Category: ESTA News

New York State Senator John Liu is calling for an extension of the registration deadline for the Caregiver Designation Program (CDPAP), following concerns that many beneficiaries may not be able to meet the upcoming April 1st deadline due to insufficient publicity and language barriers. Last year, the state consolidated the management of CDPAP under Public Partnerships, LLC (PPL), but this transition has led to confusion among beneficiaries, especially those in communities with limited English proficiency.

Liu emphasized that many beneficiaries who rely on CDPAP, particularly in areas like Flushing, Queens, which has a large population of Korean, Chinese, and Bengali speakers, are struggling to complete the registration process. He pointed out that key steps such as account creation, password setup, and confirmation can only be done in English, creating an additional obstacle for non-English-speaking individuals.

The shift to a single financial intermediary system, managed by PPL, was intended to streamline CDPAP administration. However, Liu expressed concern that the lack of effective outreach and support for non-English-speaking beneficiaries could lead to many losing accesses to vital services. As a result, he is urging the state to extend the registration deadline to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries have a chance to complete their registration and continue receiving benefits.

CDPAP, a Medicaid program, allows individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities to hire their own caregivers, often family members or close friends. Beneficiaries and caregivers must complete their registration with PPL by April 1, either through online platforms or by phone. Liu’s call for an extension is a response to the growing concerns about accessibility and communication failures in the program’s new management structure.

A female professor from an Ivy League university was forcibly deported from the U.S. after being detained at Boston Airport during the immigration inspection process. This incident highlights the increasing risk of deportation for both illegal immigrants and legal residents under the Trump administration’s hardline “anti-immigration policy.” Professor Rasha Allawi, a kidney transplant specialist at Brown University School of Medicine, was detained and deported despite holding a valid H-1B work visa.

Professor Allawi, 34, had travelled to Lebanon to visit her family and attend the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Upon her return to the U.S. on March 13, she was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and, within a day, deported to Paris, in apparent violation of a federal court order requiring authorities to notify the court 48 hours before deportation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cited her attendance at Nasrallah’s funeral as the reason for her detention, as Hezbollah is classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

The DHS did not provide details on how they learned of her attendance at the funeral, nor did they clarify whether she had been charged with any crime or immigration violation. Allawi’s attorney pointed out that the U.S. consulate in Lebanon had issued her H-1B visa while she was in Lebanon, and she had no criminal record or immigration violations.

This deportation has sparked concerns among the international academic community, with Brown University advising its international students and researchers to avoid traveling abroad until further guidance from the U.S. State Department is available. The legal community, as well as civic groups, have strongly opposed the deportation, with a federal court ordering CBP to respond to allegations that they violated the court’s order to notify it prior to deportation.

Immigration attorney Kim Seong-hwan noted that deportation of H-1B visa holders is highly unusual and an example of CBP’s abuse of authority under the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies. He clarified that criminal records, such as DUI or drug use, may be grounds for “in admission,” but they cannot be grounds for “deportation” without due process. Deportation typically occurs without trial or review by the Immigration Petition Board.

The H-1B visa is a short-term work visa granted to foreign nationals with specialized skills, such as those in the IT field, and requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. Professor Allawi’s case has raised alarms about the vulnerability of legal immigrants in the U.S., particularly in academic and research fields, where visa holders can be deported without sufficient justification.

The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke the provision that allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to enrol in Obamacare health insurance. The Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement on March 10th, proposing a new regulation to reverse the measure enacted by the Biden administration that expanded Obamacare eligibility to DACA recipients.

Under the Biden administration’s policy, which was announced in May of the previous year, DACA recipients became eligible to enrol in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) starting in November 2024, coinciding with the 2025 open enrolment period. However, 19 Republican-leaning states filed a lawsuit seeking to block the expansion, arguing that it should not be allowed. In December 2024, a trial court issued a preliminary injunction to block the enforcement of this measure. Although an appeals court temporarily lifted the injunction, allowing DACA recipients to once again enrol in Obamacare, the Trump administration’s recent announcement has cast doubt on whether DACA beneficiaries will continue to have access to health insurance through the program.

In addition to the revocation of the provision for DACA recipients, CMS’s proposed new regulations also include a provision to shorten the open enrolment period for the Obamacare online exchange. The enrolment period would be shortened by one month, from November 1 to December 15. If finalized, the new regulations would be implemented starting with the 2026 open enrolment period in November, following a public comment period and publication in the Federal Register.

Electronic device searches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have significantly increased at international airports, ports, and border crossings, according to a new report. The number of searches on mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices is expected to rise by 42.3%, from 33,062 in 2018 to 47,047 in 2024. These searches are part of CBP’s efforts to identify potential threats and protect U.S. borders from various illegal activities.

