U.S. last year deported fewer to Latvia

Latvians Online | 

Authorities deported 267 Latvian nationals from the United States during fiscal year 2010, according to the latest statistical overview published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The number represents a more than 26 percent drop from the previous year.

Of the total, 235 aliens from Latvia were “returned,” while 32 were “removed.” Aliens who are returned are sent back to their home country without going through immigration proceedings, while removal often involves going to court.

Five of the removals involved criminal offenses.

The data come from the latest annual report on immigration enforcement actions, released in June by DHS.

In all, DHS during fiscal year 2010 returned 476,000 foreign nationals to their home country. Another 387,000 were removed—73 percent of them back to Mexico.

In fiscal year 2009, a total of 362 Latvian nationals were returned or removed from the United States.

Latvia joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in November 2008, meaning holders of Latvian passports can travel to America without first having to get a visa.

First Ziedonis, then Rainis, now Čaks: Another writer gets musical treatment

Egils Kaljo | 

This seems to be a year of greatly renewed interest in Latvian poets, particularly by musicians. In what is now the third such release this year, the work of famed Latvian poet Aleksandrs Čaks is featured on Domās par tevi, a set of two compact discs.

The poetry of Imants Ziedonis was set to music on Viegli, released May 1, while the Strāvoklis project, unveiled later in May, featured the poetry of Jānis Rainis.

The record label Upe tuviem un tāliem released Domās par tevi in cooperation with the Aleksandrs Čaks Memorial Apartment, a museum in Rīga honoring the writer.

The first CD contains poetry read by actor Vilis Daudziņš, with occasional guitar accompaniment by Kaspars Zemītis.

The second CD contains songs with the words of Čaks, including such popular titles as “Atzīšanās (Miglā asaro logs)” and “Tev (Liepas satumst)”, as well as new musical interpretations of his poetry. The CD features performances by actors Artis Robežnieks (vocals and guitar), Artūrs Skrastiņš (vocals), Kaspars Zemītis (guitar) as well as previously recorded performances by actor Ivars Kalniņš and composer Arturs Maskats, as well as composer Uldis Stabulnieks.

Tracks on the CD include:

  1. Orman, saki kurp mums steigties (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  2. Mēs sēdējām ostmalas krogā (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  3. Sirds citā vietā trīc (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  4. Viss senais klusi prātā nāk (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  5. Tīk man (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  6. Savādā meitene (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  7. Ne jaunkundzēm es savas rindas rakstu (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  8. Vakara apskaidrība (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
  9. Romance (composer Pēteris Plakidis, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
  10. Atzīšanās (Miglā asaro logs) (composer unknown, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
  11. Ormaņa dziesma (composer Imants Kalniņš, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
  12. Tev (Liepas satumst) (composer unknown, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
  13. Romance (performed by Ivars Kalniņš and composer Artūrs Maskats)
  14. Rīgai (performed by Ivars Kalniņš and composer Artūrs Maskats)
  15. Marijas iela (performed by composer Uldis Stabulnieks)

Čaks, who would have marked his 110th birthday in 2011, was one of the most celebrated of 20th century Latvian writers and was known for his expressive and lyrical poetry. His poems were often about Rīga, and were known for their depictions of the grimier and seedier side of the city.

Aleksandrs Čaks, Domās par tev

With the release of Domās par tevi, the latest Latvian writer to get a musical treatment is Aleksandrs Čaks.

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

U.S. embassy’s deputy chief dies; spent six years serving in Latvia

Latvians Online | 

Bruce Rogers, the deputy chief of mission in the U.S. Embassy in Rīga, has died at age 54. He spent a total of six years working in Latvia.

Rogers died unexpectedly in his sleep, according to a June 28 press release from the embassy.

“Bruce loved Latvia passionately, and he loved working on U.S.-Latvian relations,” U.S. Ambassador Judith Garber said in a statement. “He was due to leave in just a few days, and it was very hard for him to go because he loved being here so much, but he knew Latvia would always be in his heart.”

Rogers joined the U.S. Department of State in 1985, serving in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Afghanistan, in addition to Latvia. He served as the political and economic counselor in the Rīga embassy from 2000-2003.

Before returning to Latvia, Rogers served three years as the deputy political advisor in the U.S. Mission to the NATO defense alliance, and spent one year in Afghanistan as the director for provincial reconstruction and local governance at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

In August 2008, Rogers became the deputy chief of mission in Rīga.

Rogers in 1981 earned a bachelor’s degree in history and international relations San Francisco State University and in 2007 received a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He was the recipient of four State Department Superior Honor Awards and two Meritorious Honor Awards.

He is survived by his wife, Gale, and two children.

A memorial book will be available for signing starting at 9 a.m. June 29 at the U.S. Embassy, 1 Remtes iela, Rīga.

Bruce Rogers

Bruce Rogers, deputy chief of mission in the U.S. Embassy in Rīga, has died. (Photo from U.S. Embassy, Rīga)