DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION POLICY THIS WEEK
Here, we summarize some of the most important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal, legal, state, and local levels.
Federal
Federal Law Enforcement Resources Redirected to Immigration Crackdown
Federal law enforcement agencies have redirected significant personnel and resources to support the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reassigned approximately 3,000 agents out of its total workforce of 13,000 to immigration enforcement duties, representing nearly 25% of all agents nationwide. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has also redirected an estimated 80% of its special agents to immigration matters.
The reassignments represent a shift from the FBI’s traditional focus areas including counterterrorism, cybercrime, and drug trafficking. Former FBI senior executive Chris O’Leary described agents’ abilities as “misused”, and their stature “weakened” from conducting immigration arrests rather than their specialized investigative work. ATF investigators have expressed concerns that reduced focus on firearms regulation could increase risks of weapons reaching prohibited purchasers. These workforce shifts have reportedly contributed to early retirements among federal agents across multiple agencies, with over 300 FBI agents resigning at the end of September alone.
USCIS Implements New Parole Fee
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it is implementing a $1,000 fee for immigrants granted parole into the United States beginning October 16. The raised fee was included in the reconciliation bill passed in July. Applicants must pay the fee after USCIS notifies them of approval, but before parole is granted. The fee applies to most parole requests but includes exceptions for individuals seeking entry for medical treatment, funerals, law enforcement investigations, or returning from temporary travel.
The new fee takes effect as parole approvals have declined. USCIS approved 73% of parole requests from April through June 2025, down from 82% during the same period in 2024. The agency also processed 58% fewer applications in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to the previous year, leaving 410,416 applications pending. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency continues operations despite the ongoing government shutdown, though processing times may be affected during the shutdown.
Afghan Allies Confront Deportation Despite Ongoing Taliban Killings
Thousands of Afghan allies, who supported U.S. forces, face deportation following the Trump administration’s July termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 11,000 Afghans and revocation of humanitarian parole for thousands more. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained at least 133 Afghans through late July, with some receiving notices to leave the country within seven days despite pending asylum applications. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated in May that requiring Afghan nationals to return “does not pose a threat to their personal safety,” claiming Afghanistan has seen an “improved security situation.” The State Department maintains a “Do Not Travel” advisory for Americans considering travel to Afghanistan.
A new investigation identified 110 killings of former Afghan National Defense and Security Forces members since 2023, including Afghan special operations forces who worked alongside U.S. troops. The investigation found that Taliban forces systematically target returning Afghans through torture and execution despite repeated Taliban amnesty declarations. Congressional efforts to provide permanent legal protections for Afghan allies have stalled despite bipartisan support. The Afghan Adjustment Act (H.R. 4895) and the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act (S.2679) would provide a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who assisted the U.S. mission and were evacuated following the fall of Kabul in August 2021.
Administration Considers Dramatic Changes to U.S. Refugee System
The Trump administration is considering changes to the U.S. refugee program that would place a larger emphasis on assimilation and shared cultural norms. According to documents reviewed by the New York Times, White House officials are seeking to admit “refugees who can be fully and appropriately assimilate, and are aligned with the president’s objectives.” Critics of the proposed changes warn that they show an unfair preference towards white people and conservative European activists. Such concerns have been animated by the prioritization of white Afrikaner farmers in February and a planned 95% reduction in refugee admissions. President Trump suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program after taking office in January but was ordered by a federal judge in May to admit approximately 12,000 refugees with travels plans who were already approved to enter the U.S. More than 100,000 refugees who were previously vetted and approved for resettlement remain unable to travel to the United States due to the program’s suspension.
