Federal
Congress Passes $70 Billion Plan to Fund ICE and Border Patrol Through Remainder of Trump Administration
On June 9, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-212 to provide nearly $70 billion dollars in immigration enforcement funding. The bill passed the House after the Senate narrowly approved the funding package the previous week through the budget reconciliation process, which allowed Republicans to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold required for most legislation. The bill was signed into law by President Trump on June 10.
The package provides approximately $38 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $22 billion for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and an additional $5 billion for contingency and operational costs, securing funding for the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda through the remainder of President Trump’s term. The legislation was approved largely along party lines through the budget reconciliation process after a months-long shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this year. Passage of the ICE and CBP funding through the appropriations process follows months of debate over immigration enforcement funding and oversight, during which Democratic opposition blocked enforcement funding in the absence of accountability reforms for immigration enforcement agencies.
Supporters argued the funding is necessary to fund DHS operations, including the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement operations, while opponents criticized the measure for providing three years of significant resources without corresponding accountability reforms. On top of the tens of billions of dollars in supplemental enforcement funding in 2025’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the enactment of the ICE and CBP spending package further increases spending on federal immigration enforcement to record levels.
World Cup Opens Amid Ongoing Travel and Immigration Policy Concerns
On June 11, the FIFA Men’s World Cup kicked off in North America, with the United States hosting the vast majority of games. However, despite DHS assurances that international visitors who lawfully travel to the United States have “nothing to worry about,” travel and immigration restrictions have cast a shadow over the tournament, raising concerns about whether fans, players, referees, and journalists will be able to participate fully.
Of the 48 countries participating, five are subject to travel bans(Iran, Haiti, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo), with further restrictions, including a 75-country suspension of immigrant visa processing (12 of which have qualified for the tournament), potentially deterring other travelers from attending.
As players, fans, and referees began arriving for the World Cup, some immigration-related incidents have been reported. On June 9, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali FIFA referee, was reportedly barred from entering the United States over vetting concerns related to alleged associations with suspected members of terrorist organizations. Iraqi player Aymen Hussein also faced difficulties upon arrival, reportedly being questioned for seven hours before being allowed to enter the U.S. In addition, the Senegalese and Uzbekistani teams have been subject to atypical, rigorous security screenings upon their arrival.
FIFA has maintained that “everyone is welcome,” while also acknowledging that immigration decisions remain under U.S. authority. CBP has said travelers are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Legal
Federal Judge Blocks $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
On June 8, A federal judge in Massachusetts struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, ruling that the policy exceeded the executive branch’s authority and could not be imposed without congressional authorization. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin concluded that the fee functioned as a tax rather than a regulatory charge and therefore required approval by Congress. The fee, announced by the administration in September 2025, represented a dramatic increase over previous filing costs and was intended to “protect American workers” and ensure that companies prioritize domestic hiring.
The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of 20 states, led by California, which argued that the fee would make it more difficult for employers, universities, and health care systems to recruit highly skilled workers, including physicians and educators. The administration has indicated that it intends to appeal the ruling.
Judge Orders Administration to Restart Asylum and Legal Immigration Processing 39 Nations Subject to Halt
On June 5, a federal judge in Rhode Island blocked the Trump administration’s policy that suspended the processing of immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of the 39 countries listed on the administration’s so-called “travel ban list.” The policy directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to pause adjudication of applications for work authorization, adjustment of status, asylum, Temporary Protected Status, and other immigration benefits. The administration argued that the measure was necessary to address security concerns, but the court found that the government likely exceeded its legal authority by imposing a broad, indefinite suspension on congressionally authorized immigration processes.
The ruling orders USCIS to resume processing applications that had been placed on hold under the policy while litigation continues. According to the lawsuit, the freeze affected hundreds of thousands of applicants from the 39 designated countries, many of whom had been unable to obtain work authorization or receive decisions on pending immigration benefits for months.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED
Secure America Act (Reconciliation Bill)
This bill provides funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through FY2029 for immigration enforcement and related activities.
Sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina)
05/20/2026 Introduced in the Senate by Sen. Lindsay Graham
05/20/2026 Referred to the Senate Committee on the Budget
06/05/2026 Passed the Senate after a 52-47 vote
06/09/2026 Passed the House after a 214-212 vote
06/10/2026 Signed into law by the President
Know Your Rights Act
This bill would require the U.S. Attorney General, with help from nonprofit organizations, to create and provide a legal orientation program (LOP) in every immigration detention facility. The program and detainees’ legal rights information must be available in English and the five most spoken languages at each facility.
Sponsored by Rep. Bill Foster (D- Illinois) (8 cosponsors)
06/03/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Bill Foster
06/03/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act
This bill aims to prevent foreign nationals from using surrogacy arrangements in the U.S. by making those contracts invalid and penalizing brokers who help arrange them. It also seeks to limit immigration benefits for foreign parents involved in such surrogacy agreements.
Sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry (R- Pennsylvania) (15 cosponsors)
06/03/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Scott Perry
06/03/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
Careworker Visa Act
This bill creates a new temporary W visa category for qualified careworkers, including childcare providers, eldercare workers, and in-home caregivers for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, this bill provides a pathway for certain immigrants already living in the U.S. since January 1, 2024, to obtain legal work status as caregivers if they meet requirements such as passing a background check, paying a $500 fee, and paying all taxes.
Sponsored by Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico) (1 cosponsor)
06/09/2026 Introduced in the House by Rep. Gabe Vasquez
06/09/2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary
LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to be in session from Monday, June 15, through Thursday, June 18. The U.S. House is scheduled to be in recess until Tuesday, June 23.
UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
There are no immigration-related hearings scheduled for the week of June 15.
SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION 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: USCIS Memorandum on Adjustment of Status Within the United States
- Medical Care in ICE Detention
- The Consequences of Net Negative Migration in 2025: Implications for the U.S. Economy, Workforce, and Global Competitiveness
- Reclassifying ‘Applicants for Admission’: How the Second Trump Administration is Reshaping Mandatory Detention
- Why Businesses Should Support Immigration Reform
*As of publication (6/12/26 at 1:00PM EST)