Starting this week, immigrants looking to enter the United States under what’s called “parole” will have to do something most Americans already do every time they deal with the government: pay up. That’s right — a new $1,000 fee is now required for those seeking temporary permission to enter and stay in our country while they try to find a legal way to remain here. And let’s just say, it’s about time.
For years, we’ve been told that our immigration system is “broken” — and fair enough, it has been. But what the media forgets to mention is who broke it: Democrats, bureaucrats, and open-border activists who think the word “illegal” is just a suggestion. They’ve turned our southern border into a revolving door while taxpayers foot the bill. Well, not anymore.
This new fee is part of President Trump’s tax-and-spending package, and it’s exactly the kind of common-sense move that working Americans have been waiting for. If you want to come to America — the greatest country in the world — you’ve got to show that you’re serious. You’ve got to show that you’re willing to follow the rules. And yes, you’ve got to be willing to pay the toll like everybody else.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the announcement this week, saying that immigrants will be required to pay the fee *before* their parole can be approved. If they don’t pay, they don’t get in. Simple as that. “We will not grant parole unless you pay the immigration parole fee as instructed and within the specified time period,” the agency said in a statement. That’s what enforcing the law looks like, folks.
Of course, the left is already clutching their pearls over the idea of charging people money to enter the country. But let’s be real here: Americans pay taxes. We pay DMV fees. We pay for passports, permits, licenses, and just about everything else under the sun. Why should foreign nationals get a free pass?
Let’s also be clear: this isn’t some cruel, blanket policy. There are exemptions in place for people seeking to enter the U.S. for medical treatment, funerals, law enforcement investigations, or other urgent reasons. This isn’t about slamming the door on people in need — it’s about closing the loopholes that have been abused for far too long.
And here’s another important point: parole approvals are already dropping. From April to June of this year, USCIS approved 73% of parole requests — down from 82% during the same period last year. That’s not a coincidence. That’s the Trump administration bringing back actual scrutiny to a system that was rubber-stamping its way toward chaos. Meanwhile, there are still over 410,000 parole applications pending. That’s more than the population of Miami, just sitting in limbo.
The media might cry foul, but most Americans understand the basic idea of fairness. If you want to come here legally, there’s a process. If you want a handout, try Canada. We’re not in the business of subsidizing illegal immigration anymore. Not under this administration.
In the end, this $1,000 fee is more than just a policy change — it’s a signal. It tells the world that the United States is back to putting its citizens first. It tells the cartels, the smugglers, and the loophole lawyers that the days of easy entry are over. And it tells American taxpayers that their voices — and their wallets — finally matter again.
So, while the usual suspects on the left throw another tantrum, the rest of us can breathe a little easier knowing that, for once, the people in charge are actually doing their job. You want to come to America? Great. Get in line. Bring your paperwork. And yes — bring your checkbook too.