Latest news with #VeronicaEscobar
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- General
- Time of India
F-1 visa rejections explained: Why students face refusals and how to overcome them
For many international students, getting a US student visa is the first big hurdle on the road to studying abroad. Yet, a significant number of applicants are refused, often leaving them puzzled and disappointed. One of the most common reasons cited for refusal is Section 214(b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which governs nonimmigrant visas such as the F-1 student visa. What does a 214(b) refusal mean? If your F-1 visa is denied under Section 214(b), it usually means the consular officer was not convinced either that you meet the visa requirements or that you intend to return to your home country after your studies. In short, the officer could not see enough evidence of your ties back home. It's worth noting that certain work visas, like H-1B or L visas, do not require applicants to prove such ties. Understanding strong ties to your home country 'Strong ties' refer to the personal, professional, or social connections that link you to your country. Examples include: Family responsibilities and relationships Employment or ongoing education Ownership of property or other financial commitments Active participation in your local community Consular officers evaluate each application individually, considering these ties along with your travel plans and financial situation. The goal is to ensure you will leave the U.S. once your temporary stay ends. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Is a 214(b) refusal permanent? No. A Section 214(b) rejection applies only to the specific application that was denied. You are free to reapply at any time, especially if there have been meaningful changes in your circumstances or if you have new information to share. How to strengthen your next application While there is no formal appeal, students can take steps to improve their chances on reapplication: Submit a new visa application and pay the fee again. Prepare for a fresh interview, emphasising any updates or changes in your situation. Provide clear evidence of strong ties, such as employment letters, family commitments, property documents, or new financial resources. A positive change on the horizon In 2025, Congresswomen Veronica Escobar and María Elvira Salazar, along with 20 other lawmakers, introduced the DIGNITY Act, which aims to make F-1 visas allow dual intent. If approved, this would help students pursue studies without being automatically presumed to have immigrant intent, potentially reducing 214(b) refusals. A 214(b) refusal is not the end of the road. By understanding the reasons behind it and strengthening ties to your home country, you can improve your chances in the next visa application. With careful preparation, many students are still able to realise their dream of studying in the United States. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
President Trump's spending bill could cost low-income El Pasoans $1,200 a year, CBO finds
Working-class families are going to have to tighten their belts even more thanks to President Donald Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill." A new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, found that under Trump's plan, people in the lowest income bracket will see their annual earnings drop by roughly $1,200 thanks to cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs. That could spell trouble for many El Pasoans, according to a statement from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar. 'Thanks to Congressional Republicans and Donald Trump, nearly 120,000 El Pasoans will take a $1,200 annual financial hit from the so-called 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill,'" Escobar, D-El Paso said. "El Pasoans are already struggling to afford essentials, but rising inflation and cuts to healthcare and nutrition programs will make life even harder for lower-income families while millionaires, including Donald Trump, are about to get richer." The windfall from Trump's tax breaks will ebb to the wealthiest Americans, those making $700,000 a year or more, who will see their earnings increase by about $13,600 annually, according to the CBO report. 'Despite promising to cut costs for hard-working Americans, people are struggling, and the CBO report indicates the struggles will be getting even worse for anyone making less than $51,000 per year," Escobar said. "Democrats will keep seeking bipartisan support to help Americans in need, but unless we can find at least three Republicans willing to help us work on this self-inflicted affordability crisis, we must prepare lower-income El Pasoans (and consequently our local economy) for the hit that will come beginning next year.' More: 'Big beautiful bill' passes in the House: Trump expected to sign his mega bill on July 4 Here's a breakdown of how the spending bill will affect Americans in various income brackets: People in the lowest income bracket, those making $51,000 or less, will see their annual income decrease by about $1,200 annually, or about 3%. Middle-class earners will see hardly any change, only about a 1% increase in income annually, not even enough to keep up with inflation. Wealthy earners, those making $700,000 or more, will see their incomes rise by roughly $13,600 annually, not including additional income from changes to estate tax rules. In Texas, nearly 1.7 million people will lose health insurance and another 275,000 will lose some or all of their food assistance. In Texas, the bill will raise energy costs by about $780 and put at least 15 rural hospitals at risk of closing. Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@ This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: CBO: Wealthy gain, poor lose under President Trump's budget plan
