Tag Archives: OddBox

Trump’s executive order ending immigrant family separation doesn’t address getting current child detainees back to their parents

LatinaLista — President Donald Trump signed today, under duress, an executive order to stop separating immigrant families. However, this order does not address reunifying families.

The ongoing trauma that detained children are being subjected to needs to end and, as a community, the nation must continue the pressure on Congress, the DOJ and the Oval Office to ensure these children have a voice — a loud voice — until they are in the arms of their parents.

 

Photo: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Vice President Mike Pence flank President Trump as he signs the Executive Order. 

 

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2018

EXECUTIVE ORDER

– – – – – – –

AFFORDING CONGRESS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS FAMILY SEPARATION

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of this Administration to rigorously enforce our immigration laws. Under our laws, the only legal way for an alien to enter this country is at a designated port of entry at an appropriate time. When an alien enters or attempts to enter the country anywhere else, that alien has committed at least the crime of improper entry and is subject to a fine or imprisonment under section 1325(a) of title 8, United States Code. This Administration will initiate proceedings to enforce this and other criminal provisions of the INA until and unless Congress directs otherwise. It is also the policy of this Administration to maintain family unity, including by detaining alien families together where appropriate and consistent with law and available resources. It is unfortunate that Congress’s failure to act and court orders have put the Administration in the position of separating alien families to effectively enforce the law.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For purposes of this order, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Alien family” means

(i) any person not a citizen or national of the United States who has not been admitted into, or is not authorized to enter or remain in, the United States, who entered this country with an alien child or alien children at or between designated ports of entry and who was detained; and

(ii) that person’s alien child or alien children.

(b) “Alien child” means any person not a citizen or national of the United States who

(i) has not been admitted into, or is not authorized to enter or remain in, the United States;

(ii) is under the age of 18; and

(iii) has a legal parent-child relationship to an alien who entered the United States with the alien child at or between designated ports of entry and who was detained.

Sec. 3. Temporary Detention Policy for Families Entering this Country Illegally. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary), shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, maintain custody of alien families during the pendency of any criminal improper entry or immigration proceedings involving their members.

(b) The Secretary shall not, however, detain an alien family together when there is a concern that detention of an alien child with the child’s alien parent would pose a risk to the child’s welfare.

(c) The Secretary of Defense shall take all legally available measures to provide to the Secretary, upon request, any existing facilities available for the housing and care of alien families, and shall construct such facilities if necessary and consistent with law. The Secretary, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for reimbursement for the use of these facilities.

(d) Heads of executive departments and agencies shall, to the extent consistent with law, make available to the Secretary, for the housing and care of alien families pending court proceedings for improper entry, any facilities that are appropriate for such purposes. The Secretary, to the extent permitted by law, shall be responsible for reimbursement for the use of these facilities.

(e) The Attorney General shall promptly file a request with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to modify the Settlement Agreement in Flores v. Sessions, CV 85-4544 (“Flores settlement”), in a manner that would permit the Secretary, under present resource constraints, to detain alien families together throughout the pendency of criminal proceedings for improper entry or any removal or other immigration proceedings.

Sec. 4. Prioritization of Immigration Proceedings Involving Alien Families. The Attorney General shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize the adjudication of cases involving detained families.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

June 20, 2018.

###

House GOP Quietly Introduces Legislation To Gut Medicare, Repeal ACA

Sacks of Sh$t House GOP Quietly Introduces Legislation To Gut Medicare, Repeal ACA:

crooksandliars:

House GOP Quietly Introduces Legislation To Gut Medicare, Repeal ACA

While we were all looking at the southern border, House Republicans quietly introduced a bill to balance the budget. In order to do so, they plan to gut Medicare and repeal the Affordable Care Act for the zillionth time.

Washington Post:

The House Republican budget, entitled “A Brighter American Future,” would remake Medicare by giving seniors the option of enrolling in private plans that compete with traditional Medicare, a system of competition designed to keep costs down but dismissed by critics as an effort to privatize the program. Along with other changes, the budget proposes to squeeze $537 billion out of Medicare over the next decade.

The budget would transform Medicaid, the federal-state health-care program for the poor, by limiting per capita payments or allowing states to turn it into a block-grant program — the same approach House Republicans took in their legislation that passed last year to repeal the Affordable Care Act (the repeal effort died in the Senate, but the GOP budget assumes the repeal takes place). It also proposes adding work requirements for certain adults enrolled in Medicaid. Changes to Medicaid and other health programs would account for $1.5 trillion in savings.

read more

The continuous defeat of being Arabs

 

 

At some point, the Arabs need to admit that there is something existentially wrong with their mindsets. It is not coincidental this state of consecutive defeat.

