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Search OFAC's Sanctions Lists OFAC News and Recent Actions Sanctions FAQs Press Releases Contact OFAC OFAC SDN List Update: Balkans-related Designation; Publication of Cuba Frequently Asked Question The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing one new Cuba Frequently Asked Question (1090). In addition, the SDN list has recently been updated.  Please visit this page to access the latest version of the SDN list.  Check this page periodically as it may also be updated if a new list-related format or product is offered. For more information on today's action, please visit this page.

Buy now, pay later – and comply with the FTC Act immediately By Helen Clark Companies are increasingly marketing payment plans known as Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL). Although BNPL plans vary in their exact terms, people typically pay for purchases over a period of several weeks, generally in equal installments. To transform consumers into customers, companies often make a variety of claims about the costs and conditions of BNPL plans. If your business offers BNPL payment options as a retailer or BNPL company – or if you play a role in the BNPL ecosystem as a marketer, collector, etc. – remember that basic consumer protection ground rules of the FTC Act apply. Read more >

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible Burmese Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma for an additional 18 months, from Nov. 26, 2022, through May 25, 2024, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Burma that prevent individuals from safely returning. In addition, DHS announced a redesignation of Burma for TPS for the same reason, allowing Burmese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Burma) residing in the United States as of Sept. 25, 2022, to be eligible for TPS. The February 2021 military coup d’état has led to continuing violence, large-scale human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions and the use of deadly force against unarmed individuals, mass displacement of civilians, worsened humanitarian conditions and limited access to shelter, food, water, and medical care, and spurred an economic crisis. These conditions prevent Burmese nationals and habitual residents from safely returning. “The people of Burma are continuing to suffer a complex and deteriorating humanitarian crisis due to a military coup, upheaval, and security forces’ brutal violence against civilians,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Under this extension and redesignation, Burmese nationals and habitual residents will be eligible to temporarily stay in the United States until conditions in the country improve and individuals can safely return.” The extension of TPS for Burma allows approximately 970 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through May 25, 2024, so long as they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. It is estimated that approximately 2,290 additional individuals may be eligible for TPS under the redesignation of Burma. This population includes nationals of Burma (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Burma) in the United States in nonimmigrant status or without lawful immigration status. Current beneficiaries re-registering under the extension of TPS for Burma must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from Sept. 27, 2022, through Nov. 26, 2022, to ensure they keep their TPS and work authorization without a gap. DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants may receive new Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) before their current EADs expire on Nov. 25, 2022, and is automatically extending through Nov. 25, 2023, the validity of EADs previously issued under the TPS designation of Burma. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to process pending applications filed under Burma’s initial TPS designation. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the initial designation of TPS for Burma, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through May 25, 2024, and issue an EAD valid through May 25, 2024. Initial, first-time applicants for TPS under the redesignation of Burma must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from Sept. 27, 2022, through May 25, 2024. Burma TPS applicants may file Form I-821 online. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately at a later date. Applicants may also submit Form I-765 online. The Federal Register notice explains the eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew EADs, and for new applicants to submit an initial application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD.

SEC Charges Father-Son Duo and Associate in Market Manipulation Schemes Resulting in a New Jersey Deli with a $100 Million Valuation 09/26/2022 11:53 AM EDT The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Peter L. Coker Sr., Peter L. Coker Jr., and James T. Patten for their roles in orchestrating fraudulent manipulative securities trading schemes. These schemes included artificially inflating the…

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The Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation and the Division of Corporation Finance’s Office of Small Business Policy launched an expanded Capital Raising Hub, which includes all of the SEC’s small business educational resources for entrepreneurs and their investors.

How Are You Feeling These Days? Do you know what official government health information and services are available to you? If you don't, USAGov and USAGov en Español can get you the information you need while connecting you to federal agencies. Who can you contact about health recalls? Where do you go for the latest COVID information? Get the answers to these questions and more TOMORROW on Tuesday, September 27 at 1 PM during the #GetToKnowYourGov Twitter chat. Follow @USAGov and the hashtag #GetToKnowYourGov for helpful tips and information. Experts like the National Center Institute, CDC, MedlinePlus and more will be joining the conversation!