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Redistricting in Texas is complex, here is what to know about congressional maps
Texas is currently the battleground over U.S. Congressional districts that could affect the 2026 midterm elections. Gov. Greg Abbott announced the intention to redraw the congressional maps as part of the special session that affects representation for communities across the state. Abbott's announcement to redraw the congressional maps followed a request from President Donald Trump to find him five seats. The current proposals affect communities that were represented by Democrats, including the district represented by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. "The president said that he needed five seats because what we expect to be a very close mid-term election and give the partisan divide," Michael O. Adams, a political science professor at South Texas University, said. "The president wants to maintain Republican control." Dozens of Texas House Democrats fled the state to deny Abbott and Republicans a quorum to vote on the changes to the map. Attorney General Ken Paxton issued arrest warrants for Democrats in an attempt to bring them back to the state. Here is what you need to know about redistricting in Texas and across the United States: More: El Paso's Fort Bliss to become largest immigration detention facility in US What are congressional districts and what is redistricting? The representation of people is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, which states that a census must be held every 10 years to guarantee that the people of a region are represented in Congress. The redrawing of the congressional map usually follows the census to guarantee that each of the 435 Congressional districts represents an area in which there are 800,000 people. Redistricting denotes who represents an area in Congress, the state Legislature, as well as in local governments, including city councils, county commissioners courts and school boards. The idea is to have equal representation. "You can't have one member of Congress representing 400,000 people and the other members of Congress representing 800,000, because the person who is representing 400,000, their vote will be twice the impact of the others," Adams said. More: US Rep. Escobar, House Democrats sue Trump administration over ICE facility visits Redistricting rarely occurs between censuses, as is happening in Texas right now. The Texan congressional map was redrawn in 2021, following the 2020 census. The current efforts to redraw the Texas congressional districts are meant to give Republicans more seats. Has quorum been broken in Texas before? The Texas House of Representatives requires that 100 of the 151 members be present for the vote. Quorum has been broken in Texas on at least five occasions. The last time was when the map was redrawn mid-decade in 2003. The redistricting in 2003 gave Republicans more seats in Congress despite protests by Democrats. Quorum in the Texas House of Representatives was also broken in 1870, 1979, 2003 and 2021. More: FEMA offers states millions for ICE detention facilities, using money meant to help migrants What is Gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is the purposeful drawing of any political districts or legislative districts to give an advantage to any political party or any racial group. The term was coined in 1812 and is named for Elbridge Gerry, the former governor of Massachusetts, who signed a bill that redrew the state's senate election district on behalf of the Democratic-Republican party. The new district resembled the shape of a salamander. How has the Supreme Court affected redistricting? The 1965 Voting Rights Act looked to protect the rights of minority voters. But over the last six decades, the protections built into the act were slowly chipped away. The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that federal courts could not rein in the power of state legislators to redraw maps in their favor. The court voted five to four to maintain partisan gerrymandering, with Chief Justice John Roberts stating that federal courts did not have the authority to intervene. More: Fort Bliss once housed refugees, now set for largest ICE deportation center Another Supreme Court ruling in 2013 gutted the provision of the Voting Rights Act that required states with histories of racial discrimination to obtain approval from the federal government before changing state voting laws, including the establishment of new district maps. The result of these rollbacks of the Voting Rights Act has contributed to the weakening of minority political influence. Adams points to how the current push to redraw the congressional district maps will limit the political influence of Latino and Black communities. 'What we're witnessing in this redistricting cycle is a masterclass in demographic manipulation where growth among Latino and Black populations in Houston is not translating into proportional political power," Adams said. "It's a modern example of retrogression: packing, cracking, carefully diluting emerging coalitions of color.' Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@ @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @ on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas redistricting 2025: What new congressional maps mean for voters