With nations that have no severe achievement or hope to grab, football remains an essential reflection on reality, and at the same time, the Arabs comparison is justifiable _ Sarcastically_

Between Russia’s world cup and Gaza’s war.

Hoping for a triumph Arabsleagues, mainly Egypt and specifically Salah. And waging conquests of burning kites and blown condoms (the substitute for balloons in Gaza ) while F16 and rockets are adding more destruction to the already destroyed Strip.

Salah, the Egyptian soccer player who became more famous than Kim Kardashian and Haifa Wahbe for his memorable goal in the finals. A talented young man, with serious expectations to compete in the best soccer teams and whose name is already competing with Ronaldo and Messi. But football is the game of the unexpected… while playing with Liverpool on Europe’s Cup, Ramos from Real Madrid gave him a harsh stroke that split his shoulder. The man was thumped, and all expectations for a quick recovery would only be a soft dream. But yet, the audience, and the team, and the nation insisted that he recovered. He even insisted and joined his nation’s team to Russia.

As in Arab mindset, man becomes an idol quickly, and a superman combination with Zoro and the Matrix are applied to the new god… Mo Salah.

One watches the game and keeps praying (that is what we Arabs do ) that the man does not get another blow that will paralyze him forever. Salah, however, knows and is worried, apparently, and he gives a very modest contribution.

And imagine.. this is a game .. a nation that relies on one injured man in a game that is more combustible than the game of thrones.

Something about Arab football that should be considered seriously.. we can only play 45 minutes well. Something magical happens and a real curse takes place, they may believe that the second half is a friendly half…

Anyway.. it must be coincidental, that this is what we see in all Arab matches… and even though billions of prayers were performed to support the Arab teams, somehow God did not listen…

A very normal consequence in performances that are based on little training fights among clubs and officials, poor environments, and focusing on idolizing one on account of all…

In Gaza…. While oppression and seizure and killing are apparent and need no clarification. Israel went together with the USA as far as withdrawing from the HRC so that they get out of responsibility. As if being in that council will hold them accountable.

Palestinians who are brutally killed, abused, oppressed, seized by the Israeli occupation, suddenly turned into internal fights over salaries, and occupation which is harming the grounds and the skies of Gaza is freely violating all aspects of life to the strip and is stretching its violations around the west bank, with demolitions and arrests ,and killings when possible.

Israel is responding to the kites with rockets. We Palestinians are proud of burning a few trees that in our holy war turned into forests.

Israel extends its victimizing situation in defending itself, and we Palestinians are declaring victories in numbers of trees that are burnt, while the destruction of Gaza and its people is taking place…

And we are watching….

Then we wonder about our state of defeat…

And I will be accused of being too harsh ….

Stories behind old family photos by Feng Keli

607.jpg

Feng Keli is the founder and the editor-in-chief of “Old Photos,” a Chinese-language series of publications that collects images of the country’s modern history. Since 1996, these publications showcased countless family portraits taken during the 19th and 20th centuries. They allow us to catch a glimpse of the everyday lives of Chinese people during the course of the country’s tumultuous recent history. Feng Keli recently wrote several articles about these publications for Sixth Tone, an online publication that produces informed and insightful content on contemporary China. 

Spotted on: www.sixthtone.com

“I’m from a small country in Africa called Benin. I won the…

tumblr_pa9w2g0nWV1qggwnvo1_500.jpg

“I’m from a small country in Africa called Benin. I won the visa lottery to come here. I didn’t even know I was eligible. My brother entered my name and didn’t even tell me. I was studying to be a psychiatrist at the time. I assumed that I’d be able to continue with medical school. But when I arrived here, I found out that none of my credits would transfer. I had a choice: either go home and become a doctor, or start from the bottom. I didn’t speak any English. I didn’t have any money. But I knew if I could somehow make it here, my degree would be much more valuable. So I made the choice to stay. I began practicing English with my young nieces. The first thing I learned was: ‘I’m going to kick you.’ I got a job with a catering company and learned how to say ‘I’m here to deliver your food.’ I studied as many YouTube videos as I could during my free time. It’s been three years now. I’m almost finished with my bachelor’s degree. Just two classes left. At nights I work as a behavioral specialist in a mental health facility. I’m going to take the MCAT in September. My friends back home have all become doctors already, but I try not to think about them. I don’t want to lose my focus. I haven’t made it yet, but I’m making it.”

