My flag was at half staff for President Carter. I raised it after his funeral, then lowered it again on January 20 for the death of democracy, and will remain at half staff until Dictator trump is gone for good.
Once again the M-GA solution is more far reaching and twisted than any "radical"L policy. The claim that immigrants are ok as long as they do it legally is hollow and apparently, made impossible. How is this better??
And the object is domination. Cruelty, threats, force, bullying, and insults are the tactics. All this is one more crack in the veneer of our civilized society. To Trump and his supporters, civil behavior is for suckers.
1) the dog in a hat jumping over the hockey sticks is wonderful
2) just wait until hurricane season when storms start to gain strength in the Gulf of America and attack our coastlines from Texas to Florida and even New England, especially if Trump ends FEMA support and states are left in their own
3) I’d like to see a cost analysis on the deportation of immigrant workers, my guess is that in these first days of ICE raids the cost of deporting each person - who was previously doing a job for an American employer now short of help - is tens of thousands of dollars. That is economically unsustainable.
I'll go out on a limb here and predict that companies and corporations that stuff sufficient amounts of money into Trump's pockets will receive dispensation from the pope to continue hiring immigrants. Possibly those who are rounded up will be made to work for them, at slave wages. That would be cheaper than actually deporting them.
It distresses me that such a crazy thought doesn't seem so far fetched anymore.
I heard on a podcast last week, a story on cable "news" where the reporter asked a trump supporting farmer in North Dakota how many undocumented workers he had. The farmer's answer was more than 50% of his employees. Asked if he was upset or worried that ICE would raid his farm and he said no. Not worried at all. Funny thing that the reporter didn't ask - Kristi Noem's farm is located near his and did they ask her how many undocumented workers are at her location? I guess we can all assume why he isn't worried.
Did you see that one of the deportation flights to Mexico was refused landing? And I think I saw on the news that there was another refusal in another country. Brazil of course was fine with accepting the flights. Sure does sound like someone didnt do due diligence and research before hand!!
My dear old friend who has been lost to MAGA world asked me before the election how I would feel if hundreds or thouands of immigrants came and invaded my little town here. I told her I would feel really sorry for them because there are not enough houses for that many people. She could not understand that I would not be afraid of, but for them; or not angry at them, but at the inability of our immigration system to handle their cases in a timely manner. The way we left it was I made my predictions about what I thought would happen if Trump was elected, and I told her if I was wrong I would admit it. She didn't reciprocate. So far I haven't been wrong...and I imagine she's happy about the way things are going. We haven't been in contact since the election. I don't want to burn the last tenuous bit of bridge that connects us. Yet.
I'm actually not surprised that we're at this point in America - reality shows, fast food, instant gratification ....the internet itself. The *me first, where's mine* attitude is here to stay.
Before we all knew what each other thought we were better off.
Now we know that Joe the guy that fixes our car hates Mexicans..or Sue that cuts our hair thinks transgender people are freaks. Because of platforms like fb, everyone's inner thoughts are out there. People write things that I don't think they'd say out loud. Of course there's the few who are open about their hate.
Everyday I get up and scan the headlines to see what havoc has occurred while I slept.
It's only been one week and it's been a long one.
To be allies we need to be loud and clear we will protect those that need it most.
My 20 year old daughter just broke up with her first real boyfriend. He was a MAGA, but got worse after Trump won the election. She couldn't listen to it any more. He told her it was actually much harder to be a man; they have to prove themselves and do things on their own, not get everything handed to them. (The boy is a straight white Christian male from a well to do family who probably had to do a lot less on his own merits then most of us). My daughter thought to herself, is this what he thinks of me, I'm getting everything just handed to me?". She ended it and is sad.
I assume he's young too, so perhaps life experience will show him how wrong he is, but for most people, I think, unfortunately, outlooks and opinions tend to set harder over time
I agree , he is young and at 20 still a product of his environment. He probably will change -in one direction or another. And a lesson learned, if you want to keep the girl, maybe keep some thoughts to yourself .
Yes, I thought the same. And just as it was her first boyfriend, it was her first breakup, and her girlfriends are all rallying around taking her out for Margaritas, and some of my sisters live where she is in college, so her Aunties are all on it, too. She'll be totally fine.
The cruelty, the hate, the division and embrace of the use of political violence and violent criminals is exactly the point of Trump and his compliant MAGA minions in Congress and throughout all levels of government across this nation.
