Featured Issue: Impact of the 2025 Congressional Budget Process on Immigration

A major threat now looms, with the GOP-led Congress poised to pass an enormous budget bill that includes enormous increases in immigration fees and more funding for mass deportations. On May 22, the House voted 215-214 to pass its budget reconciliation bill, which will now go to the Senate for consideration. In their parts of the bill, the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Committee included nearly $150 billion for enforcement activities and major increases in fees for work permits, asylum, appeals in court, and many other categories. In a statement, AILA called on Congress to reject the bill “unless it imposes strict oversight” on the spending and noted that the “crushing new fees” will “effectively shut[] out many families businesses, and asylum seekers from lawful pathways.” Read AILA's analysis.

If Congress passes the budget reconciliation bill, it will give the President the opportunity to enact his tax and debt agenda—and to appropriate more money on border security and immigration—outside of the annual appropriations process. In addition to the massive fee hikes and deportation funding, there is added risk that harmful immigration policies will be included, because reconciliation is a special process that only requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate (most bills require 60 votes).

AILA calls upon its members to contact Congress to oppose the budget reconciliation bill that includes outrageous fee hikes and funds turbocharged mass deportations without due process.