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REBIRTH: From undocumented immigrant to an American citizen in an instant
Written by Ted Reyes   
Tuesday, 03 August 2010 13:49
joel

By Ted Reyes

 

 

JERSEY CITY– Joel Villar sat in an antique chair contemplating his next move in the chess game he was playing with his immigration lawyer Ian Hinonangan at the Warehouse Café in downtown Jersey City. He carefully pushed a pawn to a square, looks and smiles at his opponent/lawyer/friend. Acknowledging the end of the game, both of them stood up and let out triumphant laughs. 

 

For several years, the two men have been involved in many moves–immigration moves–to resolve Mr. Villar’s daunting immigration problem. Mr. Villar overstayed his visitor’s visa a year after arriving in 2003 and since then has been living under the shadows and working under the table just to provide for his family here in the US and in the Philippines. 

 

Like every undocumented immigrant, Mr. Villar, now living in the Bronx and a former movie actor in his homeland, had been through the roughest of times. But on that day at the cafe, all moves and tactics were left on the chessboard as his battle to gain legal status finally ended in victory.

Hours before his leisure chess match against his lawyer, Mr. Villar was sworn-in as an American citizen in Newark, New Jersey. But it was no ordinary path to citizenship. It was a path less traveled by–a remarkably unique immigration case.

In one sweeping decision of an immigration appeals court, Mr. Villar was transformed from being an undocumented immigrant to an American citizen instantly. He didn’t even have to pass through the green card or legal residency process. It was as if Mr. Villar was born a second time around and coming out not as a naturalized American but an American at-birth even though he was born in the Philippines.  
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Congress approves additional funds for Filipino WWll Vets
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Written by Contessa Rita Bourbon   
Monday, 02 August 2010 13:57

NEW YORK --In a victory to Filipino World War ll veterans, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill granting additional funding of $67 million for the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund  which funds are running out.

The bill is very important as it will pay additional eligible U.S. citizen Filipino World War ll veterans a one-time payment of $15,000. Filipino veterans who are living in the Philippines or those who are not U.S. citizens receive $9,000.

Democratic California Congressman Bob Filner , chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee told Justice for Filipino-American Veterans (JFAV) in a letter his continued support for Filipino veterans and updated JFAV on the bill.

Filner is awaiting Senate move to approve a similar bill to help Filipino veterans.

For over 65 years, Filipino veterans have waited to get compensation and benefits from U.S. government. Thousands have received a lump sum amount based on the law passed last year,  but many are still waiting.

Art Garcia, national coordinator of JFAV said the bill was necessary to pay the claims of Filipino veterans who depend on the lump sum compensation to survive.

Garcia is hopeful Congress will release the funds sooner Garcia said there is only $10 million left in the lump sum fund. Recent government data show that 8,000 claims are still being processed. 16,000 claims have been denied.

 
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