One of the key tenants of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign was to reform immigration policies to be less restrictive and more welcolming to asylum-seekers and refugees. As President Biden enters the second year of his term, proponents and critics alike are analyzing what changes his administration made to immigration policy during his first year in office.
Changes To Immigration Policy To Date
Halting work on the U.S.-Mexico border wall construction was one of the first and most significant changes the Biden administration made to immigration policy. But it was by no means the only change; exemptions to current policies and operational changes to immigration organizations have also progressed the democratic agenda.
Changes to immigration policy and organizations to date include:
- Title 42 Exemptions — Though Title 42 is still in effect for the most part, the new administration modified the policy to include humanitarian exemptions, such as for unaccompanied minors or families with young children
- Refugee Administration Ceiling — President Biden raised the annual ceiling for U.S. refugee admissions from 15,000 to 62,500 in May 2021, and then to 125,000 for 2022; prior to the Trump presidency, the cap was 85,000
- ICE Enforcement Priorities — Worksite enforcement operations, courthouses arrests, and detention of pregnant women are no longer priorities; instead, ICE focuses on immigrants who pose a national security threat
- Citizenship and Immigration Services Documentation — This agency replaced the word ‘alien’ with ‘noncitizen’ and ‘undocumented noncitizen’ and vowed to make its immigration forms more accessible
President Biden said that his intention for immigration policy is to “stand as a beacon of liberty and refuge to the world” by “rebuild[ing]” and “renew[ing]” American’s commitment to “the most vulnerable.”
Immigration Policies From The Last Administration
Despite the changes the Biden administration has made, current immigration policies are still heavily influenced from the previous Trump administration.
“So far, we’ve seen some progress with improving immigration avenues as well as some holdover policies from the previous administration” says immigration attorney Brandon Ritchie of Ritchie-Reiersen Injury & Immigration Attorneys. “Any immigrants going through the legal process should contact an attorney to best handle the ever-changing immigration landscape.”
Below is a breakdown of the regulations and aspects of immigration policy that still remain in effect:
- Title 42 — This policy requires rapidly removing migrants from the U.S. as a public health precaution; first introduced as a pandemic-related policy, the bulk of it remains in effect even though the U.S. opened travel to Mexico
- Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) — This policy states that migrants must stay in Mexico while waiting for U.S. immigration court dates; a federal court order reinstated this policy despite the Biden administration’s efforts
- Detention Centers — Children are still being separated from their families and kept in detention centers along the border while the courts decide what to do with their parents or legal guardians
Border Network for Human Rights Director Fernando Garcia expressed disappointment at the lack of progress. Despite the Biden’s administrations recent changes, he stated that immigration policy still shows the “legacy of Trump at the border.”
But others are staunchly against changing current immigration policy. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called President Biden “reckless” and suggested that residents in states along the border would be unprotected if policies from the Trump administration were changed or removed.
Status Update On The U.S. Citizenship Act Of 2021
On his first day in office, President Biden unveiled the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. This act outlined an eight-year path for the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrations currently residing in America. However, it has stalled on Capitol Hill and has not yet been voted on by the House of Representatives or Senate.
And despite efforts from Democrats in the Senate to introduce immigration reform to spending and other bills, they have to date been unsuccessful. Republicans, who comprise 50 members of the 100-seat Senate, have vowed to remain united and oppose reform proposals. As such, the future of the U.S. Citizenship Act and other immigration policy reforms is uncertain.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, whether you’re shopping for a significant other, child, galentine or someone else you love.
Many of our local stores have things to enjoy this weekend!
How about ordering flowers from Karin’s Florist or some food from Bobby’s Bagel Café in Oakton? They have heart-shaped everything bagels, but require notice for ordering.
You can also find more sweets at Cocoa Vienna or Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, a local nonprofit that employs young adults with special needs. They have a large shop to order from, but you can also find some of their products at Vienna Vintner. Because chocolate and wine — why not? Maybe you even add a trip to Mesmeralda’s Gifts in McLean, The Artisans or Craving for Chocolate.
My husband and I usually give a stuffed animal or book to our kids on Valentine’s Day, which means a trip to Bards Alley this week.
Looking for something a little more intimate? Don’t forget about Trousseau in town. Maybe some new-to-you jewelry at Just Like New?
Vienna and McLean are filled with local little shops to support. Remember to shop small and support local.
Hoping you have a great Valentine’s Day!
Meet Furniture Max, the Herndon furniture showroom that goes beyond the usual in its service, in-stock selection, and fast delivery options — as in, same day and tomorrow at the latest. No more waiting weeks or months for your furniture!
