Category: ESTA News

Excluding cash-based living expenses, Maryland households pay the fifth-largest bills in the nation for various items such as mortgages, insurance, and electric bills, while Virginia ranked 12th.Online bill management service provider Doxo recently released the 2025 Cost of Bills Index (COBI) report based on various bills such as mortgages, rent, auto loans, electric and heating utilities, insurance, cable TV, phone, and internet.

According to the report, Maryland ranked fifth in the nation with an average monthly bill of $2,505. This is three spots higher than last year’s eighth place. The COBI index recorded 122, which is 22% more than the national average.

Virginia households paid an average of $2,223 per month, ranking 12th in the nation. The state with the largest monthly bill in the country was California, at $2,854, followed by Hawaii ($2,712), New Jersey ($2,621), and Massachusetts ($2,614). The state with the smallest average monthly bill was West Virginia, at $1,149, 44 percent below the national average.

Next came Mississippi ($1,502), Oklahoma ($1,543), and Arkansas ($1,539). Meanwhile, the cities with the largest monthly household bills across the nation were San Jose ($3,523), New York ($3,365), San Francisco ($3,272), San Diego ($3,185), and Boston ($3,162). The Washington area ranked 7th nationwide with $2,856, and Baltimore ranked 21st nationwide with $2,242.

The federal government has begun verifying the online activities of foreign nationals applying for Harvard University student visas, political media outlet Politico reported on the 30th. According to the report, the State Department sent a diplomatic cable to U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, instructing them to “completely review the online activities of all individuals applying for nonimmigrant visas to come to Harvard for any purpose.”

The measure, which went into effect immediately, primarily targets foreign students, but also includes Harvard faculty, researchers, staff, and invited speakers.

Politico explained that this measure is a pilot program that could be expanded to other universities across the United States. The verification will examine the social media (SNS) of the visa applicant for anti-Semitism.

Earlier, on the 27th, the State Department sent a telegram to diplomatic missions around the world to announce that it would temporarily suspend new student and exchange visitor visa interviews and prepare to expand and strengthen social media screening, and this measure is putting this into practice.

In particular, the State Department instructed consular officers to consider that if (the applicant) has no online activity at all and if the social media account is set to private or has limited publicity, this may reflect an attempt to evade (verification) and raise doubts about the applicant’s credibility.

The Washington Family Counseling Center (Director Joy Kim) will hold a seminar on ‘Youth Suicide Status and Prevention Measures’. The seminar, which is a kickoff for the ‘Walk-in-clinic’ clinic, will begin at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, June 17 in the conference room on the third floor of the counseling center in Vienna.

At the seminar, Christine Choi, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, will be the lecturer and diagnose the phenomenon of youth suicide increase and present causes and prevention measures. Dr. Choi completed her fellowship at Rush University and her residency at Yale University.

Dr. Cheon Shin Taylor, director of the counseling center, said, “From 2007 to 2021, the suicide rate among youth and young adults increased by 62%. The COVID-19 pandemic has further deepened this crisis, and experts have defined youth suicide as a ‘second pandemic.’” He continued, “Youth suicide is becoming a serious social problem, like a silently spreading epidemic. This will be a time to learn about prevention while learning and thinking together to protect the lives of youth.”

Pre-registration is recommended for seminar attendance, and on-site registration is also possible. Meanwhile, the walk-in clinic, which is an emergency treatment concept clinic that the counseling center introduced for the first time this year, will open in June. It is expected to help solve mental health issues in the Korean community and contribute to the development of the local community by providing opportunities to meet with counseling and psychiatrists without prior reservation.

It operates every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and its treatment items include psychological evaluation, drug evaluation, drug management, and crisis counseling.

For inquiries, call (703) 761-2225, counseling@fccgw.org

A federal court has blocked the Donald Trump administration from arbitrarily deleting information related to the immigration status of international students and revoking their visas.

According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 22nd, the Northern District of California federal court issued an injunction that day prohibiting the Trump administration from depriving international students of their status until the main lawsuit is concluded.

The court pointed out that the deletion of records of about 20 plaintiffs registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “was likely an arbitrary action that exceeded its authority.”

