American Immigration Council — Trump’s $170 billion immigration gamble

American Immigration Council — Trump’s $170 billion immigration gamble

Latest Analysis

Trump Creates New System to Impose Millions in Fines on Undocumented Immigrants 
Under a new system put in place by the Trump administration on June 27, immigration officers may be able to impose penalties of millions of dollars on certain undocumented immigrants, putting them at risk not only of deportation but of crushing financial debt.
In Birthright Citizenship Decision, the Supreme Court Expanded Trump’s Power 
On the surface, the Supreme Court’s ruling in the birthright citizenship case Trump v. CASA was about the dry legal question of whether federal district courts can issue “universal” injunctions—orders constraining the government from acting against individuals beyond those who brought the lawsuit. But the impact of the Court’s decision is likely to be seismic. 
Facts You Should Know
Last week, Congress passed a reconciliation spending bill that includes significant changes to our legal immigration system and pours massive amounts of funding into enforcement measures. The bill earmarks some $170 billion for immigration and border enforcement-related funding provisions.  
Now that the bill has passed, legal immigration is likely to become a pay-to-play system with astronomically high fees; record amounts of taxpayer dollars will be funneled into the pockets of private prison corporations by expanding the immigration detention system; and arrests and deportations in our communities are likely to be supercharged with ICE receiving $30 billion to hire new agents and enlist local law enforcement agencies to enforce civil immigration law.     
 
This new fact sheet from the American Immigration Council explains how the bill’s cost and its enforcement-related spending would affect non-citizens. 
 
Read more: What’s in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill So Far?
Across the Nation
The Council was proud to partner with Carnegie Corporation of New York on the “Discover the Great Immigrants, Great Americans” comic book series— which is free and now available online.  
 
This new, free comic book shares the inspiring immigrant stories of 13 naturalized American citizens in their own words. The individuals, each of them an honoree of Carnegie’s Great Immigrants initiative over the past 20 years, have made a lasting impact on our society through their contributions as storytellers, community leaders, educators, innovators, and beyond.  Read more: Great Immigrants, Great Americans: The Comic Book 
Quote of the Week
“This bill is a force multiplier for ICE. It allows them to hire 10,000 more agents around the country, while simultaneously deputizing state and local police departments to do things like interrogate, arrest, detain and deport immigrants.” 
— Nayna Gupta, policy director, for Rolling Stone 
Further Reading
Reuters: Factbox-How the Republican Spending Bill Super-Charges Immigration Enforcement  

Palm Beach Post: This is personal: Why South Florida must stand with immigrant families 
 
The Guardian: Trump seizes on ‘moral character’ loophole as way to revoke citizenship  

LA Times: ¿Qué es el “Big Beautiful Bill” de Trump y cómo afectará a la comunidad inmigrante?  

Axios: Axios Explains: Inside ICE’s superpowers  
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American Immigration Council
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