Author: Emma Caplan-Fisher

Three Denver-area businesses face a combined $8 million in fines for allegedly employing unauthorized migrant workers in contravention of employment law.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agent Steve Cagen told Fox31 News that the fines are designed to uphold the law and “promote a culture of compliance."

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“The employment of unauthorized workers undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts law-abiding employers at a disadvantage,” he said.

The agency announced the fines publicly on X.

Who was fined and why

ICE said CCS Denver, Inc. — a commercial cleaning and facility maintenance company — knowingly hired and employed at least 87 unauthorized workers. It faces the largest fine: $6.19 million.

According to ICE, Denver’s PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc. demonstrated “a pattern of knowingly employing at least 12 unauthorized workers.” It was fined nearly $1.6 million.

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Green Management Denver was fined $270,195 after ICE identified 44 unauthorized employees.

ICE said its enforcement actions follow workplace audits. John Fabbricatore, a former field office director for ICE. said such audits have been going on for decades.

“They performed an I-9 audit in which they found multiple Social Security number (probably) mismatches and no matches,” Fabbricatore told Fox31.

“So, they went through with a civil violation of that and fined these companies for employing people who are unlawfully present in the United States and unauthorized to work (there).”

Undocumented workers pay a price

While the businesses face financial consequences from such audits, undocumented workers pay a high price on the job. Here’s how they’re typically impacted.

Wage theft

When employers knowingly hire unauthorized workers, they sometimes exploit that status to skirt labor laws, resulting in wage theft.

According to a report from the Economic Policy Institute, workers lose over $15 billion each year due to minimum wage violations alone — a burden that disproportionately affects immigrant and undocumented workers.

Benefits loss and job instability

Undocumented workers are rarely offered employee benefits like health insurance, paid sick leave or unemployment protections.

Their precarious legal standing often prevents them from reporting labor violations like unsafe conditions, wage theft or harassment.

For many, this is due to fear of retaliation or immigration consequences, including deportation.

But some workers also have visas tied to a specific employer, meaning that employer controls their visa status along with their livelihood.

Financial strain and tax implications

Although many undocumented workers pay taxes — often through Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) — they’re ineligible for many public benefits funded by those taxes.

They’re also more likely to face budgeting strain due to unpredictable income, lack of formal employment contracts and vulnerability to sudden job loss during enforcement actions.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

After receiving an $8 million settlement following her husband’s fatal workplace accident in 2008, Mikeal, a 53-year-old widow from Charleston, West Virginia, entrusted the money to a close friend who worked at a bank.

Two years ago, she discovered it was gone.

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"He stole all the money … There was nothing," Mikeal said during The Ramsey Show.

$8 million stolen

The betrayal left Mikeal in a precarious spot. She now lives in a camper on her mother’s property and still owes $12,000 on it. She also has some credit card debt and relies on workers’ compensation benefits from her late husband’s employer.

Unemployed with ongoing expenses, her situation is challenging.

Mikael said she reported the theft and has attorneys working on it, but it appears the money is gone. She may only recover about a couple of hundred thousand dollars. She added that the alleged thief is now in Florida and has done the same thing to other widows.

Recently, Mikeal received a $531,000 malpractice settlement. She said she’s determined to grow that money quickly to secure her future.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

What can she do?

Ramsey Show co-hosts George Kamel and Ken Coleman offered a structured plan to help Mikael regain financial stability. They suggested she could sell the camper, use the profits to pay off her credit card and never have debt again. She could also build up an emergency fund with some of the settlement money and invest the rest. Here’s a breakdown of the

• Sell the camper. Selling it could eliminate the $12,000 debt and potentially find more affordable housing options.
• Pay off credit card debt. Clearing her balances would ease financial pressure and improve her credit score.
• Establish an emergency fund. Setting aside a portion of the settlement would give her a cushion for unexpected expenses.
• Invest wisely. Putting the remaining funds into diversified, low-risk portfolios could provide steady growth. Financial experts recommend options like ETFs — SPDR S&P 500 (SPY), Vanguard S&P 500 (VOO) and Vanguard Total World Stock (VT) — to get broad market exposure and build long-term wealth.
• Seek employment. Re-entering the workforce, even part-time, would bring in extra income and add structure to her day.

Kamel suggested Mikeal do something from home, like customer service, since she’s got "a good personality” and “good common sense."

