U.S. ESTA Travel Pass News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that if the federal government shutdown continues, it will suspend SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) payments starting November 1st.

On its website on the 27th, the USDA stated, “Senate Democrats have rejected the food assistance program budget bill 12 times,” and “With funding currently depleted, SNAP benefits will no longer be paid starting November 1st.”

The notice also argued, “Rather than insisting on funding for health insurance and gender reassignment surgery for undocumented immigrants, Democrats should reopen the government so that mothers, babies, and vulnerable populations can receive essential nutritional support.”

This notice comes after the Trump administration decided not to use the approximately $5 billion emergency reserve fund. SNAP is a core welfare program that approximately one in eight Americans rely on to purchase food.

SNAP is the largest food assistance program in the United States, with approximately 42 million people receiving benefits. If the USDA’s SNAP payments are suspended in November, low-income families will face a sharp decline in their ability to purchase food.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are urging USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to tap emergency funds to continue SNAP payments in November.

As the federal government wages a war on crime in Washington, D.C., deploying the National Guard, 12 people were reportedly shot and wounded in just nine hours over the weekend.

According to local media outlet FOX5 News, the shootings began around 5:30 p.m. on the 24th, when a teenage girl was shot on Southeast Yuma Street. Fifteen minutes later, another teenager was shot on 50th Street. At 7:30 p.m. and 8:18 p.m., a man and a 5-year-old child were struck by stray bullets.

Shortly after, a shooting near Howard University, where homecoming festivities were taking place, left five people injured: three men, a woman, and a teenager. Around midnight on the 24th, two men were wounded on Northeast Benning Road, and in the early morning hours of the 25th, a man was wounded at the Northwest Hyatt Place.

Police said last weekend’s shooting was the most violent in D.C. this year, adding that two suspects in the shooting near Howard University have been arrested and additional suspects are being sought.

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 22nd that federal immigration agents conducted a raid on a busy street in lower Manhattan, New York City, arresting nine illegal immigrants from Africa on the 21st, and that this raid was met with strong backlash from citizens condemning the raid.

According to the report, at around 3:20 p.m. the previous day, dozens of federal agents, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, carrying masks on their faces conducted a large-scale raid on Canal Street near Chinatown in lower Manhattan, New York City. T

he Canal Street area is an area where African immigrants are often seen selling counterfeit luxury goods such as wallets, bags, and watches at street stalls on the sidewalk. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release titled “Making New York’s Canal Street Safe Again” on the 23rd, announcing that it had conducted a targeted raid on Canal Street the previous day, based on intelligence.

The DHS stated that the raid was related to criminal activity, including the sale of illegal counterfeit goods, and that nine illegal immigrants were arrested during the raid. The DHS explained that the nine arrested immigrants were from West Africa, including Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, and Guinea, and did not have legal residency status.

Five of them had prior convictions for robbery, theft, domestic violence, assault on a police officer, forgery, drug trafficking, and drug possession. “The majority of those arrested were released under the Joe Biden administration,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security.

The large-scale raid by immigration authorities immediately sparked protests. As news of the crackdown spread on social media, protesters began to gather, and additional federal agents arrived with armored vehicles to confront the protesters, creating a chaotic situation for a while, the New York Times reported.

Even after the raid, about 100 citizens gathered around the ICE headquarters in lower Manhattan to protest the raids. The Department of Homeland Security announced on the same day that it had separately arrested five people in connection with the protests. Civic groups in the New York area plan to protest the raids near the ICE headquarters on the evening of the 22nd.

ICE has confirmed that it plans to expand its illegal immigration raids in the New York City area. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said the previous day regarding the raids in New York City, “These were not random raids. They didn’t just pull people off the street. We’re going to see an increase in ICE arrests because there are so many illegal immigrants who have committed crimes in New York City and are being released.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that in the days leading up to the raids, pro-Trump influencers posted videos on social media exposing illegal street vendors in the Canal Street area, garnering significant views.

Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce company headquartered in Seattle, is embarking on a massive hiring spree ahead of the holiday shopping season.

In a statement on the 13th, Amazon announced that it will hire 250,000 new full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers across its fulfillment centers and delivery network across the United States. This hiring effort is aimed at addressing the increased logistics demand ahead of Black Friday and the Christmas season.

According to the company, full-time workers receive an average base wage of $23 per hour and a variety of benefits, including health insurance and tuition assistance. Short-term seasonal workers earn an average hourly wage of $19, with optional benefits potentially increasing compensation to $30, Amazon explained.

Amazon plans to invest an additional $1 billion in personnel expenses for this expansion. The company stated, “With the surge in holiday orders and deliveries, we will secure a stable workforce to maintain the quality of customer service. We plan to announce new positions sequentially through December.”

Amazon also cited past examples, emphasizing that “many seasonal workers have subsequently been promoted to management or training positions,” and that “short-term work can lead to long-term career opportunities.”

