New Haven Independent

Immigrant Tales | May 9, 2008

Immigrant Victory at Outback

by Melinda Tuhus | May 9, 2008 4:13 AM | Permalink

After four months of weekly picketing by a support network, immigrant workers who charged sexual harassment against their supervisor at an Outback Steakhouse have won a settlement.

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Immigrant Tales | May 6, 2008

The Devout: An Intersection Between the Divine and Secular

by Staff | May 6, 2008 3:09 PM | Permalink

Father Jim Manship (pictured here with Monseñor Altamirano and Maria Elizabeth) of St. Rose of Lima has been filing dispatches from his visit to Ecuador, to see families and neighbors of New Haven's, and his church's, newest arrivals. (Find his previous dispatches here, here, here here, & here.)

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Immigrant Tales | May 5, 2008

Ecuadorian Soccer Kicks Off

by Thomas MacMillan | May 5, 2008 3:01 PM | Permalink

The soccer season in Fair Haven officially opened with the help of a dozen local and international dignitaries, eight speeches, two national anthems, one commemorative plaque, an official citation, 16 soccer teams, one Ecuadorian dance troupe, and a bevy of beauty queens.

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Immigrant Tales | May 2, 2008

"We'll Be Back!"

by Melinda Tuhus | May 2, 2008 8:57 AM | Permalink

A crowd celebrating historical labor struggles marched from the Green to the Temple Grill restaurant for a real-life confrontation on behalf of an immigrant worker.

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Immigrant Tales | May 1, 2008

Cop's Story Differs

by VJ Vitkowsky | May 1, 2008 10:48 AM | Permalink

The cop accused of beating an immigrant claimed the man was interfering with a parking complaint investigation.

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Immigrant Tales | April 28, 2008

"When I Saw A Police Car, I Was Terrified"

by VJ Vitkowsky | April 28, 2008 5:25 PM | Permalink

When Abel Sanchez went to check on his brother- in-law, he was issued a ticket for interfering with a police officer. When he left police custody, he needed to go to a hospital, according to a civil rights complaint filed in federal court Monday.

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Immigrant Tales | April 22, 2008

"Sergeant-Major" Is Ready To Vote

by Allan Appel | April 22, 2008 1:01 PM | Permalink

Sylvia Lewis-Thomas was welcomed into "the American family" just in time to carry out what she considers one of her most important roles of a citizen.

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Immigrant Tales | April 21, 2008

Tibetan Refugee Shares Visual Prayers

by Thomas MacMillan | April 21, 2008 9:17 AM | Permalink

After fleeing his native Tibet, Lama Tsondru Sangpo (pictured) is "planting the Buddha seed" in New Haven with a display of sacred paintings.

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Immigrant Tales | April 18, 2008

Geovana Alexandra Tapia Gualán, 22

by Staff | April 18, 2008 8:34 AM | Permalink

The community of the St. Rose's Church of Lima gathered to commemorate the life of a young church member whose life was cut short by leukemia on April 14.

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Immigrant Tales | April 16, 2008

From Sierra Leone To Model U.S. Citizen

by Thomas MacMillan | April 16, 2008 8:40 AM | Permalink

Mohamed Turay took the day off Tuesday to receive an award for all his hard work. It's been a steep path from refugee to celebrated Connecticut citizen.

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Immigrant Tales | April 16, 2008

From Sierra Leone To Model U.S. Citizen

by Thomas MacMillan | April 16, 2008 8:40 AM | Permalink

Mohamed Turay took the day off Tuesday to receive an award for all his hard work. It's been a steep path from refugee to celebrated Connecticut citizen.

Continue reading "From Sierra Leone To Model U.S. Citizen"

Immigrant Tales | April 15, 2008

A Visit With Elian

by Staff | April 15, 2008 10:50 AM | Permalink

Read on for Father Jim's latest bilingual dispatch from Ecuador, where he's meeting family and friends of some of New Haven's newcomers. (Find his previous dispatches here & here.)

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Immigrant Tales | April 14, 2008

A Ticket To Credibility

by Staff | April 14, 2008 12:12 PM | Permalink

New Haven's Father Jim Manship is on a mission to Ecuador to link up with relatives of some of New Haven's new arrivals. He's been keeping a bilingual diary of his visit for the Independent. Here's his latest dispatch:

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Immigrant Tales | April 11, 2008

Lugo Details Protest Shove

by Melissa Bailey | April 11, 2008 4:35 PM | Permalink

Explaining to a state panel why immigrant activists are "scared" to release personal information, John Jairo Lugo (pictured) told how opponents of New Haven's immigrant-friendly municipal ID card pushed a woman with a baby at a protest and came to his house to watch him.

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Immigrant Tales | April 10, 2008

Legal Help On Way for Refugees

by Melinda Tuhus | April 10, 2008 8:00 AM | Permalink

Chantal Marie Ndikunkiko fled Burundi in 1995 to escape the same — but better known — genocide that occurred in neighboring Rwanda. She arrived in Connecticut in 1997 with her husband and young daughter and got help to make a new life.

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Immigrant Tales | April 9, 2008

Live From Ecuador

by Staff | April 9, 2008 12:10 PM | Permalink

New Haven's Father Jim Manship has landed safely in the southern hemisphere. After some restorative chicken soup, he sent back this report:

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Immigrant Tales | April 3, 2008

Fire Can't Keep Him Down

by Paul Bass | April 3, 2008 11:37 AM | Permalink

Boubacar Diallo is back in business, $125,000 in the hole but optimistic, after watching his inventory burn in December's downtown fire.

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Immigrant Tales | March 31, 2008

Ortiz Details Death Threat, Google Bomb

by Paul Bass | March 31, 2008 5:08 PM | Permalink

Opponents of New Haven's immigrant-friendly IDs threatened to kill a top city official and attached her name to obscene web sites, the city's police chief told a state panel Monday afternoon.

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Immigrant Tales | March 28, 2008

Tax Time For Jose

by Melissa Bailey | March 28, 2008 11:34 AM | Permalink

The form is complete, the check waiting to be sent. Tax time is going to hit hard for Jose Morales, an undocumented immigrant making his life as an entrepreneur.

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Immigrant Tales | March 19, 2008

She Has A Hard-Times Plan

by Melissa Bailey | March 19, 2008 10:09 AM | Permalink

Struggling under the strain of rising utility bills, a Peruvian entrepreneur has come up with a plan to keep her grocery store alive -- if the city gives the OK.

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