He added she needs to work "for momentum’s sake.”

“It’s not about a ton of money that you need,” Kamel said. “(But) your shoulders will go back a little bit more; your head gets a little higher as you begin to see that ‘I can take care of myself.’"

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

What would you do if your city placed $366,000 in liens on your home after inspectors observed minor violations like broken window frames, cracked outlet covers and peeling paint?

If you were Lauderdale Lakes residents Kenneth and Mildred Bordeaux, a Florida couple in their 80s, you’d hire a lawyer and fight back.

"I feel like I’m just being beat on with a sledgehammer, and I don’t understand it," Kenneth told CBS News.

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Their lawyer Ari Pregen says the city’s actions are completely unfair.

“It’s absolutely mindblowing to say ‘We’re going to hold your property hostage and we’re not going to allow you to do what you want with your property, to pass it on to your next of kin and your loved ones, because of window cranks and plastic covers,’” he said.

How minor violations turned into major fines

It all started last year when the Bordeauxs — who rent out part of their duplex to cover bills — evicted a tenant.

When inspectors visited the property following the eviction, they fined the Bordeauxs for six violations, including broken window frames and handles; cracked outlet covers; peeling paint; minor interior door and wall damage; and smoke detectors needing replacement.

The Bordeauxs say they promptly addressed all the issues and made the required repairs.

The problem? City inspectors took 222 days to verify that the repairs had been made. Meanwhile, for every one of those 222 days, the city levied additional daily fines of $1,500 per violation — resulting in the $366,142.70 total.

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Their attorney, Ari Pregen, said the situation is unreasonable.

"You can’t charge someone $65,000 for a broken window crank, $55,000 for a broken [cover] plate,” he said.

The couple applied for a lien reduction, a process allowing property owners to request a lower payment on fines or fees owed to the city.

Inspectors only offered a 10% reduction, meaning the Bordeauxs would have to pay more than $300,000 to remove the liens on the property, one the couple want to leave to family members.

"It’s just been absolutely terrible,” Kenneth Bordeaux said.

CBS Miami has since discovered that other Lauderdale Lakes property owners have been hit with excessive fines and liens due to code inspection delays.

The news outlet revealed that in its 2025 budget, the City of Lauderdale Lakes is counting on a 161.4% increase in revenue from fines and forfeitures compared to 2024.

The Bordeauxs’ lawyer notes that levying excessive fines is illegal.

“We have the excessive fines clause for a reason,” Pregen says. “It prohibits excessive fines.”

He continues to negotiate with the city — not only to lower the Bordeauxs’ fines and remove the liens on their duplex, but to urge the city to change its policy to protect other homeowners in similar situations.

How to handle excessive fines on a fixed income

For retired homeowners like the Bordeauxs living on fixed incomes — primarily Social Security and modest pensions — unexpected fines, fees or repair costs can be ruinous.

Without sufficient savings, seniors in such situations may accumulate debt and could lose their homes. The added stress can take a toll on physical and mental health, particularly for seniors who don’t have the resources to navigate complex legal and financial systems.

Legal advocacy and community support can be lifelines. Homeowners facing large municipal fines should first seek legal counsel, especially pro bono services or nonprofit legal clinics that specialize in housing or elder law.

Organizations such as Legal Aid or the AARP Legal Advocacy Group may offer assistance or connect individuals to local resources.

Homeowners on fixed incomes who find themselves in the same predicament as the Bordeauxs should consider doing as they have done and bring media attention to the case to increase public pressure and push local governments to revise their enforcement practices or settlement offers.

Homeowners can also work with housing counselors certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to explore options like financial hardship programs, home equity solutions or income-based repayment plans for liens, where available.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

They say if you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere. But for a growing number of middle-class families, just making it in the city is becoming nearly impossible.

According to a new report from Henley & Partners, NYC boasts nearly 400,000 millionaires, the most of any city in the world.

Over the past decade, the number of NYC millionaires has grown by 45%, fueled by investors, tech entrepreneurs, and business elites flocking to the metropolis. While the pandemic briefly stirred fears of a mass exodus, New York’s wealthy stayed put — and multiplied.

But the influx of wealth is coming at a cost. Everyday New Yorkers, even those earning six-figure incomes, are feeling the squeeze.

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Forced to leave

Dana Dennis, born and raised in Brooklyn, is one of many caught in the city’s affordability crisis.