Legal
Federal Courts Block National Guard Deployment in Illinois and Oregon
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on October 16 denied the Trump administration’s request to stay a lower court ruling that blocks National Guard deployment in Illinois. The appeals court had partially reversed a federal district judge’s order on October 11, allowing the Trump administration to federalize National Guard troops but preventing their deployment. Approximately 200 Texas National Guard members and 14 from California remain in Illinois under federal control, along with 300 federalized Illinois Guard members, but none can be deployed for operations under the current order. The lower court had ruled that immigration protests in Chicago do not constitute a “rebellion” that would justify National Guard involvement, calling the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) assessments of the protests “unreliable” and warning that troop deployment would “only add fuel to the fire.” The temporary restraining order expires on October 23, with a hearing scheduled for October 22 to assess a potential extension. Federal immigration agents will continue using Naval Station Great Lakes until at least December, with the base serving as a command center and parking facility for approximately 140 unmarked vehicles used in immigration operations.
In Oregon on October 15, a federal district judge extended temporary rulings blocking National Guard deployment to Portland for another 14 days , with a three-day trial scheduled to begin on October 29 focusing on state sovereignty and federal statute claims. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is currently weighing the Trump administration’s challenge to the judge’s order that temporarily blocked the federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard members and their deployment to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland. Unlike the 7th Circuit’s firm rejection of the administration’s arguments, the 9th Circuit panel has expressed skepticism about whether federal courts can review the president’s military deployment decisions and appeared more receptive to the administration’s claims of sweeping presidential authority.
State and Local
Los Angeles County Declares Emergency Over Federal Immigration Raids
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on October 15 to declare a state of emergency in response to federal immigration enforcement operations. The declaration allows the county to provide rent relief for residents who have fallen behind on payments due to the raids and to expedite contracting, procurement, and hiring to address the crisis. Supervisor Kathryn Barger cast the sole opposing vote, arguing the raids did not meet the criteria for an emergency and that the declaration could expose the county to legal challenges.
Federal immigration operations have resulted in more than 5,000 arrests in Los Angeles since June, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). County officials stated that the raids have spread fear and destabilized households and businesses, with residents afraid to leave their homes and workers missing from job sites. Nearly 950,000 undocumented immigrants live in LA County, representing more than 9% of the county’s 10 million residents. County officials cited a study estimating that mass deportation of California’s undocumented residents would create a $275 billion loss to the state’s gross domestic product. Last month, the county approved approximately $30 million in rental relief assistance for residents affected by wildfires or immigration raids, with applications opening in December.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED
It’s challenging to keep up with the deluge of proposed legislation in the 119th Congress. So, every week, we round up federal legislative proposals that have recently been introduced and that are relevant to immigration policy.
S.3009
Preserving A Sharia-Free America Act
The bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a new inadmissibility ground barring the entry of noncitizens who adhere to Sharia law. This is the companion bill to H.R.5722.
Sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (0 cosponsors)
10/15/2025 Introduced by Sen. Tuberville
10/15/2025 Referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR
The U.S. Senate will be in session from Monday, October 20, through Thursday, October 24. The U.S. House of Representatives will be in session from Monday, October 20, through Wednesday, October 23.
SPOTLIGHT ON FORUM RESOURCES
The Forum is constantly publishing new policy-focused resources that engage with some of the most topical issues around immigration today. Here are a few that are particularly relevant this week:
Explainer: President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation on H-1B Visas
Our explainer analyzes President Trump’s September 19, 2025, Presidential Proclamation that introduces a $100,000 “visa integrity fee” for H-1B visa applications. The resource details the policy’s impact on employers who may relocate operations abroad and foreign workers facing fewer opportunities and increased uncertainty.
Current Status of DACA: Explainer
The resource provides an overview of the current policy landscape surrounding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), including the Fifth Circuit decision, what is likely to come next, and some demographic and state data on DACA recipients.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS): Fact Sheet
Our fact sheet provides a comprehensive overview of Temporary Protected Status, a government protection for foreign-born individuals unable to return home safely. It details the Trump administration’s systematic termination, the resulting federal court challenges that have blocked or delayed many of these terminations and includes data showing TPS holders’ geographic distribution and their economic contributions.
*As of publication (10/17/25 at 2:30PM EST)
This Bulletin is not intended to be comprehensive. Please contact Nicci Mattey, Senior Policy & Advocacy Associate at the Forum, with questions, comments, and suggestions for additional items to be included. Nicci can be reached at nmattey@immigrationforum.org. Thank you.