Category: ESTA News

A recent study found that Virginia’s roads have the second-best condition in the United States, while Maryland ranked only in the upper-middle range. According to a recent report by the online driver education platform Zutobi,

Virginia ranked second in the nation with a road condition score of 7.14 out of 10.Georgia ranked first with a score of 7.42, while Maryland ranked 13th with a score of 5.92.The report evaluated each state’s road condition based on three indicators: the percentage of roads rated as good condition, the rate of change over the past three years, and the number of highway traffic fatalities per 100 million miles driven.

Virginia had 83% of its roads classified as “good condition,” a 5.67% improvement over the past three years, and a stable highway fatality rate of 1.04 per 100 million miles driven.

Maryland had 71% of its roads classified as “good condition,” and its road improvement rate over the past three years was 16.72%.  the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) described this report as “a result of expanded investment in road management and maintenance,” and stated that it will continue to improve transportation infrastructure in the future.

Meanwhile, the top five states in the U.S. for road quality were Georgia, Virginia, Wisconsin/North Dakota (7.14 points), and Alabama (6.94 points). The bottom five states were Oklahoma (1.57 points), California (2.31 points), West Virginia (2.99 points), Mississippi (3.06 points), and Rhode Island (3.13 points).

Citing sources, the Washington Post reported on the 11th that President Trump is preparing an executive order to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 substance under the current drug classification system.

Under the current drug classification system, Schedule 1 substances are drugs with no recognized medical benefit and a high risk of abuse, such as heroin and LSD. Schedule 3 substances are drugs with recognized medical benefit, even if they carry a certain risk of abuse, such as codeine-containing painkillers.

If marijuana is reclassified from Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 substance, it will become a controlled substance with medical benefits at the federal level for the first time.

Experts say that even if President Trump signs this executive order, marijuana use will not be legalized at the federal level. However, a groundbreaking change is expected for the industry.

While deducting expenses such as R&D costs is virtually impossible for companies handling Schedule 1 narcotics, deducting R&D costs for Schedule 3 substances will allow deductions for not only R&D costs but also marketing and labor costs.

Consequently, legal marijuana companies are expected to see a significant increase in profitability.

Furthermore, the approval process for various marijuana-related clinical trials will be significantly simplified, which is expected to have a positive impact on the marijuana industry.

Currently, more than three-quarters of all 50 states, including New York and New Jersey, have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use.

The Department of Homeland Security has launched a website where users can search for illegal aliens arrested since the Trump administration took office, by country of origin and region. On the 8th, the Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of the website (wow.dhs.gov) titled “Worst of the Worst.”

The Department of Homeland Security stated that it “compiles information on illegal aliens arrested through raids since the Trump administration took office,” and that “users can search for illegal aliens arrested in all 50 states.” The Department of Homeland Security stated that the initial release will include approximately 10,000 arrest records, with subsequent updates.

The website allows users to search for illegal aliens arrested by name, country of origin, and state. It also displays the names, facial photos, charges, and locations of arrest for each arrested illegal alien. At least five Korean nationals have been identified. They were arrested on charges ranging from rape to fraud, arson, theft, and traffic violations.

Texas had the most arrests, with three, followed by California and Minnesota with one each. By state, 142 names were found in New York, and 109 in New Jersey.

“The new Worst of the Worst website will allow people to see for themselves the types of crimes we arrest, the crimes they committed, and where they were deported,” said Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin, calling it a “transparency tool.”

As Christmas approaches, crimes known as “Santa Frauds” are on the rise.

The Better Business Bureau, a consumer protection organization, has released a report on this year’s “Scams of the Holidays,” warning that “this year in particular, there are many scams related to online shopping, shipping, donations, and job hunting.”

Reports of fraud between November and December were two to three times higher than usual, and most of these scams exploit consumers’ impatience to buy gifts, using “too good to be true” deals to steal personal information and money. This year’s most common scam involves creating fake ads or fake shopping malls on social media. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are flooded with ads like “90% off the most popular toys of the year.” Clicking on them leads to a fake website that looks exactly like the real thing, but even after completing the purchase, the item never arrives.

Next up is the smishing text scam. Random texts are sent saying, “Your shipment has been delayed. Just pay 99 cents and we’ll send it again.” Unintentionally clicking on the link installs malware and steals your card information.

Another scam involves secretly copying and pasting the PIN number from the back of a gift card displayed on a store shelf, then stealing the money immediately after someone else makes a purchase. Another popular Christmas event, the “secret sister” gift exchange, promises, “If you give a gift to one person, 36 others will give you a gift,” leading to scams where victims end up paying for nothing. They often impersonate charities and ask for donations for purposes such as supporting orphanages, disaster victims, or rescuing abandoned dogs.

