US Border Walls Expand and Visa Fees Rise Under New Immigration Rules

Immigration policy has become a central focus of the current administration, driven by new funding and legal backing from the Supreme Court. The changes have altered how the United States manages its borders, processes visas, and handles asylum claims. These shifts are occurring as midterm elections approach, a period widely viewed as a referendum on the president's performance.

At the southern border, the volume of migrant encounters has dropped sharply. Under the previous administration, more than 4.5 million encounters were recorded in 2023 and 2024. Since the current president returned to office, that flow has decreased significantly. In El Paso, Texas, the area where thousands of migrants once camped is now quiet. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated on October 16 that strong enforcement works. The administration has frozen border asylum applications, ended catch and release policies, and deployed troops to the region.

Border infrastructure has also expanded. The One Big Beautiful spending bill provided $46.5 billion for new construction. Before the current term began, the country had about 644 miles of primary wall and 75 miles of secondary wall. Since then, 250 more miles of barriers and detection technology have been completed. Another 1,443 miles are currently under construction. Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council noted that the drop in crossings is linked to policy changes and messaging rather than just the physical barriers. President Trump called himself the King of the Wall at a rally in Kentucky on October 17, repeating claims that Mexico pays for the structure.

Inside the United States, immigration enforcement has intensified. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reached a record of nearly 50,000 detentions in July, according to the Deportation Data Project. A large portion of those held had no criminal convictions. Detentions of immigrants with criminal histories fell to an all-time low of 27 percent that month. By mid-July, the agency was removing an average of 1,255 people per day. This figure is higher than the approximately 770 removals per day seen in the final months of the Biden administration.

Public opinion remains divided on these tactics. A poll by The New York Times and Siena College released on October 21 found that 50 percent of voters trust Democrats on immigration issues, compared to 46 percent for Republicans. This result is notable because immigration has traditionally been a strength for the Republican party. A separate poll by Politico and Public First in late September found that 31 percent of non-MAGA Republicans believe the current enforcement campaign has become too aggressive. This sentiment followed Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, a two-month action in early 2026 that resulted in the deaths of two US citizens.

Refugee admissions have also declined. The administration suspended refugee intake shortly after the president took office. In February, the process reopened narrowly for Afrikaners from South Africa, whom the White House says face persecution, a claim that the South African government denies. The cap for the 2026 fiscal year was set at 7,500 and later raised to 17,500. State Department data shows that 16,292 refugees have been admitted so far, with 16,287 of them from South Africa. This compares to about 60,000 arrivals in fiscal year 2023 and 100,000 in 2024.

Changes to legal entry routes have affected workers and employers. A $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas introduced in September 2025 caused a sharp drop in applications. Registrations for 2027 fell by 40 percent according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. A court has temporarily blocked the fee, but the threat has already deterred many employers. A study from the Wharton School found that these changes would have no significant impact on the wages of US-born workers. For those with substantial wealth, a new residency option called the Trump Gold Card was launched in 2025. It requires a $1 million gift to the government plus a $15,000 application fee. Only one applicant was accepted by April.