Commissioners host emergency meeting of New American Advisory Council Feb. 3

John O'Grady President

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Columbus, Ohio will be hosting an emergency meeting of the New American Advisory Council on Friday, February 3. 

The meeting which is also public will hold at the Franklin County Judicial Services Building, 369 S. High Street, Columbus, Ohio, and in Meeting Room 3 at 11am.

The council was first convened last year by now-Commissioner Kevin Boyce to discuss ways that the city and state could help the newest Americans in our community to integrate into our broader society.  At that meeting last May at Franklin University, nearly 300 attendees came together to discuss the challenges faced by many new Americans and ways that state and local government could assist them. 

Friday’s meeting at the Franklin County Government Complex will be an opportunity for the group to discuss the recent presidential executive orders banning the citizens of seven majority Muslim countries from entering the United States and suspending the U.S. refugee program. 

The commissioners have invited the leadership of organizations such as Community Refugee Immigrant Services, Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, the United Way of Central Ohio, YMCA, and World Relief, among others, as well as other local elected officials.

 In addition to hosting the New American Advisory Council meeting, the Board of Commissioners issued the statement below.

 America’s diversity has strengthened our nation and Central Ohio far beyond what any one nationality, religion, tradition, or culture could ever have achieved alone.  The promise of our nation is one of hope and opportunity.  We have always sheltered families fleeing from strife in other lands, and the ancestors of almost every American family once arrived here from some distant shore.  We cannot now allow a misguided fear of people who are different make us lose sight of the things that make America great, or to give up on our ideals and traditions of both strength and generosity.

 Franklin County is a proudly diverse and welcoming community, and will continue that tradition even as our nation struggles with new policies designed to pit us against one another.  Franklin County residents, visitors, students, refugees, and immigrants should feel safe and welcome here, and we will continue to work toward that end and with all of our neighbors here in Central Ohio.

U. S. Homeland Security Secretary waives ban on green card holders

John Kelly

The United States Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly has waived the ban on green card holders from the seven countries whose citizens were affected by an executive order signed at the weekend by President Donald Trump. 

Some U.S. green card holders who were returning to the United States at the weekend from the seven affected countries – Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Syria – were detained and prevented from entering at some of the international airports as part of those being included by the executive order which bar citizens from the countries from coming to the U.S in the next 90days.

After several protests and demonstrations at many international airports against the executive order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, John Kelly said in a statement Sunday, January 29 that “in applying the provisions of the president's executive order, I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest.

“Accordingly, absent the receipt of significant derogatory information indicating a serious threat to public safety and welfare, lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in our case-by-case determinations,” he added.

Also the Department of Homeland Security has stated that “upon issuance of the court orders Saturday, January 28, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immediately began taking steps to comply with the orders.

“Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security continues to work with our partners in the Departments of Justice and State to implement President Trump’s executive order on protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States.

“We are committed to ensuring that all individuals affected by the executive orders, including those affected by the court orders, are being provided all rights afforded under the law.  We are also working closely with airline partners to prevent travelers who would not be granted entry under the executive orders from boarding international flights to the U.S. Therefore, we do not anticipate that further individuals traveling by air to the United States will be affected,” it said.

The DHS added that, “we are and will remain in compliance with judicial orders. We are and will continue to enforce President Trump’s executive order humanely and with professionalism. DHS will continue to protect the homeland.”

VP Liberia visits Columbus

VP Joseph Boakai

The Vice President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai is visiting Columbus, Ohio Thursday, January 26, 2017 to attend the funeral ceremonies of former Head of State of the Interim Government of Liberia, Madam Ruth Sando Perry who passed away in Columbus on Sunday, January 8, 2017.

The President of the Liberian Association in Columbus Inc., Comfort Cole-Kenneh said Vice President Joseph Boakai will be representing the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the ceremonies.

According to her, “the funeral service of the late Madam Perry will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the Trinity Episcopal Church located on 125 East Broad St, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The service begins at 8am. The wake keeping is on Friday,   January 27, 2017 at the same location for 6pm to 9pm.”

Late Ruth Perry

Also the Liberian Daily Observer said, “Madam Perry served as the third Interim Chair of the Council of State during the country’s civil crisis from September 3, 1996 to August 2, 1997. She succeeded Professor Wilton G. S. Sankawulo and presided over the transition of power to Mr. Charles Taylor following the 1997 special elections.

“As a civilian chair of the five-member Council of State, Madam Perry served along with warring faction leaders Charles Taylor of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia; Alhaji G. V. Kromah of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy and Dr. George Boley of the Liberia Peace Council and two other civilian members, Oscar Quiah and Chief Tamba Taylor,” it added.

2017 Tax Filing Season Opens Tuesday, Jan. 24

* Filing income tax return kicks off

* Till Tuesday, April 18, 2017 to file  2016 returns and pay any taxes due

*  New law allows IRS to hold refunds on tax returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until February 15

 * Actual access to  refunds until the week of February 27

The Internal Revenue Service, IRS said Tuesday 24, 2017 that it successfully started accepting and processing 2016 federal individual income tax returns on schedule. 

More than 153 million returns are expected to be filed this year. 

People have until Tuesday, April 18, 2017 to file their 2016 returns and pay any taxes due. The deadline is later this year due to several factors. The usual April 15 deadline falls on Saturday this year, which would normally give taxpayers until at least the following Monday.

Also a law change now requires the IRS to hold refunds on tax returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until February 15. Under this change required by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS must hold the entire refund — even the portion not associated with the EITC and ACTC.

Even though the IRS will begin releasing EITC and ACTC refunds on February 15, many early filers will still not have actual access to their refunds until the week of February 27. The additional delay is due to several factors, including weekends, the Presidents Day holiday and the time banks often need to process direct deposits.

However, Emancipation Day, a D.C. holiday, is observed on Monday, April 17, giving taxpayers nationwide an additional day to file. By law, D.C. holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in the same way federal holidays do. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Monday, Oct. 16, 2017 to file.

"Following months of hard work, we successfully opened our processing systems Tuesday, February 24 to start this year’s tax season,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Getting to this point is a year-round effort for the IRS and the nation’s tax community. The dedicated employees of the IRS look forward to serving taxpayers this filing season, and I want to thank all of the tax and payroll community for their hard work that makes tax time smoother for the nation.”

The IRS expects more than 70 percent of taxpayers to get tax refunds this year. Last year, 111 million refunds were issued, with an average refund of $2,860.