Any request for “gift cards or cryptocurrency” is 100% a scam.

Experts emphasize the following tips for preventing year-end scams: “Don’t be fooled by too-low prices.” Search for suspicious websites or products on the consumer protection group’s website (bbb.org/scam tracker). Donation notifications should not be clicked immediately; instead, check the delivery company’s official website or app.

Always decline any requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency. When making donations, they urge consumers to consult charity evaluation websites and contact the organization directly for verification.

Consumer protection groups emphasize, “The holiday season is busy and emotionally charged, so don’t rush and be skeptical for just 30 seconds. A moment’s decision can save you $300 or even $3,000.”

With Christmas trees sparkling and the holiday shopping season approaching, scammers are also on the lookout. They urge consumers to be more cautious for the sake of a happy holiday season and peace in their homes.

The Afghan immigrant suspected in the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington, D.C., was radicalized after arriving in the United States, U.S. authorities said, while his motive remains unclear.

“We are still reviewing all the information, and we will allow the FBI and the Justice Department to release any new information,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Nome said in an NBC interview. “However, we will say that we believe he was radicalized after he came to this country.”

She added, “We believe that it came through his connections in his community and in the state, and we will continue to talk to those who interacted with him, as well as members of his family.”

The suspect in this case, Ramanullah Lakanwal (29), is a former local soldier who cooperated with US intelligence during the US war in Afghanistan. He escaped to the US in 2021 when US troops withdrew from Afghanistan and has been living with his family in Washington state in the northwestern US.

Minister Nom’s remarks are interpreted as an argument that Lakanwal’s political leanings turned to extremism after entering the US due to the strong Democratic political environment in Washington state and the civic groups that helped him settle in, which led to this incident. Minister Nom also blamed the former Joe Biden administration for the fact that Lakanwal’s asylum application was approved in April of this year, after the second Trump administration took office.

“We have to remember that when they abandoned Afghanistan, the Biden administration brought people onto planes and into the US without background checks,” he said.

“Background checks are done when the person in question enters the country. And Joe Biden did not vet them at all.”

He also emphasized, “His asylum application was initiated under the Biden administration, and it was processed based on information provided by Biden when he was president,” and “This is the Biden administration’s responsibility.”

Minister Nom’s position largely aligns with President Donald Trump’s view that the Biden administration is responsible for and responsible for this incident.

President Trump also wrote on his social media platform, TruthSocial, that “Crooked Joe Biden, (Biden Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro) Mayorkas, and ‘Border Czar’ Kamala Harris have truly ruined our country by allowing anyone and everyone to come in with absolutely no vetting or verification.

“Minister Nom also said, “One thing no one has mentioned yet is that Biden has left us with 1.5 million asylum applications that are not being processed. They must be vetted according to our standards in place under President Trump. If they are not guaranteed to be in our country, they will be immediately deported.”

Heavy snowfall, particularly across the Midwest, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend on the 29th led to the cancellation of over 1,000 passenger flights and the delay of thousands more.

According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, as of 1:30 p.m. ET, a total of 1,830 flights departing or arriving in the United States had been canceled. A total of 3,810 flights were delayed, and the number of cancellations and delays is expected to increase further this afternoon.

About half of the canceled flights in the United States were concentrated at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the largest airport in the Midwest. Ground delays were ordered at O’Hare International Airport this morning due to snow and ice, delaying flights to the airport by an average of five hours, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

A winter storm with heavy snow is hitting the Midwest, including Chicago, causing disruption to air traffic throughout the region. The Thanksgiving holiday is a time when air travel demand surges as Americans travel to visit family and friends or go on vacation. Some areas in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Michigan are forecast to see up to 15 to 35 centimeters of snow by the morning of the 30th.

The National Weather Service’s Chicago office warned that snowfall is expected to increase through the evening and urged drivers to drive with caution. Meanwhile, aircraft manufacturer Airbus issued a large-scale recall of its flagship A320 family of passenger aircraft the previous day, raising concerns about flight cancellations and delays around the world. However, swift software upgrades have prevented any major disruptions to operations.

Major foreign media outlets, including AFP and dpa, reported on the 29th that, thanks to the swift intervention of Airbus and airlines, no major disruptions have been reported at airports or airlines worldwide.

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia has confiscated over 110 illegal firearms over the past three years.

The county recently announced that 112 illegal firearms were seized through Operation Press Check, a three-year-old operation targeting illegal gun owners.

According to the department, 24 guns were seized in 2023, 55 in 2024, and 57 as of early November this year. Among them were guns equipped with MCD devices, which allow automatic fire and are used in mass shootings.

Police pledged to further strengthen their crackdown on illegal gun ownership next year, stating that there is no safe place to possess an illegal gun in Fairfax County.

