Illegal Immigrants Need Help Due To Hurricane Sandy

We Can't Forget About Anyone - Hurricane Sandy And Undocumented Residents

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the ensuing winter storm that is hitting the New York - New Jersey metropolitan area, there is an alarming concern that is growing regarding the safety and well-being of New York residents who were living here in an 'undocumented status' - in another words, they were illegal immigrants - and many of them have been deeply affected and devastated by Hurricane Sandy.

This is not the time to lodge any debate over your belief on whether human beings devastated by this horrific storm should be in the country or not.   

The only thing to remember is that these people - the vast majority trying to build a better life for themselves and their family - have been dramatically hit by the storm and nearly  all of them do not have any safety net such as close-by family, job-related benefits and property insurance.  And they generally have limited financial resources available. 

I am by no means minimizing the difficulties American nations are facing - but this is New York - the amazing place it is because it is made up of immigrants.  And regardless of immigration status - our great city runs as the greatest city in the world because in part of all of our residents.

So today, keep in mind that there are many individuals - similar to 9-11 - who are going to not receive the help and assistance they really need.  And many of these individuals that will fall through the cracks will be the undocumented residents that amongst many things man our restaurants, that tend to our gardens and homes, and most of all, add to the social and cultural vitality that makes New Yorkers global citizens. 

One thing to remember: many of these individuals have young families.  They really need your help.

If you are an 'undocumented resident' and need help, please contact FEMA as they are providing assistance for EVERYONE regardless of residence status.  Also the Red Cross is helping EVERYONE regardless of residence status.  Contact Catholic Charities - you do not need to be Catholic to get help from them - they help everyone equally.  Also, your local churches, synagogues, and mosques are helping EVERYONE regardless of residence status.  Do not be concerned about anything else - these organizations are really only trying to help and are not concerned about anything else.

And to those who are trying to help - remember, many will fall through the cracks.  Your help is so important!

So if you can help in your own way - do so. Now I s The Time To Get involved!

Here are a few important suggestions on how you can do so.

1.  Contact your local church and ask them specifically what type of outreach and assistance they have for all Sandy victims.  Make sure you also ask that they are doing to help undocumented residents and how you can help.  If they have no programs in place to assist Hurricane Sandy victims, consider creating one, or contact a church, synagogue or mosque close by and ask what they're doing. 

2.  Contact any of your local community clubs and organizations such as your local Rotary or Lions Club and ask them what they are doing to help undocumented residents and how you can help. 

3. Contact the leadership of your local schools, or schools in urban areas that have been impacted by the storm, and ask the school's leadership  what they are doing to help undocumented residents and how you can help.

4.  Contact your local hospital's social services department.  Inquire if they are familiar with any cases where a person or family does not have the ability of obtaining assistance (meaning they are undocumented) and ask how you may help.

5.  Contact Catholic Charities and inquire from each one of these offices what they are specifically doing to help undocumented workers and how can you help. I have found Catholic Charities to be resourceful and able to make an impact at the very local level, which is important. 

6.  Contact the Red Cross. 

7.  Some hotels such as Marriott are allowing you to donate your hotel points to the Red Cross without charge.  In turn, the Red Cross is providing shelter in part at hotels such as Marriott for those in need. 

Conversely, if you are an individual living in the New York area without updated or official papers in need of help due to Hurricane Sandy, please know first and foremost that we are a city of immigrants and as a city of immigrants New Yorkers care about one another.  

Make sure you contact FEMA and the organizations listed above in 1-7, including your local church, synagogue, or mosque and ask how they can provide help to you and your family.  

Help is out there.  There are many people who are willing and eager to help those in need.

Remember everyone - we are all in this together.  Acts of humanity and kindness are blind to naturalization papers, religion, color, or religion.  

Please help wherever you can.  And if anyone has any other suggestions or ideas on how we may help, please right to me directly at peter@stopchildabduction.org 

Peter Thomas Senese

Executive Director

The I CARE Foundation

Helping Children

Recently, I have received a number of incredibly appreciative phone calls and letters from parents and family members that the I CARE Foundation and I have helped concering child abduction prevention or assisting in the recovery of an internationally kidnapped child. They remind me and everyone else associated with the I CARE Foundation just how important it is to help one another and act in good citizenship, particularly when it comes to trying to protect children from being abducted abroad.

These letters (Letters To Peter Thomas Senese) written from the hearts of many parents speak loudly about the privelage we all have when we can make a giant difference for others.

Helping others is nothing new to me. I have been very blessed in my life, and view the opportunity to do so as a privelage and responsibility.     

When we help others, we may be that person's hero, and heroes are important; however, we act in kindness because that is simply what we are suppose to do. 


In the coming months, the I CARE Foundation, the not-for-profit organization I am a director of, will be moving forward on an assortment of legislative initiatives that will help protect children and their targeted parents from abduction. 

I know first-hand that our efforts are both a responsibility and privelage.   It is our intent to:

1. Modify the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative so all individuals traveling abroad must present a valid passport regardless age and type of travel.

2. Create a secure screening list for individuals determined by courts or law enforcement as high-risk child abductors who posses a right to U.S. citizenship similar to the existing Prevent Departure Program that only applies to individuals who do not posses a right of American citizenship.

So if your really interested in assisting, on behalf of the I CARE Foundation, we would welcome your assistance. All you need to do is send an email to mediarelations@stopchildabduction.org. 

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN by PETER SENESE

I am very pleased to announce today the free E-book publication of THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: International Parental Child Abduction by Peter Thomas Senese with special contributions by Carolyn Ann Vlk. 

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN by Peter Thomas Senese with Carolyn Ann Vlk is an extensive resource guide presently 315 pages in length containing significant information and landmark reports and research studies that will be useful for all individuals, including targeted parents, law enforcement officers, courts, and lawmakers interested in understanding and preventing international parental child abduction or human trafficking.

What is dynamic about THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN outside of the fact that the content and material contained within the book is that THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN takes shape in the form of a virtual E-book that is intended to be updated with new content, information, and material as relevant material and information becomes available. In essence, THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is the foundation for a very unique cyber-library with the intent of providing critically important information for all individuals in need of information regarding child abduction.

In keeping with my goal of being able to offer to the world-at-large relevant, timely, and important information that may protect innocent children targeted for international abduction, it was my desire to make this extensive publication free-of-charge to all who desire to read it. THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN is available online as a free download in a PDF file format. Both Carolyn Ann Vlk’s and my child abduction prevention advocacy is done on a volunteer basis.

Making THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN free of charge is similar to the free extensive documentary film series titled ‘CHASING PARENTS: Racing Into the Storms of International Parental Child Abduction’ I have created that continues to educate a substantial number of individuals from around the world on the growing epidemic of criminal child abduction.

On behalf of Carolyn Ann Vlk and myself, I hope that the information contained in THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN will be of help to you.

Click Here To Read THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY PETER SENESE

Sincerely,

Peter Thomas Senese