SEVIS is a student information management system managed by the Department of Homeland Security that assigns individual codes to international students in the United States. It was introduced to strengthen background checks on international students after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Current law states that international students can be deprived of their status if they provide false information to the Department of Homeland Security or are convicted of a violent crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

Normally, the university was responsible for deleting student information from SEVIS, but since the Trump administration took office, ICE has arbitrarily deleted the information of thousands of international students, which has become a problem. Accordingly, lawsuits have been filed across the United States recently to cancel SEVIS record deletions, and at least 200 international students have reportedly obtained injunctions in court.

On this day, the Northern District of California issued a nationwide injunction, stating that ICE’s act of deleting SEVIS records itself was problematic, and as a result, the federal government cannot arrest or detain international students or revoke their visas while the trial is ongoing.

According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), it is estimated that at least 4,700 cases of international student records being deleted since President Trump took office.

On May 19, the first group of undocumented immigrants who opted for voluntary deportation under a new program launched by the Trump administration departed the United States, bound for their home countries of Honduras and Colombia. As part of the initiative, each participant received $1,000 in financial assistance to support their return.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that 64 individuals boarded a chartered flight in Houston, Texas. Of those, 38 were Honduran nationals and 26 were Colombian. The Associated Press also reported that four U.S.-born children were included in the group, accompanying their undocumented parents to Colombia, as confirmed by Colombian Foreign Minister Antonio Garcia.

The voluntary return program is part of a new DHS initiative known as “Project Homecoming,” which offers financial aid and logistical support to undocumented immigrants who choose to leave the country on their own. According to DHS, participants in the program may be eligible to apply for legal entry into the U.S. in the future, a possibility not typically afforded to individuals who are forcibly deported.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem framed the program as both a humanitarian option and a strong enforcement message. “If you are here illegally, take the initiative to leave the country and get financial assistance to help you return,” she said. “If you do not, you will be subject to fines, imprisonment, deportation, and you will never be allowed to return.”

The Trump administration has presented the initiative to ease the burden on immigration detention facilities and streamline deportation processes. Critics, however, argue that the program pressures vulnerable migrants into leaving under the threat of harsher penalties and without full understanding of their legal rights or options.

As the administration continues to expand Project Homecoming, its effectiveness and fairness in addressing immigration challenges will likely remain a point of contention across political and humanitarian lines.

A Korean man was arrested after a disturbing incident involving a shooting spree from a moving vehicle on a busy road in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The suspect, identified as Kim, is accused of firing a gun from his car while driving along Street Road in Upper Southampton Township, a suburb near Philadelphia.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:46 p.m. on May 7, according to Upper Southampton Township Police. Authorities responded to multiple reports of gunshots in the 1300 block of Street Road. Witnesses described a man driving a white Subaru Outback and randomly firing a handgun from inside the vehicle.

Following a coordinated response and investigation by both Upper and Lower Southampton Township police departments, officers were able to locate and stop the suspect’s vehicle near the intersection of Street Road and Bustleton Pike. Kim was arrested at the scene without resistance.

Police have charged Kim with several serious offenses, including possession of a criminal instrument and reckless endangerment. Fortunately, no injuries were reported because of the shooting, though the situation caused panic in the area during the afternoon traffic rush.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the incident. For now, Kim remains in custody as the legal process moves forward.

A poll released on the 28th revealed that 6 out of 10 Americans believe that President Donald Trump’s policies have worsened the U.S. economy. The survey, conducted by CNN and research firm SSRS from the 17th to the 24th of April, included responses from 1,678 U.S. adults. The findings showed that 59% of respondents thought Trump’s policies had a negative impact on the economy, an increase from 51% in a similar poll conducted in March.

In addition, 69% of respondents expressed concerns about a potential economic recession next year, with 32% of them deeming it “very likely.” The Trump administration’s tariff policy drew significant criticism. A majority—55%—viewed Trump’s tariff measures as harmful, while only 28% saw them as beneficial. Furthermore, 72% of respondents believed that tariffs would negatively impact the U.S. economy in the short term, and 53% anticipated long-term economic harm. Only 12% and 34%, respectively, believed tariffs would be beneficial in the short and long term.

The poll also highlighted broader concerns about America’s global standing. Sixty percent of respondents thought the tariffs would harm America’s reputation abroad, while just 26% felt they would improve it. In terms of personal financial impact, 59% of respondents held a negative view, with only 15% believing they would benefit personally.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 30th that Tesla’s board of directors began the search for a successor to CEO Elon Musk about a month ago, amid growing tensions within the company and a decline in its performance. As Musk’s involvement in the company waned, particularly after he was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tensions increased. At the time, the board reportedly urged Musk to spend more time at Tesla and to publicly commit to doing so, a request Musk accepted.

