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IMMIGRATION JULY 18, 2025 | The Indian Eye 34
One Big Ugly Bill
on Immigration
BY CYRUS MEHTA & al $100 annual fee will apply $110 to $900. A noncitizen pact of the tax. so extreme it threatens the
for each calendar year that who is removed in absentia Finally, the Act allocates citizenship rights of us all.
KAITLYN BOX* an applicant’s asylum appli- will have to pay an apprehen- substantial government funds All this, at the expense
O n July 4, 2025, Con- cation remains pending. Ap- sion fee of $5000. Likewise, to immigration enforcement of programs Americans rely
plications for an employment an inadmissible noncitizen
and detention measures. It upon in their daily lives, espe-
passed
the
gress
who is apprehended between
earmarks around $46.5 billion cially healthcare. This betrays
authorization
document
“One Big Beautiful
Bill Act”. Among its many (EAD) based on a pending ports of entry will need to pay for completion of the border our most basic constitution-
asylum application will now $5000. How will DHS col-
wall, and provides addition-
al principles and is a chilling
other provisions, the mega- have a filing fee of $550. lect the fee after they deport al funds for construction of escalation of executive over-
bill imposes a number of im- There are other fee in- him? Or will they hold off de- CBP facilities. Approximate- reach.
migration-related changes. creases. For instance, the fil- porting her until she pays the ly $45 billion will be dedicat- This legislation fails
Pursuant to the Act, asylum ing fee for appealing a deci- $5000? ed to immigration detention our nation on every front. It
applications, which historical- sion of an Immigration Judge The National Immigra- centers, with around $30 abandons critical efforts to
ly have been able to be filed at to the Board of Immigration tion Project has created a billion being set aside for address backlogs in the legal
no cost, will now be subject to Appeals has increased from chart as a reference tool for maintenance of existing ICE immigration system while
a $100 filing fee. An addition-
understanding the fee facilities, hiring personnel, creating needless barriers
increases and the new and funding the cost of trans- to a functional immigration
fees brought by this law: porting detainees. Another system. Worse, it makes our
Comparison Chart of the $13.5 billion is earmarked for communities less safe and less
Immigration-Related reimbursing states for immi- secure by doubling down on
Fee Changes Brought by gration enforcement-related fear-based policies that are al-
H.R.1 the So-Called One costs. The Act also provides ready proven to be costly and
Big Beautiful Bill Act. around $3 billion to the De- ineffective. Those caught in
The Act also states partment of Justice for pur- the crosshairs will be not only
that certain categories poses including the hiring newly-arrived immigrants and
of noncitizens, including of new Immigration Judges. long-term residents who are
refugees and asylees, The immigration provi- part of the fabric of American
VAWA recipients, and sions in the Act do not make communities, but also U.S.
beneficiaries of most any attempt to reform the citizens both naturalized and
humanitarian relief pro- defective immigration system U.S. born. It ignores the vital
grams are no longer in the US that lacks adequate role immigrants play in our
eligible for public ben- pathways for people to come economy and community life,
efits programs such as to the US and remain in the while pouring billions into a
Medicaid, Medicare, the US legally. system that inflicts harm rath-
Children’s Health Insur- Ben Johnson, Executive er than offering hope, stabili-
ance Program, and the Director of AILA, poignantly ty, and due process.
Supplemental Nutrition describes how Congress has America deserves an
m of Assistance Program. let all of us down: immigration system that
the
“This bill is a profound reflects our values and our
Additionally,
CYRUS D. MEHTA & PARTNERS PLLC Act imposes a tax equal disappointment. Instead of interests, not one that un-
to 1 percent of the total advancing practical, humane dermines the rule of law
amount on remittances, immigration reforms, Con- and weaponizes enforce-
or international money gress chose to funnel un- ment against our own neigh-
transfers, to be paid by precedented resources into bors. This is unacceptable.
the sender, including the Administration’s ruthless The American people must
U.S. citizen senders. In- deportation machine, at the hold those in Congress who
dividuals who have U.S. very moment the President is passed this bill to account.”
Social Security numbers openly threatening to detain
2 6th Floor are eligible to apply for and deport U.S. citizens—a *Kaitlyn Box is a Partner at Cyrus
credits to offset the im- betrayal of American values D. Mehta & Partners PLLC.
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