She and her husband earn more than $100,000 a year — a salary that would provide a comfortable life in many other parts of the country. Yet, after the birth of their first child, they realized staying in Brooklyn was untenable.

"I was seeing things on the market for like $4,500 [monthly rent] if I wanted to stay, even in (Bedford-Stuyvesant). This is not Midtown that we’re talking about, right? I’m talking about central Brooklyn," Dennis recalled to NBC News.

Unable to find a two-bedroom apartment they could afford, the family relocated to New Jersey — and they’re far from alone, according to a study from the Fiscal Policy Institute. In 2022, residents leaving NYC were most commonly earning under $172,000 a year. What’s more, over a third of those leaving said they moved specifically in search of affordable housing.

In response to the issue, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has a "City of Yes" initiative, aimed at dramatically increasing housing construction, with the goal of adding tens of thousands of new units over the next 15 years.

Still, for many like the Dennis family, that help isn’t arriving soon enough. Even New Jersey isn’t necessarily a safe, long-term haven. "We aren’t finding houses, not even here in New Jersey, that are under $750,000," Dennis indicated.

The hidden costs of relocating

While moving may seem like an obvious solution, uprooting a family from NYC comes with its own set of challenges, both emotional and financial.

First, families often must navigate complex and competitive job markets in their new cities. Changing jobs can sometimes mean taking a pay cut or losing valuable benefits.

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Then comes the logistics of enrolling kids in new school systems, each with different standards, calendars and bureaucracies. For example, a study found that 62% of organizations identified family concerns, including children’s education issues, as a primary challenge in employee relocation decisions.

Tax implications add another layer of complexity. States like New Jersey have different income tax structures than New York State, which introduces new rules about property taxes, income taxes and even vehicle registration.

There’s also the emotional toll of starting over. Social networks built over the years — from trusted babysitters to childhood friends and family — are often left behind. Rebuilding a support system takes time and can lead to feelings of isolation and homesickness.

A vicious cycle

Affordability may not change in the near term, as the median mortgage payment nationwide reached an all-time high of $2,800 in March.

Plus, cities that once seemed like economical refuges are a contributor, as they become more expensive themselves. For example, in "tertiary cities" like Asheville, North Carolina, rising interest rates and real estate investors are driving up the cost of living, creating a vicious cycle throughout historically affordable markets.

Bill Faeth, real estate investor, noted Asheville is currently a "top-five market in the entire country" for short-term rental investors.

As he put it, "When we go in, we are going to affect that median cost of living. There is no question."

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Tensions flared at a Harvey, Illinois, city council meeting on May 12, as Mayor Christopher Clark ordered the room cleared just 20 minutes into the session. He cited disruptions from residents and supporters of Alderperson Colby Chapman.

The confrontation underscored growing resident unrest over several issues they face with the southern Chicago suburb’s administration.

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Arrests and accusations

Chapman, representing Harvey’s 2nd Ward, has become a central figure in the city’s political turmoil.

She was arrested during an April 28 council meeting — the second such incident — after attempting to raise concerns about a resident’s property being sold. Video footage shows her being physically removed by police.

Chapman contends she was merely advocating for a constituent.

When asked why she didn’t stay silent and just leave, she told FOX 32, "In that moment, I gathered my things, and that’s exactly what I was looking to do. But when three male officers approached me as a female, as I’m trying to gather my things, I think that would startle any person, whether it be man or woman, because there’s this abrasive approach to asking me to leave, and I simply was leaving.

But the further point is, is all of that insinuated simply because I was being a voice for Ms. Allen?"

Chapman’s April arrest was for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Her mother was charged with the same. However, Chapman denies any physical altercation and explained, "I did not hit an officer (or) push an officer on my way out of the council. Nobody should have to ingest physical behavior simply for inquiry, and unfortunately, I digested that.”

Residents at the May 12 meeting voiced frustrations over rising water bills, lack of city spending transparency and perceived public input suppression.

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One attendee said, "They don’t want you to speak up with the injustice that’s happening in the Black community. They’re displacing us out of our communities. They’re taking our homes."

Chapman’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 4. She and her supporters continue to call for a federal investigation into the city’s practices, alleging systemic issues affecting the community’s well-being.

Soaring property taxes and affordability

Aside from the issues the residents cited recently, they are also grappling with some of the highest property tax rates in Illinois and even the U.S.