When you’re in the market for new furniture, like, now, and — this is kind of a big thing for you — you would like it made with American craftsmanship and materials, Furniture Max has it.
Furniture Max has the latest design and decorating styles for every room of the house: The obvious ones (living room, bedroom, dining room) — but also the home office (so important these days) and the entertainment center (ditto).
Furniture Max eliminates bouncing from one store to the other to compare deals. You’ll do it anyway, but you’ll see for yourself. And if you need it, there is online financing to continue the speed-of-light furnishing of your house or apartment.
Oh, and one more thing: Most of the products are made in the USA by American companies. It’s important to you, we know.
And one more thing: There’s a store-wide President’s Day sale going on.
Furniture Max is at 2441 Centreville Road in Herndon. Call 571-459-7178 or email [email protected].
Presenting The Enclave at Aylors Overlook: a private community of 16 brand-new, single-family homes from Madison Homes, a leader in developing high-end boutique communities. These are not ordinary homes and this is not an ordinary location.
Central to everything, Aylors Overlook is adjacent to charming Downtown Falls Church and less than 10 minutes from the more cosmopolitan shopping and dining of both Tysons and the Mosaic District. The W&OD Trail is right across the street and access to Metro, Route 7, I-66, and I-495 easily connect you to everywhere in the D.C. Metro area and beyond.
With 4-7 bedrooms, 3.5-5.5 baths, and 2-car garages, the homes at Aylors Overlook rewrite the meaning of the word luxury. Each space is exceptional, light-filled and refined. And it all starts with the front entrance.
Front steps and porches crafted from bluestone lead to a majestic 42″ wide, 8′ tall front door, reminding you how different and special your Aylors Overlook home really is. Through the door, you’ll find a home expertly designed and finished for today’s modern family living.
The kitchens in Aylors Overlook have been expertly detailed with stainless steel appliances and a commercial style range; quartz countertops; an oversized island with seating for four; and painted maple cabinets await your culinary creations. The oversized walk-in pantry and separate butler’s pantry make sure you always have the right ingredients and equipment on hand (just not out in the open).
Every Aylors Overlook home has a dedicated home office on the main level, a loft space on the upper level and a finished lower level. Combine this space with Madison’s beautifully curated features and you really start to appreciate how special these homes are.
Dual-pane wood-clad windows, nine-foot ceilings on all levels, oak stairs with contemporary railings, custom mudroom built-ins, Kohler fixtures, quartz countertops and porcelain sinks in all bathrooms, a freestanding tub in the Owner’s suite, and smart home and energy efficient features including an electric car charger rough-in in the garage — these are just a few of the features you’ll find standard at Aylors Overlook. Of course, you will also have the option to customize your homes to make it truly unique. Select from our featured upgrades or develop your own.
The Enclave at Aylors Overlook by Madison Homes transcends what you think home could be and lets you live right in the middle of everything! Construction of the first homes are well underway so schedule your appointment today. Priced from the upper $1.7 millions.
Aylorsoverlook.com | 703-844-8484
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
If you’ve read my posts for a while, you’ll see there’s a theme among many that involve helping to combat child hunger. It’s a cause my husband and I are strong advocates and contributors to.
When my kids were in pre-school, their school held a power pack event where kids as young as three helped put together weekend food packs (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 snacks and 2 beverages) for kids in Northern Virginia who need it. It’s a great way to get young (or old) people involved in giving back and taking stock of their own position in life. I brought the idea to the Vienna Mom’s group and their philanthropy team as an event we could do as a community and offered to sponsor it to get the event started.
Man oh man, did the moms show up for this. We packed over 200 bags and have 10+ bags of unopened boxes of food we will be able to donate to Food for Others tomorrow. Here’s the part where this all comes full circle: Food for Others is also being impacted by supply chain issues and are having trouble making these packs. Guys, these are kids in elementary and middle school who don’t have access to enough food over the weekend. Being able to support them in this kind of way is astounding.
I’ve heard of girl scout troops organizing packing events, schools, etc. It’s really, really easy to do and a great way to get your kids involved.
Here are some tips I learned this weekend:
- Make sure you’re very clear on HOW MANY items people need to bring. We had a very large surplus of granola bars, but ran short on lunch/dinner meals like Macaroni and Cheese cups, chili cups and tuna. You must also remember a box of mac and cheese is worthless to them if they don’t have butter and milk to make it. Likewise a metal can of food is worthless if they don’t have a can opener to open it. Make sure you’re very clear on the types of items.