At his rally in Las Vegas, sitting behind Trump on the "VIP" platform was Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the extremist far-right militia group, The Oath Keepers. He was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his part in the Jan 6 2021 insurrection attempt and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Trump commuted his sentence and now welcomes him and the likes of Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio, whose 22 year prison sentence was also commuted.
Trump is flooding the zone with a deluge of Executive Orders determined to gut the Federal civil service, banning and restricting the CDC, the NIH, etc., from issuing health notices and freezing grant money for medical research, to God knows what other horrors and others to come.
The feeble outcry from Democrat "leaders" like Sen. Schumer and a handful of Republicans speaks loudly of their own fear of retribution from Trump, unlike Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut who is out there vehemently speaking out about the dangers of Trump and his henchmen.
Hopefully Sen. Murphy will be an inspiration for more and more Americans to stand up and speak out against the dangers that Donald Trump is wreaking upon this Nation.
And let's add the spineless faith leaders to this list. The Bishop Buddes seem to be the exception that prices the rule. Too many are pursuing a public policy of appeasement.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s legendary lust for photo-ops, especially since Trump’s first regime, ranks right up there with Elon, Mel Gibson, Stallone, Steve Bannon and countless Congressional camera-hogs who crave attention and airtime on early morning and nightly news programs. He is shameless.
Years ago he used to race down the street to be on the Today Show with his Vatican hot tips…like a juvenile cub reporter spilling his hot scoop. The show hosts were sometimes caught off guard and tried not to appear annoyed with his agenda-pushing appearance.
I doubt Timothy will be offering space in his elegant residence for immigrants…
I agree! Instead, this Cardinal sat there with his huge grin laughing and nodding like a bloated Bobble-Head and Oh-so-happy to be a part of Trump’s fan club. Would love to see Dolan de-frocked someday…but he’s following the playbook of the WWII pope who refused to denounce Hitler…
Here are the guidelines for flags, for what's that's worth in these times. I was interested to read elsewhere that Trump keeps "saluting" the flag but he's completely incorrect. His hand should be over his heart, not holding up his head!!! Yes, then we have Mike Johnson...who has to follow guidelines? With Trump? No one.
What is in the minds of the efforts to be SO mean and cruel with this new "group" in charge? It's terrifying to think how anyone in any sort of immigration limbo is feeling right now. How, how, can you fight this or feel safe....who can live like that?
Unfortunately we are now learning the rules on what ICE can and can't do if they show up at your place of business. Sometimes they present as police (with jackets that say police). They are not. You can ask straight out, are you police, from where, get i.d. They can enter any area of your premises open to the general public, like a waiting room, for example., but if they are disrupting the business, you can ask them to leave. They are not permitted in your private space. Exception, if they have an administrative warrant they can stay in your public space, but not your private space over your objections. But if you let them enter, that is considered consent.
If they have a judicial warrant, they can access your private space and whatever is on the warrant.
You always have the right to remain silent.
I haven't heard anything about turning over documents to ICE. I imagine that would have to be court ordered as well. I will ask that next training. A bigger issue I think is if your town or county has your client data. If they are ICE friendly, what is stopping them from handing it over, if you don't have a contract which protects client privacy?
My staff have been to no less than 3 online trainings the past week, one sponsored by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest about what to do if ICE shows up. Their website has a downloadable resource guide which also explains the administrative and judicial warrants and what to look for.
I have a couple of NYC contracts and attended two mandatory webinars about NYC sanctuary city protections. Basically, City law enforcement doesn't cooperate with ICE. They aren't required to do the Federal govt's law enforcement if they don't want to. It's a states rights kind of thing .
We are pretty lucky to live and work in NYS, which is much less hostile to immigrants than some other states .
I can't believe I have to learn all this stuff, although I guess there are a lot of people in America who lived like this their whole lives, how to prepare/ respond if you have an interaction with law enforcement.
I run a nonprofit that does free financial counseling and free tax preparation assistance for people. With tax assistance (through VITA) we also do ITINs for people who do not have and are not eligible to get a social security number. Undocumented people still have an obligation to pay income tax on earnings, just like the rest of us. ITINs allow them and other to meet that obligation.