According to the Civic Federation, Harvey’s estimated effective residential property tax rate was 4.74% in 2022, the highest among 11 selected suburban municipalities in Cook County.

Another source shows Harvey’s rate reaching nearly 7%, mainly due to declining property values along with stagnant or increasing levies.

These burdens are compounded by a shrinking tax base. A report by the Illinois Policy Institute noted that from 2007 to 2016, Harvey’s property tax rates nearly doubled as residents left the area, exacerbating the financial strain on those who remained.

This financial pressure has led some households to make difficult choices in their budgets, such as delaying medical care or utility payments, to meet their tax obligations.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A video showing a heated exchange between an Evanston, Illinois, restaurant owner and a customer has sparked a broader conversation about tipping culture in America.

Kenny Chou, who owns Table to Stix Ramen, admits he lost his temper on April 19 when he confronted the customer outside his restaurant for not leaving a tip. The dispute was captured on a smart phone and spread quickly on social media.

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Chou now regrets “bringing shame to my wife as a husband, as an owner. At the same time, to my mom and dad,” he told CBS News Chicago in a story published April 24.

The incident has stoked debate over a question that seems to grow more divisive by the day: when is tipping expected and when is it optional?

Online fallout and owner’s apology

Backlash following the video was swift. The restaurant deactivated its social media accounts and stopped taking calls. Yelp was also closely monitoring its review page. Messages written in chalk appeared on the sidewalk outside the restaurant accusing the establishment of being anti-Black, according to the local broadcaster.

Chou says the confrontation began when he followed the customer, described as a regular, into the street, intending to tell him he was no longer welcome at the restaurant after he declined to leave a tip multiple times.

“I paid for my food. I handed you $20. You cannot charge more than what the menu says, so what are you talking about?” the customer explained in the video.

According to CBS News Chicago, when asked by a user why he didn’t tip, the customer explained online: “Oh, I just didn’t want to.”

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Chou has since made efforts to extend an olive branch. He says the customer’s brother visited the restaurant and they had a productive conversation. Chou sent him home with a handwritten apology, the customer’s favorite dish and an offer to reconnect.

“My door is open for you, man. You know, come on by anytime,” Chou said.

Tipping fatigue and rising frustration

The incident hits a nerve at a time when tipping has become increasingly controversial. High prices have led to some consumers tightening their belts. Many Americans have become exhausted by today’s tipping culture.

A survey commissioned by Bankrate in 2024 found that 59% of U.S. adults have a negative view of tipping, while over one in three (35%) feel things have been taken too far. In addition, around 37% of consumers believe businesses should simply pay employees more rather than rely on tips.

While consumers may be feeling the pinch, service industry workers are, too. Tips often make up a large portion of their income, especially in states where employers can pay them below minimum wage.

This financial tug-of-war is also generational. Bankrate’s tipping survey found that 23% of Gen Z respondents feel tipping has gotten out of control, vs. 40% of Gen X and 46% of baby boomer respondents. In a twist, however, it’s noted that 35% of Gen Z respondents always tip at sit-down restaurants, whereas 56% of millennial, 78% of Gen X and 86% of boomer respondents do the same.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Jamie Catmull, host of The Richer Way, has spent years interviewing more than 100 millionaires — from high-powered CEOs and industry leaders to self-made entrepreneurs — to uncover the key to their success.

"I wanted to help people take more control of their finances … share how (highly successful people) dealt with setbacks and came out stronger,” Catmull reveals in a CNBC article. “They don’t sit around waiting for anything, certainly not luck, because they make their own.”

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Catmull has identified some common traits we can all learn from. Here are three that stood out the most and what research says about why they’re so important.

1. They’re highly disciplined

Discipline came up repeatedly in Catmull’s conversations with millionaires. Jaspreet Singh, CEO of Briefs Media, told Catmull that discipline is a factor that sets many millionaires apart.

“It takes a lot of discipline to get up when you don’t feel like it, get to work before everyone else, stay after everyone else, and keep working when people say you’re working too hard,” he said.

That discipline includes delaying gratification and committing to investment over the long term.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

According to The National Study of Millionaires by Ramsey Solutions, 94% of millionaires surveyed said they consistently lived below their means, and 75% said their secret to success lies in "regular, consistent investing over a long period of time."

2. They embrace failure and uncertainty

Rather than fear setbacks, millionaires welcome them as opportunities to learn and pivot.

“You don’t learn to walk by following rules,” Virgin Group founder Richard Branson told Catmull. “You learn by doing, and by falling over.”

Barbara Corcoran, real estate mogul and Shark Tank investor said she has used the ‘fake it till you make it’ mindset to push through her fears and dive into the unknown: “You must learn not to second-guess yourself.”

Research supports this growth-through-failure philosophy.

According to the Harvard Business Review, entrepreneurs who fail early and try again are more likely to succeed in future ventures, especially if they learn from their mistakes rather than fear them.

This attitude applies to investing as well, exploring alternative investments and taking educated risks as part of a diversified portfolio. Working with a financial advisor can help in this regard.

3. They don’t let their past dictate their future

Catmull found that some of the millionaires she interviewed had overcome significant adversity.

Instead of letting early hardships define or trap them, they used those experiences as fuel. Derik Fay, founder of 3F Management, shared that he experienced he grew up in poverty and experienced abuse.

“For the longest time, I thought my childhood was going to define me as a victim,” he said. “Then I discovered that the exact things I thought had destroyed me … had the power to redefine me.”

Lynette Khalfani-Cox, known as The Money Coach, also grew up in poverty. Her parents tried to make ends meet with five girls in the home.

“My dad was a shoe shiner, and my mom was a cashier and secretary,” she said. “(They) were always struggling financially."

Now Fay helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses, while Khalfani-Cox is a best-selling author helping others build wealth.

Similarly, Rachel Rodgers, CEO and founder of Hello Seven, grew up in Queens. The author of We Should All Be Millionaires is committed to helping others achieve the same success.

As she shared with the Harvard Business Review, she does ‘thought work’ every day to challenge the negative ideas that she faces. She encourages others to do the same.

“If we don’t learn how to filter those thoughts, we start to believe them,” she says. “Eventually, they can lead to a scarcity mindset."

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Last year, more than 1.36 billion shipments entered the U.S. duty-free thanks to a long-standing trade exemption for low-value shipments of $800 or less. Not anymore.

That exemption expired just as the Trump administration hiked tariffs on imports — including produce and other household staples.

That leaves small businesses like San Diego’s Vien Dong Supermarket scrambling to manage rising costs.

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Owner Nicholas Tran has already felt the impact. He told Fox5 News that the wholesale prices he’s paying for his products are up 10%, “but 10% you can work with.”

For now, Tran says, his business will absorb some of the added costs to support customers living paycheck to paycheck.

“In the short term, we decided as a company to do this for the community,” he said.

But he acknowledges that he can’t sustain this in the long term, and he’s already raised prices on some items in the store.

Loophole closes, prices rise

For example, the store’s top-selling fish sauce is up 50%, now retailing for $8.99.

Regular customers like Emilio Danque are noticing the changes and having to make different — and sometimes tough — choices.

“(It’s) $5.99 for Dungeness crabs,” Danque said. “Now, it’s $10.99, so forget that, I’m not eating that.”

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Tran is exploring alternative suppliers from other countries to replace Chinese imports.

“All this is short-term strategy, so it’s on the fly,” he noted.

The situation at the Vien Dong Supermarket is a case study in how the tariffs are impacting grocers and their customers across the country.

With the loophole closed, grocers are paying tariffs on imports of everyday products like bananas, tomatoes, avocados and cucumbers. In turn, they have no choice but to pass these costs on to consumers.

And if that weren’t enough, the broader economic context exacerbates these challenges.

The broader economic picture

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food prices have risen by more than 20% since 2021 due to inflation, labor shortages and fuel prices.

Add in the new tariffs to already inflated prices, and lower- and middle-income families could really see their household budgets strained.

Take the cost of a staple like bananas. CNN reports that Affiliated Foods, a wholesaler in Texas that serves 700 independent grocers in the U.S., is implementing a 10% increase to the wholesale price of bananas — imported from Guatemala — due to tariffs on products from that country.

That cost increase will likely be passed on to shoppers. But Tran is still finding ways to stay the course, for the good of his customers.

“When you’re lonely and homesick for your country, if you can eat a dish (from there), then you feel a little bit of your country, and so that’s why we’re very passionate about food because it’s the quickest way to our hearts."

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