Category: ESTA News

Starting January 1, Virginia’s minimum wage will increase from $12 an hour to $12.41. This change is a result of a bill signed by then-Gov. Ralph Northam in 2020, which adjusted the minimum wage for inflation.

Derek Max, executive director of the conservative Thomas Jefferson Institute, expressed that the wage increase would have little impact on areas like Northern Virginia, which he believes does not require such adjustments. However, he stated that it would have a more significant impact on poor, low-skilled workers in Southwest Virginia.

In response, Professor Jennifer Victor of George Mason University argued that the belief that raising the minimum wage leads to higher unemployment is overly simplistic. She explained that some employers, particularly larger ones, are more able to absorb wage increases than others. Additionally, she pointed out that many employers in areas with tighter labour markets assess their ability to hire workers differently.

Meanwhile, current Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill earlier this year that would have raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.

In contrast, Maryland, which borders Virginia, will increase its minimum wage from $13.25 to $15 an hour starting January 1 of next year. This increase is part of a bill passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor Wes Moore.

With over 220,000 refugees flowing into New York State over the past two years, there has been a recent surge in immigration-related fraud, including impersonation of immigration attorneys. A Catholic charity operating in New York City announced on the 13th that the number of immigration service-related fraud reports received by the state’s Office for New Immigrants (ONA) since the beginning of the year has reached 58. This is a 2.4-fold increase compared to 21 cases in the same period last year.

According to statistics from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, as of January this year, there were 39 complaints against immigration service providers, the highest since 2015.

The reasons for complaints against immigration service providers were diverse, including

▲misleading ads

▲false descriptions of immigration services

▲non-completion of services

▲non-refunds

▲lost or missing documents.

Impersonation of immigration lawyers and even impersonation of immigration judges were reported to be frequent. For example, a Spanish-speaking woman paid $1,400 for an online court hearing to obtain a work permit, but both the online court and the judge were fake.

There have also been reports of fraudulent acts impersonating immigration lawyers, such as demanding $10,000 for bail to remove a family member from a deportation facility and defrauding $1,500 by offering to help write an asylum application.

According to immigration lawyers, the most common fraud method is the ’10-year green card fraud’, in which even illegal immigrants at risk of deportation are approached with the promise that they can obtain permanent residency if they have resided in the United States for 10 years.

This is an obvious fraud in that to obtain permanent residency, they must already be in the process of being deported from the court and must prove that a certain family member will face extremely unusual and exceptional hardship if they do not receive a green card.

The New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigration and Naturalization advises, “We strongly recommend that you receive immigration services through a qualified attorney,” and “Be suspicious of unqualified brokers and immigration service providers.”

According to a 2016 report by the American Immigration Council, non-citizens who hired a qualified attorney were more than twice as likely to be released from detention and win their deportation case than those who did not. If they were not detained, the possibility of winning their deportation case was a whopping five times higher.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will change its in-person services to an appointment-only system starting in the new year.

According to the SSA, starting January 6, 2025, you will need to make an appointment in advance to receive in-person services at a Social Security office. In other words, to receive all types of in-person services, including applying for a Social Security Card, you will need to make an appointment in advance before visiting a Social Security office.

However, vulnerable groups such as the extremely poor, military personnel, terminally ill patients, and visitors in emergency situations who have difficulty making reservations in advance can still receive same-day walk-in services without making reservations in advance.

The Social Security Administration said, “This is a measure to reduce unnecessary waiting time and simplify procedures,” and “If the reservation system is changed, visitors to Social Security offices will be able to receive necessary services quickly without wasting time. “Reservations for Social Security office visits can be made on the Internet homepage (https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/) or by phone (1-800-772-1213).

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly spent at least $260 million (about 370 billion won) to help US President-elect Donald Trump win the presidential election. This is a figure that far exceeds Musk’s initially known official presidential campaign donation of $132 million (about 188 billion won).

Musk’s influence, considered the most powerful figure in Trump’s second term, appears to be growing. It has also been revealed that Israeli President Itzhak Herzog asked Musk to “persuade Trump to resume hostage release negotiations (with Hamas).”On the 6th, local media outlets such as CNN and NBC reported, citing data from the US Federal Election Commission, that Musk donated $238 million (about 339 billion won) to America PAC, a super PAC (political fundraising organization) established in July to support Trump’s election.

In particular, the amount of money Musk poured in during the last week of the presidential campaign alone reached 120 million dollars (about 170 billion won). In addition, it was belatedly reported that he separately donated 20.5 million dollars (about 29.2 billion won) to an organization called ‘RGB Pack’. This organization has been promoting that Trump will not sign a nationwide abortion ban.

