A US Border Patrol agent along with a K9 canine agent search for migrants attempting to enter the US, at a checkpoint, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 27. Reuters
A US Border Patrol agent along with a K9 canine agent search for migrants attempting to enter the US, at a checkpoint, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 27. Reuters
A US Border Patrol agent along with a K9 canine agent search for migrants attempting to enter the US, at a checkpoint, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 27. Reuters
A US Border Patrol agent along with a K9 canine agent search for migrants attempting to enter the US, at a checkpoint, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 27. Reuters


The story of David Velasquez and the case for immigrants


  • English
  • Arabic

July 04, 2024

I first read about David Velasquez last month on his graduation day from Harvard Medical School.

In his cap and gown, he posted a loving tribute to his parents, who had fled war-torn Nicaragua, on X.

His parents arrived in America as asylum seekers. They spoke no English, had no money or friends and they crossed the US border at a gas station. They slept in a church, were often hungry, but were determined to work hard and prosper.

David’s mother worked as a cleaner for $2.25 an hour. They eventually found a shelter home, and David’s father, Calixto, did manual labour.

Despite the fact they could not afford money for diapers, the family raised four boys with strong values and work ethics. David would go on to become the first person in Harvard’s history to graduate with three degrees – from Harvard Medical school, Harvard Kennedy School for government and Harvard Business School.

Attending just one of these institutions is a major accomplishment given the acceptance rate to the Medical School hovers at around the 3.7 percentile of applicants. Getting degrees from all three elite schools is the stuff of dreams – or maybe the result of a first-generation immigrant's drive to succeed.

Given David's background – his Dad, Calixto, had a fifth-grade education when he left Nicaragua, and his three brothers went straight to work after high school – it’s even more remarkable.

When he was three years old, David’s pre-school teacher told his parents that he was a genius and that “He’s going to be someone important.” Education was essential but so were core values. The family raised all their sons “focused on character traits.” Even as a child, David’s mother said what was important was that he was kind. He brought home his school lunch because he knew his parents were hungry and gave it to them to eat.

Throughout his schooling in Los Angeles, David was surrounded by gangs and violence. He focused on maths, running and basketball. It led him to Harvard. “This journey isn’t about me,” David said, “I’m doing it for my community.”

I love the story of David Velazquez.

He could end up running for president of the US someday, and he should. But what I love most is that his story is a counter-propaganda torpedo to the right-wing parties that are sweeping across America and Europe.

These parties aim to stamp out the dreams of people like David.

This week, in my home country, France, Marine Le Pen’s far right party, Rassemblement National (National Rally or RN), which is founded on an anti-immigration stance, became the biggest political force in the country. At RN's core is a policy for “National Preference” or “National Priority”, which means that French citizens will be given priority for jobs, social welfare, and certain strategic jobs.

If they win in the second round of the elections for National Assembly, on July 7, then France – “a country of human rights and enlightenment”, in the words of one far-left assembly man – would transform into a far-right country where anti-immigration, racism and xenophobia would prevail. Even those with dual nationality, like me, would be questioned.

This isn’t just happening in France. The wave of anti-immigration sentiment is flourishing across Europe, but equally, across the Atlantic.

If Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November, which is beginning to seem more likely, the David Velasquezs of the world may not get the chance to thrive.

Leaked plans of sinister recommendations and policy plans, called “Project 2025”, being put together by a group of conservative US thinkers would mean the tools that gave David Velasquez his future will be reduced. This would start with a major reduction of federal financial support to students.

Targets would include the so-called Dreamers, who arrived as children to the US undocumented (under the policy Daca or “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals”) but later attended US schools and identify as American. The legal status of the 500,000 Dreamers could be “reassigned” and “reprocessed” causing delays in status expirations.

Many would be vulnerable to deportation. When I taught at two elite American institutions – Yale and Columbia – I had several Dreamers as students. Their determination, fierce work ethic, courage at tackling life that was so far removed from their comfort zone, touched me profoundly.

“My mother was a cleaning lady but fought to get me piano lessons.”

“I grew up in a trailer van but I knew I wanted to succeed.”

Nearly all of the people I knew with such stories went on to accomplish great things.

