Think Immigration: Reconsidering the Reconciliation Bill: What it Means for Immigration

In late May, the House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill that will significantly affect immigration if it becomes law. To understand what is at stake, it is important to first understand how reconciliation works. Reconciliation is a legislative process that allows budget-related bills to pass Congress with a simple majority, bypassing the filibuster, which is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill. While the purpose of the bill is to adjust federal spending and revenues, because the bill has a lower threshold for votes, politicians use this opportunity to pass policy related to spending measures. 

In terms of immigration impact, the current reconciliation bill includes provisions that extend far beyond budget issues. It authorizes approximately $146.3 billion in funding for detention and enforcement activities without meaningful oversight or due process. These enforcement measures would be paid for by reducing funding for Social Security, Medicare, and other essential public programs that millions of Americans depend on across the country. Even with these cuts, an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office shared that the bill could increase the national debt by more than $2.4 trillion over the next decade, raising grave concerns about its fiscal impact.   

As the Senate prepares its version of the reconciliation bill, Republican leadership have strongly expressed their intent to advance the final package before the 4th of July. This may be ambitious, as the bill faces opposition from the American public and tepid support even from Republican voters, with only 67 percent supporting the bill. For the most part, the immigration related provisions found in the Senate text have remained unchanged from the House. However, before the Senate version advances for a vote, the Senate Parliamentarian reviews whether certain provisions align with reconciliation rules, including the Byrd Rule, which limits policy changes to those focused on fiscal issues. Any provision found outside those bounds may be removed or challenged during Senate floor consideration, and 60 votes are required to waive the Byrd Rule. Some of the provisions found to be subject to the Byrd rule include sections that authorize statesto conduct border security and immigration enforcement, limit grant funding to “sanctuary cities,” and give state and local officials the authority to arrest any noncitizen suspected of being in the U.S. unlawfully. As the bill’s text develops, it is important to understand the harmful immigration provisions that have already passed one chamber of Congress. 

The House-passed bill imposes a sweeping overhaul of the immigration fee structure that would make lawful status and humanitarian protection financially out of reach for many by significantly increasing fees across nearly every type of immigration-related application. These proposed fees not only become a barrier to applicants, but they are also structured to increase annually, and fee waivers will not be granted. In particular, fees for Temporary Protected Status, asylum, and humanitarian parole will create financial barriers that undermine the congressional intent of these protections.  A $1,000 filing fee on asylum applications will be out of reach for most. Additionally, Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewals for these categories would be required every six months, with a $550 fee per renewal. Processing delays will likely cause lapses in work authorization, jeopardizing jobs, disrupting businesses, local economies, and putting families at risk. Importantly, many of these new fees do not go entirely to the agencies that adjudicate these applications but rather get diverted to a Department of Treasury fund that could be used by the administration to fund its enforcement measures without Congressional oversight. 

Additionally, as mentioned above, approximately $150 billion is explicitly allocated to immigration enforcement and detention activities that come without any meaningful protection for due process or transparency. The lack of guardrails raises serious concerns about the potential for and harm to communities with vulnerabilities. This reconciliation bill could indeed fund widespread abuse without accountability or Congressional oversight.  For more information on the reconciliation bill, read AILA’s policy brief, Six Ways the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill Undermines a Functional Immigration System. 

What Can You Do?  

As the bill moves through the Senate, you can get involved in AILA’s Take Action campaign to contact your Senators and urge the removal of harmful immigration provisions from the bill. With just the touch of a button, you can make your voice heard and tell your Senators to oppose these extreme fee hikes and unchecked enforcement funding. Don’t wait - the time to do this is now.  AILA will provide updates to members in AILA8 as the bill develops. 

Members are also encouraged to meet with Senate offices directly. AILA’s new In-District Meeting Handbook offers step-by-step guidance for scheduling, preparing for, and conducting effective meetings. AILA remains committed to protect the integrity of our immigration system and advancing policies that recognize the contributions immigrants have in communities across the nation. Together, we must fight to prevent these harmful immigration provisions from becoming law.