New Orleans Field Office                                                  500 Poydras St, Ste 809     New Orleans, LA 70130     PHONE (504) 595-2825•TTY (504) 595-2958   FAX (504) 595-2884 newsroom@eeoc.gov      EEOC SUES EAGLE MARINE SERVICES FOR DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION   Federal Agency Alleges the Marine Services Company Refused to Hire or Accommodate Worker Because of His Prescribed Medication NEW ORLEANS – Eagle Marine Services Electrical & Refrigeration, LLC, a marine services company based in Berwick, Louisiana, violated federal law when it refused to hire or accommodate a worker because he used medication prescribed by his doctor to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit filed Thursday.   According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the company withdrew its offer of a marine electrician position after the worker revealed, as part of a company-ordered medical examination, that he had ADHD and took prescribed medication to treat it. Eagle Marine Services failed to make any individual assessment of the worker’s medication use or whether it would affect his ability to safely perform the marine electrician position, and instead relied on general stereotypes about disability and medication use to justify its decision not to hire him. The alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which forbids discrimination against an individual because of disability. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Civil Action No. 22-cv-3443) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. “It is illegal for employers to discriminate against someone because of a disability, including refusing to hire or accommodate a worker because of use of prescribed medication to help with treatment,” said Rudy Sustaita, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Houston District Office. “An employer cannot rely on broad stereotypes about disability or medication use to justify a decision not to hire a qualified individual with a disability,” Peter Theis, a trial attorney for the EEOC New Orleans Field Office. Uma Kandan, acting director of the EEOC’s New Orleans Field Office said “it is unacceptable – and unlawful – to refuse to hire someone with a disability because the employer has general reservations about the use of a medication. An employee should not have to decide between pursuing a livelihood or following a doctor’s advice.” The lawsuit was commenced by the EEOC’s New Orleans Field Office, which is part of its Houston District Office, which has jurisdiction over Louisiana and parts of Texas. For additional information about disability discrimination, see: https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources. The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov.  Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.   CONTACT:              Peter Theis EEOC Senior Trial Attorney Office: (504) 635-2548   Rudy L. Sustaita Regional Attorney Office: (346) 327-7691

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U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 131 M St. NE, Washington, D.C.  0507 www.eeoc.gov | info@eeoc.gov 800-669-4000 | 844-234-5122 (ASL Videophone)

Webinar Tomorrow During this training, you will learn how to access demographic, socioeconomic, and housing data about American Indian & Alaska Native populations, reservations, and trust lands. This workshop will teach novice data users, grant writers, and planners to navigate and use Census Bureau data products from the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey. Date: September 27 Time: 2:00 p.m. ET Presenter: Kim Davis Register Join Us Back to Data Basics Webinar Series Enhance your data skills and learn from our experts about how to access and utilize a variety of Census Bureau data products and resources with our Back to Data Basics Webinar Series. Each webinar will give you the foundational information and skills necessary to work with data from the Census Bureau. This series offers 2-4 webinars every month until September 2022. All classes are free and open to the public. To register, visit our catalog. Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  More Info Additional Back to Data Basics Webinars September 29: Veteran Data by the Numbers - Back to Data Basics Webinar Series In Case You Missed It: Your Community by the Numbers: Race and Ethnicity In Case You Missed It: Your Community by the Numbers: Ancestry, and Foreign-Born Populations