This recruitment will be conducted at major fulfillment centers across the United States, including Washington State, and applicants can apply online through Amazon’s official careers website.

Reflecting the buoyant U.S. economy ahead of the holiday shopping season, Amazon’s recruitment is expected to create jobs nationwide.

A bus collision on Columbus Day, a public holiday, injured 19 people in Flushing, Queens. According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the accident occurred at approximately 8:27 a.m. on the 13th when two MTA Q27 buses collided on Sanford Avenue in Flushing, traveling westbound (towards Main Street).

On slick roads due to rain, Q27 bus #8426 struck the rear of Q27 bus #8764, which was ahead of it, while overtaking the other bus. The NYPD said no arrests were made in the accident. The

New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said immediately after the accident, “Nineteen people, including the driver and passengers, suffered minor injuries. Fourteen were transported to a nearby hospital, and five were treated at the scene.” “There were no pedestrian injuries and no property damage other than the vehicles was reported.” Meanwhile, as of noon today, the bus collision caused the Q13, Q27, Q26, and Q65 buses to be diverted, causing continued inconvenience to citizens.

The Tysons area is attracting attention as it is reported that Virginia’s first luxury high-rise condominium named after a famous hotel brand will be built.

According to local media outlet FFXNOW on the 9th, the 20-story luxury condominium, named after the famous hotel, called The Ritz-Carlton Residences, will be built directly across from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the upscale Tysons Galleria shopping mall.

The condo building, which is scheduled to break ground next year, will feature 102 units ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom, with the average condo size being 2,000 square feet, with some units reaching 4,500 square feet. The building will feature a fitness center, swimming pool, clubroom, and private rooftop dining room. Amenities include 24-hour concierge service, valet parking, a golf simulator, a yoga studio, a theater for 10-12 people, a library, and a billiards room.

Residents will automatically become top-tier members of the Marriott Rewards program, which will allow them to share discounts with family and friends at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons, as well as travel, spa, and dining discounts. Staff will also be on hand to provide a variety of services, including housekeeping, spa and salon reservations, party planning and travel arrangements, watering houseplants when the owner is away, and restocking the refrigerator before returning.

Condo prices will vary depending on size but are expected to start at least $1 million. Individual reservations are currently being accepted for condos on the third floor of Tysons Galleria, and the gallery is expected to open in the second quarter of next year.

President Donald Trump fiercely criticized the opposition Democratic Party on the seventh day of the federal government shutdown, saying it was “almost a kamikaze attack.”

During a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House that day, when asked if he had a message for the Democrats ahead of the Senate’s vote on a temporary spending bill to end the shutdown, Trump said, “They started it.” He continued, “They (Democrats) have nothing to lose.

They lost the presidential election by a landslide,” and claimed that the Democrats are intentionally continuing the shutdown. He also criticized leading Democratic figures, including Representatives Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), and Nancy Pelosi (California), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York), saying, “The Democratic Party is out of control. They have no leader, and I don’t know who their leader is.” He also criticized leading Democratic figures, including Representatives Jasmine Crockett (Texas), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), and Nancy Pelosi (California), as having “low IQ” and “no one will win this election. ”

Regarding President Trump’s threat to permanently eliminate some federal programs if the shutdown continues, he said, “I have a lot. I’m going to announce it soon.”

He added, “I think they (Democrats) made a big mistake. Because of the shutdown, we’ve been able to eliminate billions of dollars of waste, fraud, and abuse, and they’re handing it to us on a silver platter.”

Regarding attempts to permanently lay off federal workers, he said, “I’ll be able to tell you in four or five days. If the shutdown continues, it’s going to be significant, and a lot of jobs will never be restored.”

President Trump responded to questions about whether furloughed government employees would receive retroactive pay after the shutdown ends, stating, “It depends on who they are. There are some people we really don’t deserve to be held accountable for, and we’ll do it differently for them.” This remark somewhat reaffirms the contents of a draft White House memo recently reported in the US media, which is expected to spark controversy.

The draft states, “We are considering not to retroactively pay furloughed employees during the shutdown.” When asked why he would not provide retroactive pay, President Trump simply replied, “Ask the Democrats that question,” adding, “I follow the law. What the law says is right.”

Furthermore, regarding the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy troops, including the National Guard, to crack down on crime in Chicago, Illinois, or Portland, Oregon, President Trump stated, “It’s been done before. To make our country great, we must be crime-free. If the governors can’t do it, we will.”

US immigration lawyer President Trump chose “trade” as the main agenda for the meeting, defining tariffs and trade-related issues between the two countries as “natural business disputes.” He said, “We want to make cars in the United States, and we want Canada to do well in car manufacturing. So we’re looking for a solution, and I think we’ll get it done.”