- Space out attendees. We had a lot of people show up in the first 30-45 minutes, so the bulk of the packing was done and the generous people who showed up last didn’t get to pack many bags because we ran out of items.
- Be very specific on how many items go in a bag. There was some confusion on meals. So when you explain that they need lunch and dinner for Saturday AND Sunday, then people understood it was 4 meals, not just 2. We used signs and separated meals by tables.
- They have a great website with how to plan an event, how to put it together, and what to include.
I want to personally thank everyone who donated, showed up, and helped with this event! This photo below is only PART of the finished product.
You’re in the market for new furniture. But you need it, like, now, or tomorrow at the latest.
And — this is kind of a big thing for you — you would like it made with American craftsmanship and materials. Those conditions eliminate just about every store at the mall (not that you would go there in the first place), and the discount stores, and that icon of Dutch do-it-yourself balsawood puzzles.
Meet Furniture Max.
The Herndon furniture showroom goes beyond the usual in its service, in-stock selection, and fast delivery options — as in, same day and tomorrow at the latest.
Furniture Max has the latest design and decorating styles for every room of the house: The obvious ones (living room, bedroom, dining room) — but also the home office (so important these days) and the entertainment center (ditto).
Furniture Max eliminates bouncing from one store to the other to compare deals. You’ll do it anyway, but you’ll see for yourself. And if you need it, there is online financing to continue the speed-of-light furnishing of your house or apartment.
Oh, and one more thing: Most of the products are made in the USA by American companies. It’s important to you, we know.
And one more one more thing: There’s a store-wide sale going on.
Furniture Max is at 2441 Centreville Road in Herndon. Call 571-459-7178 or email [email protected].
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
The town of Vienna has a rich history of family friendly activities and youth sports is central to all things Vienna!
You might not know where to start if you’re new to the area, or if your kids just recently proclaimed an interest in a new sport, so let me break down some options for you. I’m a former college athlete and my belief is that youth sports should be FUN first and getting better second. Hard stop. So you’ll see I’m going to add some nuances to each league so you can self-select into what feels right for your family.
Baseball
Baseball is a big deal in Vienna. There’s kind of no way to sugarcoat this. If your child is 4 or over, you can check out Vienna Little League (check age requirements to see eligibility). The league starts with T-Ball and goes through the age of 12 to the “majors.” There is a spring season (the usual baseball season) which starts with 1 practice and 1 game and progresses up to 2 games per week plus practice, and a Fall Ball season which is slightly more relaxed and less of a commitment (usually 1 practice + 1 game).
If you’re looking for just an introduction to baseball, the town of Vienna summer camps usually offer multiple weeks of instruction for school aged kids. It’s usually put on by some of the Madison High School baseball players through the MVP program and generally my kids have really enjoyed them (the t-shirt at the end is always a highlight!)
If you’re looking for a lighter version, there’s always fan favorite i9. This is a once week program for ages 3 and over on Sundays. Focus is purely on fun and the kids have so much fun because the staff is always awesome.
Softball
Softball is centered around the Vienna Girls Softball League, with a fall and spring season. They do offer basics for girls ages 3 and 4 and the league goes up to 18 and under. The season usually starts with 1 practice and 1 game and as the girls get older can move into 2 practices and games per week.
Football
Another anchor of the Vienna youth sports community and a staple on Waters Field on Saturdays is the football program through Vienna Youth Inc (VYI). The tackle football program starts at the age of 5 and goes up to the age of 12. They also offer a flag football program for kids aged 5-12.
If you want a once a week program for flag football, i9 also offers a Sunday option for kids age 5-8.
Basketball
VYI offers a house league for basketball for both girls and boys, which starts in Kindergarten. In grade 4, they hold tryouts if the kids want to try a “county” league (which acts like a travel league). The practices are once a week for an hour and then a Saturday game follows.
I’m sure I’ll surprise you here where I mention i9 offers a once a week Sunday option for kids ages 5 and up.
Soccer
Vienna Youth Soccer is a great organization for your young soccer player. They offer fall, winter (called Frosty Fields), and spring soccer season for kids ages 5 and up. The younger kids have a practice during the week and a game on the weekend. VYS holds camps throughout the summer too if you’re looking to expose your child to the sport. One thing I loved about VYS is they do try to keep kids together from the same school.
Cheerleading, Lacrosse, Rugby, Track, Volleyball, Wrestling
I don’t have any personal experience with these leagues, but they are offered through VYI as well. You’ll see the cheerleaders at the VYI Football games showing off their skills too. Again, try i9 if you’re looking for a Sunday option for volleyball, lacrosse, and cheerleading.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that youth sports is about building friendships outside of the classroom and exposing kids to new things. They’re always looking for parent volunteers to help coach so also a great way to make more mom/dad friends!