CBP officials explain that the ability to inspect electronic devices crossing U.S. borders is crucial to ensuring national security in today’s increasingly digital world. “As responsible for protecting our borders and enforcing numerous laws at ports of entry, the ability of CBP to lawfully inspect electronic devices is essential to keeping our nation safe,” a CBP notice stated earlier this year. All travellers crossing the U.S. border, regardless of citizenship, are subject to customs inspections, including searches of their electronic devices such as cell phones, computers, and cameras.

These device searches are primarily used to combat terrorism, child pornography, drug smuggling, human trafficking, export control violations, intellectual property theft, visa fraud, and other criminal activities. Additionally, they help determine an individual’s intent to enter the U.S. Although only 0.01% of travellers have been subject to electronic device searches in fiscal year 2024, there have been instances where individuals have faced arrest or denial of entry after seemingly unrelated files, such as text messages or computer data, were found during a search.

In one notable case from 2017, a man traveling from Korea was arrested for possessing child pornography on an external hard drive, leading to a prison sentence. In another case, a foreign student was deported after CBP used a Korean interpreter to review messages on the messaging app KakaoTalk, which revealed the student had been working illegally at a restaurant.

CBP conducts two types of searches: basic and detailed. Basic searches involve manually reviewing the contents of a device without any additional tools, while detailed searches use external equipment to access stored data. In 2024, out of 420,521,616 travellers entering the U.S., 12,667,84 people underwent secondary searches, and 42,725 basic searches and 4,322 detailed searches of electronic devices were performed. Of these searches, 36,506 were on non-citizens, while 10,541 were on U.S. citizens.

Current entry guidelines state that travellers whose electronic devices are selected for investigation may be required to decrypt their devices to provide information. While citizens can refuse to answer questions beyond identity and travel details, this can result in delays. However, visa holders who refuse to answer such questions risk being denied entry. A significant concern remains the potential leakage of sensitive personal information during the process of sharing passwords to access devices, raising privacy risks for travellers.

As three cases of measles were confirmed in Bergen County, New Jersey, which is home to a densely populated Korean community, New York City has also reported two cases of measles, heightening concerns among health authorities. The New York City Department of Health announced on March 4th that, as of the end of February, there were two confirmed cases of measles in the city, one of which occurred earlier this year. The health department did not disclose specific details about the patients, such as their age, location, or vaccination status.

In 2023, New York City reported 14 confirmed cases of measles, representing nearly all the 15 cases reported across the entire state. In comparison, there was only one confirmed case of measles in the city during 2023. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, as of February 27th, there had been 164 confirmed cases of measles across the United States. Notably, 20% of these cases resulted in hospitalization. Among these, 145 cases were in Texas, where an unvaccinated child tragically died from the disease. This marks the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015.

Measles was declared eradicated in the United States in 2000, but cases have been on the rise in recent years. Symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after infection with the measles virus. Initially, individuals may experience cold-like symptoms, including a cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis. This is followed by a high fever (101°F or higher) and a rash that begins on the face and spreads throughout the body. In severe cases, measles can lead to complications, including death.

The issue of unfair congestion charges in Manhattan has drawn significant criticism. On March 4th, NBC News reported several cases where individuals were unfairly charged tolls since the congestion charge was implemented in January. One such case involved a man living in Manhattan who was incorrectly charged tolls for four days, even though he never left the area south of 60th Street, where the congestion charge is applied. Jesse King, the individual who raised the issue, explained, “I only rode my scooter around the garage on West 30th Street and never left or re-entered 60th Street in Manhattan, which is the boundary where the congestion charge is imposed, but I was charged a total of $18 in tolls over the four days.”

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), if a vehicle only operates within the central business district south of 60th Street in Manhattan, it should not be subject to the congestion charge. Drivers who reside in the congested area will only be charged tolls if they leave and re-enter 60th Street. After NBC News brought the issue to the MTA’s attention, it was confirmed that the man’s scooter had not left the designated area, and the toll charges were refunded. However, the MTA referred to this as a “simple error” and did not provide further explanation or address whether other individuals might have been similarly affected.

Critics of the congestion charge have argued that this case highlights the need for more transparency in the tolling system. Concerns have arisen that there could be more instances of unfair charges, prompting calls for the MTA to improve the transparency of the system. Additionally, social media posts have revealed other instances of errors where toll charges were incorrectly applied. One person shared, “I have never been to Lower Manhattan, but I was charged the congestion tax several times. When I checked, the reader error was incorrectly recognizing the license plate information, so I was charged the fee that was supposed to be charged to someone else.”

Other cases involve drivers who were unaware of the specific congestion tax methods, resulting in them paying higher fees. For example, some drivers who had an EZ-Pass but did not understand the charging system were sent toll charges by mail instead of being automatically deducted from their account. A Korean resident of New Jersey shared his experience, saying, “I went to Manhattan with my wife’s car over the weekend, but the car didn’t have an EZ-Pass terminal, so I took the one in my car. I thought the toll would be paid with my EZ-Pass, but I later received a notice in the mail.” This resulted in a more expensive toll bill, as tolls charged by mail can be 50% more expensive than those paid using an EZ-Pass.

