"The Big Beautiful Bill": A Sweeping Shift in U.S. Immigration Policy – And Its Contentious Ramifications
H.R. 1, "The Big Beautiful Bill," having recently passed the House of Representatives and now moving to the Senate, represents a significant and highly contentious legislative package. While it encompasses various sectors, its proposed immigration reforms are a central and intensely debated component. This article delves into these proposed changes, examining their potential impact on individuals and the broader system, and highlighting the widespread controversies they have ignited. Immigration Fees: A Barrier to Entry and Justice? A core element of H.R. 1 is the establishment of numerous new fees and the adjustment of existing ones for a wide range of immigration applications and processes, including asylum applications, employment authorizations, parole, special immigrant juvenile status, temporary protected status, visas, and court and appeals. The bill often sets these fees as a minimum for Fiscal Year 2025, with provisions for increases in subsequent years and no allowa...