Category: ESTA News

The state of Maryland is bolstering its craft liquor industry with over $2.5 million in new funding, Governor Wes Moore announced on April 30. The investment, distributed through the Maryland Liquor Manufacturing Promotion Fund and the Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grants program, aims to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and position the state as a leader in the regional craft beverage sector.

A total of 52 businesses will benefit from this expanded support. The Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grants will distribute $1 million to 44 businesses for capital expenditures, including the purchase and installation of essential production equipment and supplies. Meanwhile, the Maryland Spirits Manufacturing Promotion Fund is providing more than $1.5 million to eight distilleries to support marketing, research, education, event planning, and improvements in digital media resources.

“Maryland’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries are a vital part of our state’s economic growth,” said Governor Moore. “These grants will strengthen local businesses, create investment opportunities, and spur jobs and economic growth.”

Commerce Secretary Harry Corker Jr. and Commissioner Kevin Attick underscored the strategic goals behind the funding: growing the craft beverage industry, increasing diversity among both business owners and customers, and fostering innovation across all stages of production. “This will not only enhance Maryland’s reputation for craft beverages,” they noted, “but also ensure long-term sustainability and creative advancement.”

Ryan Lum, chairman of the Maryland Liquor Manufacturing and Promotion Advisory Board, highlighted the self-sustaining nature of the program. “The grants are funded by a portion of the excise taxes generated by the liquor industry, which are then reinvested in the development of the liquor industry,” he explained. “This circular structure allows for sustainable growth and long-term success.”

Maryland’s craft beverage industry is already thriving, with 143 craft breweries producing over 269,000 barrels of beer annually, more than 80 wineries crafting a variety of wines, and over 30 distilleries producing spirits ranging from whiskey and vodka to bourbon and absinthe.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to reopen the infamous Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco to incarcerate the country’s most dangerous and violent criminals. The facility, which closed more than 60 years ago, is set to be revived as part of a broader push to crack down on repeat offenders and illegal immigrants involved in serious crimes.

In a statement posted on TruthSocial, the social media platform he founded, Trump declared, “For too long, America has suffered from cruel, violent, repeat offenders, the scum of society who will contribute nothing but pain and suffering.” He added, “In the past, when we were a more serious nation, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far from anyone they could harm.”

Trump directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons, in coordination with the Department of Justice and the FBI, to “massively expand, reopen, and rebuild Alcatraz.” He framed the move as a necessary step in restoring law and order, stating, “We will no longer be held hostage by judges who refuse to let us remove criminals, vicious criminals, and criminals who have entered our country illegally, and who are not doing their job.”

The former president said the revamped prison would serve as “a symbol of law, order and justice.”

Alcatraz, located on a rocky island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, originally operated as a military prison during the Civil War and later became a high-security federal penitentiary in the 1930s. It once housed some of America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Whitey Bulger. The prison was closed in 1963 due to high operational costs and is currently managed by the National Park Service as a popular tourist destination.

Trump’s plan marks a dramatic shift in criminal justice policy and is expected to draw both strong support and significant opposition from lawmakers, legal experts, and civil rights advocates.

President Donald Trump stated on the 4th that trade negotiations are ongoing with nearly every country, including China. Speaking to reporters aboard his private plane while returning from Palm Beach, Florida to Washington, D.C., Trump emphasized, “We are negotiating with almost every country, including China,” and added, “I will ultimately decide on a deal.”

When asked whether he planned to call Chinese President Xi Jinping amid an unresolved tariff war, Trump responded, “No.” He added, “But the Chinese and our people are discussing other issues.” The president expressed frustration over repeated questions about the timeline of a trade deal, saying, “You keep asking the same question, ‘When are you going to make a deal?’ That’s up to me, not them.”

Trump also stated that the U.S. is currently not doing business with China due to the high tariffs imposed, claiming that “we’re saving billions of dollars because of that.” He reiterated his desire for a fair agreement, saying, “I want to make a fair deal with China. But they’ve been ripping us off for a long time. So, we may have to consider some retaliatory measures.”

