Trump Administration Is Considering Charging Certain Visa Applicants a Bond

Since returning to the White House for a second term, President Donald Trump has taken a number of actions to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration. His Administration has intensified efforts to restrict a number of legal pathways to immigration. In an unprecedented move, his Administration has also initiated steps this year to strip more than two dozen naturalized Americans of their citizenship.

A proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security that was released to the public last month revealed that the agency is seeking to significantly raise the cost of filing a form that immigrants have to submit to apply for citizenship. The proposal sparked concerns among immigration advocates, who argued that it would place naturalization out of reach for immigrants who may not have the financial means to pay the increased fees.

The Trump Administration also unveiled plans this past fall to charge companies $100,000 each year for H-1B visas, which immigration experts feared would hinder employers from hiring skilled workers from other countries. But last month, a federal judge struck down the Administration’s fee, voiding the policy “in its entirety.”