And putting in a plug for VITA, those programs always need volunteers this time of year. They train and you don't need to be any kind of financial expert to help. If you can do your own taxes, you can do this. And if you can't do your own taxes, this is a good way to learn. One of the United Ways has a VITA program that I know does taxes in Warren County. It is a real service to people with an immediate impact, saving them money they would have to pay a preparer and providing a very safe, professional venue to do it
All of that information shows exactly how uninformed so many of us are regarding anything about immigration. And then there are the folks who dont WANT to know!
I only learned anything about this last week, it is so awful we have to, but at least we all can. I was very heartened to learn from people who posted there are these wonderful programs helping immigrants and refugees in our community. People need to keep talking, though it is so hard to talk about some of it.
That's really interesting. So you could probably speak to how much undocumented people contribute financially to this state and to the country, through taxes. And, in many cases, they do not qualify for government assistance. Would you be free to be interviewed about that, and willing to do so?
Yes sure always happy to talk about the work. One thing to keep in mind, though, we are one week into all this crazy, and it might be the better part of valor to not advertise certain services; people who need them know where to find them. That said, it is still a yes
Will, if these people are undocumented, how is it possible to know anything about their contribution or lack of.
It would be like someone conducting an experiment to test hypothesis, drawing a conclusion, yet never keeping a note book. Having no documentation to support or refute the conclusion how would others know if the conclusion was valid?
The people brought to our area by ARIC and the Welcome Circle are not undocumented. They have come legally, under existing U.S. government programs, all their papers in order. That is the point. First of all, Trump has targeted people here legally, cutting off avenues and revoking permissions. As for knowing about contributions, that is certainly possible, for people here with and without proper documentation. Many employers, in this area and elsewhere, are willing to talk about how important to their business immigrants are (some of them undocumented) and they have done so. Also , undocumented or not, immigrants pay taxes. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has looked into this subject and has this to say: "Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Most of that amount, $59.4 billion, was paid to the federal government while the remaining $37.3 billion was paid to state and local governments." There's a lot more to read at the site: https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/#:~:text=In%20total%2C%20the%20federal%20tax,at%20all%20levels%20of%20government.
What Will said . You know from their tax returns. They pay taxes on their income, but get almost none of the deductions and credits the rest of us get. So they pay but don't get the benefit. If they files as 1099s, as every independent contractor here can tell you, they will owe taxes. And la lot of times they are wrongfully withheld social security too even though they are not in the system . And those few with a fake ssn, by the way, they too are not in the system and would never actually get social security for that time worked. Elise Stefanik used to always complain about those folks, who are not numerous, and either she didn't understand how it worked, or she pretended not to .
If documents are required to get an ITIN number how do those that are undocumented get an individual taxpayer identification number? Once they have a number they are no longer undocumented.
So I am back to my question, how is it possible to know anything about their contribution or lack of if they are undocumented?
Greetings Irene Baldwin. The ARIC organization brought a Know-Your-Rights seminar for immigrants and anyone interested to the Crandall Library on January 8. We hope to bring similar seminars to communities nearby and up into the North Country. The providing of information and resources like this seminar is part of ARIC’s mission.
Sadly elections do have very serious consequences (including locally when certain good old boys and unqualified people win) but that's the American way. This time around, however, what happened in Washington DC will have significant impact on lives locally as you have pointed out in your writings today. Once again, like I did in the first Trump term, I'm having to outright delete people on FB and LinkedIn. I'm not willing to waste my time explaining the law, how the courts work (and didn't in this case because if you have enough money and lawyers you can create endless delays) or how facts like actually watching the January 6th riots and seeing first hand that these were domestic terrorists and criminals attacking the Capital were NOT tourists visiting the Capital building. Officer Fanone points out that the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Trump. He does not back the blue and it's now proven when he pardons all those folks. Plenty of other unconstitutional and illegal actions have been signed in the first week by Trump, ending birthright citizenship being the most obvious. Sorry, but if your "lying eyes" can't see through the BS, then I don't want to know those people or interact with them anymore. You can't fix stupid! And sadly we have a lot of it up in the North Country.
