EIIC

Tyrone Productions and RTE are seeking members of the Irish Diaspora to recite portions of the 1916 Proclamation from various locales throughout the world.

The recitations — preferably made before an iconic backdrop —  will feature in a broadcast Easter Monday night on RTE 1.

In addition to several counties in Ireland, they hope to have readings from Sydney/Melbourne; New York/Washington; London; Abu Dhabi/Dubai; Buenos Aires; Cairo; Paris; Moscow; Tokyo; Beijing/Shanghai and Rome.

The reading can involve one person, a family, first or second generation, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, a classroom, a football team, cultural groups, social groups, etc. All you need to do is to record yourself or your group on your phone, digital camera, or other device.  The deadlines for entries is February 12.  Please email requests for complete guidelines to ireland@tyroneproductions.ie 

The Irish Consulate is urging people to get involved and to let them know if they are planning to submit a reading.

Many New Yorkers received help paying for their health plan through the New York State of Health! In fact, nearly 75% of people who enrolled in a health plan through the Marketplace were eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premium costs. If you or someone in your household purchased a platinum, gold, silver or bronze plan through the Marketplace and received Advanced Premium Tax Credits during the year you need to report these credits on your federal income tax return. To help you do this New York State of Health will mail you an important tax document called Form 1095-A. You also can access your form in your secure inbox in your New York State of Health account. Form 1095-A contains information about the qualified health plan(s) you and members of your household were enrolled in, the month(s) you were enrolled and the amount of Advanced Premium Tax Credit everyone in your household used to lower their monthly premium during the year. The amount of Advanced Premium Tax Credit was based on your estimated income at the time you applied for coverage through New York State of Health. This estimate may be different than your actual income when you file your federal tax return. You will use the information on your form 1095-A to complete Form 8962, which will tell you if you need to adjust the amount of tax credits upward or downward. Even if you did not apply for, or did not use tax credits to lower your premium during the year, you may still be eligible to claim a tax credit on your federal tax return. Form 1095-A includes the information you will need to claim this credit.

If you have questions about the information contained in form 1095-A, visit the New York State of Health website: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or call New York State of Health at 1–855-355-5777.

If you need help completing Form 8962 or have other questions about tax filing, consult with your tax preparer or visit the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/

Each year, NY State of Health has an Open Enrollment period where anybody who qualifies to use the Marketplace can enroll. When Open Enrollment ends, people can no longer enroll in a Qualified Health Plan and must wait until the next Open Enrollment period.

But, did you know that there are exceptions? It’s true: if you have experienced one of the following life events, you might be able to enroll during Special Enrollment period.

Qualifying life events may include: getting married or losing coverage due to divorce, having a baby or adopting a child, losing employer-sponsored coverage such as when you lose or change your job, or a child aging out of their parent’s health insurance.

A qualifying life event may also include becoming a naturalized citizen, permanently moving to New York or moving outside of your health plan service area where new qualified health plans become available to you.

You may also qualify for the Special Enrollment Period if you’re already enrolled in a qualified health plan through the Marketplace and become duly eligible or ineligible for tax credits or a different amount of cost sharing reductions.

However, some events do not qualify for the Special Enrollment Period. Events that don’t qualify include: voluntarily dropping your health coverage, losing coverage because you didn’t pay your premium, or having a medical emergency.

You have 60 days from the day of the qualifying life event to complete your application and choose your qualified health plan.

Act quickly!

There are additional circumstances that may qualify you for Special Enrollment Period.

If you think you qualify or if you have a question about whether you qualify,  visit the NY State of Health website: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ or contact us at 718.478.5502 ext. 103.

As many of you have already heard, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began raids on homes of undocumented immigrants last month. So far there is NO indication of any raids in New York state
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However, here’s a list of tips and rights that you should know in case you feel you could be arrested and detained:

• The group of immigrants that may be at risk should there be a raid or under current enforcement priorities are those who:
  • have been seen as a threat to the national security, border security or have been convicted of serious crimes, such as gang participation;
  • are either undocumented or a lawful permanent resident but have been convicted of certain criminal offenses whether they are old convictions or more recent ones such as, driving under the influence, drug crimes, domestic violence, unlawful gun possession, and child endangerment;
  • entered the United States or who have been ordered deported after January 1, 2014.

• Should you feel that you are at risk here are some other hotlines to call:
  • In New York, if you have questions or concerns about potential ICE raids, call the The New York State Office of New Americans “New Americans” Hotline: 1-800-566-7636
  • To report when a raid is happening, call the United We Dream hotline immediately: 1-844-363-1423. To receive text alerts, text: WATCH ICE to 877877.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• ICE cannot conduct raids or enforcement to arrest immigrants at schools, places of worship, hospitals, weddings, funerals, marches or rallies, absent unusual circumstances such as a risk of terrorism.
• If you feel you might be arrested should there be a raid, you should tell your family now where all of your employment, identity, and other important documents are located. In the case that you are arrested, your family will be able to take your documents to an attorney who can fight your case or explain your options. Make sure that you have an emergency plan.
• If you feel you might be arrested in a raid in the future, you should see an attorney now to find out information about your options. If you are in the process of seeking legal status, you should continue to go to all scheduled appointments with the immigration authorities and court.
• What to do should ICE come to your home or approach you in public:
  • ICE agents might wear plain clothes or say they are police or say they are investigating a crime.
  • If ICE comes to your home, the agent should have a warrant signed by a judge. If they do not have a warrant signed by a judge, you DO NOT have to open your door. Ensure that they slip the warrant under your door and verify that the warrant has your name on it before opening the door.
  • Ask an ICE agent to see their ID.
  • Inform them if there are children or elderly people in your home.
  • If any ICE agent does not have an ID or signed warrant with a judge’s signature and your name on it, politely tell them “I do not consent to you being in my home. Please leave.” If they search your rooms say “I do not consent to your search”.
  • You DO NOT need to answer any questions that an ICE agent might ask. Under the Fifth Amendment you have the right to remain silent.
  • Should you answer any questions that an ICE agent asks you, DO NOT lie about your answers. The best thing to do in this situation is to remain silent and politely decline to answer their questions.
  • Anyone who is arrested must be told these four things before being questioned by the police:
    • You have the right to remain silent
    • Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law
    • You have the right to an attorney
    • If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
  • DO NOT sign any papers that ICE gives you without first speaking with your attorney.
  • You do not need to share information on where you were born or your immigration status.
  • You do not need to give them your passport or other documents.

Due to inclement weather conditions EIIC offices are closed on Saturday, January 23, 2016, all appointments will be rescheduled.

EIIC offices will open on Monday, January 25 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Registrations for our Citizenship Classes will continue on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 9:00 AM.

Irish Nationals please contact: 212-319-2555 for any urgent matters.