A Trade Update

We all have heard or read or watched the game being played with international trade…….BAM!  Trump has levied tariffs on international steel ans aluminum….and then the president goes to the G7 and blows up everything…..

First floated the idea of scrapping all tariffs……

President Trump reportedly asked world leaders at the Group of Seven Summit on Friday to consider “no tariffs” at all amid growing tensions over the administration’s trade moves.

Politico, citing officials who listened and took notes of the discussions, reported that Trump told assembled world leaders that “we should at least consider no tariffs, no barriers — scrapping all of it.”

(thehill.com)

Did I miss something?

After saying that nugget……Trump threatens to end ALL trade……

Leaving the G7 summit on Saturday, President Trump said that the U.S. might end all trade with America’s closest allies if those countries don’t submit to his demands over reduced trade barriers. Trump also confirmed that he had told the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, and Italy that there should be no tariffs between them and the U.S. of any kind. Whether Trump’s characteristically hyperbolic threat, or overarching proposal, will be taken seriously is another matter.

Referring to what he called “ridiculous and unfair” tariffs on U.S. imports, Trump said, “It’s going to stop — or we’ll stop trading with them. And that’s a very profitable answer, if we have to do it.”

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/trump-threatens-to-end-all-trade-with-allies.html

Okay what part of any of that sounds like something that would be taught at the Wharton school?

Why did he waste time pissing everybody off?

BTW just a reminder where the trade goes here in the US….

Then there was some good news (at least for me)….

Before I begin let me say…..my more Right leaning brethren have accused me of hating our president, Donald J. Trump.  They are mistaken I may dislike the man but I hate very few people.

With that said there are a few policies that Trump espoused that I could agree with….some of his campaign thoughts on war and foreign policy and a few domestic things…the problem is that when he became president he back peddled on the ones I liked….that fed my dislike.

Everyone knows about the trade war that Trump is about to start with the rest of the world, right?  Well he has made a statement that I fully agree with….he has said that he wants to ban German luxury cars.

President Donald Trump is hoping to effectively ban sales of Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and other German cars, according to reports from a German magazine.

A report in WirtschaftsWoche cites unnamed diplomatic sources who say Trump told French president Emmanuel Macron he would maintain his trade policy “until no Mercedes models rolled on Fifth Avenue in New York.” The trade policy would seemingly affect any German automaker, though, putting sales of Porsche and Volkswagen (and its Audi luxury division) at risk as well as Daimler.

Trump has long held a hardline position toward German automakers. Last January, he underscored this in comments that appeared in the German magazine Bild.

“When you walk down Fifth Avenue, everybody has a Mercedes-Benz parked in front of his house,” Trump said, according to a Wall Street Journal translation of the comments. “You were very unfair to the U.S.A. It isn’t mutual. How many Chevrolets do you see in Germany? Not many, maybe none, you don’t see anything at all over there. It’s a one-way street.”

(yahoo news)

This will not sit well with the pretentious twats that own one of these cars….I say let these self-centered slugs buy American.

Since I am an Italian sports car enthusiast, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfas I cannot disagree or fault Trump for his vendetta against the Germans.

Let me leave you with a small joke…..

What is the difference between a porcupine and a BMW?

A porcupine has all the PRICKS on the outside.

(rim shot)

Not to worry if you are wealthy enough for one of their pieces of scrap metal then you will find a way around the ban…..they always do.  Their money will buy lots of privilege.

More bad news about these new tariffs….economist say that the dollars saved by people because of the tax cuts will be taken away because of increase in prices…….

Your trade moment is done….I return you to your regular reading habits….

Be well, be safe…..chuq

Poet Galal El-Behairy’s ‘Letter from Tora Prison’

Freedom!

Ahead of the expected verdict for imprisoned Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy, ArabLit — like PEN centers around the world — is sharing a work El-Behairy wrote in prison:

El-Behairy was arrested more than three months ago, on March 3, 2018, on charges related to his most recent book of poems, خير نسوان الأرض, The Finest Women on Earth (2018) and lyrics he wrote for Ramy Essam’s song “Balaha.” A campaign against him called him a spy, and called for his citizenship to be revoked.