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
Tucked away at 112 Pleasant Street NW, Suite A in Vienna is a local spa you need to know about. Locally owned by a Cunningham Park Elementary School mom, Lisa Tep created a haven for all things skin care and self care — Sesen Spa.
The luxurious and serene spa offers facials, waxing, nails, massage and cosmetic tattoos. They also offer a long line of clean products for skincare, makeup, hand and foot care. The spa offers 2 training programs for nail techs.
Lisa is an active member in the community and contributes to the CPES PTA and donates spa treatments to the auction the school holds.
The spa was born out of her need to find a toxin-free option for nail care and has evolved into a full service spa perfect for those new years goals of better self-care.
One thing I might add: they keep the spa meticulously clean and disinfected. You can also sign up for her newsletter which offers great skin care tips.
As you pause at the start of a new year to consider your goals and resolutions, there’s no better time to consider whether to invest in your future career through an MBA.
Whether you’re looking for fully online delivery or in-person classes, Virginia Tech offers three different part-time MBA formats designed for working professionals in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond.
“Our strategic focus since 2013 has been to provide working professionals with flexible options that fit into their personal and professional lives,” said Dana Hansson, director of MBA programs at Virginia Tech.
That commitment to providing different types of flexibility informed the launch of Virginia Tech’s Online MBA in January 2021, but the program recognizes there is still a significant population of students that prefer the in-person learning environment, particularly after online meetings have become the new normal in other parts of their lives.
Virginia Tech’s portfolio of programs seeks to balance these preferences so everyone can find an MBA that meets their individual needs.
- Evening MBA — Virginia Tech’s Evening MBA program has been consistently ranked the best part-time MBA program in Virginia, and one of the best in the nation, by U.S. News & World Report. The program provides maximum flexibility for those who prefer to learn in-person. Classes are offered on weekday evenings at Virginia Tech’s center in West Falls Church and students choose their own course load each semester, as well as their personal degree timeline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Executive MBA — This 18-month, cohort-based program is based at Virginia Tech’s state-of-the-art facility in Ballston. With easy transport links, an accelerated timeline, and the cost of books, meals, parking and more included in tuition, the Executive MBA provides maximum convenience for experienced professionals. Students meet bi-monthly on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings for intensive class weekends that emphasize strategic leadership and experiential learning. The next application deadline is January 15.
- Online MBA — This 22-month, cohort-based program is 100% online, and includes a mix of synchronous and asynchronous delivery to maximize engagement. The cohort format allows students to build meaningful connections with talented classmates and Virginia Tech’s top-notch faculty. The next application deadline is January 31.
Learn more about each of Virginia Tech’s MBA programs and how to apply at mba.vt.edu.
Happy 2022! If buying or selling a home is on your New Year’s Resolution list this year, this is the article for you. Let’s dive into the REAL real estate predictions for 2022:
The Spring Market Starts NOW
Pandemic year or not, the winter months bring slowed real estate activity. Typically, the spring market begins the weekend after the Super Bowl as potential buyers are looking for something to do with their free Sundays now that they aren’t watching football.
This year will be different. November 2021 inventory was the lowest month of any month in the last 10 years! This isn’t just a slow winter; this is THE slowest. Let’s couple that with a HIGH demand from buyers ready to get back out there after the holidays. First quarter of 2022 will bring multiple offer situations, quick sales, and continued low inventory. January is the new March.
Great Resignation Prompts the Great Migration
2.8 percent of the US workforce is leaving their job each month, which translates into companies like Amazon losing more than 1/3 of their workers each year. While some workers are looking for new opportunities, nearly half of US workers are now remote. The search for the job is on, but the biggest question is where will people WANT to live as they pursue new work opportunities?
Even if you are looking outside of the DMV, I have fantastic recommendations for real estate agents working in other geographies. If you are destined for a change of scenery, you might want to take a look at the changes in home prices across different states and cities around the US.
Seller’s Market Remains
It should not come as a surprise that sellers will continue to enjoy the upper hand in this real estate market. With low inventory, high buyer demand, high prices and high equity — it is a historically amazing time for you to sell.
In November 2021, 83% of homes sold were on the market for less than a month. The average homeowner gained approximately $56,700 in equity during the past year. If you are looking to cash in on your home’s equity and sell your home quickly, this is the market for you to sell in.
