The administration allegedly continued to collect fees for visa processing, work permits, and legal status adjustments while simultaneously implementing travel bans and policies that made it impossible for the applicants to receive those services.
www.independent.co.uk
- Targeted Groups: The policies primarily impacted applicants from over 90 countries, with Cuban nationals being the most affected, incurring costs of roughly $543 million, followed by Venezuelan applicants at $138 million.
- Methodology: The fees were charged for "adjustments of status" to permanent residence or work permits, essentially taking money from applicants when there was zero intention of fulfilling the services.
Trump team accused of $1 billion immigration ‘fraud’ through visa approval freeze
Recent Trump administration policies have stalled visa and legal status applications for citizens of 92 countries, hitting nations that send half of all legal immigrants to the U.S.