Q#1: When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) was signed into law on July 4th, what were some of the most concerning aspects from an immigration perspective?
A#1: The OBBA was an omnibus bill passed to address numerous aspects of American life, including taxes, healthcare, national debt, and immigration. From an immigration perspective, the OBBA’s primary focus is on immigration enforcement, deportation, border wall funding, and making affirmative immigration applications more expensive, more onerous to file, and harder to be granted.
Q#2: What are some enforcement aspects that were specifically passed?
A#2: The law allotted $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement, which is required to be spent before 2029. ICE detention funding has been increased by 365%, which allows for the addition of 100,000 new beds in detention facilities and ramps up the government’s ability to deport up to 1 million people annually.
Q#3: How am I affected if I entered the US seeking Asylum, Humanitarian Parole, or another immigration benefit?
A#3: Asylum applications now require a $100 filing fee plus an annual $100 renewal fee. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) filing fees have increased from $50 to $500, if the program hasn’t already been cancelled for your home country. Entry as a Tourist from a country that does not require a visa is more expensive with ESTA fees doubling from $21 to $40. And anyone from a country that does require a visa to come as a tourist or worker are required to pay a new $250 “visa integrity fee” in addition to the standard visa fee.
Q#4: What if I am here working without status to support my family inside and outside the US?
A#4: The OBBA denies tax credits, including child tax credits, to families with undocumented parents. Additionally, any money that is earned in the US that is sent abroad will now be charged a 1% remittance tax at the time of transfer.
Q#5: It looks like this Administration is primarily focused on enforcement to the detriment of people applying for benefits they are otherwise entitled to, are immigration benefits such as Green Cards and Citizenship still being granted?
A#5: Yes. Although enforcement is much stronger under the current Administration, benefits that applicants are legally entitled to are still being granted. However, applications are being more heavily vetted and need to be filled out and submitted with extra care. If you have questions about your immigration options, it is important to speak with an immigration attorney to review both the opportunities and risks before filing.
Eamonn P.S. Roach is an attorney of the firm Roach & Bishop, LLP in Pasco, Washington, who practices immigration law. This information does not constitute legal advice. It is possible that this information does not apply to you. Each case depends on specific facts. If you have questions regarding the immigration laws that you would like answered in this column, please send them to: Eamonn P.S. Roach, 9221 Sandifur Pkwy, Suite C., Pasco, WA 99301, phone: (509) 547-7587, fax: (509) 547-7745; or email eroach@roachlaw.com.
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