I'd like to engage with people who hold different views from mine. I'd like to think civil conversations were possible, and occasionally, they are. But for the most part, they are not, and when I block someone who is spouting lies and distortions, all I feel is relief
What I learned in this past election cycle (and basically was just reconfirming from last go round) once they deny facts and state the 2020 election was rigged, that January 6th crowd were "innocent" tourists and not rioters, and the usual obvious lies, there is NO chance to build common ground and a logical argument based on truth and facts. That's when it is time to say good bye. I'm just not willing to waste my time and emotional energy trying to educate a MAGA moron. Life is too short, I have better things to do with my time. I'd love to think that the next few years of Trump destruction is going to change things and the pendulum will swing back, but if you look at Project 2025 plans and the first week of Trump flurry of firings, executive orders, etc. it should be very clear that we are moving toward an autocratic and fascist leaning government. I wish more people had studied how Hitler came to power and how close he came to taking over Europe. We are entering a period of "unchecked Presidential power" and as Joanie Earnst learned quickly (because she got threats she would be primaried and defeated if she voted against Hegseth) fall in line or get the boot. I love my country, I just don't trust my government. Trump has a long history of lies, corruption, illegal activities, fraud, sexual harassment, and more.
The safety of the immigrant and LGBTQ communities in this area are of grave concern to me. Getting involved in one or both is seriously important.
It's great to see the fine collection of people here who are helping immigrants
My flag was at half staff for President Carter. I raised it after his funeral, then lowered it again on January 20 for the death of democracy, and will remain at half staff until Dictator trump is gone for good.
When I send physical mail I paste the American Flag stamp upside down not to signal Ship of State is in trouble.
It's not dead, but it's certainly on life support.
Thank you for sharing these stories.
You are right! Cruelty is the point, it is an off shoot of corrupt power.
Once again the M-GA solution is more far reaching and twisted than any "radical"L policy. The claim that immigrants are ok as long as they do it legally is hollow and apparently, made impossible. How is this better??
"The cruelty is the point"
And the object is domination. Cruelty, threats, force, bullying, and insults are the tactics. All this is one more crack in the veneer of our civilized society. To Trump and his supporters, civil behavior is for suckers.
Cruelty and stoking the hate of immigrants is part of Trump’s goal for total authoritarianism. It seems every day of his regime presents a new horror.
I'm waiting for Trump to change the name of New Mexico. (Congress did consider changing the name of the state seven times between 1850 and 1912.)
3 points
1) the dog in a hat jumping over the hockey sticks is wonderful
2) just wait until hurricane season when storms start to gain strength in the Gulf of America and attack our coastlines from Texas to Florida and even New England, especially if Trump ends FEMA support and states are left in their own
3) I’d like to see a cost analysis on the deportation of immigrant workers, my guess is that in these first days of ICE raids the cost of deporting each person - who was previously doing a job for an American employer now short of help - is tens of thousands of dollars. That is economically unsustainable.
I'll go out on a limb here and predict that companies and corporations that stuff sufficient amounts of money into Trump's pockets will receive dispensation from the pope to continue hiring immigrants. Possibly those who are rounded up will be made to work for them, at slave wages. That would be cheaper than actually deporting them.
It distresses me that such a crazy thought doesn't seem so far fetched anymore.
I heard on a podcast last week, a story on cable "news" where the reporter asked a trump supporting farmer in North Dakota how many undocumented workers he had. The farmer's answer was more than 50% of his employees. Asked if he was upset or worried that ICE would raid his farm and he said no. Not worried at all. Funny thing that the reporter didn't ask - Kristi Noem's farm is located near his and did they ask her how many undocumented workers are at her location? I guess we can all assume why he isn't worried.
Did you see that one of the deportation flights to Mexico was refused landing? And I think I saw on the news that there was another refusal in another country. Brazil of course was fine with accepting the flights. Sure does sound like someone didnt do due diligence and research before hand!!
Research?
hmpy trmPEDO do Research?
Or use facts???
in the great words of markwayne mullin:
"give me a joke"
They are people detached from the realities of logistics.
I doubt logistics is something they understand!
And the poor folks on those flights being treated like mis-routed packages from Amazon. It is nightmarish to even think about.
My dear old friend who has been lost to MAGA world asked me before the election how I would feel if hundreds or thouands of immigrants came and invaded my little town here. I told her I would feel really sorry for them because there are not enough houses for that many people. She could not understand that I would not be afraid of, but for them; or not angry at them, but at the inability of our immigration system to handle their cases in a timely manner. The way we left it was I made my predictions about what I thought would happen if Trump was elected, and I told her if I was wrong I would admit it. She didn't reciprocate. So far I haven't been wrong...and I imagine she's happy about the way things are going. We haven't been in contact since the election. I don't want to burn the last tenuous bit of bridge that connects us. Yet.
Nice camera work on the leaping ice hockey dog!!
