The Senate’s recent passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBBA)—a sweeping budget-reconciliation measure combining tax, spending, healthcare, and immigration policies—marks a significant turning point for immigrants in the U.S.
Here are the ways the OBBBA will affect the landscape of U.S. Immigration:
1. 🚨 Sharp increase in immigration enforcement – deportations and ICE raids
- The bill allocates roughly $150 billion toward border security and deportations, including funding for 10,000 ICE agents, 5,000 Border Patrol officers, detention expansion, and support for removing up to 1 million undocumented people annually .
- Local law enforcement in states will have increased cooperation authority with federal agents.
2. High filing fees and restrictions on legal immigration
- New, unprecedented fees on humanitarian protections, work-authorizations, and other forms of legal immigration could substantially raise costs for immigrants .
- A 3.5% remittance tax and requirements for Social Security numbers to access tax breaks could burden undocumented and mixed-status families.
3. Shrinking access to healthcare for lower income people (many immigrants)
- Medicaid changes include work requirements, higher fees, and stricter proof protocols—projected to result in 10–11 million fewer people with coverage, including 1.4 million undocumented residents losing access.
- These cuts, paired with reduced premium tax credits, would hit immigrant families particularly hard, leaving many uninsured.
4. Reduced protections for vulnerable immigrant children
- The bill allows for expedited removal of unaccompanied children—even without legal counsel, effectively stripping basic protections.
5. Broader tax-code exclusion
- Undocumented immigrants will lose access to tax breaks like tip‑income deductions and “senior bonus” credits unless they have a Social Security number.
- The IRS is expanding data-sharing with ICE, raising fears about migrant privacy and enforcement.
Impacts & Implications
| Category | Expected Impact |
| Deportations | Hiring surges and streamlining translate into dramatically increased deportation rates. |
| Legal immigration | Higher fees and stricter eligibility rules will create financial barriers for legal applicants. |
| Health coverage | Millions of immigrant and mixed-status families may lose essential healthcare. |
| Children | Legal protections for noncitizen minors will be weakened, increasing vulnerability. |
| Privacy & enforcement | Expanded IRS-ICE data sharing intensifies risk of deportation from routine financial activity. |
Critics—including the ACLU—warn the bill “funds abusive deportation efforts” at the expense of immigrant and Medicaid recipients.
Meanwhile, libertarian think tanks argue the skyrocketing enforcement spending could itself exceed a trillion over time.
Bottom Line
If enacted as-is, the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ would significantly harden the immigration landscape:
- Vastly expanded enforcement, detention, and deportation infrastructure
- Costlier and more restricted pathways for legal immigration
- Millions of immigrants and their families losing healthcare
- Sharply curtailed protections for immigrant children
- Greater data-sharing that raises surveillance and deportation risks
For immigrant communities, this represents a dramatic shift toward increased surveillance, enforcement, and exclusion—potentially reversing years of access and integration progress.
As U.S. immigration lawyers, SHEPELSKY LAW GROUP urges anyone who may be affected by this bill—whether you’re undocumented, in the middle of a visa process, or worried about your family’s future—to take action now. The laws are changing fast, and waiting could put your status and your rights at risk. Our team is here to guide you, protect your future, and fight for your right to stay in the U.S. legally and safely. Reach out today for a confidential consultation.
SHEPELSKY LAW GROUP
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney client relationship is established. For specific advice on your case, contact a qualified attorney.