But if this wave of anti-immigration occurs, people like them will not be absorbed into society.

In the 1880s, my great-grandparents landed in the US, in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, escaping political upheaval in their home in southern Italy. The had nine children. Their priorities in a new country without a language or friends, like the Velasquez, was to educate their children; buy property and start a business.

All their children went to university (except the eldest, my grandmother, who became a councilwoman in Newark, New Jersey after the Second World War), and most went to elite institutions such as Harvard Medical School, which were almost all closed to immigrants in those days.

The stories of my ancestors are a part of me. They shaped me and drove me to work harder and better. But my ancestors were not unusual. Most Americans are descendants of immigrants. And in America, in France, in Canada, in the UK, there are a myriad stories of hard-earned success. Immigrants created the fabric of modern society.

Last April, Donald Trump floated the idea of setting up “migrant detention camps,” testing the bounds of the judicial system, immigration law and civil rights. He and his allies already said they would have militarised mass deportations. To the former president, this is unfinished business from his last disastrous term. This time, Mr Trump wants to go big – he wants to go way beyond building a wall on the southern border.

“Americans can expect that immediately upon President Trump’s return to the Oval Office, he will restore all of his prior policies,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement, adding he would “implement brand new crackdowns that will send shock waves to all the world’s criminal smugglers, and marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation in American history”.

She added that undocumented immigrants “should not get comfortable because very soon they will be going home.”

I would counter Mr Trump’s team remarks by saying immigrants make an important contribution to US economy. They increase potential output by increasing the size of the labour force. They also contribute to increased productivity. This is explained in a statement from the White House about how immigrants boost innovation.

Economists Jennifer Hunt and Marjolaine Gauthier-Loiselle find that a 1 percentage point increase in the population share of immigrant college graduates increases US patents per capita by 9 per cent to 18 per cent.

I could find plenty more economic proof that counter narratives by Mr Trump, Ms Le Pen and the hoards of other right-wing leaders who want to close borders, about how important immigrants are for countries.

The best example I can give is David Velasquez, who today is a physician in Boston at a major hospital, healing people.

But he’s doing more than that. His journey is going to be a template and inspiration for others. And right now, he is fighting to make “the system work for marginalised people.”

if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation. 

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000. 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

Favourite things

Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery

Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount

University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China

Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai

Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China

Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs

The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

Where to apply

Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020

Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.

The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020. 

MATCH INFO

What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru

The%20specs
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Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

Family reunited

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was born and raised in Tehran and studied English literature before working as a translator in the relief effort for the Japanese International Co-operation Agency in 2003.

She moved to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies before moving to the World Health Organisation as a communications officer.

She came to the UK in 2007 after securing a scholarship at London Metropolitan University to study a master's in communication management and met her future husband through mutual friends a month later.

The couple were married in August 2009 in Winchester and their daughter was born in June 2014.

She was held in her native country a year later.

SPEC SHEET

Display: 10.4-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits, toughened glass

CPU: Unisoc T610; Mali G52 GPU

Memory: 4GB

Storage: 64GB, up to 512GB microSD

Camera: 8MP rear, 5MP front

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio

Battery: 8200mAh, up to 10 hours video

Platform: Android 11

Audio: Stereo speakers, 2 mics

Durability: IP52

Biometrics: Face unlock

Price: Dh849

FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)

Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)

Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

UK’s AI plan
  • AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
  • £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
  • £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
  • £250m to train new AI models
Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
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Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
The%C2%A0specs%20
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The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

MATCH INFO

Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap​​​​​​​
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal​​​​​​​
Rating: 3.5/5

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

SAUDI RESULTS

Team Team Pederson (-40), Team Kyriacou (-39), Team De Roey (-39), Team Mehmet (-37), Team Pace (-36), Team Dimmock (-33)

Individual E. Pederson (-14), S. Kyriacou (-12), A van Dam (-12), L. Galmes (-12), C. Hull (-9), E. Givens (-8),

G. Hall (-8), Ursula Wikstrom (-7), Johanna Gustavsson (-7)

Ballon d’Or shortlists

Men

Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)

Women

Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)

 

 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Updated: July 04, 2024, 4:00 AM