The yearning for acknowledgements of error by Trump supporters will never be fulfilled
um
Eggs are more expensive since hmpy trmPEDO
and
silence from the magQholes©
No matter what happens, they'll still blame Biden even if it's 4 years from now, most likely.
and ignore the economy:
• jobs up
• inflation down
• wages up
• unemployment down
“There is no kind of government more deformed than that in which the wealthiest are regarded as the noblest.” - Cicero
The cruelty is most definitely the point.
I'm actually not surprised that we're at this point in America - reality shows, fast food, instant gratification ....the internet itself. The *me first, where's mine* attitude is here to stay.
Before we all knew what each other thought we were better off.
Now we know that Joe the guy that fixes our car hates Mexicans..or Sue that cuts our hair thinks transgender people are freaks. Because of platforms like fb, everyone's inner thoughts are out there. People write things that I don't think they'd say out loud. Of course there's the few who are open about their hate.
Everyday I get up and scan the headlines to see what havoc has occurred while I slept.
It's only been one week and it's been a long one.
To be allies we need to be loud and clear we will protect those that need it most.
Speak up, stand up. Be loud, fight back.
I'll do whatever I can to help.
My 20 year old daughter just broke up with her first real boyfriend. He was a MAGA, but got worse after Trump won the election. She couldn't listen to it any more. He told her it was actually much harder to be a man; they have to prove themselves and do things on their own, not get everything handed to them. (The boy is a straight white Christian male from a well to do family who probably had to do a lot less on his own merits then most of us). My daughter thought to herself, is this what he thinks of me, I'm getting everything just handed to me?". She ended it and is sad.
I assume he's young too, so perhaps life experience will show him how wrong he is, but for most people, I think, unfortunately, outlooks and opinions tend to set harder over time
I agree , he is young and at 20 still a product of his environment. He probably will change -in one direction or another. And a lesson learned, if you want to keep the girl, maybe keep some thoughts to yourself .
Good for her to get out sooner rather than later.
Yes, I thought the same. And just as it was her first boyfriend, it was her first breakup, and her girlfriends are all rallying around taking her out for Margaritas, and some of my sisters live where she is in college, so her Aunties are all on it, too. She'll be totally fine.
Perhaps her ex boyfriend learned something too, but that might be too much to ask.
The cruelty, the hate, the division and embrace of the use of political violence and violent criminals is exactly the point of Trump and his compliant MAGA minions in Congress and throughout all levels of government across this nation.
At his rally in Las Vegas, sitting behind Trump on the "VIP" platform was Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the extremist far-right militia group, The Oath Keepers. He was found guilty of seditious conspiracy for his part in the Jan 6 2021 insurrection attempt and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Trump commuted his sentence and now welcomes him and the likes of Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio, whose 22 year prison sentence was also commuted.
Trump is flooding the zone with a deluge of Executive Orders determined to gut the Federal civil service, banning and restricting the CDC, the NIH, etc., from issuing health notices and freezing grant money for medical research, to God knows what other horrors and others to come.
The feeble outcry from Democrat "leaders" like Sen. Schumer and a handful of Republicans speaks loudly of their own fear of retribution from Trump, unlike Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut who is out there vehemently speaking out about the dangers of Trump and his henchmen.
Hopefully Sen. Murphy will be an inspiration for more and more Americans to stand up and speak out against the dangers that Donald Trump is wreaking upon this Nation.
And let's add the spineless faith leaders to this list. The Bishop Buddes seem to be the exception that prices the rule. Too many are pursuing a public policy of appeasement.
Ah, yes, I agree.
On my list of spineless "faith" leaders is Cardinal Dolan of NYC.
Omg yes. He was the one I was thinking of, too
Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s legendary lust for photo-ops, especially since Trump’s first regime, ranks right up there with Elon, Mel Gibson, Stallone, Steve Bannon and countless Congressional camera-hogs who crave attention and airtime on early morning and nightly news programs. He is shameless.
Years ago he used to race down the street to be on the Today Show with his Vatican hot tips…like a juvenile cub reporter spilling his hot scoop. The show hosts were sometimes caught off guard and tried not to appear annoyed with his agenda-pushing appearance.
I doubt Timothy will be offering space in his elegant residence for immigrants…
He should have cancelled the Al Smith dinner last year, rather than having a rapist as guest of honor.
