Tag:

Sri Lanka

NJ Couple Ginned Up Immigrant Asylum Applications, Charged Clients $1,000 A Pop: Feds NJ Couple Ginned Up Immigrant Asylum Applications, Charged Clients $1,000 A Pop: Feds
NJ Couple Ginned Up Immigrant Asylum Applications, Charged Clients $1,000 A Pop: Feds A New Jersey couple who operated an immigration business from their home are facing a federal trial for submitting bogus asylum applications for clients from Sri Lanka, authorities said. Zuwairul Ameer, 61, and his wife, Claudette Ameer, 63, had been doing it since at least 2007 when a client who was approached by the FBI agreed to become a government cooperator, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Applicants for asylum in the U.S. must show Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that they have suffered persecution in their homeland because of their race, religion, …
North Jersey Dad Who Died After Three-Week Cancer Fight Lived 'Rags To Riches' Tale North Jersey Dad Who Died After Three-Week Cancer Fight Lived 'Rags To Riches' Tale
North Jersey Dad Who Died After Three-Week Cancer Fight Lived 'Rags To Riches' Tale North Jersey father and businessman Talath Witharane died after a three-week battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, according to his obituary. He was 50 years old. Witharane, of Franklin Lakes, met his wife, Erin, 21 years ago on a blind date, and together they raised their two children Evyn, 15, and Harry, 12. According to his obituary, Witharane "led the quintessential American rags to riches story." He was born in Sri Lanka and later worked his way up from a Taco Bell employee to president of RK Environmental, a food safety company with more than 200 employees.  "One of t…
COVID-19: Popular Vacation Spot Offering Vaccinations To Visitors In Push To Lure Tourists COVID-19: Popular Vacation Spot Offering Vaccinations To Visitors In Push To Lure Tourists
Covid-19: Popular Vacation Spot Offering Vaccinations To Visitors In Push To Lure Tourists If you are dreaming of the white sands of the Maldives Islands and don't have a COVID-19 vaccine, no problem. The island is offering travelers vaccinations on arrival. In an interview on CNBC on Wednesday, April 14, the country's Tourism Minister Abdulla Mausoom told the network that the offer is part of its "3V" initiative aimed at drawing tourists to the hard-hit island resort located southwest of Sri Lanka and India. The strategy, Mausoom said, is to "visit, vaccinate, and vacation." Currently, visitors to the islands must provide a negative polymerase chain reaction test and proof of h…
COVID-19: This Vacation Destination Offering Vaccinations To Visitors In Push To Lure Tourists COVID-19: This Vacation Destination Offering Vaccinations To Visitors In Push To Lure Tourists
Covid-19: This Vacation Destination Offering Vaccinations To Visitors In Push To Lure Tourists If you are dreaming of the white sands of the Maldives Islands and don't have a COVID-19 vaccine, no problem. The island is offering travelers vaccinations on arrival. In an interview on CNBC on Wednesday, April 14, the country's Tourism Minister Abdulla Mausoom told the network that the offer is part of its "3V" initiative aimed at drawing tourists to the hard-hit island resort located southwest of Sri Lanka and India. The strategy, Mausoom said, is to "visit, vaccinate, and vacation." Currently, visitors to the islands must provide a negative polymerase chain reaction test and proof of h…
COVID-19: Costa Rica To Open Borders To Residents Of 6 US States COVID-19: Costa Rica To Open Borders To Residents Of 6 US States
Covid-19: Costa Rica To Open Borders To Residents Of 6 US States Costa Rica is re-opening its borders to Americans who reside in six specific states. Residents of Vermont, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut may all begin traveling to Costa Rica again starting Sept. 1. Many countries have closed their borders to American tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Costa Rica’s re-opening strategy is unique in its targeted border opening. As of Aug. 3, these countries were among the ones Americans could still visit during the pandemic, according to National Geographic: Albania, Brazil, Camb…
Northern Westchester Woman Dies From Injuries In Sri Lanka Terrorist Attacks Northern Westchester Woman Dies From Injuries In Sri Lanka Terrorist Attacks