He hinted at upcoming developments, stating, “In two or three weeks, we’re going to have a deal. I’m going to say that a certain country has a huge trade surplus with us,” and emphasized, “I’m not going to be taken advantage of. So, at some point, we’re going to set a specific tariff rate.”

Separately, on the topic of White House personnel changes, Trump addressed his recent decision involving Mike Waltz, the former National Security Advisor. Despite firing Waltz, Trump remarked, “I have not lost confidence in him. He was fine, and he will do well in his current position.” Trump described Waltz’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations as a promotion, stating, “If I had a choice, I would have wanted that position (U.N. ambassador).”

As for Waltz’s replacement, a role currently being held concurrently by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump noted, “There are many people who want that position. Many people say Rubio is a good fit for what he is doing, but I will nominate someone,” adding that he would decide within six months.

Trump also revealed that he is seriously considering Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, for the national security advisor role. “I think he is already indirectly holding that position,” he said.

On the 20th, the U.S. State Department expressed support for extending the temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine beyond its original timeframe. A spokesperson for the department, Tammy Bruce, stated in an email to Reuters, “Given their sincerity in this action (the ceasefire), we would welcome an extension of the ceasefire beyond Sunday (the 20th).” Bruce also affirmed that the U.S. had confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declaration of the temporary ceasefire and reiterated the U.S. commitment to pursuing a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities.

President Putin had declared a 30-hour Easter ceasefire from 6 p.m. on the 19th to midnight on the 21st, Moscow time. This declaration came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration on the 18th over the lack of progress in ceasefire and armistice negotiations. In a strongly worded message, Trump warned that he might consider withdrawing from mediation efforts if no advancements were made.

Following Putin’s announcement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also called for an extension of the ceasefire to continue beyond Easter, emphasizing the need for sustained peace. The U.S. response on the 20th appeared to support Ukraine’s call for prolonging the ceasefire as the deadline for Russia’s temporary truce approached.

However, the prospect of an extension was swiftly shut down by the Kremlin. Russian Presidential Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there were no new orders from Putin to continue the ceasefire, confirming that the truce would conclude at midnight as initially planned.

A recent poll released on the 20th shows that President Donald Trump’s approval rating for his economic policies has dropped to the lowest level of his presidency. According to a CNBC survey conducted from the 9th to the 13th of the month among 1,000 Americans—with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points—only 43% of respondents said they approved of Trump’s economic performance, while 55% disapproved. This marks the first time since his inauguration in January that his economic approval rating has fallen below his disapproval rating in a CNBC poll.

CNBC attributes this shift to the fading economic optimism that surrounded Trump after his election, when many Americans expected strong economic leadership. In terms of overall job performance, 44% of respondents supported the Trump administration, while 51% disapproved.

A key factor behind the decline in economic approval appears to be widespread dissatisfaction with Trump’s tariff policies and his handling of prices. Nearly half of respondents (49%) opposed full-scale tariffs, with only 35% in support. On the topic of inflation and the rising cost of living, 60% gave a negative evaluation, compared to just 37% who viewed it positively. Furthermore, 49% of those surveyed said they believed the U.S. economy would worsen over the next year—the highest percentage since CNBC began asking this question in its 2023 surveys.

While the blue-collar working class, a demographic crucial to Trump’s previous election victory, still expressed relatively positive views on his economic management, their support has eroded. Compared to his first term, the number of negative responses from this group rose by 14 percentage points, indicating that even among core supporters, confidence in Trump’s economic leadership may be weakening.

Micah Roberts, managing partner of the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies, commented on the uncertainty, saying, “We are in the midst of a whirlwind of upheaval in terms of how people feel about what’s going to happen next.” Jay Campbell, a partner at the Democratic polling firm Hart Associates, added, “Voters re-elected Trump because they thought he would improve the economy, but so far, people don’t like what’s going on.”

On the 10th, former President Donald Trump criticized Mexico for failing to comply with the 1944 water treaty and threatened retaliatory measures, including tariffs and sanctions. In a post shared on his social media platform, Trump stated, “Under the 1944 water agreement, Mexico is required to give Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water,” adding, “Unfortunately, they are violating their obligations under the agreement.”

