Biden’s offer of a path to US citizenship for spouses leaves some out

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By GISELA SALOMON AND ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press

MIAMI (AP) — As registration opened Monday for an estimated 500,000 spouses of U.S. citizens to gain legal status without having to first leave the country, Karen and Xavier Chavarria had nothing to celebrate.

Like many others, Karen left the United States voluntarily — in her case, for Nicaragua — as the price of living in the country illegally, planning to accumulate enough time away to be able reenter and reunite with her husband, Xavier, on a path to citizenship.

Joe Biden’s offer of a path to citizenship without having to first leave the country for up to 10 years is one of the biggest presidential orders to ease entry for immigrants since 2012, when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program allowed temporary but renewable stays for hundreds of thousands of people who came to the United States as young children with their parents.

To be eligible, spouses must have lived in the United States continuously for 10 years as of June 17, 2024, and been married by then. The Biden administration estimates 500,000 spouses could benefit, plus 50,000 stepchildren of U.S. citizens.

“Without this process, hundreds of thousands of noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens are likely to instead remain in the United States without lawful status, causing these families to live in fear and with uncertainty about their futures,” the Homeland Security Department said Monday in a document that details the policy. Forcing spouses to leave the country “is disruptive to the family’s economic and emotional wellbeing.”

Spouses who fall outside the prescribed dates and other eligibility criteria face an agonizing choice: leave the country voluntarily for years for the right to reenter or remain in the United States without legal status.

Karen Chavarria returned to Nicaragua in 2017 and reported to a U.S. consulate for an interview as part of her petition to reunite with her husband in the United States. She crossed the border from Mexico in 2002 and applied for legal status after marrying Xavier, 57, who works a building maintenance job in New York and lives in Garfield, New Jersey. They have two children, both U.S. citizens.

In this June 2020 photo, Xavier Chavarría, left, poses for a photo with his wife Karen Chavarría, center, and their children Karen Azriela Chavarria, right, and son Xavier Yahir Chavarría, in Jinotega, Nicaragua. (Courtesy Xavier Chavarría via AP)

Xavier travels at least twice a year to see Karen, 41, and their 12-year-old son, who live in Jinotega, north of Nicaragua’s capital city of Managua. Xavier said he can’t live in Nicaragua because he can’t find work there, lacks treatment options for diabetes and fears for his safety because his family has been in the political opposition there for years. Their 20-year-old daughter lives in the U.S.

Karen has missed big moments, including her daughter’s high school graduation and birthdays. The Biden administration’s offer to spouses who chose to remain in the U.S. filled her with despair.

“It is something that we have been fighting for and after so much struggle, to get here without giving ourselves any hope,” she said while crying in a video interview from Nicaragua.

It is unclear how many spouses left the U.S. voluntarily. But Eric Lee, an immigration attorney with offices in Michigan and California, said it is a “massive” number. Immigrants and advocacy groups have urged the White House to include them in the new policy.

“The only reason why so many are being punished is because they tried to step out of the shadow, they tried to follow the law,” Lee said.

Homeland Security did not respond to questions about whether people who left the country voluntarily will qualify, saying only that they “may be eligible for continued processing abroad.”

Groups favoring restrictions on immigration consider the policy overly generous. The Federation for American Immigration Reform said Monday that it is a disservice to those waiting to legally immigrate and that Biden is “clearly in a hurry” to enroll people before he leaves office, making it harder for a court to overturn their benefits once they are granted.

The department said Monday that 64% of potential beneficiaries are from Mexico and 20% are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. They become eligible to remain in the United States for three years under presidential authority known as parole for a $580 fee, which includes ability to apply for work authorization, a green card and, eventually, citizenship.

People deemed national security or public safety threats and those convicted of what are considered serious crimes, including felonies for driving under the influence, are disqualified, as are those found to belong to a gang.

This photo provided by Juan Enrique Sauceda, shows Sauceda, left, with his wife Nancy Valderrama Riveros, second left, and their children Brayan Alexander Sauceda, and Jennifer Janneth Sauceda, in Monterey, Mexico, June 8, 2019. (Courtesy Juan Enrique Sauceda via AP)

Juan Enrique Sauceda 47, is biding time in Piedras Negras, Mexico, across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. He was deported in 2019 while married to a U.S. citizen and applied to reenter. His wife and two children live in Houston.

