Trump’s Immigration Law: What It Means

Why This Matters

For immigrants, the Big Beautiful Bill raises the stakes dramatically — making it more expensive to apply for benefits, harder to fight your case in court, and more dangerous to fall out of status. The law combines an aggressive enforcement expansion with a “user pays” philosophy, essentially shifting more of the financial and legal burden onto immigrants. If you are concerned about how this bill is affecting your immigration status or citizenship application, speaking with a Arlington, VA deportation defense lawyer can answer your questions and provide you with legal advice.

Massive Enforcement Increases

Perhaps the most striking feature of the bill is its enormous expansion of immigration enforcement:

• 100,000 new Border Patrol agents
• Significant increases in detention capacity, including new contracts for privately run immigration prisons and construction of additional facilities
• Mandatory detention for more categories of immigrants, particularly those apprehended at the border and those with prior removal orders
• Expanded powers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain and deport immigrants, even for minor infractions
• Greater collaboration between local police and federal immigration enforcement through mandatory “detainer” agreements with state and local jails
• New penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers — with increased fines and criminal liability
• Faster deportation timelines for “inadmissible” and previously removed immigrants, limiting their access to hearings

In short, the law prioritizes aggressive removal over due process, which means immigrants in the U.S. — even those here for years — now face greater risk of detention, deportation and, unfortunately, horrible treatment.

Dramatic Fee Increases

Alongside the enforcement build-up, the Big Beautiful Bill imposes steep new fees on immigrants at nearly every stage of the process. These fees are on top of existing application fees and are subject to annual increases. In almost all cases, fee waivers have been eliminated.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

• TPS application: $500 (no waiver)
• TPS EAD: $550
• TPS EAD renewal: $275 + base fee

Employment Authorization Documents (EADs)

• Renewal for parolees: $275
• Renewal for asylum seekers (C8): $275 + base fee, with EADs terminating:
  • at USCIS asylum denial (unless referred to court)
  • 30 days after IJ denial (unless appealed)
  • immediately after BIA denial
• Additional $550 for C8 EADs (no waivers)

Immigration Court Filing Fees

• Adjustment of Status in court: $1,500
• Waiver application in court: $1,050
• TPS application in court: $500 + base fee
• BIA appeal: $900
• Motion to Reopen or Reconsider: $900
• EOIR-42A (Cancellation for LPRs): $600
• EOIR-42B (Cancellation for non-LPRs): $1,500
• In absentia removal order rescission: $5,000

Other New Fees

• Apprehension of inadmissible alien: $5,000
• Annual asylum fee: $100 to apply + $100/year
• Immigration parole: $1,000
• SIJS: $250
• Visa integrity fee: $250
• I-94: $24

Expanded Detention & Criminalization

The bill also:

• Funds thousands of additional beds in immigration detention centers
• Codifies indefinite detention for certain categories of immigrants
• Increases penalties for unauthorized re-entry after removal
• Authorizes expedited deportation of more people without a hearing
• Requires detained immigrants to pay bonds in much higher amounts — often out of reach

What This Means For Non-U.S. Citizens

If you are in the U.S. without permanent status, you now face:

• Higher risk of detention and deportation
• Fewer procedural protections in court
• Higher costs to maintain or seek lawful status
• Increased scrutiny from employers and local police

What You Can Do

1. Stay Informed
   Understand the new rules and fees that apply to your case.
2. Act Quickly
   If you qualify for relief, file as soon as possible — before additional fee hikes and enforcement catch up to you.
3. Budget For Higher Costs
   Prepare financially, as most waivers are no longer available.
4. Avoid Trouble
   Stay clear of criminal charges and keep all documents current. Even minor offenses can trigger detention or deportation under the new law.
5. Know Your Rights
   If detained, you still have rights — including the right to contact an attorney.

Final Thoughts

The Big Beautiful Bill represents the most sweeping and punitive set of immigration changes in decades. By combining massive enforcement increases — 100,000 more Border Patrol agents, more detention centers, faster deportations — with drastic fee hikes and the elimination of waivers, it fundamentally alters the landscape for immigrants in the U.S.

But even in this harsh new environment, immigrants have options. With proper legal guidance, quick action, and preparation, you can still protect yourself and your family.

If you have questions about how these changes affect you or your loved ones, don’t wait — the costs and risks only rise with time.

Contact the Law Offices of Ricky Malik, P.C. for legal advice and representation.