Trump emphasized the impact this has on U.S. agriculture, saying, “This is very unfair and is hurting South Texas farmers greatly. Mexico is stealing our water.” He firmly declared, “That’s the end of it. I’m not going to let Mexico violate the treaty.”

To enforce compliance, Trump signalled the possibility of escalating economic pressure. “We’re going to continue to escalate our actions, including tariffs and maybe even sanctions, until Mexico comes into compliance and gives Texas the water they’re supposed to give,” he said.

The 1944 water treaty between the U.S. and Mexico governs water-sharing from rivers along the border, including the Rio Grande. Disputes over water deliveries have occasionally flared up, particularly during droughts or times of increased agricultural demand on both sides. Trump’s remarks mark a significant shift in tone, suggesting the issue could soon move from diplomatic talks to economic retaliation if not resolved.

The U.S. media reported on the 10th that the Trump administration is cancelling the visas of international students who are legally residing in the U.S., as part of a broader policy aimed at deporting illegal immigrants. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the move by claiming there are “crazy people” on campus and insisted that visa cancellations will continue.

According to CNN and NBC, more than 300 international students have had their visas suddenly revoked across at least 22 states, including New York, Boston, and California, since the Trump administration took office. The crackdown hasn’t been limited to students—more than 340 visiting professors and researchers have also reportedly had their visas cancelled.

Immigration lawyers highlighted that many cases resemble that of Mahmoud Khalil, who was arrested after leading a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University in the early days of the Trump administration. Recently, however, there has been a rise in visa revocations and deportation threats over minor offenses, with some students allegedly being targeted without cause.

One notable case involves Kesnia Petrova, a Russian researcher at Harvard Medical School. Her visa was revoked, and she was detained upon returning to the U.S. from France for failing to declare frog embryos used in research. Her lawyer argued that the punishment was disproportionate to the mistake and warned that she could face arrest in Russia for previously speaking out against the war in Ukraine.

NBC reported that the Department of Homeland Security recently established a task force to analyse international students’ social media activity using data analytics tools as a basis for visa revocations. Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia Law School’s Immigrant Rights Clinic, condemned the targeting of predominantly non-white students, claiming current U.S. immigration policy is influenced by xenophobia, white supremacy, and racism.

The administration is relying on a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows the deportation of non-citizens if they are deemed to pose a potential threat to the U.S. When NBC questioned the rationale behind specific visa cancellations, the State Department declined to discuss individual cases, citing privacy concerns. They stated, “We cancel visas every day to protect our borders and keep our communities safe.”

Jeff Joseph, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, criticized the government’s approach, arguing that immigration laws are being weaponized to intimidate students into leaving the country without legal support. Furthermore, there have been reports that students and schools are often not properly informed when a visa is cancelled, leading to confusion and fear.

Stanford University recently identified six instances of visa cancellations during a routine audit of its international student and visiting scholar database. Meanwhile, Xiaotian Liu, a computer science researcher at Dartmouth from China, filed for a temporary injunction after his visa was cancelled mid-semester. A court approved the injunction the day before he was scheduled for deportation. Liu’s attorney emphasized that his client had no criminal record, had not broken traffic laws, exhibited violent behaviour, or taken part in any protests.

CNN cited government data indicating there were approximately 1.5 million student visa holders in the U.S. as of 2023, with around 300,000 involved in exchange visitor research programs.

During a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Secretary Rubio pointed to student protesters and warned, “If you come here to vandalize libraries, occupy campuses, and do all kinds of crazy things, we will eliminate those people and continue to do that.” He added, “The media is covering student visas as if they are a birthright, but they are not. A student visa is like I am inviting you into my home. If you come to my home and dirty the couch, I will kick you out. That’s what we are doing thanks to the president.”

Harvard University has pushed back against pressure from the Donald Trump administration to enforce strict anti-Semitism policies on campus, framing the move as a threat to academic freedom and institutional independence.