In relation to this, ABC News and others reported that “Musk has become the individual donor who has donated the most money in the history of the US presidential campaign.” However, the money Musk earned from Trump’s election is much more than the amount donated.

According to Bloomberg News, on the 6th of last month, the day after the presidential election, Musk’s asset value increased by about 26.5 billion dollars (about 37.736 trillion won) thanks to the surge in Tesla’s stock price. His assets currently stand at 361.7 billion dollars (about 515.608 trillion won). He was appointed co-head of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) in the Trump second administration and was given the authority to restructure the government and deregulate regulations.

Some see Musk, who has become one of Trump’s closest associates, as a “key man” who moves Trump. According to CNN on that day, Israeli President Herzog asked Musk in a recent phone call to “persuade Trump to resume negotiations with Hamas to release the hostages.” The media reported that the call was made at the request of the hostage families to “talk to Musk, who is close to Trump.”

Previously, the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel in October of last year and kidnapped 251 people, and it is estimated that about 100 of them are currently being held. On the 2nd, Trump pressured Hamas on Truth Social, saying, “If the hostages are not released by January 20, 2025, there will be a high price. “Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expected to decide whether the next-generation fighter jet of the US Air Force will be replaced with an ‘unmanned fighter jet’.

Musk has been emphasizing the need to replace it with an unmanned fighter jet, saying, “In the drone era, manned fighter jets are useless.” According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the US Air Force postponed the recruitment period for the next-generation fighter jet business to replace the existing F-22 stealth fighter jet from the end of this year to the next administration.

There is speculation that Musk will gain business benefits if the next-generation fighter jet of the US Air Force is replaced with an unmanned aircraft.

Tesla, which he owns, has autonomous driving technology, and SpaceX is developing military satellites and unmanned spacecraft necessary for drone communication.

Musk also has close ties to startups that make military drones. However, the media outlet pointed out that the U.S. Air Force has opposed attempts to completely convert manned fighter jets into drones, saying that it is “not yet possible.”

A general sense of cautious optimism is felt among real estate market experts for the coming year, encouraged by the recent successive interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve.

Political uncertainties

Anthony Della Pelle, chairman of the board of Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), a global organization of real estate advisors, points out that the new Trump administration will likely announce new regulations on trade, corporate taxation, immigration and environmental conservation. These new regulations will have an impact on the American economy and therefore on the real estate market.

On the other hand, in more than 70 countries, including Canada, important elections will take place in 2025, and this could change a fragile geopolitical balance with the United States. The exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the American dollar could thus undergo some shocks.

The high costs of real estate financing.

Even if rates decline, they remain elevated, and buyers will likely remain cautious in 2025. Property values will remain complex to estimate, and many market participants are predicting an increase in distressed asset sales in 2025. Indeed, more than $1.8 trillion in commercial real estate debt is set to mature before 2026. This could impact tenants and competition among landlords for all types of real estate.

Insurance

In 2023 alone, natural disasters caused over $380 billion in damage and losses, and only 31% of victims were insured. Insurance costs continue to rise due to climate events, inflation and rising property valuations. This trend will continue in 2025.

Please note: many owners try to estimate as precisely as possible the risks to which they are exposed and reduce their insurance coverage to reduce their bill.

A generally expensive market

Affordable real estate prices are becoming increasingly scarce, and there is a shortage of more than four million properties for sale on the American market. In 2025, the shortage of properties will persist. Furthermore, rents have increased by +45% in 15 years and represent more than 30% of income for more than half of tenants. To provide affordable housing solutions for all, we must hope to protect existing low rent housing, and an increase in new construction projects. New housing will have to integrate sustainable development elements to combat climate disasters – and reduce the insurance bill in the process.

In conclusion

Experts like Anthony Della Pelle are confident about 2025, as lower interest rates allow them to anticipate a soft landing for the U.S. economy and, overall, a positive impact on the real estate market and the bank loan market. Challenges such as housing shortages and insurance costs are well known.

Lower interest rates provide opportunities for first-time buyers to access home ownership, for more affordable new housing construction, and for increased investment in sustainable development and weather-resistant homes. For all your needs, consult the real estate professionals advertised in the pages of this newspaper.

President-elect Donald Trump’s surprise pick for DEA director is Chad Chronister, a current sheriff with no federal law enforcement experience.

The Washington Post reported on the 30th that Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Florida, has been nominated to head the DEA, saying, “He’s someone who’s barely gotten national attention.”