“I want to return to the United States because I grew up there, I have my wife, my children, everything,” Saucedo said. “I don’t fit in here.”

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Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana in Rocklin, California, contributed.

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The headline has been rewritten to clarify that the policy puts people on path to citizenship but does not grant citizenship.

New Six Flags all-access pass lets people into all 42 parks

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Cooper Metts | The Charlotte Observer (TNS)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Six Flags is offering an unlimited access pass to all of its parks next year, including Carowinds, just a month after merging with Carowinds’ parent company.

The all-park passport add-on means unlimited access and parking to all of Six Flags’ 42 amusement and water parks, starting Jan. 6, the company said.

Riders make a turn on Fury 325 at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, on April 8, 2022. (Alex Slitz/The Charlotte Observer/TNS)

For Carowinds park pass holders in the Charlotte area, the inclusive pass can be added to the gold and prestige season passes starting at $89 for the additional access, according to the park’s website. A gold pass is $99 annually and a prestige pass is $260 annually, the park’s website shows.

Cedar Fair, Carowinds’ former parent company, started offering an access pass to all of its parks in 2024, said Six Flags spokesman Gary Rhodes.

Last month, Cedar Fair and Six Flags finalized an $8 billion merger that brings the amusement park’s new company’s headquarters to Charlotte. Cedar Fair had owned and operated Carowinds since 2006 after purchasing it from Paramount for $1.2 billion.

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Carowinds is a 400-acre amusement park that straddles the border of North and South Carolina in Charlotte and Fort Mill, South Carolina.

The all-park passport helps gel together Six Flags and Cedar Fairs’ parks, Six Flags President and CEO Richard Zimmerman said in a statement.

This month, Six Flags announced two new Carowinds’ Camp Snoopy attractions opening next year — a family-friendly roller coaster and an interactive raft ride.

Six Flags also said it plans to upgrade its food and beverage menus and facilities. It has not disclosed how much it will invest in these upgrades, and the new menu items will be announced next year, Rhodes said.

©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit at charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Speak easy? The ups and downs of travel translation apps

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David Koo | (TNS) TravelPulse

Traveling to destinations where you don’t speak the local language can leave you lost in translation. Communicating in the local language helps advance cultural exchange and improves engagement with locals. Overcoming language barriers increases travelers’ ability to immerse themselves in the local culture.

Translation apps are not a replacement for organic fluency, but they can help cross important communication barriers regarding local navigation, reading menus, managing public transportation, shopping or getting help, even in emergencies.

Risks and dangers of using translation apps

There are downsides to translation app technology.

For example, if you’re an English-speaking lawyer on vacation in France and want to tell a local person what your profession is, you could ask Google Translate to provide the French version of “I am a lawyer.”

Google Translate will suggest you say, “Je suis un avocat.” Unfortunately, you just told your French friend that you are an avocado. In French, the word “avocat” means lawyer and avocado. The critical distinction is using the French word “un” before “avocat.” With the word “un” before “avocat,,” it means avocado; without it, the meaning is “lawyer.”

However, if you used Microsoft Translator, then it would recommend that you say, “Je suis avocat” – without the French word “un,” and that means you are, in fact, a lawyer.

The lesson here is that these tools, though often helpful, don’t always account for cultural nuances or context, and can stumble, sometimes disastrously, over colloquialisms, leading to bewildering misunderstandings and unintended comedy—or worse—when communicating with locals.

There are several other translation app risks, too, including:

Technical issues: Apps that rely on internet connectivity can be unreliable or costly.

Privacy concerns: Some translation apps require access to personal data, raising privacy issues.

Security risks: Using public Wi-Fi networks to access translation apps can expose sensitive information to potential hackers.

Dependency: Relying too heavily on translation apps may hinder language learning and cultural immersion.

Communication breakdown: In complex or nuanced conversations, translation apps may not be able to convey tone or context accurately, leading to misunderstandings.

What apps are available?

Several translation apps can assist with language translation, text recognition, voice translation and offline capabilities. The following are 10 of the best translation apps for tourists to consider using while traveling:

Waygo specializes in visual translation and is particularly useful for translating text into images and menus in Asian languages.