He also said, “We’re competing with Canada for the same business. Our advantage is that we have a huge (consumer) market.” Regarding the United States-Canada-Mexico Free Trade Agreement (USMCA),

President Trump said, “We could renegotiate it. That would be great. Or we could just make a different deal. Regardless, I want to make the best deal for this country.” Meanwhile, regarding the ongoing peace negotiations in the Gaza Strip war in Egypt, President Trump repeatedly predicted that there is a very high possibility of peace in the Middle East, saying, “The other (working-level negotiating) team just left.”

Earlier, President Trump dispatched his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to Egypt to participate in working-level negotiations on hostage and prisoner exchanges and the first phase of Israeli troop withdrawal.

With the federal government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees and contractors are facing unpaid leave or delayed pay, putting Maryland at a significant disadvantage. State and local governments are rolling out emergency assistance programs to residents facing layoffs.

According to the state government, Maryland is home to more than 60 federal facilities and over 260,000 federal employees and 200,000 federal contractors. The State Comptroller’s Office of Revenue and Budget reports that the shutdown has resulted in the furlough of most non-essential federal employees, with over 15,000 already laid off and an estimated 10,000 more expected to be laid off.

Essential workers, such as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, military personnel, and federal law enforcement officers, are working but facing delayed pay, while non-essential workers are facing unpaid leave until the shutdown ends. As part of its emergency relief measures, the state government will provide interest-free loans of $700 to federal employees whose paychecks have been delayed, starting on the 6th. Laid-off employees can apply for emergency loan programs. Furloughed federal employees can also apply for unemployment benefits through the Federal Employees Unemployment Compensation Program, and federal contract workers can apply for state unemployment benefits.

The state has also sent letters to state legislators and utility companies requesting deferrals on utility bills, including gas, electricity, and mortgage payments. The state also operates public assistance benefit programs such as Medicaid and the SNAP Food Assistance Program.

Governor Wes Moore stated, “If the federal government shutdown is prolonged, we will announce additional support measures in a phased manner,” including expanded job search programs, legal counseling, special enrollment in health insurance, and food assistance.

For more information on shutdown-related support, please visit the state government (response.maryland.gov) and the state Department of Labor (labor.maryland.gov) websites.

Meanwhile, Howard County operates a variety of support programs, including job search assistance services at the Workforce Development Center, expanded childcare, food assistance, a foreclosure prevention program, mental health counseling, and employment assistance for people with disabilities.

The bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee has jointly reintroduced a bill that would strengthen regulations related to H-1B and L-1 work visas for professional workers.

According to Reuters, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican, introduced the bill on the 29th with Senator Dick Durbin, the committee’s ranking Democrat. The bill includes provisions to strengthen wage regulations and employment requirements for those eligible for the visas, and to require the disclosure of job openings for those eligible. It also includes provisions to raise the threshold for issuing visas.

Reuters reported that the two senators had previously introduced a bill with similar intent in 2007.Both H-1B and L-1 visas are used to allow foreign professionals to work in the United States. The H-1B visa, which has recently garnered attention due to President Donald Trump’s surge in issuance fees, is for specialized occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).Major US IT companies have primarily used it to hire professionals from India and China.L-1 visas are also known as “traveler visas” because they allow multinational corporations operating in multiple countries to bring employees they have hired overseas back to the US.

Some in the US have criticized these visas for stealing high-paying jobs from Americans.

Senator Grassley, who introduced the bill, stated, “Congress created the H-1B and L-1 visas as a limited means for companies to secure top talent when they couldn’t find them in the US. However, for years, many companies have used these visas to exclude American workers and bring in cheap foreign workers.”

Senators Grassley and Durbin recently requested the submission of data from 10 major companies, including Amazon, Google, and Meta, saying they are closely monitoring the companies’ H-1B usage.

New York State has issued a scam alert regarding “inflation refund” checks. According to New York State, scammers are requesting personal information via phone calls, text messages, emails, and postal mail in connection with the recently mailed inflation refund checks.

Some scammers are impersonating IRS agents and demanding accurate personal and financial information to receive their state inflation refund checks.

Governor Kathy Hokul stated, “As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive your check without any further action. The IRS is not involved in these checks issued by the New York State government. The IRS has no reason to contact you. If you receive such a call, please report it immediately.”

New York State has been issuing “Inflation Rebate Checks” via mail since last weekend to provide refunds to low- and middle-income taxpayers who have significantly increased their sales tax due to inflation. For married couples filing jointly, households with an annual gross income (AGI) of $300 to $150,000 will receive a $300 check, while those with an AGI of $150,000 or less will receive a $400 check.

Individuals filing individually will receive a $150 check for those with an AGI of $150 to $75,000, and $200 checks for those with an AGI of $75,000 or less. Rebate checks will be mailed sequentially through November.

Tips on avoiding refund scams can be found on the website (dos.ny.gov/taxpayer-scam-0).