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has been with the county sheriff’s office for 32 years. In 2017, when the Hillsborough County Sheriff suddenly retired, Chronister was appointed as the successor at his recommendation. He was subsequently re-elected in 2018, 2020, and this year’s sheriff elections.

County sheriffs, who are autonomous police officers in the United States, are elected by residents or appointed by the governor, and are mainly responsible for crime prevention, prison management, and court security within the county.

Chronister’s nominee will move from the sheriff in charge of Hillsborough County’s security to the head of a large federal investigative agency with over 10,000 employees.

The DEA, an agency under the Department of Justice, was established in 1973 when the government declared an all-out war on drugs during the presidency of Richard Nixon. It is responsible for cracking down on and preventing the manufacture, distribution, and smuggling of various drugs, as well as money laundering related to drugs, terrorism, and organized crime, and has a budget of over $3 billion. However, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida is not small in scale.

According to the New York Times (NYT), the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s budget this year is $600 million, and the number of employees is about 3,500. The population of Hillsborough County, which is under its jurisdiction, exceeds 1.4 million (estimated in 2019).

After taking office, nominee Chronister is expected to focus on blocking the distribution of fentanyl, a drug mainly produced in Mexico using Chinese chemicals and cracking down on related organizations.

In announcing his nomination for DEA director on social media, President-border and said that nominee Chronister “will work with the great Attorney General (nominee) Pam Bondi to protect our borders, stop the distribution of fentanyl and other illegal drugs through our southern border, and save lives.”

A blizzard warning has been issued for parts of the Northeast during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the busiest in the U.S., causing road and air traffic to be in jeopardy.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a blizzard warning for the southern shores of Lake Erie and the eastern shores of Lake Ontario on the morning of the 30th, predicting snowfall of 60 to 120 centimeters through Monday, December 2. Some areas of Ohio along the southern shores of Lake Erie could see up to 150 centimeters of snow by Tuesday, December 3, the weather service forecast.

The coastal areas of the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, are prone to heavy snowfall accompanied by severe cold in the winter due to the “lake effect,” where cold air currents pass over the lakes and create snow clouds.

The weather service asked people to avoid driving, saying that this heavy snowfall could make travel very difficult or impossible in some areas, and advised people to prepare extra water and food in case travel is unavoidable in case of an emergency.

Some sections of the highway connecting Pennsylvania and upstate New York remained closed as of the morning of the 30th.Some areas, including Perrysburg, south of Buffalo, New York, reported that they had already received 90 cm of snow on the morning of the 30th.This heavy snowfall came as the largest number of people in the United States traveled long distances to visit family, relatives, and friends on Thanksgiving Day, the busiest day of the year.

The Automobile Association (AAA) forecasted that a total of 79.9 million people will move to other regions during the week from the 26th to December 2nd, ahead of Thanksgiving (the 28th). This is an increase of 1.7 million people compared to the same period last year.

Authorities in the Great Lakes region are in a state of emergency.

New York Governor Cathy Hockel issued a statement on the afternoon of the 29th, saying, “As lake-effect snowfall moves into parts of New York State, we are closely monitoring the situation and mobilizing all available resources to respond.”

A “bomb cyclone,” described as a “murderous storm,” hit the western part of Washington, including Seattle, on the afternoon of the 19th, causing unprecedented power outages.

According to the weather agency, a warm low-pressure system that developed in the Pacific Ocean since the 17th gained strength for several days before colliding with an inland Arctic cold front on the 19th, reaching its peak as a super-strong “bomb cyclone” that hit the western part of the U.S. and British Columbia (BC), Canada.

As a result, wind gusts of 77 miles per hour were observed in the Mount Rainier-Sunrise area of Washington State, 74 miles per hour in Christian Mountain, 63 miles per hour in Camano Island, 59 miles per hour in SeaTac Airport, and 57 miles per hour in Federal Way.

In addition to Washington State, Satin Island, BC, Canada, 106 miles per hour was recorded, Acorn Woman Peak, Oregon, 89 miles per hour, and Van Bremer, California, 82 miles per hour.

Due to strong winds, trees fell in many places in Washington State, covering power lines and houses. It is understood that 30 to 40 trees fell in Seattle alone from the afternoon of that day to the early morning of the 20th. It is known that hundreds of trees fell throughout Puget Sound due to the strong winds.