I agree! Instead, this Cardinal sat there with his huge grin laughing and nodding like a bloated Bobble-Head and Oh-so-happy to be a part of Trump’s fan club. Would love to see Dolan de-frocked someday…but he’s following the playbook of the WWII pope who refused to denounce Hitler…
I think standing up to Trump resolutely is the best strategy. Accommodation is a loser
Project 2025 explained all this was going to happen and still 77 million voted for him. That is the frightening part.
Here are the guidelines for flags, for what's that's worth in these times. I was interested to read elsewhere that Trump keeps "saluting" the flag but he's completely incorrect. His hand should be over his heart, not holding up his head!!! Yes, then we have Mike Johnson...who has to follow guidelines? With Trump? No one.
https://flagpatriots.com/guidelines-for-flying-the-american-flag-at-half-staff/
What is in the minds of the efforts to be SO mean and cruel with this new "group" in charge? It's terrifying to think how anyone in any sort of immigration limbo is feeling right now. How, how, can you fight this or feel safe....who can live like that?
Loved the pictures.
Unfortunately we are now learning the rules on what ICE can and can't do if they show up at your place of business. Sometimes they present as police (with jackets that say police). They are not. You can ask straight out, are you police, from where, get i.d. They can enter any area of your premises open to the general public, like a waiting room, for example., but if they are disrupting the business, you can ask them to leave. They are not permitted in your private space. Exception, if they have an administrative warrant they can stay in your public space, but not your private space over your objections. But if you let them enter, that is considered consent.
If they have a judicial warrant, they can access your private space and whatever is on the warrant.
You always have the right to remain silent.
I haven't heard anything about turning over documents to ICE. I imagine that would have to be court ordered as well. I will ask that next training. A bigger issue I think is if your town or county has your client data. If they are ICE friendly, what is stopping them from handing it over, if you don't have a contract which protects client privacy?
My staff have been to no less than 3 online trainings the past week, one sponsored by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest about what to do if ICE shows up. Their website has a downloadable resource guide which also explains the administrative and judicial warrants and what to look for.
I have a couple of NYC contracts and attended two mandatory webinars about NYC sanctuary city protections. Basically, City law enforcement doesn't cooperate with ICE. They aren't required to do the Federal govt's law enforcement if they don't want to. It's a states rights kind of thing .
We are pretty lucky to live and work in NYS, which is much less hostile to immigrants than some other states .
I can't believe I have to learn all this stuff, although I guess there are a lot of people in America who lived like this their whole lives, how to prepare/ respond if you have an interaction with law enforcement.
Fascinating. What field do you work in, can you say?
I run a nonprofit that does free financial counseling and free tax preparation assistance for people. With tax assistance (through VITA) we also do ITINs for people who do not have and are not eligible to get a social security number. Undocumented people still have an obligation to pay income tax on earnings, just like the rest of us. ITINs allow them and other to meet that obligation.
And putting in a plug for VITA, those programs always need volunteers this time of year. They train and you don't need to be any kind of financial expert to help. If you can do your own taxes, you can do this. And if you can't do your own taxes, this is a good way to learn. One of the United Ways has a VITA program that I know does taxes in Warren County. It is a real service to people with an immediate impact, saving them money they would have to pay a preparer and providing a very safe, professional venue to do it
All of that information shows exactly how uninformed so many of us are regarding anything about immigration. And then there are the folks who dont WANT to know!
Thank you for helping people - ALL people!
I only learned anything about this last week, it is so awful we have to, but at least we all can. I was very heartened to learn from people who posted there are these wonderful programs helping immigrants and refugees in our community. People need to keep talking, though it is so hard to talk about some of it.
That's really interesting. So you could probably speak to how much undocumented people contribute financially to this state and to the country, through taxes. And, in many cases, they do not qualify for government assistance. Would you be free to be interviewed about that, and willing to do so?
Yes sure always happy to talk about the work. One thing to keep in mind, though, we are one week into all this crazy, and it might be the better part of valor to not advertise certain services; people who need them know where to find them. That said, it is still a yes
Will, if these people are undocumented, how is it possible to know anything about their contribution or lack of.
It would be like someone conducting an experiment to test hypothesis, drawing a conclusion, yet never keeping a note book. Having no documentation to support or refute the conclusion how would others know if the conclusion was valid?