The congestion charge is $9 for passenger cars, $14.40 for light trucks, and $21.60 for large trucks during daytime hours with an EZ-Pass. However, if the toll is paid by mail due to a lack of an EZ-Pass, the cost increases by 50%. For instance, a passenger car that would have paid $9 during the day could end up paying $13.50.

Last month, the Donald Trump administration withdrew the federal government’s environmental impact assessment approval for the Manhattan congestion charge and ordered the MTA to end its implementation by March 21st. However, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA have refused to comply with the decision and have filed a lawsuit. They plan to continue collecting the congestion charges until a court order is issued.

New York State is continuing its commitment to supporting low-income families by offering free groceries to children this summer. On the 24th, the state announced the continuation of the federal government’s “Summer EBT” program, which provides groceries to children from low-income families during the summer months when school meals are not available.

Through this program, over 2.1 million children across the state will receive a “Summer EBT card” that will be loaded with $40 per child per month, totalling $120 for the summer. The cards will be automatically cancelled after 122 days of issuance.

The groceries that can be purchased using the summer EBT card include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, bread, and snacks. However, the card cannot be used for hot food, pet food, or alcoholic beverages.

Applications for the program are open until September 3rd and can be made through the New York State ‘Summer EBT’ application website: https://summerebt.ny.gov/en-US/.

New York State has divided beneficiaries into two categories: automatic beneficiaries and those who need to apply. It is estimated that about 1.5 million children from low-income families, who qualify for SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, or free school meals, will be automatic beneficiaries. Residents whose income level is 185% or less of the federal poverty line (less than $57,720 per year for a family of four) need to apply for benefits.

The state has expressed concern over the low number of applications from beneficiaries who are required to apply. Last year, only 17,158 applications were submitted. New York State is urging eligible residents to apply actively, with an estimated 2.1 million children and families qualifying for the program, including both automatic and application-based beneficiaries.

The 2025 New York City primary election is officially underway. The New York City Board of Elections announced on the 25th that the petition period for candidates in the upcoming primary has begun. Candidates must gather signatures to qualify for the election, with the petition period running from February 25 to April 3. The primary election day is set for June 24, 2025.

To be officially qualified as a candidate by the Board of Elections, preliminary candidates for New York City Mayor, Public Advocate, and Comptroller must secure at least 3,750 valid petition signatures. Candidates for borough president must collect at least 2,000 valid signatures, while those seeking a City Council seat need at least 450 signatures.

The Election Commission will review the submitted petitions and announce the official candidates for the 2025 New York City Primary Election in early May.

This year’s primary election is particularly focused on the mayoral race. The Democratic primary has already heated up, with current Mayor Eric Adams (Democrat) facing a criminal indictment on corruption charges. Despite pressure from within his own party to resign, Mayor Adams has declared his intention to run for re-election. On the 24th, he reaffirmed his decision, saying, “I will definitely run. I will conduct the petition on the streets and hope for many signatures from citizens.”

As of the 25th, several prominent Democratic politicians have declared their candidacies for the mayoral primary, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senator Jessica Ramos, State Senator Zellner Myri, State Assembly Member Zoran Mamdani, and former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. There are also strong rumours that nine other politicians, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Council Speaker Adrianne Adams, may enter the race.

On the Republican side, Curtis Sliwa, who ran in the 2021 mayoral race, has announced his intention to run again in 2025.

A new area code, 465, will be added to New York City’s telephone system. The New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) announced on the 13th that it will assign the new area code 465 to new telephone service applicants in Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

The NYSPSC expects that the 465-area code will be issued starting in late 2026, when the current area codes 347, 718, 917, and 929 are expected to run out of available numbers. Unlike in 1984, when some users of area code 212 were forced to switch to 718, the addition of area code 465 will not impact existing subscribers. The new area code will be assigned only to new customers.

The decision to add area code 465 comes as the supply of available numbers within the existing area codes has reached saturation due to the widespread use of smartphones and portable internet access cards.

New York State is moving forward with the demolition of the Creedmoor Refugee Camp near Alley Pond Park in Bayside, Queens. On February 13th, State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Assembly Member Ed Braunstein, and New York City Council Member Linda Lee issued a joint statement announcing that they had received the final plan for the camp’s demolition from the Governor’s Office.

The Creedmoor Refugee Camp was established in July 2023 on the site of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital to accommodate 1,000 asylum seekers. However, residents have persistently called for its closure due to concerns over its proximity to elementary schools and social welfare facilities.

Last November, the camp garnered further attention when a refugee staying there was arrested after taking a bus to New York to escape a police chase related to a shooting incident in Florida. This event led to the installation of metal detectors at the refugee camp as an added security measure.

Councilwoman Linda Lee expressed gratitude to the Governor for listening to the concerns of residents, stating, “I would like to thank Governor Hokule for listening to the needs of the local residents, and I will work closely with the state to ensure that the camp is removed as soon as possible.”