Papago is a popular translation app in Asia, offering text and voice translation in multiple languages, including Asian languages like Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

TripLingo is explicitly designed for travelers and has language guides, cultural information, and voice translations in multiple languages.

Google Translate is one of the most popular and widely used translation apps. It offers text, speech, and camera translation in many languages and offline capabilities for some features.

Microsoft Translator provides text and voice translation in multiple languages and the ability to translate conversations in real-time with several participants.

ITranslate offers text and voice translation, a dictionary, offline mode and the ability to save favorite translations for quick access.

SayHi provides voice translation in multiple languages, allowing users to have multilingual conversations with real-time translation.

Translate Now offers text and voice translation in numerous languages and the ability to save and organize translations for future reference.

Babylon Translator has text and voice translation in multiple languages and a dictionary and language learning tool.

Easy Language Translator provides text and voice translation in various languages with a simple and user-friendly interface.

Before traveling, it’s wise to download and familiarize yourself with one or more of these translation apps to help facilitate communication and enhance your travel experience. It’s also helpful to have a basic understanding of common phrases or greetings in the local language of the country you are visiting to show respect and courtesy to the locals. Finally, obtaining travel protection services that provide access to an in-person, live translation resource is essential for situations requiring more precision, like ensuring a prescription is filled correctly, sorting out a legal issue, or managing a medical or security emergency.

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©2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Quick Fix: Quinoa Bowl

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Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News Service

I had a light and refreshing salad bowl dinner at a friend’s home and decided to make one at home during these warm days. I used quinoa as the base for a vegetarian meal.

Quinoa is an ancient grain originating in the mountains of Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It’s also considered a complete protein, which means that it contains all nine of the essential amino acids. There are hundreds of different types of quinoas. The most common ones are white, red and black. I used a multi-color one for this dinner. Any type will work.

Quinoa needs to be cooked for about 15 minutes. Start it cooking first while you prepare the other ingredients.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Microwaveable brown rice can be used instead of quinoa. Use 3/4 cup cooked rice per person.

Any type of nuts can be used such as pecans or almonds.

Look for shredded carrots in the supermarket.

COUNTDOWN:

Start quinoa cooking.

Prepare the remaining ingredients and place them in two bowls.

SHOPPING LIST:

To buy: 1 package multi-color quinoa, 1 small bag broken walnuts, 1 container cherry tomatoes, 1 small avocado, 1 bag shredded carrots, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat spinach, 1 container pitted black olives. 1 bottle reduced-fat salad dressing, 1 bunch parsley (optional garnish).

Quinoa Bowl

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

1/2 cup multi-color quinoa

1 cup water

1/2 cup broken walnuts toasted

3 cups fresh ready-to-eat spinach

1 small avocado, seeded peeled and sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1 cup shredded carrots

6 black olives

6 tablespoons reduced-fat salad dressing

A few sprigs fresh parsley (optional garnish)

Add quinoa and water to a saucepan. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat. Lower heat to a simmer, stir and cover with a lid. Cook for 15 minutes. The quinoa should be tender but chewy. Meanwhile prepare the remaining ingredients. Toast the walnuts in a toaster oven or under the broiler for about 1 minute. Watch to see that they don’t burn. Divide the spinach in half and place in two large dinner bowls. Cut the avocado in half. Remove the pit and skin. Cut the halves into slices. Divide in half and place on one side of the bowls. Add the walnuts next to the avocado and cherry tomatoes next to the walnuts. Add the carrots in the middle. Add half the olives to each bowl. When the quinoa is cooked, divide in half and place on the side of the bowl next to the tomatoes. Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients. Add a few parsley springs on the side as a garnish, if using.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 563 calories (58 percent from fat), 36.4 g fat (3.3 g saturated, 14.3 g monounsaturated), 3 mg cholesterol, 17.9 g protein, 49.7 g carbohydrates, 13.8 g fiber, 198 mg sodium.

(Linda Gassenheimer is the author of over 30 cookbooks, including her newest, “The 12-Week Diabetes Cookbook.” Listen to Linda on www.WDNA.org and all major podcast sites. Email her at Linda@DinnerInMinutes.com.)

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC