Immigration Impact of ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

President Trump signed a spending bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” into law on 04.Jul.2025. While the bill does not fundamentally change who is eligible for U.S. immigration benefits or create new, legal pathways, it dramatically increases funding for immigration enforcement and increases the financial cost to stakeholders for many immigration programs.

Enforcement Funding

This spending bill allocates approximately $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border operations. The bill calls for more U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to be hired, and some of the funding will be used to increase the number of detention centers. Needless to say, the number of people placed in deportation proceedings is presumed to increase, as well.

Fee Increases and New Costs

The bill will increase the cost for foreign nationals applying for immigration benefits in a number of ways. Key changes include:

• Asylum Applications
  • $100 fee for initial filing (previously free)
  • $100 annual fee while the application is pending
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
  • $550 for initial EAD for both asylum seekers and parole applicants
  • $275 for each renewal (maximum validity of one year)
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
  • $500 application fee (up from $50)
  • $550 for initial EAD, $275 for each renewal
• Visa Integrity Fee
  • A new $250 fee, adjusted annually for inflation, for all nonimmigrant visa “stamping” applicants (including visitors, students, and workers)
    • If a number of conditions are met, the applicant may seek reimbursement after the expiration of the visa.
• Appeals and Motions
  • $900 fee to appeal an immigration judge’s decision (up from $110)

In addition to the added fees, the bill also adds a one percent excise tax to many remittances sent from the United States to another country. While not directly related to immigration, this provision obviously will have the potential of impacting foreign nationals seeking to send money to loved ones in their home country.

Conclusion

This spending bill raises the cost of applying for many immigration benefits, with a strong focus on enforcement and deterrence. This undoubtedly will continue to make the U.S. immigration system more challenging to navigate.

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