Human Trafficking and the T Visa Process: Insights from Legal Representatives Working with Victims from Latin Ameria

Human trafficking occurs when traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to compel individuals to provide labor or services—broadly known as labor or sex trafficking. Traffickers often take advantage of individuals who are perceived as vulnerable, including those lacking immigration status. In response, the United States Congress created a T nonimmigrant status (also referred to as a T visa) in October 2000 to protect immigrant victims and to strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes. The current study sought to examine the trafficking experiences of foreign national victims from Latin America specifically by interviewing legal representatives who assist these individuals in Nebraska. These representatives were selected due to their intimate knowledge of the T visa process and their unique position to identify human trafficking victims during legal consultations. Interviews were conducted via Zoom with six individuals who provided rich insights into 22 cases involving victims of human trafficking from Latin America. The findings include an overview of the legal representatives who encountered these cases, describes the trafficking experience of victims from Latin America, explores the challenges of filing for a T visa, examines the role of service providers in addressing clients’ needs, and reviews the legal representatives’ perceptions of barriers to trafficking cases. The report concludes with policy implications that are useful to individuals or institutions (e.g., agencies, legal representatives, law enforcement) in anti-trafficking initiatives

Peaks and pitfalls of multilevel policy coordination: analyzing the South American Conference on Migration

Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) have become a central component of migration governance; these are the loci of interstate migration policy discussions. Currently 15 RCPs meet worldwide in every region, except the Caribbean, to form non-binding agreements and to coordinate migration policy approaches. Building on previous reports, migration governance literature, and existent thematic analyses specific to the region, we evaluate RCPs’ multilevel migration policy coordination by comparing national laws to regional topics and accords. We compare two decades of national legislation in all 12 South American countries to regional discussion at the South American Conference on Migration (SACM) since its first annual meeting in 2000. We find synergies and discrepancies between translating regional migration governance strategies from the RCP into national-level migration management. The SACM has reinforced the member states’ focus on regional integration and provided a space for dialog to agree on approaches and best practices. Yet, countries have not uniformly incorporated these into national legislation. Our multilevel analysis reveals the complexities that RCPs face in overcoming regional-national discrepancies in immigration policy coordination.Cities, Migration and Global Interdependenc

Estimación de la evaporación/transpiración en un cultivo de viña mediante radiometría térmica

La estimación precisa de la evapotranspiración de cultivo (ETc), así como su partición en las componentes evaporativa (E) y transpirativa (T), resultan fundamentales para mejorar la eficacia en la gestión del riego de cultivos en hilera en regiones áridas y semiáridas. El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a un mejor entendimiento de la partición E/T sobre viña llevando a cabo un balance de energía por separado para las componentes de suelo y de vegetación. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de un experimento llevado a cabo en la finca de Las Tiesas, Albacete, de junio a octubre de 2013. Se instalaron un conjunto de radiómetros de infrarrojo térmico, apuntando directamente a las plantas y al suelo entre hileras. Se tomaron medidas de las cuatro componentes de la radiación neta, del flujo de calor en el suelo, además de variables meteorológicas y parámetros biofísicos. Todas las medidas se almacenaron en intervalos de 15 minutos, y se promediaron después a escala horaria y diaria. El valor medio observado de ETc fue de 3,1 mm día-1. La evaporación se estimó en torno al 30%. Los resultados presentados en este trabajo ofrecen una primera impresión de la partición E/T, y muestran el potencial de la caracterización térmica de la viña con este finAn accurate estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and its partition into both components, soil evaporation (E) and canopy transpiration (T), is known to be critical for a more effective irrigation scheduling of row-crops in arid and semi-arid environments. Vineyards are the best example in Mediterranean countries. The aim of this work is to improve our understanding of the E/T partition in vineyards by establishing a separate energy balance for soil and canopy components. An experiment was conducted in Las Tiesas experimental farm, Albacete (Spain), from June to October of 2013. A set of thermal-infrared radiometers were assembled pointing directly to the plants and the soil between rows. Measurements of the four components of the net radiation over the canopy and soil heat fluxes, as well as meteorological variables and biophysical parameters were all collected and stored every 15-min. Hourly and daily averages were then computed and analyzed. An average daily ETc value of 3.1 mm day-1 was observed in both sites. Interrow soil evaporation reached as much as 30% of the total ETc. These results provide a first insight into the partition E/T and show the potential of the vine thermal characterization with this aim.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2013-46862-C2-1/2-PUnión Europea, AGL2014-54201-C4-4-RInstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias RTA 2011-00100-C05-04Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias RTA 2014-00049-C05-03Generalitat Valenciana PROMETEOII/2014/08