Northern Westchester Woman Dies From Injuries In Sri Lanka Terrorist Attacks A Northern Westchester native died from injuries sustained in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks targeting Christians in Sri Lanka. "Chelsea Decaminada, a 2011 graduate of John Jay High School in Cross River and 2015 Duke University graduate, was in Sri Lanka on assignment with the Office of the General Counsel of the Commerce Department. She was 26. "It was our great hope that Chelsea would recover from her injuries," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in a statement. My prayers are with Chelsea’s family during this difficult time. "Chelsea devoted her life to public servic…
Secaucus Woman Found Guilty Of Enslaving Immigrant, Forcing Her To Marry Secaucus Woman Found Guilty Of Enslaving Immigrant, Forcing Her To Marry
Secaucus Woman Found Guilty Of Enslaving Immigrant, Forcing Her To Marry A 43-year-old woman with homes in Secaucus and Woodland Park was convicted of forcing a Sri Lankan national to work for her for years without pay, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Craig Carpenito said Thursday.  Alia Imad Faleh Al-Hunaity, who is also known as Alia Al Qaternah, was found guilty by a jury in Camden federal court of forced labor, alien harboring for financial gain and marriage fraud. Al -Hunaity faces up to 20 years in prison on the forced labor charge alone when she’s sentenced in September. The victim, a woman from Sri Lanka, was brought to the United States on a temporar…
Kellyanne Conway Spars With Ocasio-Cortez Over Response To Mass Shootings Kellyanne Conway Spars With Ocasio-Cortez Over Response To Mass Shootings
Kellyanne Conway Spars With Ocasio-Cortez Over Response To Mass Shootings Freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway went to war on Twitter over the weekend over the Easter Sunday church bombings in Sri Lanka. On Sunday morning, April 28, Conway was a guest on CNN’s “State of the Union” show, telling the host that Ocasio-Cortez, a 2007 Yorktown High School graduate, had tweeted “many times” about the shootings at two New Zealand mosques last month that left dozens dead, but "never once" tweeted about the Sri Lanka bombings. The spar came following Ocasio-Cortez's remarks regarding President Donald Tru…
State Police Increase Patrols At Churches, Places Of Worship After Sri Lanka Attacks State Police Increase Patrols At Churches, Places Of Worship After Sri Lanka Attacks
State Police Increase Patrols At Churches, Places Of Worship After Sri Lanka Attacks Following the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, State Police have announced that they will increase patrols at churches and other places of worship. "New York grieves for the victims of the horrific attacks at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of Sri Lanka, to the families who lost loved ones and to all those grieving around the world.” Cuomo said that State Police departments will be increasing patrols around churches and houses of worship on Sunday, April 21 and Mon…
Feds: Hudson Woman Kept Sri Lankan National As Slave More Than 9 Years Feds: Hudson Woman Kept Sri Lankan National As Slave More Than 9 Years
Feds: Hudson Woman Kept Sri Lankan National As Slave More Than 9 Years A Secaucus woman held a Sri Lankan national against her will for more than nine years, forcing the victim to marry her and work without pay as a domestic servant, federal authorities charged. A federal grand jury earlier this month indicted Alia Imad Faleh Al Hunaity, 43, on charges of forced labor, alien harboring, and marriage fraud -- for which she was arraigned Wednesday in federal court in Camden. She remained free on $150,000 unsecured bond, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. According to the indictment: Hunaity -- also known as “Alia Al Qaterneh" -- brought the victim to the …
Bergen Newlyweds Quit Their Jobs To Travel World In Wedding Clothes Bergen Newlyweds Quit Their Jobs To Travel World In Wedding Clothes
Bergen Newlyweds Quit Their Jobs To Travel World In Wedding Clothes If not now, then when? That question is what pushed Bergen County newlyweds Nick and Zoe Aust to quit their jobs and travel the world... in their wedding clothes. After a surprise Paris proposal in 2016, the pair got married Dec. 31, 2017 and packed their bags for a honeymoon that would last forever. They started a blog and Instagram account called "Marry Me In" so loved ones and strangers alike would be able to keep track of them. The Austs' excursion has brought them to 14 countries so far, top favorites being Cape Town, Bali and New Zealand. The travel bloggers hope to inspi…