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP map would strip Fort Bliss, El Paso airport from US Rep. Veronica Escobar's District 16
Texas Republicans unveiled a proposed congressional map that would remove Fort Bliss and the El Paso International Airport from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar's District 16. The map, released Wednesday morning, follows two rounds of hearings in the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Hundreds of Texans turn out to oppose the plan that is part of President Donald Trump's scheme to maintain Republican control over the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm election. Under the Republican plan, Fort Bliss and the airport would now fall under the representation of U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio. For Escobar, that spells disaster. 'Republicans, at the behest of Donald Trump, have engaged in a mid-decade redistricting that will impact federal representation for urban communities in Texas, including El Paso," Escobar, D-El Paso, said in a statement. "The current proposed map strips major parts of El Paso County, all of Fort Bliss, the El Paso International Airport (ELP), and the new Veterans Affairs Health Care Center (that I was able to secure $700 million in funding for) from having local representation." "Instead, they are moved to a district that spans from San Antonio to the Borderland, includes two other military installations, and holds the conflicting interests of 27 counties across Texas (forcing Fort Bliss, our airport, and VA Center to compete for limited and shrinking resources)," she continued. "This means our needs would be handed over to a representative who regularly votes against the interests of El Pasoans (who has voted to cut Medicare, Medicaid, veterans programs, nutrition programs, infrastructure funding, water and wastewater funding, and more), only briefly visits the district when time permits, and who prioritizes assets and needs of constituents who are closer to his home in San Antonio." Escobar noted that the proposed map is "nearly identical to the 2021 proposed map that El Pasoans successfully pushed back against, proving definitively that this fight isn't over." More: OPINION: Texas redistricting is an attack on our democracy and minority communities "We've been through this redistricting battle before and El Pasoans stood up to demand our community be represented by someone who lives here, not over 500 miles away," she said. "I'd encourage El Pasoans to stay engaged and informed, and participate in the hearing scheduled for Friday and make their voices heard.' The new congressional map would have to be presented to the Texas Senate and House of Representatives in the form of a bill over the next couple of weeks and then voted on in both chambers. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@ This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Proposed Texas GOP map moves Fort Bliss to San Antonio district Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
City leaders oppose GOP redistricting plan that splits El Paso's District 16
The El Paso City Council is urging the Texas Legislature to keep Texas Congressional District 16 intact. The City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for the legislature to keep Fort Bliss and the El Paso International Airport within U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar's, D-El Paso, congressional district during a special meeting Tuesday, August 5. At the behest of President Donald Trump, Texas Republicans are looking to redraw Texas congressional maps in a bid to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm election. Under the current proposal, Fort Bliss and the El Paso International Airport would be shifted to Texas Congressional District 23, which is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio. West-Central city Rep. Josh Acevedo, who introduced the resolution alongside city Reps. Deanna Maldonado-Rocha and Ivan Niño slammed the Republican map as a "power grab." "This is going to really negatively impact El Paso," he said, "and I think that's where we should really be concerned." Multiple City Council members echoed Acevedo's assertion that the Republican proposal is little more than an attempt to retain undue power in the U.S. House of Representatives, including South-West city Rep. Chris Canales, saying the new map is "not about fair representation." More: Texas residents speak out on District 16 changes at Texas Senate hearing "It's purely about political control," he said. "We should be represented here by someone who lives here, by someone local. Republicans in the legislature are doing this mid-decade … because they see the numbers and they don't like the changing numbers they are seeing and they're afraid." "Instead of competing for our votes, they're trying to keep power (through) illegal maneuvering." Mayor Renard Johnson agreed. "This redistrict, it's wrong," Johnson said. "To move these critical assets that belong to El Paso and reassign them to 500 miles away is wrong for El Paso and our community. We deserve local representation for our airport and Fort Bliss." Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@ This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council urges Texas to keep Fort Bliss in District 16 Solve the daily Crossword
