by Washington DC — The U.S. Border Patrol announced on Friday that all illegal migrants apprehended within the country will face a $5,000 “apprehension fee”, authorities confirmed. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks stated the fee applies to migrants age 14 or older who enter or are brought into the U.S. without inspection.
Legislation Behind the Fee
The new fee was enacted under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, approved by Congress in early July. The legislation allocates upwards of $170 billion over four years toward immigration enforcement, including fines, operational funding, and border security initiatives.
Chief Banks emphasized:
“This message applies to all illegal aliens—regardless of where they entered, how long they’ve been in the U.S., their current location, or any ongoing immigration proceedings.”
The fee is in addition to other penalties that have been levied on illegal migrants, such as fines for overstaying or failing to comply with deportation orders.
Previous Enforcement Measures
Earlier this year, officials announced that migrants who refused to leave under deportation orders would face a $1,000 fine per day of overstay. By late August, the Wall Street Journal reported that around 21,500 fines had been issued, totaling an estimated $6.1 billion.
The Department of Homeland Security has also incentivized self-deportation. Migrants may receive $1,000 for leaving the U.S. voluntarily via the Customs and Border Protection Home app. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, approximately 1.9 million migrants have opted for self-deportation.
Impact on Border Crossings
Since the enactment of stricter measures, illegal border crossings have reportedly reached their lowest levels since 1970. In addition, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to conduct raids across major U.S. cities, including New York City and Los Angeles, aiming to enforce deportation orders and immigration laws.
Officials said the new $5,000 apprehension fee is intended to deter illegal entry and ensure migrants comply with U.S. immigration policies, while supplementing existing penalties for unauthorized entry and overstays.
Public and Policy Response
The fee has generated discussions about immigration enforcement strategy, the financial burden on migrants, and the effectiveness of monetary penalties as a deterrent. Lawmakers and immigration advocates are expected to weigh in as the fee is implemented nationwide.
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