Migration Governance in South America: Regional Approaches versus National Laws

Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs) have become the standard for multilateral migration policy discussion over the last two decades. RCPs are geographically bounded, non-binding meetings organized voluntarily by states and promoted by international organizations. Our chapter contributes to accumulating knowledge regarding the migration governance role of RCPs by investigating the South American Conference on Migration (CSM). We conduct a thematic analysis of CSM documents from its first annual meeting in 2000 until 2017 to find the most salient themes. We then examine migration-related legislation to uncover to what extent national laws incorporate regional discussion and accords. We find that although multilateral cooperation has created a set of common standards and practices, their domestic incorporation remains uneven. This chapter sheds light on the synergy between regional-level priorities and national-level laws, revealing a limitation of regional migration governance.FGW – Publications without University Leiden contrac

COMMUNITY AND NETWORK RESPONSES FOR ASSISTING MOBILE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the increasing vulnerability of individuals, households, and communities. It has almost certainly been even more devastating for those who rely on community networks and organizations for aid but are less able to access aid networks in conditions of reduced mobility. This is the case for “mobile vulnerable populations,” among which include persons experiencing homelessness, victims of human trafficking,immigrants, refugees, and Latinos/as. This report summarizes our research with local Omaha service providers about what they need to serve mobile vulnerable populations in the community, how the pandemic has affected their ability to do so, and whether there have been any substantial and/or institutionalized partnerships between UNO/UNMC and these community organizations. In our research, we used a multi-method approach consisting of a survey of community organization leaders and interviews with organization workers engaged into day-to-day service provision to meet the needs of their clients. Our findingscan be summarized in four main themes: (a) organizations were already under-resourced prior to the pandemic; (b) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on organizations was substantial; (c) organizations described similar strengths and innovative responses to the pandemic; and (d) there is a lack of institutionalized collaboration with UNO/UNMC. We argue that building connections between UNO/UNMC and community organizations, as well as assisting in the development of networks among various organizations, is central to the mission of the University of Nebraska system and could benefitthe community more broadly. Concluding, we present four main recommendations: (1) more connections are needed between UNO/UNMC and agencies in the Omaha area; (2) it is likely that there are existing relationships between agency partners and UNO/UNMC faculty, staff and students that could be leveraged; (3) there is an opportunity to prepare students and emphasize workforce growth among providers; and (4) the important work of serving mobile vulnerable populations can be rewarding but also challenging for Omaha providers

SMOS soil moisture product validation in croplands

A validation campaign has been carried out to evaluate the Level 2 Soil Moisture (SM) product (version 5.51) given by the European Space Agency (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite in the Pampean Region of Argentina. The study region was selected because it is a plain, avoiding topography problems, with an SMOS nominal land use class (low vegetation crops, 1-2m height). Transects of ground SM measurements were collected at 5-cm and 6-cm depth using Delta-T ThetaProbe ML2x and Stevens Hydra Probe II SM sensors, respectively. The volumetric measurements were calibrated using gravimetric and bulk density data collected at the same time as the SM sensor measurements. The SM transects covered ISEA-grid SMOS nodes over four extensive agricultural areas with prevalence of soy crops (site 1: -32.982N, -62.505E; site 2: -32.510N, -62.788E; site 3: -32.024N, -63.692E; and site 4: -37.315N, -58.868E, WGS84). The validation sites were selected taking as reference the locations of permanent SM stations property of the Argentinean Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE, National Commission of Space Activities), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA, National Institute of Farming Technology) and Instituto de Hidrología de Llanuras (IHLLA, Plain Hydrology Institute). Therefore, additionally to validate the SMOS SM product with the ground data collected during the experimental campaign, the measurements are useful to evaluate the station SM data reliability at the SMOS spatial resolution with the aim of using station data series as reference to test different versions of the SMOS SM product. Previously to the campaign, SMOS SM data variability, ESA Globcover land use classification, soil edaphic properties, water bodies and topography were analyzed around the station locations to select the best sites and the experimental methodology. Temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) temporal and spatial variability was also studied at the sites. Additionally, transects of land surface temperature were carried out with Cimel Electronique CE312 6-band radiometers concurrently with thermal-infrared (TIR) satellite overpasses. In previous works, we studied the dependence of land surface emissivities on SM. The analysis of concurrent TIR and SM data make possible to evaluate the utility of the SMOS SM product to improve land surface emissivities and temperature determinations from satellite, giving an added value to the research

