U.S. Immigration Policies Impact Afghans Amid Ongoing Crises

The Trump administration has announced a new financial penalty targeting unauthorized immigration, implementing a $5,000 apprehension fee for individuals aged 14 or older who are apprehended after entering the United States without authorization.

U.S. Border Patrol chief, Michael Banks, stated that this fee applies to all illegal aliens regardless of their entry point, duration of stay, or current immigration proceedings. This policy was authorized by Congress under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated billions for immigration enforcement, and has been in effect since September.

The Department of Homeland Security indicates this could impact thousands of detainees, as those unable to pay the fee will incur a debt to the government, potentially complicating future re-entry attempts.

Despite a historic low in unauthorized border crossings, with approximately 7,300 arrests reported in November, interior enforcement has intensified, leading to arrests in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles.

The new fee is part of a broader immigration crackdown, which has included penalties for non-compliance with deportation orders and incentives for self-deportation, with nearly 2 million foreigners reportedly self-deporting since Trump took office.

Critics, including immigration attorney David Leopold, argue that the new fee may be unlawful and raises significant legal concerns regarding the rights of individuals.