The Trump administration is tightening entry requirements and strengthening enforcement teams as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown scheduled to start this fall.

New Fees and Bonds

Starting October 1, the Department of State will charge a $250 “visa integrity fee” for travelers who need a U.S. visa, bringing the total application cost to $442 for visitors from countries such as Mexico, India, Brazil, and China. This increase comes after five consecutive months of year-over-year declines in international arrivals; July inbound travel dropped 3.1% to 19.2 million. A pilot program launched on August 20 also allows bonds of up to $15,000 for certain tourist and business visas, aiming to curb overstays.

Student and Exchange-Visitor Caps

At the same time, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule to end indefinite stays for foreign students and exchange visitors. Under the plan, F-visa holders could remain only for the duration of their program—capped at four years, which is often less than needed for graduate degrees—and media visas would be limited to 240 days with one possible 240-day extension. DHS officials claim the change will close loopholes that created “forever students” and improve oversight. However, Fanta Aw, executive director of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, argues the restriction “will certainly act as an additional deterrent … to the detriment of American economies, innovation, and global competitiveness.”

ICE’s Hiring Surge

President Trump’s December tax and spending law allocated over $75 billion in supplemental funding across four years for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. At a two-day recruitment fair in Arlington, Texas, nearly 2,000 preregistered applicants competed for about 1,000 positions. Tyshawn Thomas, ICE’s chief human capital officer, said the agency plans to hire 10,000 deportation officers, 1,000 criminal investigators, and 1,800 attorneys nationwide. To widen the talent pool, ICE has waived some age limits and introduced fast-track programs for those with prior law enforcement experience.

Border Patrol Expansion and Training

Along with ICE’s growth, the administration is moving forward with its pledge to add 5,000 agents to the U.S. Border Patrol’s current 21,000-member force. New recruits undergo an intensive, months-long program at a New Mexico facility, which includes pepper-spray drills, firearms training, and self-defense exercises before deployment to stations mainly along the U.S.–Mexico border. Officials emphasize that the enhanced training is essential as units prepare for assignments in traditional border sectors and cities like Chicago, where a 30-day enforcement operation could start in September.

Economic and Political Stakes

Supporters see these measures as delivering on campaign promises to secure the border and enforce immigration laws. Critics—from travel-industry leaders to student advocates—warn that the higher fees and visa caps will further reduce tourism, hurt U.S. competitiveness, and create fear in immigrant communities. As these policies take effect, their influence on travel numbers, higher-education enrollment, and local enforcement dynamics will face close scrutiny.