The county sheriff stated that they will prioritize preventing gun crime by identifying repeat offenders, recovering illegal firearms, and strengthening prosecutions for those who possess them.

There are concerns that masked immigration agents in New Jersey have been raiding homes, knocking on doors without presenting a warrant, and demanding that people open their doors.

Doorbell video released by Congressman Herb Conaway (D-NJ 3rd District) on the 17th shows masked immigration agents demanding to open the door of a home in Burlington Township without identifying themselves.

According to the video, the agents are wearing jackets that say “POLICE,” but their agency is not specified. When a woman inside the home refused to answer the door and asked the agents who they were and why they were wearing masks, the agents did not answer properly and instead said, “We’re looking for a man.” The woman inside the house said, “I don’t know the man I’m looking for and there’s no one else home,” but the knocking grew louder. The woman asked if they had a warrant and demanded to see it, but the agents refused.

After a six-minute altercation, the agents finally left the house. Rep. Conaway strongly condemned the video, saying, “The people in this video violated the procedures they are supposed to follow as federal immigration agents.”

Immigrant rights advocacy groups called the video “appalling” and emphasized, “Residents have the right to ask for a warrant before opening a door. This is a clear example of why everyone, regardless of immigration status, should know their constitutional rights.”

Meanwhile, immigration raids targeting businesses continue in New Jersey.

According to ABC News and other sources, agents raided a seafood distributor in Newark on the morning of the 19th and detained 13 people. The same business was also targeted in an immigration raid in January.

The New Jersey Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office said in a statement that “as part of a criminal investigation, we executed a search warrant on the 19th and arrested 13 undocumented immigrants working at the Ocean Seafood Depot in Newark.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a draft rule in the Federal Register that would significantly expand the collection of biometric data across the immigration process.

The measure is expected to be controversial, as it would expand the scope of biometric data collection to include not only immigrants but also U.S. citizens and minors, and would allow for the collection of various forms of biometric data, including not only facial photographs and fingerprints but also DNA, voice, iris, and palm print patterns.

The proposed rule explicitly requires biometric data from all applicants for immigration benefits or their related individuals, regardless of age. Accordingly, this would apply not only to foreign nationals but also to U.S. citizens, such as sponsors and co-petitioners.

Under the new definition, biometric information includes fingerprints, facial and iris images, palmprint scans, voice, signature, and DNA. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described this as a necessary measure for identity verification, fraud prevention, combating child trafficking, and strengthening national security. However, the new rule has raised questions about privacy and proportionality, as it includes children under 14 and citizens as subjects of the collection.

Immigration advocacy groups pointed out that, if implemented, this rule would allow Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to collect biometric information from children for the first time.

The draft also includes a “continuous identity monitoring” provision, requiring immigrants to periodically resubmit biometric information until they become citizens. DHS would also have the authority to request or accept DNA samples if necessary.

This measure could impose biometric information obligations not only on foreign nationals but also on business associates such as employers and signatories, leading immigration attorneys to worry about visa processing delays and increased administrative costs.

Experts analyzed that this regulation could be a signal for “the transition of the entire US immigration administration to a system of continuous surveillance.”

The regulation has not yet been finalized, and public comments will be accepted until January 2, 2026. A similar policy was already pursued during the first term of former President Donald Trump.

At the time, immigration advocacy groups and civic groups strongly opposed the measure, calling it a “measure to create a surveillance state.” After receiving widespread opposition, the Biden administration withdrew it.

New York State has decided to put on hold its mandatory gas range ban policy for new buildings, which was set to take effect about a month ago, pending a court ruling.

The state government announced on the 12th that it has reached an agreement with construction unions and the Propane Gas Association, which had filed a lawsuit opposing the gas ban, to postpone the ban until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit makes a final ruling.

New York State enacted the All-Electric Buildings Act in 2023, which requires all heating and cooking appliances in new buildings to be electric. Accordingly, the plan was to completely ban the use of gas appliances, such as gas heating and gas ranges, in new buildings seven stories or less starting in January 2026 and expand the ban to all new buildings in the state starting in 2029. However, construction unions and the Propane Gas Association have strongly opposed the New York state government’s policy and have filed a lawsuit.

The plaintiffs claim that “New York state law violates federal regulations on gas appliance regulation.”

Meanwhile, two out of three consumers nationwide are opposed to the phase-out of gas ranges. According to an online survey of 2,090 voters nationwide conducted by the Harvard University CAPS Harris Poll, 69% of all respondents expressed opposition to the federal government’s attempt to phase out or eliminate gas ranges.

55% of Democratic voters, 83% of Republican voters, and 71% of independents also opposed the phase-out of gas ranges. Only 31% of respondents said gas ranges should be phased out.