The people brought to our area by ARIC and the Welcome Circle are not undocumented. They have come legally, under existing U.S. government programs, all their papers in order. That is the point. First of all, Trump has targeted people here legally, cutting off avenues and revoking permissions. As for knowing about contributions, that is certainly possible, for people here with and without proper documentation. Many employers, in this area and elsewhere, are willing to talk about how important to their business immigrants are (some of them undocumented) and they have done so. Also , undocumented or not, immigrants pay taxes. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy has looked into this subject and has this to say: "Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Most of that amount, $59.4 billion, was paid to the federal government while the remaining $37.3 billion was paid to state and local governments." There's a lot more to read at the site: https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-taxes-2024/#:~:text=In%20total%2C%20the%20federal%20tax,at%20all%20levels%20of%20government.
What Will said . You know from their tax returns. They pay taxes on their income, but get almost none of the deductions and credits the rest of us get. So they pay but don't get the benefit. If they files as 1099s, as every independent contractor here can tell you, they will owe taxes. And la lot of times they are wrongfully withheld social security too even though they are not in the system . And those few with a fake ssn, by the way, they too are not in the system and would never actually get social security for that time worked. Elise Stefanik used to always complain about those folks, who are not numerous, and either she didn't understand how it worked, or she pretended not to .
Hi Irene, I’m not sure Will answered my question, although his link did lead me to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_(United_States)#History
If you follow this link https://www.irs.gov/tin/itin/how-to-apply-for-an-itin and scroll down to (3. Supporting documents) There appears to be a need for some documents.
If documents are required to get an ITIN number how do those that are undocumented get an individual taxpayer identification number? Once they have a number they are no longer undocumented.
So I am back to my question, how is it possible to know anything about their contribution or lack of if they are undocumented?
Greetings Irene Baldwin. The ARIC organization brought a Know-Your-Rights seminar for immigrants and anyone interested to the Crandall Library on January 8. We hope to bring similar seminars to communities nearby and up into the North Country. The providing of information and resources like this seminar is part of ARIC’s mission.
That is terrific. Everyone needs to stay informed. Thank you for your good work
Sadly elections do have very serious consequences (including locally when certain good old boys and unqualified people win) but that's the American way. This time around, however, what happened in Washington DC will have significant impact on lives locally as you have pointed out in your writings today. Once again, like I did in the first Trump term, I'm having to outright delete people on FB and LinkedIn. I'm not willing to waste my time explaining the law, how the courts work (and didn't in this case because if you have enough money and lawyers you can create endless delays) or how facts like actually watching the January 6th riots and seeing first hand that these were domestic terrorists and criminals attacking the Capital were NOT tourists visiting the Capital building. Officer Fanone points out that the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Trump. He does not back the blue and it's now proven when he pardons all those folks. Plenty of other unconstitutional and illegal actions have been signed in the first week by Trump, ending birthright citizenship being the most obvious. Sorry, but if your "lying eyes" can't see through the BS, then I don't want to know those people or interact with them anymore. You can't fix stupid! And sadly we have a lot of it up in the North Country.
I'd like to engage with people who hold different views from mine. I'd like to think civil conversations were possible, and occasionally, they are. But for the most part, they are not, and when I block someone who is spouting lies and distortions, all I feel is relief
What I learned in this past election cycle (and basically was just reconfirming from last go round) once they deny facts and state the 2020 election was rigged, that January 6th crowd were "innocent" tourists and not rioters, and the usual obvious lies, there is NO chance to build common ground and a logical argument based on truth and facts. That's when it is time to say good bye. I'm just not willing to waste my time and emotional energy trying to educate a MAGA moron. Life is too short, I have better things to do with my time. I'd love to think that the next few years of Trump destruction is going to change things and the pendulum will swing back, but if you look at Project 2025 plans and the first week of Trump flurry of firings, executive orders, etc. it should be very clear that we are moving toward an autocratic and fascist leaning government. I wish more people had studied how Hitler came to power and how close he came to taking over Europe. We are entering a period of "unchecked Presidential power" and as Joanie Earnst learned quickly (because she got threats she would be primaried and defeated if she voted against Hegseth) fall in line or get the boot. I love my country, I just don't trust my government. Trump has a long history of lies, corruption, illegal activities, fraud, sexual harassment, and more.
"Elections have consequences."
lies have consequences.
trmPEDO never ending lies have consequences.
Misinformation from right-wing media have consequences.
A corrupt supreme court have consequences.
Ignoring a guys who lead insurrection have consequences.
uneducated voters have consequences.
Ignorance has consequences