As a result, at one point on the night of the 19th, about 114,000 households supplied by Seattle City Light lost power, and about 130,000 households belonging to Snohomish County PUD, 350,000 households belonging to Puget Sound Energy (PSE), 5,000 households belonging to Tacoma Public Utilities, and 6,000 households in Clam County PUD lost power.

With over 600,000 households in western Washington State without power, residents had to live in fear of the cold and darkness. It was also found that large marts such as the Issaquah Costco and Federal Way H Mart had closed early due to a power outage that afternoon. It is known that two people have lost their lives in Washington State because of this ‘bomb cyclone’.

Just before 7 p.m. on the 19th, a large tree fell on a house in the Bellevue Bridle Trail neighborhood due to the storm. A 65-year-old woman who was showering in the bathroom died at the scene. Her husband barely escaped the disaster after the tree fell. Then, just after 7 p.m. that night, a woman in her 50s died at the scene after being hit by a tree that had fallen due to strong winds at a homeless camp near the Lynwood Alderwood Mall Parkway.

Authorities are currently carrying out emergency restoration work for power outages and other damage, but many households are still suffering from the damage as of the 21st.This is the largest power outage since December 14-15, 2006, when strong winds knocked out power to 1 million homes. The outage, which occurred on Hanukkah Eve in 2006, killed 14 people in Washington state. Eight of them died from carbon monoxide poisoning while burning charcoal indoors during the power outage.

Weather officials are urging residents to stay indoors and be aware of their surroundings when the winds are strong. They are urging people to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, which may be live.

The sushi bar in Seattle that was embroiled in a ‘bug controversy’ due to food critic influencer Keith Lee has finally closed.

FOB Sushi, a famous sushi bar in downtown Seattle, announced on Instagram early on the 18th, “We will temporarily close our Seattle and Bellevue locations until further notice.” In the end, the ‘Keith Lee Effect’ that attracts customers wherever it goes has had the opposite effect this time.

Keith Lee, the most famous influencer on the Internet with 16.5 million followers, recently visited Seattle and reviewed various local restaurants. While he received favorable reviews for a restaurant in Chinatown and an apple cider shop in Pike Place Market, FOB Sushi was embroiled in an unexpected controversy after his review.

The scene where Keith Lee showed sushi from FOB Sushi Bar in his video became the center of controversy. When other TikTok users zoomed in on the video, the sushi pieces appeared to be moving.

In response, FOB Sushi Bar released a statement, explaining, “The movement is simply a natural elasticity or a phenomenon that can occur when pressed with chopsticks, and does not indicate parasites or health issues.”

However, Keith Lee disagreed. He said, “I’ve eaten sushi thousands of times, and I’ve never seen it move like this before,” refuting the restaurant’s explanation. The controversy over the presence of bugs in the sushi spread online, and initially, the number of customers at the sushi bar doubled. However, the “bug controversy” spread to the sanitation issue at the sushi bar, which eventually led to the owner temporarily closing the business.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, FOB Sushi Bar received a “satisfactory” rating in a sanitation inspection in January. However, the King County Health Department is currently reviewing complaints received over the weekend and attempted to conduct an on-site inspection on the 18th, but the sushi bar was closed, so the inspection could not be conducted.

FOB Sushi Bar said in a statement that “the health and safety of our customers is our top priority,” adding that it “will thoroughly investigate this incident and take all necessary steps to prevent a recurrence.” It also offered its gratitude and apologies to the community and added that it “will continue to strive to provide the highest quality service possible.”

King County Public Health said it is “carefully reviewing all complaints received” and will “follow up to ensure FOB Sushi Bar is complying with applicable food safety regulations.”

Police are investigating a shooting near a building behind a McDonald’s in Centerville, Virginia. According to local media outlet DC NewsNow, police responded to the scene around 6 p.m. on the 5900 block of Fort Drive in Centerville after hearing reports of multiple gunshots.

Police received a witness’s report that someone had fired shots from inside a car, and they found several shell casings at the scene. No victims have been found, but the investigation is ongoing.

An official from a Korean company that has moved into the building said in a phone call with our newspaper, “It seems like the gunshots occurred after everyone had left work,” and “Fortunately, none of the company employees heard the gunshots.”

Another Korean woman expressed her anxiety, saying, “The Centerville McDonald’s is close to my house, and I often go there, so I was surprised that there was a gunshot, even though there were no casualties.”

The building closest to the scene where the gunshots were heard is a four-story office building that houses several businesses, including a Korean accounting firm, an ophthalmology clinic, a dental clinic, a real estate management company, and Navy Credit Union.

Also nearby is a McDonald’s that many Koreans frequent, as well as a movie theater.