Trump Administration To Charge $5,000 'Apprehension Fee' On Migrants [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Dec 06, 2025 at 01:09 PM EST


The Trump administration is slapping a $5,000 "apprehension fee" on migrants without legal status, a top Border Patrol official announced. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks said the charge will apply to people apprehended after crossing the border between ports of entry, expanding the financial penalties tied to unauthorized entry.

The fee, he said, will be imposed on individuals age 14 and older who are taken into custody after entering the United States unlawfully. The fee stems from provisions contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was passed by the GOP-controlled Congress earlier this year.

"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," Banks wrote in a post on X.

Why It Matters

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a series of new charges and increases to existing immigration-related fees as part of a major policy overhaul. The changes, enacted under recent legislation and now being implemented by authorities, mark one of the most significant shifts in the financial penalties tied to immigration enforcement in years and have prompted questions about how the policies will affect migrants, particularly minors and others with limited means to pay.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-to-charge-5000-apprehension-fee-on-migrants-11167610