U.S. Plans $5,000 Apprehension Fee as Oaths Halt for Risk-Country Applicants

Immigration authorities plan to impose thousands of dollars in new fines on undocumented immigrants and will open a review center to expand screening for high-risk applicants. These steps have increased anxiety within immigrant communities.

As if reflecting this climate, WGBH reported that at a naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall on December 5th, some applicants from so-called “risk countries” had their oaths canceled while waiting in line.

Michael Banks, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, announced on X that the government will impose a $5,000 Apprehension Fee on undocumented immigrants age 14 or older. He stated, “We will impose a $5,000 Apprehension Fee on all undocumented immigrants age 14 and older,” and added that the fee would apply “regardless of entry method, length of stay, or pending procedures.”

Banks said the measure is based on the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA), signed by President Trump in July, which sets the minimum apprehension cost at $5,000 for fiscal year 2025 and authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary to adjust the amount for inflation.

The policy aligns with DHS’s broader effort to raise immigration-related fees while improving enforcement efficiency and easing financial burdens. Under the second Trump administration, enforcement has intensified, and it is widely known that arresting, detaining, and deporting one undocumented immigrant costs about $17,000 on average.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also announced the creation of a dedicated pre-screening center for foreign-national applicants in Atlanta. The center will consolidate immigration-review information and strengthen screening and document checks for high-risk applicants.

The step follows Executive Order 14161, which aims to block terrorism-related and criminal threats by foreign nationals. The center will review immigration petitions before and after approval using both public and confidential information and will adopt artificial-intelligence analysis. Applicants from the 19 “risk countries” designated by President Trump — including Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan, Haiti, Libya, and Somalia — will receive priority screening.

USCIS reportedly issued internal guidance instructing officers to temporarily pause processing for applicants from these 19 countries. Across the nation, reports have emerged of naturalization oaths being canceled without prior notice and of applicants being excluded from ceremonies.

BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]