Columbus records 867 votes in early voting

More people have voted at the Franklin Board of Elections, Columbus, Ohio early voting center last week from 439 to 867 votes and from 8,964 mailed absentee ballots to 11,725 in the 2017 General Elections expected to hold on Tuesday, November 7.

A breakdown of voting made available to the New Americans however shows less votes cast so far than the 1,236 recorded in corresponding period in 2015 General election while an increase was recorded in the mailed absentee ballots from 11,725 in 2015 to 12,912 in 2017.

The early voting which is holding at the board’s complex, 1700 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio is opened as follow: -  

·          8:00 a.m. -5: 00 p.m. Wednesday, October 11 through Friday, October 27.

·         8:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. Monday, October 30 through Friday, November 3.

·          8:00 a.m. –4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4.

·          1:00p.m. –5:00 p.m. Sunday, November 5.

·          8:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m. Monday, November 6.

This election cycle has two state-wide issues and one county-wide issue. 

Amendments or Referendums will take place in Grove City, Reynoldsburg, and Minerva Park.

Police levies will be on the ballot in Valleyview, Mifflin Township, and Sharon Township. 

A fire levy will take place in Jefferson Township. 

Two school levies will be on the ballot in New Albany-Plain and Upper Arlington School Districts. 

Finally, Franklin Township voters will determine if   they will adopt a limited home rule form of government.

Voters have the option of voting early by mail or in-person at the board of elections beginning Wednesday, October 11 through Monday, November 6 by 2:00 p.m.at 1700 Morse Road.

Applications for an absentee ballot can be obtained through the website at http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov or by calling the board office at 614-525-3470.

Close of registration for the November 7 General Election is at 9:00 p.m. on October 10, 2017.

Absentee Voting begins Tomorrow for November 7 General Election

(Columbus)

Absentee voting, both in-person and by mail, begins tomorrow for the November 7, 2017

General Election.

In-person early voting will run from Wednesday, October 10, 2017 through Monday, November 6, 2017 and take place at the Franklin County Board of Elections located at 1700 Morse Road, Columbus at the following times:

*8:00 a.m. -5: 00 p.m. Wednesday, October 11 through Friday, October 27.

*8:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. Monday, October 30 through Friday, November 3.

* 8:00 a.m. –4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4.

* 1:00p.m. –5:00 p.m. Sunday, November 5.

* 8:00 a.m. –2:00 p.m. Monday, November 6.

This election cycle has two state-wide issues and one county-wide issue. 

Amendments or Referendums will take place in Grove City, Reynoldsburg, and Minerva Park.

Police levies will be on the ballot in Valleyview, Mifflin Township, and Sharon Township.  A fire levy will take place in Jefferson Township.  Two school levies will be on the ballot in New Albany-Plain and Upper Arlington School Districts.  Finally, Franklin Township voters will determine if   they will adopt a limited home rule form of government.

Voters have the option of voting early by mail or in-person at the board of elections beginning Wednesday, October 11

Through Monday, November 6 by 2:00 p.m.at 1700 Morse Road. Applications for an absentee ballot can be obtained through our website at http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov or by calling the board office at 614-525-3470.

Close of registration for the November 7 General Election is at 9:00 p.m. on October 10, 2017.

Pakistani bags 31 Months in Prison for Human Smuggling Conspiracy

A Pakistani citizen was sentenced today to 31 months in prison for his role in a scheme to smuggle undocumented migrants from Pakistan into the United States.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia and Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York made the announcement.

Sharafat Ali Khan, 32, a Pakistani citizen and former resident of Brazil, pleaded guilty on April 12, to one count of conspiracy to smuggle undocumented migrants into the United States for profit before U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton of the District of Columbia.  Khan was extradited to the United States from Qatar on July 13, 2016.  Following his prison term, Khan will be deported back to Pakistan.

“Combating human smuggling and illegal migration is one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice, and we will continue to work with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt smuggling networks operating across the globe,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco.  “This prosecution should serve as an example that whether at home or abroad, smugglers who facilitate illegal migration into the United States will be brought to justice and held accountable.”

“Sharafat Khan was at the center of a vast human smuggling network that preyed on the desperation of foreign nationals hoping to get into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “He was responsible for organizing, coordinating and controlling smugglers and lower-level associates of the operation. His actions put his clients – and the United States – at significant risk.  His arrest, conviction and sentence should deter others from engaging in this rapacious, dangerous conduct.”

“Sharafat Khan organized an intricate network that was open to the highest bidder to transport undocumented migrants, regardless of who they were, from Pakistan and elsewhere through Brazil and Central America and then into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Melendez. “He has admitted that the journey included severe conditions that caused a considerable risk of serious bodily harm or death. Today’s sentencing highlights our relentless law enforcement efforts, both foreign and domestic, to track down organizations who make a profit from smuggling undocumented migrants through U.S. borders without prejudice and with a clear disregard for those who may end paying the final price.”

According to admissions in the plea agreement, between March 2014 and May 2016, Khan and other co-conspirators organized and arranged the unlawful smuggling of large numbers of undocumented migrants to the United States.  For their smuggling operation, Khan admitted that he and his co-conspirators used a network of facilitators to transport undocumented migrants from Pakistan and elsewhere through Brazil and Central America and then into the United States by land, air or sea travel.  Khan further admitted that he was responsible for managing safe houses for the migrants and arranging a network of associates in other countries to serve as escorts during different legs of the smuggling route.  

 Khan also admitted that voyages included harsh conditions that caused a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or death – including lengthy foot hikes with little food and water through the Darien Gap, a dangerous tropical forest area in Panama.  At sentencing, the court found that Khan was a primary organizer or leader of the conspiracy.

The investigation was conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI.  The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns.  ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources.  ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

HSI New York investigated this case with assistance from HSI Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Washington, D.C. field offices; the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI Miami Field Office; the Human Smuggling Cell; the Diplomatic Security Service-Brazil; the Brazilian Federal Police and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center.  The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with the defendant’s extradition and foreign legal assistance requests.  

 The Justice Department thanks the Government of Qatar for their assistance with the extradition in this case.  Senior Trial Attorney Michael Sheckels of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Kohl and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard DiZinno of the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.

Columbus This Week

NIDOA OHIO Chapter General Meeting Oct. 21

A meeting of Nigerians in Diaspora, Ohio will hold Saturday, October 21, 2017 at the Ashland University, Columbus Campus at 1900 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio. Time is 2pm to 4pm.

Date:     Saturday October 21st 2017

Time:     2:00PM - 4:00PM

Venue:   Ashland University, Columbus Campus

            1900 E. Dublin Granville RD. Columbus, OH 43229

 
New American Community Impact Collaborative meeting Oct. 17
A meeting of the New American Community Impact Collaborative will hold Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 1060 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio, beginning 5pm.

Areas to be discussed include New American Task Force Supporting relief efforts in Texas, Florida and Porto Rico; Emergency Preparedness by Columbus Public Health Office of Minority Health; Unity Rally and Wedgewood village issues and Refugee Immigrant youth challenges.  

Columbus Council meets with Nigerians in diaspora Monday, Oct. 16

In continuation of the 57^th Independence of Nigeria, the Nigerians in diaspora community in Columbus, Ohio will be recognized by the Columbus City council at the City Hall, Columbus, Ohio at 4pm.