09 February 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago hosted a forum in cooperation with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to highlight President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration at its fourth “Pagkikita sa Konsulado” on January 21.
USCIS Chicago Director Dr. Thomas Cioppa and Community Relations Officer Atty. Maria Rodriguez provided general information on the USCIS’s functions and role in the implementation of the new administrative relief for irregular migrants. Atty. Rodriguez, however, clarified that the USCIS is not yet accepting applications or requests for these initiatives by the President. The implementing guidelines have not been issued and the agency has 90 days after the President’s proclamation to work out the details.
Shortly after the session at the Consulate General, a basic seminar on Trafficking in Persons was held on January 24 at the Rizal Heritage Community Center in Chicago attended by around 100 individuals from various organizations, including Ms. Emily Berman, Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships and Global Affairs of the Chicago Mayor’s Office.
The Consulate General joined hands with the Chicago-based World Engagement Institute and the Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago, which manages the Rizal Center, as well as the USA Regional Ladies for Rizal, in organizing and bringing together Maj. Gen. (ret) Charles Tucker, Executive Director of WEI; Audrey Gilliam, Esq. of the National Immigrant Justice Center Counter-Trafficking Project; Frank M., Director of Salvation Army PROMISE; FBI Special Agent Wesley Tagtmeyer; and Cook County Circuit Court Administrator Peter Coolsen to the symposium for the Filipino-American community.
The seminar sought to introduce the issue to the Filipino Diaspora in Chicago and how they can contribute to the effort of stopping this modern form of slavery. It received heartwarming support from UniMart, which provided lunch for all the participants, and community publishers and media outfits like the Via Times/CPR-TV and Pinoy Magazine.
Philippine Consul General Generoso D.G. Calonge expressed the Philippine government’s commitment to prevent human trafficking, prosecute perpetrators, and protect victims. The seminar, he said, is also one way of highlighting the importance of partnerships even as President Obama has proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. He also took the opportunity to encourage Filipino-Americans to become more active in the Philippines’ socio-political development through programs such as the Reacquisition/Retention of Philippine Citizenship and overseas voters registration. END