Immigrant Affairs
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As
the most diverse
community
in the world,
Queens welcmes you |
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A Message from
Helen Marshall
Queens is the most multi-ethnic county in the United
States, and immigrants are a significant part of this diversity.
According to U.S. Census figures, more than 45% of our Borough’s
population is foreign-born. Our
immigrant neighbors make major contributions to the social,
economic, cultural and civic life of the
Borough and beyond.
For citizenship questions, at Queens Borough Hall we address
the needs of recent immigrants in a number of ways. Constituents
with questions about their citizenship applications can
contact us for referrals to their Congress members
or to neighborhood-based immigrant service agencies.
The 2010 Census Initiative
QUEENS BOROUGH PRESIDENT HELEN MARSHALL JOINS COLLEAGUES IN CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO RECENTLY-RELEASED 2010 U.S. CENSUS DATA
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall expressed indignation on Thursday, March
24, 2011 when data released by the U.S. Census Bureau alleged that only 1,300
new residents had moved into the borough over the past ten years.
“As an elected official here in Queens for the past 30 years, I have watched
the population of our borough become the most diverse of any county in America,” she
said. “JFK Airport, the Gateway to America, brings individuals and families
here from around the world, and many stay here in Queens with relatives already
living the American Dream. […] I believe that Queens has traditionally been
undercounted and continues to be. I invite Census officials who believe that
our population is stagnant to go on tour with me and discover the difference.”
Read the full Press Release
In fact, with the participation of Borough President
Marshall’s Queens Complete
Count Committee (Queens CCC), the borough’s mail-in response rate for the 2010
U.S. Census was actually higher than it had been for the 2000 U.S. Census.
On
Sunday, March 27, 2011 Borough President Helen Marshall
joined with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Senator Charles
Schumer, and other local legislators at a rally in Jackson
Heights to announce the start of a challenge to the 2010
U.S. Census figures.
Iin January 2011, Borough President
Marshall’s
Office published a Report on the Queens Complete Count
Committee, outlining the Queens CCC’s
many accomplishments but also expressing concerns about
language access and other operational issues during the
Census-taking process. The full Report and addenda can
be accessed here as PDF documents.
For more information on the Queens Complete Count Committee,
which includes the Subcommittees on Business, Faith-Based
Organizations, Health Care Providers, Media and Undercounted
populations, contact the Queens Borough President’s
Office at (718) 286-2741 or at stanenbaum@queensbp.org.
For more information on the press conference at the start of
the 2010 Census effort, click here.
The Translation Program,
a long-standing partnership between my office and the Asian/American
Center at Queens College, is an excellent, free service for
non-profit organizations, government agencies and
civic groups. Documents can be translated from English to
Spanish, Chinese, Korean, or Hindi. Click
here to download the translation request form (PDF). PLEASE NOTE: Translations take 4-6 weeks from date of submission.
The Immigration Task Force brings together immigrant service
providers and advocates on a regular basis
for updates on federal immigration policy, for networking
opportunities, and for resources that can help
to further improve service delivery. In 2007, the task force
members will share their wide-ranging
expertise in neighborhood forums. We will also feature the
task force members in an Immigrant Services
Directory, with relevant data from around the Borough.
The Queens
Diversity Calendar (PDF) lists many events and observances
that are important to the residents of our multi-ethnic Borough.
Please stay tuned for this year's
Diversity Calendar.
Immigration Fraud is a problem that impacts our nation. Here is more information to help you learn how to deal with this issue.
I am proud to co-sponsor an increasing number of special
celebrations and observances with our
immigrant communities. Under my administration, Queens Borough
Hall has for the first time hosted
Phagwah, Baisakhi, and Philippine Independence Day events,
just to name a few.
For more information about Immigrant Affairs, please feel
free to contact us at (718) 286-2741.
Helen M. Marshall
President of the Borough of Queens
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