The Week Ahead: Hispanic Heritage Month and More Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15-October 15. Director's Blog: Thoughts on Identity and Diversity for Hispanic Heritage Month: The lives of my abuelos -- my grandparents -- played an enormous role in my identity. A milestone occurred about a half a century before I was born with a special journey taken by my grandparents to my place of birth: San Antonio, Texas. Read More New Infographic: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Facts for Features: Mes de la Herencia Hispana del 2022 Statistics in Schools: Hispanic Heritage Month Trivia Statistics in Schools: Hispanic Heritage Month Fun Facts Check out our September 2022: By the Numbers page to learn about the history of the observance and explore Census Bureau data about the Hispanic population.  More Observances Yesterday, September 25, was Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. World Tourism Day and Ancestor Appreciation Day are Tuesday, September 27. Thursday, September 29, is National Coffee Day . Saturday is the beginning of October. October observances include National Energy Awareness Month, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, and Global Diversity Awareness Month. View our Stats for Stories page for more upcoming observances. Stats for Stories  You May Be Interested In America Counts: Youngest and Oldest Workers Drove Job Recovery After Hurricane Maria America Counts: Trabajadores jóvenes y mayores impulsaron empleos después de María America Counts: Who Is Impacted by Student Loan Forgiveness and How? Statistics in Schools: Kahoot! Game: Harvests and Hayrides: Fall Fun With Census Bureau Data Centers of Population: Explore New Interactive Story Maps  Census Bureau Releases Quarterly Workforce Indicators for Puerto Rico The Census Bureau today released its first-ever Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) for Puerto Rico. These data, available through QWI Explorer and the Local Employment Dynamics (LED) Extraction Tool, provide comprehensive data access and analytical capabilities through flexible charts, tables and maps. Labor market data in the QWI are available by worker age, sex and race/ethnicity. Wages by industry and demographics as well as by whether workers were newly hired are also available. Explore  Census Bureau Releases 2020 State and Local Government Finance Brief In Case You Missed It: The Census Bureau released a summary brief and chart from the 2020 State and Local Government Finance survey. This report highlights changes in revenues, expenditures, debt, and cash and security holdings for the state and local government finance combined estimates. Charts contained in this release include a breakdown of revenues by type (taxes, charges, federal support and other) and expenditures by function (such as health, education, police, utilities and highways). Read More  Census Bureau Releases Report on Older Americans’ Moving Patterns In Case You Missed It: The Census Bureau released a new report examining the domestic migration patterns of adults age 65 and up in the United States.  The report, Domestic Migration of Older Americans: 2015-2019, compares the general mobility of people over and under age 65 (especially those ages 55 and 64), exploring how many moved — and where — by age, sex and disability status. The report, based on 2015-2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, examines net migration rates at the region, division and state levels, identifying areas with the biggest net migration gains and losses as well as older movers’ most popular origins and domestic destinations. Read More

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Workshops: Making the Most of Mapping in data.census.gov Join us in this participatory class as we look at mapping capabilities in data.census.gov. You’ll learn the basics of mapping, including how to map data found in tables available in the site. Next, you’ll learn how to use the mapping capabilities to discern between geographies and determine if they have changed over time. Then you’ll take a quick look at another great mapping tool offered by the Census Bureau—TIGERweb. Time is allotted throughout the training for questions. General familiarity with navigating data.census.gov is recommended. Using two monitors is recommended for this class, if available. Registration is required to attend these workshops. Attendance is limited to 50 participants per session. October 3: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET October 5: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET October 6: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET October 11: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET October 12: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET October 14: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET October 17: 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET October 18: 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. ET October 20: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. ET October 24: 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. ET October 25: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET October 28: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET Register  Upcoming Census Academy Webinars September 27: Your Tribal Nation by the Numbers: Accessing American Indian and Alaska Native Statistics - Back to Data Basics Webinar Series September 28: Using the American Community Survey Summary File September 28: data.census.gov: News and Updates – September 2022 September 29: Exploring Census Data: Professional, Personal, and Other Services Sectors

Did you get an email saying your personal info is for sale on the dark web? By Seena Gressin People are telling us they’ve gotten emails warning that their sensitive personal information is being sold in the shadowy marketplaces of the dark web. Some emails list the stolen information, like all or part of the person’s Social Security number, date of birth, and driver’s license number. If you’ve gotten one of these emails, take steps to help protect yourself against financial loss from identity theft. Read more >