Tesla’s poor performance was revealed on the 22nd of last month, when the company announced a 71% year-on-year drop in net profit. Following this, Musk surprised the market by announcing during a conference call that he would devote more time to Tesla starting the next month. This announcement temporarily boosted the company’s stock price.

However, the WSJ was unable to confirm whether the search for Musk’s successor was still ongoing or had been put on hold. As of April 30, Tesla’s stock had fallen by 25.61% this year, closing at $282.16, lower than the $288.53 price on November 6, the day when President Trump’s election was confirmed. Musk’s recent leadership in DOGE, following Trump’s direction, has been met with criticism due to significant budget cuts and large-scale layoffs in federal agencies, all while citing the need to “reduce wasteful and fraudulent spending.”

In recognition of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, the Washington Family Counselling Centre, led by Director Joy Park, is offering a special webinar series throughout May titled “Mental Health Webinars: What is Counselling?” The initiative aims to improve mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and help participants better understand the role of counselling in personal and relational well-being.

The free and low-cost seminars will take place every Tuesday in May (the 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th) from 7:00 to 8:00 PM via online platforms. Each session will address different aspects of counselling, with a special focus on cultural sensitivity and accessibility for the Asian Pacific Islander community.

The schedule is as follows:

May 6: “A Journey into the World of Eastern and Western Counselling” – explores the integration and differences between cultural approaches to mental health.

May 13: “Getting Familiar with Counselling” – an introductory session explaining what counselling is and what to expect from it.

May 20: “Our Couple’s Health Checkup” – a special session limited to five couples, using the Prepare/Enrich assessment tool.

May 27: “Catching Up on Our Couple’s Health Checkup” – a follow-up session continuing the relationship-focused assessment and discussion.

The webinars will be led by Dr. Cheon Shin Taylor, director of the counselling centre and a professor of counselling at Liberty University, along with Catherine Eaton, executive director of the Maryland Counselling Association. Dr. Taylor also serves on the advisory board of the American Counsellor Association and previously sat on the Maryland Counselling Bureau Committee during Governor Hogan’s administration.

Dr. Taylor emphasized the need for outreach, particularly in communities where stigma and language barriers persist: “Many people ask, ‘What is counselling?’ Although awareness of counselling is increasing, the wall of counselling is still high. The long-standing negative perception of mental illness, along with language and cultural barriers, continues to hinder access to proper treatment.” She expressed hope that the webinar series would foster better understanding and reduce prejudice.

The first two sessions are free to attend, while the couple-focused classes on May 20 and 27 require a $35 fee per couple, which covers the Prepare/Enrich relationship assessment tool. Developed in 1977, the Prepare/Enrich scale is widely used globally, including in Korea and the United States.

The Trump administration has introduced new guidelines that significantly expand the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to revoke the legal status of international students in the United States. This controversial policy shift was revealed in a court document submitted to the Arizona District Court on the 30th of last month, in relation to ongoing lawsuits over student visa revocations.

According to the document, ICE officers now have the power to terminate a student’s legal status in SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) if deemed necessary. It also clarifies that the State Department’s cancellation of a student visa can now automatically trigger the loss of legal status — a substantial change that makes visa revocation grounds for immediate immigration consequences.

NBC News reported that internal guidance on the policy has already been circulated among SEVIS officers, though it remains uncertain whether the guidance is finalized or enforceable yet.

Immigration attorneys and advocates have raised strong concerns about the implications of this expanded authority. Charles Cook, who represents 133 international students in a lawsuit against the policy, warned, “Any student arrested for any reason will be subject to deportation.” Since Trump took office, more than 4,700 international students have had their immigration status revoked — a trend that has prompted numerous legal challenges across the country.

Though the administration recently announced it would restore the immigration status of some students, legal experts caution that the overall environment remains unstable. Ellora Mukherjee, director of Columbia University’s Immigrant Rights Clinic, warned, “If ICE is given broad authority to deprive international students of their immigration status, it will likely take more rapid and extensive deportation actions.” She added that many students are now uncertain about whether they will be able to complete their degrees in the U.S.

Further complicating the issue, around 350 international students — primarily from India — have filed a class action lawsuit, calling the policy illegal and demanding that it be repealed. This lawsuit, reported by the Times of India, adds to growing international criticism of the administration’s stance on student immigration.