In a letter to the Harvard community on April 14th, University President Alan Garber stated, “Our university will not negotiate over our independence or our constitutionally guaranteed rights.” Citing reports from The Wall Street Journal and CNBC, Garber added, “No government should dictate what private universities can teach, who they can admit and hire, or what fields of research and inquiry they can pursue.”

While acknowledging that the U.S. government is urging action against campus anti-Semitism, Garber criticized the demands for bypassing due process and effectively amounting to direct federal control over higher education institutions.

Tensions escalated after the Trump administration announced it was reviewing Harvard’s $255.6 million federal contract and its $8.7 billion in grants. Education Secretary Linda McMahon remarked that Harvard, long seen as a symbol of the American dream, is now at risk of losing its esteemed reputation for allegedly failing to protect students from anti-Semitic discrimination.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the government laid out nine specific actions Harvard must implement to maintain its financial ties. These included prohibiting mask-wearing in most settings and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

In response, a group of Harvard professors filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming that the potential funding cuts constitute a violation of academic freedom and freedom of speech, Reuters reported.

Harvard is not alone in this standoff. The Trump administration has reportedly sent letters to 60 universities nationwide, warning that failure to protect Jewish students on campus could lead to action under federal civil rights laws.

The Trump administration’s large-scale immigration crackdown is projected to have significant consequences for the U.S. economy, including slower growth and rising inflation, according to a new analysis.

On April 10, Bloomberg reported that Pia Orrenius, a Labor economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, warned that aggressive immigration arrests and deportations could reduce the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate by 1 percentage point in 2025 and raise inflation by 0.3 percentage points. If the crackdown intensifies and continues through 2026, she projected that GDP growth could decline by an additional 2 percentage points, with lingering economic effects expected to last at least through 2028.

“The bottom line is that there is a negative impact on the economy,” Orrenius emphasized in her remarks, citing the shrinking Labor supply as a major contributing factor.

This assessment marks one of the most severe forecasts yet regarding the economic implications of the Trump administration’s immigration policy. Orrenius’s estimates are notably higher than those of other institutions. For example, Goldman Sachs previously projected a 0.4 percentage point drop in GDP growth due to immigration restrictions, while The Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution offered similar figures.

According to the Dallas Fed, the U.S. is currently deporting around 640 undocumented immigrants per day, a figure substantially higher than the 450 daily deportations reported by Bloomberg as having occurred through March 22 this year, based on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data. Approximately 37,000 individuals have been deported so far in 2025.

The primary economic concern centres on the shrinking labour force, especially in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and service industries that rely heavily on immigrant Labor. With fewer workers entering the U.S. Labor market, businesses may face increased Labor shortages, driving up wages and operating costs—factors that contribute to inflationary pressure.

As the Trump administration continues to emphasize strict immigration enforcement as a central policy goal, economists and policymakers are closely watching the broader ripple effects on the U.S. economy, Labor market, and long-term growth prospects.

The United States will impose a total of 104% tariffs on China starting on the 9th in response to China’s retaliatory tariffs on President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed this during a briefing on the 8th, when asked if the additional 50% tariffs mentioned by President Trump would be implemented starting the following day. Levitt stated, “They will go into effect at 00:01 on the 9th.”

Levitt added, “It is China’s mistake to retaliate,” emphasizing that when the United States is targeted, it responds with stronger measures. “That is why the 104% tariffs (in China) are being implemented,” she said.

President Trump believes that Chinese President Xi Jinping and China want to negotiate but have not figured out how to begin. Levitt continued, saying, “If China contacts us for negotiations, the president will be incredibly gracious,” but stressed, “He will do what is best for the American people.”

Since taking office in January, President Trump imposed the so-called “10% + 10%” tariffs on China. On the 9th, he announced a 34% reciprocal tariff on each country. In response, China introduced retaliatory tariffs, which prompted President Trump to threaten an additional 50% tariff if the Chinese measures were not withdrawn.

China criticized President Trump’s threat of the extra 50% tariff, firmly opposing it.