Key points
- Trump’s bill allocates $170b for immigration enforcement
- $46.5b allocated to complete border wall
- Immigration court backlog remains
ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald J Trump’s signature domestic policy bill is now on course to become law, representing a historic federal investment in immigration enforcement.
The US Congress passed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” on Thursday, meeting the president’s self-imposed deadline of July 4. The substantial package allocates around $170 billion to support the administration’s border and immigration objectives, including detaining and deporting a record number of individuals from the US, according to NPR.
VICTORY: The One Big Beautiful Bill Passes U.S. Congress, Heads to President Trump’s Desk 🇺🇸🎉 pic.twitter.com/d1nbOlL21G
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 3, 2025
White House border czar Tom Homan recently emphasised the need for Congress to pass the bill to increase detention capacity. “The more beds we have, the more bad guys we arrest,” he said.
Supercharging immigration enforcement
Supporters and critics alike agree that the effectiveness of Trump’s immigration agenda hinges on how efficiently federal agencies deploy these resources. Kathleen Bush-Joseph, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, warned, “It will supercharge immigration enforcement over time, but it won’t happen overnight.”
The final bill designates $45 billion for immigration detention centres and approximately $30 billion for hiring more ICE staff, transport costs, and facility maintenance. This funding comes as detention centres are currently operating beyond capacity.
The American Immigration Council estimates the new funds could expand detention capacity to at least 116,000 beds. While the money may ease overcrowding and improve staffing, there is concern it could also lead to wider use of detention.
Catch and release policy
Currently, migrants deemed removable from the US may be released while awaiting court dates, held in local jails, or detained by ICE. The Trump administration intends to end the “catch and release” policy, which allows migrants to await hearings outside detention, but doing so will require more detention space.
Bush-Joseph highlighted the challenges faced by detainees, including difficulties communicating, accessing legal counsel, and understanding their rights. “Immigration detention itself makes it harder for people to win relief in court,” she noted.
Border security spending
The bill allocates roughly $46.5 billion to complete Trump’s border wall, with $5 billion for Customs and Border Protection facilities and $10 billion for broader border security initiatives. It also provides about $13.5 billion to reimburse states and local governments involved in immigration and border enforcement.
Some critics question the need for further border funding given the significant decline in southern border crossings, with just over 6,000 apprehensions in June—the lowest in decades.
However, Andrew Arthur from the Center for Immigration Studies argued it is prudent to invest now rather than wait for another surge. “If we wait until 250,000 people arrive per month, it will be too late,” he warned, referring to peak arrest figures under former President Biden.
Increased immigration fees
Republicans pushed for higher fees within the immigration process. One major change was reducing the asylum application fee from $1,000 in the House version to $100 in the final bill, after Senate rules limited the higher fee’s passage.
Arthur defended the fee, saying $100 is reasonable to cover part of processing costs.
Conversely, Heidi Altman of the National Immigration Law Center argued these fees create “unaffordable barriers” to due process. For example, the fee to appeal an immigration judge’s decision would increase from $110 to $900, potentially blocking access to justice for many.
Restricting health coverage
The initial House bill had already restricted health coverage under the Affordable Care Act and Medicare for many lawfully present immigrants, including refugees and asylees.
The final version extends similar cuts to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to Shelby Gonzales of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Many immigrants already face barriers to healthcare due to immigration status. Gonzales expressed concern the new law would worsen access. The bill also limits eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which may strain food banks unable to meet increased demand.
Removing financial support
Regarding the Child Tax Credit, the final bill requires only one parent to have a Social Security number for eligibility, unlike the initial proposal requiring both. Tara Watson from the Brookings Institution noted this effectively cuts benefits for children with two undocumented parents, removing significant financial support for citizen children.
More than $3 billion is earmarked for the Justice Department to tackle immigration-related activities, including hiring additional immigration judges to address the growing backlog—nearly 4 million cases as of April.
While the additional funding is promising, Bush-Joseph noted the bill caps the number of immigration judges at 800, fewer than the 1,300 judges Congressional Research Service suggests are needed to clear the backlog. “Immigration courts will likely continue to struggle to keep up,” she said.
Overall, the bill marks a dramatic shift in federal immigration enforcement, but questions remain about its implementation and impact on migrants and communities across the US.