ESTIMACIÓN DE LA EVAPORACIÓN/TRANSPIRACIÓN EN UN CULTIVO DE TRIGO MEDIANTE RADIOMETRÍA TÉRMICA

[EN] This work shows the application of a two-source energy balance model, together with surface temperature measurements, to derive hourly and daily values of land surface energy fluxes of wheat, crop evapotranspiration (ETc) included. An experiment was carried out during the spring of 2014 in a wheat field located in the experimental farm of “Las Tiesas” in Barrax, Albacete. Soil and canopy radiometric temperatures were measured, as well as meteorological variables and biophysical parameters, from plantation to senescence. Results were compared to measurements in a weighing lysimeter installed within the wheat field. Estimation errors of ±0.10 mm h-1 and ±0.9 mm d-1 were obtained at hourly and daily scales, respectively. Cumulated value of ETc for the whole campaign was only 4% over that registered in the lysimeter. Furthermore, a percentage 30% - 70% between evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) components was obtained for the full campaign. Modeled values of the wheat crop coefficients were also retrieved and compared to those proposed by FAO56.[ES] En este trabajo se propone la aplicación de un modelo de balance de energía de dos fuentes que, junto con medidas de la temperatura de la superficie, proporcione valores horarios y diarios de los flujos energéticos en superficie, incluyendo la evapotranspiración real del cultivo de trigo (ETc). Para mostrar la aplicación y utilidad del método se realizó un experimento en la primavera de 2014 sobre una plantación de trigo situada dentro de la finca experimental “Las Tiesas” en el término de Barrax, Albacete. Se midieron temperaturas del suelo y de la vegetación, además de variables meteorológicas y parámetros biofísicos, desde el momento de la siembra hasta la recolección. Los resultados se compararon con las medidas de un lisímetro de pesada instalado en la parcela, obteniendo unos errores de estimación de ±0,10 mm h-1 y ±0,9 mm d-1 a escalas horaria y diaria, respectivamente. Por su parte el valor de ETc acumulado para toda la campaña fue solo el 4% mayor que el valor medido en el lisímetro. Además, el porcentaje entre la componente evaporativa (E) y transpirativa (T) fue de 30%-70% para el total de la campaña. El modelo también permite estimar los coeficientes de cultivo del trigo, y compararlos con los propuestos por FAO56.Sánchez, J.; López-Urrea, R.; Doña, C.; Caselles, V.; González-Piqueras, J. (2015). ESTIMACIÓN DE LA EVAPORACIÓN/TRANSPIRACIÓN EN UN CULTIVO DE TRIGO MEDIANTE RADIOMETRÍA TÉRMICA. En XXXIII CONGRESO NACIONAL DE RIEGOS. Valencia 16-18 junio de 2015. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/CNRiegos.2015.1504OCS

Practical Guidelines for Perioperative Hypersensitivity Reactions

Perioperative hypersensitivity reactions constitute a first-line problem for anesthesiologists and allergists. Therefore, hospitals should have a consensus protocol for the diagnosis and management of these reactions. However, this kind of protocol is not present in many hospitals, leading to problems with treatment, reporting of incidents, and subsequent etiological diagnosis. In this document, we present a systematic review of the available scientific evidence and provide general guidelines for the management of acute episodes and for referral of patients with perioperative hypersensitivity reactions to allergy units. Members of the Drug Allergy Committee of the Spanish Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) have created this document in collaboration with members of the Spanish Anesthesia Society (SEDAR). A practical algorithm is proposed for the etiologic diagnosis, and recommendations are provided for the management of hypersensitive patients