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The Struggle for DREAMers in Utah - Explore DACA

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, a third federal judge ruled against the Trump administration’s push to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). U.S. District Judge John Bates called the administration’s attempts to end DACA “arbitrary,” “virtually unexplained,” and “unlawful.” He put a hold on the decision, allowing the Department of Homeland Security 90 days to give better reasoning to cancel the program or it would be fully reinstated. Dr. Stephen Allen, associate provost of International Affairs at Southern Utah University and expert on American immigration policy, sees the struggle for “DREAMers” in Utah and across the nation. “In March, the Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to DACA,” said Dr. Allen. “That decision, along with the April 24 federal court ruling, has taken pressure off of Congress to act on the issue. The result is a great deal of uncertainty for DREAMers, families, and employers.” Originally enacted by President Obama, DACA is an immigration policy that shields undocumented immigrants that were brought to the United States as children. The youth apply to obtain a renewable two-year deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for a work permit. DACA has helped hundreds of thousands obtain driver’s licenses, social security numbers and attend school. Steps to eliminate DACA were initiated by the Trump administration in late 2017, but previous federal rulings have stalled the efforts. “Rescinding DACA would have a tremendous impact on Utah,” said Dr. Allen. “The program has allowed nearly 10,000 young people in Utah to come forward and pass background checks and live legally in the United States. There is strong evidence that the majority of these young people are productive citizens who are gainfully employed and/or enrolled in school. According to the non-profit and non-partisan organization Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ), ending DACA would cost Utah alone nearly $476.5 million in annual GDP losses.” Dr. Allen believes that in general, Utahan’s have a strong commitment to keeping families together. “The United States is the only country most DREAMers have known. Deporting nearly 700,000 individuals would result in separation from families and losing the ability to legally work in the United States.” Dr. Allen specializes in international enrollment and admissions, developing global partnerships, and international education. He is familiar with the media and available for an interview. Source:

Prevention entails more than security measures and begins long before a gunman comes to school. We need a comprehensive public health approach to gun violence that is informed by scientific evidence and free from partisan politics.

School shootings and widespread community gun violence are far greater in the United States than other nations. America cannot be great and realize its promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness if our children are not safe from gun violence. Although security measures are important, a focus on simply preparing for shootings is insufficient. We need a change in mindset and policy from reaction to prevention. Prevention entails more than security measures and begins long before a gunman comes to school. We need a comprehensive public health approach to gun violence that is informed by scientific evidence and free from partisan politics. A public health approach to protecting children as well as adults from gun violence involves three levels of prevention: (1) universal approaches promoting safety and well-being for everyone; (2) practices for reducing risk and promoting protective factors for persons experiencing difficulties; and (3) interventions for individuals where violence is present or appears imminent. Source:

Prose, prayers, palindromes and 45 presidents

If there’s one thing Colin Rafferty – a University of Mary Washington associate professor of English and teacher of creative nonfiction – knows better than prose, it’s the United States’ 45 presidents. His current manuscript, a collection of essays about each of them, includes pieces that range from “The Fear” about Martin Van Buren and “Bully” about Theodore Roosevelt to “What They Said About Him” about Barack Obama and “The Imagineer Considers Tomorrow” about Trump. Written as palindromes, death songs, prayers, movie scripts and more, Rafferty’s work has appeared in such prestigious publications as Brevity, Cobalt, Juked, Parcel and Waxwing, and he was recently featured on the Virginia Public Radio’s With Good Reason for a segment on “Getting to Know the Presidents.” “Reading and writing about the presidents has let me explore both American history and the expansiveness of creative nonfiction,” said Rafferty, who read a biography of each president before penning his essays. Colin is available to speak with media about his work and about President's Day. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview. Source:

What's next in the Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump saga?

North Korea continues to test missiles and the latest appears to be the most advanced yet. North Korea said the new missile reached an altitude of about 4,475 km (2,780 miles) - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station - and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight. So, what's next? How will Donald Trump react? What about other countries like Canada and the EU? Our Experts at Insights Consulting have the answers for your story. Source:

Gender Gap Grows Wider Globally

The World Economic Forum (WEF) began calculating the global gender gap in 2006. Yesterday, it released the results of the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report and the news is bad – for the first time in more than a decade, the gender gap is widening. This year's report revealed that the divide between men and women stood at 32 percent, up from 31.7 percent last year. The Global Gender Gap Index ranks 144 countries and compares them across four ‘pillars’: economic participation and opportunity, education, political empowerment, and health and survival. The best scores overall belonged to three Scandinavian countries. Iceland had the smallest gender gap at 22 percent. How about the United States? While the U.S. has improved its overall gender gap, this year's report showed it moved down the rankings to 49th place. The score was 0.72 or a gender gap of 28 percent. The pillar featuring economic participation, which includes salaries, workforce participation and leadership, has one of the fastest-growing gaps. Globally, women are earning less than men. The WEF believes the economic gender gap will now not be closed for 217 years. When considering a woman's income as a percent of a man’s, the U.S. came in at 13th place, where a woman can expect to make on average only 64.8 percent of that of what a male earns. Why is this the case even though more women than men are graduating from universities? Can this worrying trend be changed? What steps must be taken to make the playing field equal for all in America? Dr. Shannon Wooden, gender studies expert and professor of English at Missouri State University, can provide insight on this topic. She can address the gender pay gap and why companies need more female representation in senior and board levels. Contact her for an interview. Source:

Baylor DACA Expert Featured in National Jurist

Laura Hernandez, J.D., professor at Baylor Law School, is a featured expert in this story about law schools that are assisting DACA recipients. Hernandez founded Baylor Law School’s Immigration Clinic. “Most DACA card holders have no memory or have no connection with their country of birth,” she said. “They have been in the United States since they were children and many of the DACA applicants that we supported, or that we helped fill out their applications, came to this country as young as one or two.” Hernandez is available to speak on a wide range of immigration and law issues. Source:

Will Sept. 25 be Kurdish Independence Day?

On Sept. 25, a lot of the world’s important eyes will be watching the results of a referendum few have heard about. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is finally holding a referendum on its independence. It’s a referendum many object to – including those in Baghdad and in the United States. There are concerns that this path to independence will not be a smooth one and could further destabilize this already tumultuous region. Efforts and negotiations are ongoing in hopes that this historic vote can be delayed or even postponed. The stakes in this are high. In this region, relationships between the Kurds and Turkey are not good. Separating from Iraq could also see consequences. The threat of violence is very real and who will be there to support an independent KRI is also in question. There are many pieces at play. This involves a century of history, territory and tribalism all in an area that cannot afford another conflict. So, will the referendum take place even though Iraq's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the suspension of the referendum? If it does, what will be the outcome? Can America not support a group of people using democracy to determine its own fate? Are the costs of preventing this referendum worth it in the long run? How will the referendum affect politics in the Middle East and globally? Missouri State University’s Dr. David Romano, an expert in Middle Eastern politics, particularly the Kurdish region, is available to provide his insights on this complex and developing issue. He has been contributing to international discussion on this topic in his weekly column on Rudaw. Romano spent six months last year in Iraqi Kurdistan, behind the lines near Mosul. He believes the time is right for Kurdish independence. It’s also relevant to American interests due to the oil market and the international political landscape. Click on his icon to arrange an interview. Source:

Baylor DACA Expert Comments Following Trump's Announcement Re: Dreamers Program

Baylor Law School Professor Laura Hernandez, J.D., is an expert on DACA and the founder of the Baylor Law Immigration Clinic, which has assisted hundreds of Waco area residents – a number who are Dreamers – with immigration needs. She shared the following statement re: President Trump’s DACA announcement. “It is unfortunate that President Trump has chosen to withdraw authorization for the DACA program, a hugely successful program that allowed around 800,000 children and young adults to make a meaningful contribution to the country they love. The only country they have known. Moreover, DACA recipients have never threatened national security. Now, it is time for Congress to act to preserve the status of these DACA recipients while giving them a path to legal residency. Congress should resist allowing the Trump administration to use the fate of these ‘Dreamers’ as a bargaining chip for the construction of a wall that brings no greater safety to the United States, but does cost the American taxpayer millions of dollars in unnecessary expense.” Source:

North Korea Rejects South Korea's Call For Talks: How High Will Tensions Escalate?

North Korea has been in the news a lot lately. Saber rattling, political posturing and missile testing by the hermit state have led to escalating tensions between the United States, South Korea and even neighbouring China. Earlier this month, Pyongyang claimed it successfully tested an ICBM, for the first time, of the type that experts believe could reach Alaska. But as the situation looked to boil over, tensions may have had a chance at simmering. Tongilgak - a North Korean building in the Panmunjom compound in the demilitarized zone between the two countries, which has been used for previous negotiations, was suggested by the South Koreans as a destination for talks between North and South Korea aiming to stop 'all hostile activities that raise military tension.' By early Friday morning, all intelligence indicated – that offer was rejected. The two countries that have been bitter enemies since 1950 remain opposed and unwilling to compromise. There’s a lot at stake – safety, the threat of global war and between the two countries, some families are still divided and incapable of meeting after more than half a century. So, is there a chance the two sides can find a diplomatic solution? Is this rejection just another tactic by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to leverage more from the west in order to speak? Does North Korea have the ability to launch a missile that may reach American soil? There’s a lot more to this new alignment than a simple agreement and that’s where Missouri State University experts can help. Dr. Dennis Hickey is a global studies expert specializing in Asian politics and American foreign policy. He is a go-to source when media agencies require clear perspective and answers regarding this complex situation and region. Dr. Hickey is available for interviews. Click on his icon to contact him. Source: