr. Jill Biden Steps Into First Lady Role
Jill Biden, the wife of recently inaugurated President Joe Biden, has made it clear that education policy will be a priority for her in the White House. Jill Biden is familiar with life in Washington as her husband spent 36 years in the U.S. Senate and eight years as vice president under Barack Obama. VOA’s Esha Sarai and Carolyn Presutti bring us more about the new U.S. first lady in this profile.Video editors: Marcus Harton, Esha Sarai …
Meme of Senator Bernie Sanders Goes Viral Worldwide
Those who are not students of U.S. politics might be asking why the latest social media craze features an older gentleman in a dark puffer coat sitting in a folding chair and wearing large woolen mittens with a zig-zag pattern. Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from the small and often very cold New England state of Vermont, was seated at the presidential inauguration of his former rival, Joe Biden, dressed for warmth rather than fashion. And the world can’t seem to stop getting enough of the image. Tweets and posts have received millions of likes and shares. At 79, the senator, who is often referred to as Bernie when people talk about him – was more popular with younger voters during the Democratic primary than younger candidates. Now, after his appearance at the inauguration, he is everywhere.The photo of him sitting with legs and arms crossed comfortably has been superimposed into images from around the world – showing him with the K-pop boy band BTS; dancing with South Korean K-pop star Psy; or as overlord Wizard of Oz. Other images show Sanders sitting outside a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, or watching a half-naked Putin take a polar plunge. There is …
Meme of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders Goes Viral
Those who are not students of U.S. politics might be asking why the latest social media craze features an older gentleman in a dark puffer coat sitting in a folding chair and wearing large woolen mittens with a zig-zag pattern. Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from the small and often very cold New England state of Vermont, was seated at the presidential inauguration of his former rival, Joe Biden, dressed for warmth rather than fashion. And the world can’t seem to stop getting enough of the image. Tweets and posts have received millions of likes and shares. At 79, the senator, who is often referred to as Bernie when people talk about him – was more popular with younger voters during the Democratic primary than younger candidates. Now, after his appearance at the inauguration, he is everywhere.The photo of him sitting with legs and arms crossed comfortably has been superimposed into images from around the world – showing him with the K-pop boy band BTS; dancing with South Korean K-pop star Sy; or as overlord Wizard of Oz. Other images show Sanders sitting outside a mosque in Aleppo, Syria, or watching a half-naked Putin take a polar plunge. There is …
Democrats Start Reining in Expectations for Immigration Bill
It’s taken only days for Democrats gauging how far President Joe Biden’s bold immigration proposal can go in Congress to acknowledge that if anything emerges, it will likely be significantly more modest.As they brace to tackle a politically flammable issue that’s resisted major congressional action since the 1980s, Democrats are using words like “aspirational” to describe Biden’s plan and “herculean” to express the effort they’ll need to prevail.A cautious note came from the White House on Friday when press secretary Jen Psaki said the new administration views Biden’s plan as a “first step” it hopes will be “the basis” of discussions in Congress. Democrats’ measured tones underscore the fragile road they face on a paramount issue for their minority voters, progressives and activists.Immigration proponents advocating an all-out fight say Democrats’ new hold on the White House and Congress provides a major edge, but they concede they may have to accept less than total victory. Paving a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally, the centerpiece of Biden’s plan, is “the stake at the summit of the mountain,” Frank Sharry, executive director of the pro-immigration group America’s Voice, said in an interview. He said proponents …
Texas Sues Biden Administration Over Halt to Deportations
Texas on Friday moved to stop President Joe Biden from allowing a 100-day moratorium on deportations, bringing one of the first lawsuits against his new administration.The lawsuit seeks a halt to the deportation moratorium “for certain noncitizens” that was to begin Friday. Biden has signed a raft of executive orders, including one revoking former President Donald Trump’s mandate that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation.Texas claims the moratorium violates an agreement, signed in the waning weeks of Trump’s presidency, that required the federal government to run changes in immigration enforcement past the state first. BuzzFeed News first reported the Trump administration signing similar agreements with Republican leaders in several states. Legal scholars have expressed doubt that the agreements will be enforceable in court.”Failure to properly enforce the law will directly and immediately endanger our citizens and law enforcement personnel,” Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said.The Department of Homeland Security referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond.The lawsuit, which repeatedly cites Texas’ agreement with the Trump administration, was filed before U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, a Trump appointee, in the Southern District of Texas.Biden’s actionsSince taking office Wednesday, Biden has shown intent …
Undocumented Immigrants Cheering Possible Citizenship Path Under Biden
Undocumented immigrants cheered President Joe Biden’s plan to provide a path to U.S. citizenship for about 11 million people without legal status, mixing hope with guarded optimism Wednesday amid a seismic shift in how the U.S. government views and treats them.The newly inaugurated president moved to reverse four years of harsh restrictions and mass deportation with a plan for sweeping legislation on citizenship. Biden also issued executive orders reversing some of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, such as halting work on a U.S.-Mexico border wall and lifting a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries. He also ordered his Cabinet to work to keep deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people brought to the U.S. as children.”This sets a new narrative, moving us away from being seen as criminals and people on the public charge to opening the door for us to eventually become Americans,” said Yanira Arias, a Salvadoran immigrant with Temporary Protected Status who lives in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.’More hopeful future’Arias is among about 400,000 people given the designation after fleeing violence or natural disasters.”It sets a more hopeful future for immigrants in the U.S., but it all depends on the Congress, …
Biden Plans to Forgive Some Federal Student Loans
President Joe Biden plans to make sweeping changes for students who borrow loans from the federal government, which could result in major relief for many younger Americans.As of 2019, about one-third of Americans younger than 30 held student loan debt, according to the Pew Research Center. The average debt load was $29,200 in 2018, according to The Institute for College Access and Success. Those with student loans are more likely to report struggling financially, according to Pew.According to Federal Student Aid, an office of the Department of Education, the outstanding student loan debt is over $1.5 trillion, held by 42.9 million people. The government limits federal borrowing by undergrads to $31,000 for students who receive contributions from their parents, and $57,500 for students who are independent, according to the Brookings Institution.“Those who owe more than that almost always have borrowed for graduate school,” Brookings explained.It’s important to quantify student debt, Brookings said. Most undergrads finish college with little or modest debt. About 30% of undergrads leave school with no debt, and about 25% with less than $20,000, it reported.“Despite horror stories about college grads with six-figure debt loads, only 6% of borrowers owe more than $100,000 — and they owe …
On Day 1, Biden Dismantles Some of Trump’s Immigration Orders
President Joe Biden signed wide-ranging executive orders Wednesday to end travel restrictions from predominantly Muslim and African countries, initiate a halt to border wall funding and strengthen protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. The orders dismantled major portions of former President Donald Trump’s restrictive immigration policies.Travel restrictionsThe Biden-Harris White House reversed proclamations that barred most people from several majority Muslim and African countries to travel to the U.S. In a conference call with reporters, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, described Trump’s policy as “nothing less than a stain on our nation” and “rooted in xenophobia and religious animus.” The former Trump White House had defended the proclamations as needed to keep America safe.Though the order says it will provide relief for families that were separated by Trump’s travel restrictions, it also calls for strengthening screening and vetting for travelers by “enhancing information sharing with foreign governments.”FILE – In this June 18, 2020, photo, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals students celebrate in front of the Supreme Court in Washington after it rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end legal protections for young immigrants.DACABiden is “preserving and fortifying” the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which …
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