Portuguese American Journal

Portuguese American Journal

Featured Stories
1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award
 

1976-2026 | Azores celebrate 50 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Azores 

The Autonomous Region of the Azores is preparing for a historic year of celebrations in 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of its Constitutional Autonomy. This milestone underscores five decades of self-governance, regional identity, and transatlantic connection.  The commemorations will culminate on September 8, 2026, marking the formal implementation of autonomy under the Constitution of […]

Book | Bag of Kisses | By Melanie Pereira – Editor’s Note

For a little girl whose daddy is a fisherman in the #1 fishing port in the world, goodbyes are never easy. But before he leaves for sea, her parents share a special secret―a magical bag of kisses that keeps their love close, no matter how far the waves carry him. As the days pass and […]

April 25th |  “Dia da Liberdade” celebrated nationwide and across the diaspora – Portugal

The Portuguese nation commemorates today the 52nd anniversary of the Carnation Revolution transition to democracy, with a nationwide program of official ceremonies, public demonstrations, and cultural events. The celebrations expanded abroad, connecting the country to its global diaspora, particularly in the United States. At the center of the national commemorations will be the traditional formal […]

Community | Justice Department moves to revoke citizenship for naturalized immigrants – Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to accelerate efforts to revoke the citizenship of certain naturalized Americans, targeting cases where individuals are suspected of having obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation. Citizenship is considered one of the most secure legal statuses in the United States. Therefore, the overall impact of such measures is likely […]

Honor | Writer João Pedro Vala recipient of the PEN/O. Henry Award – New York, NY

Portuguese writer João Pedro Vala has been awarded a prestigious PEN/O. Henry Award for his short story “Inês,” a recognition widely regarded as one of the highest honors in English-language short fiction. The first Portuguese author to receive that distinction, his short story ‘Inês’ was selected for inclusion in the PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories anthology. […]

Travel Alert | Department of State expands Visa screening to include social media history – Washington, DC

29 June 2025

As of June 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has expanded its visa application requirements for non-immigrant categories, mandating that all applicants for F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas disclose their social media activity from the past five years. The J nonimmigrant visa is the best known of these. It covers […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Education, Featured, Madeira, Portugal, Travel, World

Summit | President Bolieiro stresses the strategic importance of Lajes Base  – Azores 

26 June 2025

The President of the Government of the Azores, José  Manuel Bolieiro, spoke today, June 25, during the opening of the Sister Cities Summit held in Ponta Delgada, emphasizing the strategic importance of the Azores as a bridge between Europe and North America. Highlighting  the geostrategic position of the archipelago in the North Atlantic for defense, economic […]

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Posted in Azores, Featured, Politics, Portugal, São Miguel, World

Honor | Director Miguel Gomes to join the ranks of the Academy Awards – Hollywood, LA

26 June 2025

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the organization behind the Oscars, has officially invited Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes to join its ranks in 2025, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to film. This invitation was part of the Academy’s 2025 class, which welcomed 534 new members from around the world. Gomes, celebrated […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Awards, Entertainment, Featured, Film, Heritage, Organizations, People, Portugal, World

Voices & Voyages | Ana Paula Rodrigues’ Memoirs Between Two Worlds – Interview

25 June 2025

By Millicent Borges Accardi Born and raised in the Ironbound area of New Jersey, Ana Paula Rodrigues is the author of Voices & Voyages, a new collection of compelling stories about the Ironbound’s Portuguese immigrant experience in Newark, New Jersey. Rodrigues, who earned two bachelor’s degrees from Rutgers University and a Master of Fine Arts […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Community, Featured, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Book | Writings on Art and Poetical Theory | By Fernando Pessoa – Editor’s Note

24 June 2025

  In addition to his literary and fictional works, Fernando Pessoa wrote a multiplicity of theoretical texts concerning literature and aesthetics. In Writings on Art and Poetical Theory, we see Pessoa exploring, under the guise of various heteronyms, general theories on poetics, the poetry produced by his other heteronyms, and the uses and abuses of […]

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Posted in Arts&Culture, Books, Heritage, People, Portugal, World

Citizenship | Significant reforms to Portuguese Nationality Law – Portugal

24 June 2025

The Portuguese government has announced significant reforms to its Nationality Law, raising the bar for foreign nationals seeking Portuguese citizenship. Under the new legislation, the minimum legal residency requirement for naturalisation has doubled from five to ten years for most applicants. A transitional implementation period will be established once the law is formally published in the […]

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Posted in Azores, Community, Featured, Heritage, Madeira, Portugal, World