Congressional Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-NY, speaking at a news conference, in
New York. Associated Press / Bebeto Matthews, File
Caribbean Life, MARCH 5-11, 2021 5
By Nelson A. King
As part of National Consumer Protection
Week, Sen. Zellnor Y. Myrie
(D-Central Brooklyn) on Wednesday
introduced S.4954, the “COVID-19
Fraud Accountability Act.”
Myrie, who represents the 20th
Senate District, said this legislation
would sharply increase civil financial
penalties for white-collar crime committed
in connection with COVID-
19.
“This has been a year of vulnerability
for all New Yorkers. However, some
bad actors have chosen to exploit this
vulnerability to seek ill-gotten profit
from individuals or from the government,”
Myrie said.
“This legislation would dramatically
increase the cost of doing business
for white-collar fraudsters, scammers
and others who prey on us during
this already-difficult time,” he added.
According to the Federal Trade
Commission, New Yorkers have filed
over 20,000 fraud complaints related
to COVID-19 and associated stimulus
payments.
Myrie said these complaints run
the gamut from healthcare enrollment
scams, product and marketing
fraud, phishing and cybercrime, and
foreclosure “rescue” scams.
New Yorkers’ complaints to the
FTC detailed over $23.7 million in
losses, Myrie noted.
“COVID-19 has already wrought
untold economic devastation to New
Yorkers, especially upon those who
had the least to begin with,” he said.
“On top of everything else, no one
should have to contend with additional
financial losses due to fraud in this
incredibly challenging moment.”
Myrie said the legislation defines
“fraud in connection with an abnormal
disruption of the market” in the
General Business Law, and imposes
a civil penalty of three times the
amount of the unlawful gain (or
$25,000, whichever is greater).
By Nelson A. King
Caribbean American Democratic
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke on
Wednesday introduced legislation in the
United States House of Representatives
that would allow Caribbean and other
“Dreamers” to earn lawful permanent
residence, or green card, and US citizenship.
The Development, Relief, and Education
for Alien Minors Act, known
as the DREAM Act, is a United States
legislative proposal to grant temporary
conditional residency, with the right to
work, to unauthorized Caribbean and
other immigrants who entered the US
as minors—and, if they later satisfy further
qualifications, they would attain
permanent residency.
In April 2001, US Senators Dick
Durbin (D-Illinois) and Orrin Hatch
(R-Utah) first introduced the bill in the
Senate as S. 1291, but it did not pass.
The proposal has since been reintroduced
several times, but has not been
approved by majorities in either House
of Congress.
On Wednesday, Clarke, the daughter
of Jamaican immigrants, who represents
the 9th Congressional District
in Brooklyn, introduced H.R. 6, the
Dream and Promise Act of 2021.
The bill, coauthored by New York
Democratic Congresswoman Nydia
Velázquez and her California counterpart
Lucille Roybal-Allard will enable
US-raised immigrant youth, known as
“Dreamers,” to earn lawful permanent
residence and American citizenship.
In addition to “Dreamers,” the Dream
and Promise Act includes protections
and a path to citizenship for Temporary
Protected Status (TPS) recipients, such
as hundreds of undocumented Haitians
living in the US, and Deferred Enforced
Departure (DED) beneficiaries.
H.R 6, The Dream and Promise Act,
provides a pathway to citizenship for
“Dreamers,” those individuals who
entered the US under the age of 18.
The legislation also provides “Dreamers”
with access to equitable higher
education.
For TPS and DED holders, H.R. 6,
will secure permanent residency and
allow them to apply for citizenship after
five years.
The legislation goes even further
to prevent immediate deportations,
establish the right to judicial review,
and impose penalties on those who
use application data for immigration
enforcement purposes.
“I am proud to co-lead H.R.6, the
Dream and Promise Act, which provides
2.5 million ‘Dreamers’ Temporary
Protected Status and Deferred Enforcement
Departure recipients with a pathway
to citizenship — 2.5 million people
who already call America home and are
contributing to our society,” Clarke told
Caribbean Life.
“As chair of the Congressional Black
Caucus Immigration Task Force, it is
my passion and my duty to stand up
for immigrants,” she added. “H.R. 6
is the right thing to do for ‘Dreamers’
and TPS and DED holders. Immigrants
greatly contribute to our economy, our
community and our culture.
“Reversing the policies of the last
four years is not enough,” continued
Clarke, referring to the last four years of
the previous President Donald J. Trump
administration. “We must reimagine
the immigration system in a manner
that is humane, just and fair. The time
has come for the values of our nation
to be reflected in our immigration policies.”
In 2012, former US President Barack
Obama enacted a temporary program,
called the Deferred Action for Childhood
Arrivals (DACA), which provided
temporary protection from deportation
and work permits for eligible “Dreamers”.
But, in 2017, the Trump administration
rescinded the program, taking
DACA protections away from its 800,000
recipients.
“This unlawful act by the Trump
administration was part of a larger
effort to advance their anti-immigrant
agenda,” Clarke said. “The Dream and
Promise Act seeks to remedy these
actions and do right by the immigrants
in our country.”
In 2019, H.R. 6, the Dream and
Promise Act was passed in the House,
but it was not signed into law.
Clarke, therefore, co-leads the legislation’s
2021 re-introduction, with cosponsorship
by 134 members of Congress.
The reintroduction of H.R. 6 comes
as momentum continues to build for
long-overdue US immigration reform.
Earlier this year, Clarke co-led the
House’s version of President Joe Biden’s
US Citizenship Act of 2021, along with
six of her colleagues known as the
“Closers”.
“This comprehensive legislation
would restore humanity and American
values to our immigration system,” said
Clarke, stating that, among many provisions,
it would allow “qualified, hardworking
immigrants who contribute to
our country and enrich their communities
with a pathway to citizenship.
“The reintroduction of H.R. 6 is part
of the strategy to further prioritize
efforts to secure permanent citizenship
for ‘Dreamers’, TPS recipients and
DED beneficiaries, alongside the larger
immigration bill,” the congresswoman
added.
Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Zellnor
Y. Myrie. https://www.nysenate.gov
Yvette Clarke introduces measure to aid
‘Dreamers’ earn green card, citizenship
Stiffer penalties
proposed for
COVID-related
white-collar crimes
/www.nysenate.gov
/www.nysenate.gov
