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Trump’s 2025 Immigration Enforcement: A Legal Breakdown from Spar & Bernstein
On June 26, 2025, former President Donald Trump formally unveiled his highly anticipated immigration reform proposal, a comprehensive bill designed to reshape key aspects of the U.S. immigration system. PBS NewsHour and other trusted outlets have identified four major ways this bill could significantly affect families, businesses, and individuals seeking to live or work in the United States.
At Spar & Bernstein, our immigration attorneys are here to help you understand how these changes may affect your immigration status and how to protect your rights.
1. Border Wall Expansion
The bill allocates $46.5 billion over four years for the continued construction of a border wall along the U.S.–Mexico border. While proponents claim the wall will deter illegal crossings and enhance national security, the expansion raises significant legal concerns for private landowners, Indigenous communities, and environmental groups.
Many of the affected properties along the southern border are privately owned. Eminent domain proceedings, where the government seizes private land for public use, are expected to escalate. Additionally, the environmental impact of expanded wall construction could spark legal challenges under federal and state laws.
2. Increased Detention and Immigration Enforcement
The proposal provides $45 billion for new immigrant detention facilities and an additional $12 billion to hire 18,000 more ICE and Border Patrol agents. If passed, this would represent one of the largest expansions of immigration enforcement infrastructure in U.S. history.
For immigrants, this could mean higher risks of detention, increased family separation, and more aggressive workplace enforcement actions. Legal advocates warn that the surge in detention facilities may lead to violations of due process rights, overcrowded conditions, and barriers to accessing legal representation for detained individuals.
3. Immigration Court Overhaul
With over four million cases backlogged in immigration courts, the bill aims to alleviate delays by allocating $1.25 billion to hire more immigration judges and support staff. While addressing the backlog is urgently needed, legal experts have raised concerns that this funding falls far short of the estimated $4.7 billion required to effectively resolve existing caseloads.
Without sufficient resources, efforts to expedite court proceedings could undermine due process protections, limit access to legal counsel, and result in rushed decisions that fail to account for the complexities of each immigration case.
4. Steep Application Fee Increases
Perhaps one of the most controversial aspects of the bill is a proposal to significantly increase application fees for essential immigration benefits. Asylum seekers, among the most vulnerable populations, would face a $1,000 fee to submit their applications. Fees for appeals, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and other vital immigration filings would also rise substantially.
Such fee increases could discourage eligible applicants from seeking lawful status or protection, particularly low-income individuals and families fleeing persecution or hardship. Immigration advocates argue these costs violate principles of fairness and due process, creating financial barriers to legal relief.
Why Act Now?
The 2025 immigration reform bill represents the most aggressive overhaul of immigration policy in years. Even though it has not yet been signed into law, preparing now can help you avoid future legal complications and ensure your rights are protected.
How We Can Help
At Spar & Bernstein, we understand that navigating immigration law is already complex, and proposed changes like these only heighten the uncertainty for individuals, families, and employers. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to protecting your rights and guiding you through every stage of your immigration journey, regardless of how the legal landscape evolves.
We can defend detained individuals in bond hearings and removal proceedings, challenge unreasonable delays in immigration court, and assist clients in pursuing waivers or legal remedies to counter excessive application fees. For families and employers concerned about how these changes could affect their loved ones or workforce, we provide proactive legal strategies to maintain compliance and protect your interests.
Contact Spar & Bernstein Today
Spar & Bernstein has been a trusted leader in U.S. immigration law for over 60 years. If you, your family, or your business could be impacted by these proposed immigration changes, contact our team today for a personalized consultation.