In a new crackdown against illegal immigration, US government has now begun imposing a $5,000 charge on migrants found entering the country illegally, US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced.
The penalty, which has been imposed on illegal migrants aged 14 and above, was approved under US President Donald Trump‘s One Big Beautiful Bill Act earlier this year.
What is the new ‘Apprehension Fee’?
The fee will be imposed on illegal migrants who are apprehended at any point after crossing into the US without authorisation and it is applied at the moment of arrest, not after a court ruling, Banks said on X.
Further, the new fee is applicable nationwide and not just at the border. It is irrelevant when a person crossed into the US, how long they’ve lived in the country or whether they already have active immigration cases.
If they’re considered inadmissible under US’ immigration law, they will be charged.
What happens if someone pays the fee or doesn’t pay the fee?
Payment of the $5,000 US Apprehension Fee does not automatically grant legal status or release, however there is no clarity over their deportation process yet.
If they, however, cannot or do not pay the fee, the amount will be considered as official debt to the US government, Banks added. In such cases, the person may be barred from entering the country via legal means or obtain any immigration benefits in the future.
Other initiatives taken by US to expedite deportation
Earlier this year, officials announced a daily fine of nearly $1,000 for migrants who have been ordered deported but remain in the US.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that about 1.9 million foreign nationals have self-deported since Trump took office, though it did not specify how many used the CBP app.
Over 7,000 people detained at US-Mexico border in November
According to official data by the DHS, approximately 7,300 people detained along the Mexican border in November, a low not recorded since the 1960s. The figure slightly dropped from October.