In a statement, El-Behairy responded to the charges against his poems.

El-Behairy was held for a week without family or friends knowing his whereabouts before he appeared on March 10, reportedly showing signs of torture. While Egyptian prosecution did order a medical examination, according to PEN, the results have neither been made public nor shared with El-Behairy’s lawyer.

El-Behairy’s first court appearance was May 6, and he faced charges of being a member of a terrorist group, spreading false news, abuse of social-media networks, blasphemy, contempt of religion, and insulting the military. The verdict was initially to be handed down May 9. It was postponed to May 16, and is now expected June 27.

English PEN has urged “the Egyptian authorities to release him and the many other writers and activists unlawfully detained in Egypt immediately and unconditionally.” PEN International has also written an open letter to the Egyptian government, signed by PEN directors around the world.

To draw international attention to the case, several PEN centers, as well as Artists at Risk an ArabLit, are publishing a new poem El-Behairy wrote in detention. The translator wishes to remain unnamed, due to potential repercussions against himself and his family. 

A Letter from Tora Prison

By Galal El-Behairy

From the Tora Prison in Cairo

May 2018

 

 You, something

in the heart, unspoken,

something

in the throat, the last wish

of a man on the gallows

when the hour of hanging comes,

the great need

for oblivion; you, prison

and death, free of charge;

you, the truest meaning of man,

the word “no”—

I kiss your hand

and, preparing for the trial,

put on a suit and pray

for your Eid to come.

I’m the one

who escaped from the Mamluks,

I’m the child

whose father’s name is Zahran,

and I swim in your name, addiction.

I’m the companion of outlawed poets.

O my oblivion, I’m the clay

that precedes the law of concrete.

 

In the heart of this night

I own nothing

but my smile.

I take my country in my arms

and talk to her

about all the prisoners’ lives… out there

beyond the prison’s borders,

beyond the jailer’s grasp,

and about man’s need… for his fellow man,

about a dream

that was licit

and possible,

about a burden

that could be borne

if everyone took part in it.

 

I laugh at a song

they call “criminal,”

which provoked them

to erect a hundred barricades.

On our account, they block out the sun

and the thoughts in the head.

They want to hide the past

behind locks and bolts,

preventing him from whispering

about how things once were.

They want to hide him

by appointing guards—

weak-minded foreigners

estranged from the people.

But what wonder is this?

His fate is written

in all the prison cells.

His cell has neither bricks

nor steel,

and he was not defeated

within it.

Outside… a squadron of slaves.

Inside… a crucified messiah.

The thorns above his brow

are witnesses: You betrayed his revolution

with your own hands.

With shame in your eyes, you

are the Judases of the past,

whatever your religion, whatever

miniscule vision you have.

We’ve come back

and we see you.

 

You who imprisoned

the light, that naked groaning.

The light doesn’t care

how tall the fence is;

it’s not hemmed in

by steel bars

or officers’ uniforms.

It cannot be forgotten.

You can take a public square away from us,

but there are thousands and thousands of others,

and I’ll be there, waiting for you.

Our land will not betray us.

With each olive branch

we’re weaving your shrouds.

And the young man you killed

has come back, awake now

and angry.

He’s got a bone to pick

with his killer.

He’s got a bone to pick

with the one who betrayed him,

the one who, on that night of hope,

acquiesced, fell silent, and slept.

His wound has healed; he’s come back,

a knight

without a bridle;

he’s setting up the trial

while an imam prays among us

and illumines the one who was blind;

he’s rolling up his sleeves, preparing

for a fight;

he was killed—yes, it’s true—and yet

he has his role in this epic;

he stands there now

and holds his ground.

 

We’ve returned

to call on God

and proclaim it: “We’ve come back,

come back

hand in hand.”

Again we proclaim it: “We’ve come back,

and we vow

to spread the light,

the new dawn,

the keen-sighted conscience.”

We’ve come back, and we can smell

the fear in in your veins;

and our cheers tonight

are the sweetest of all:

“We are not afraid.

We are not afraid.”

 

We saw a country

rise from sleep

to trample a pharaoh

and cleanse the age

of the cane and cudgel.

We saw a country sing:

those were no slave songs,

no harbingers of doom, rather

songs fitting

for a new kind of steel.

We saw it.

We saw a country

where no one is oppressed.

Suggested actions:

Readers can add their support to the petition for Galal’s release.