The NPR Politics Podcast How The "BIg, Beautiful Bill" Would Change Immigration Policy
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May 27, 2025 
Ximena Bustillo, an immigration policy reporter for NPR, dives into the complexities of a significant reconciliation bill aiming to reshape U.S. immigration policy. She discusses the increase in border security funding and the impact of higher application fees. Bustillo clarifies misconceptions about undocumented immigrants and public benefits while exploring the Trump administration's controversial Gold Card proposal for wealthy immigrants. The conversation highlights the shifting landscape of immigration policies and their broader economic implications.
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Three Key Immigration Provisions
- The reconciliation bill has three immigration-related provisions: border security funding, fees for legal immigration processes, and restricting public benefits for certain legal immigrants.
- The bill proposes $45 billion for border wall infrastructure, new fees for asylum applications, and cuts to benefits for refugees, asylees, and parolees.
Who's Affected by Benefits Cuts
- The bill primarily impacts refugees, asylum seekers, parolees, and temporary protected status holders.
- House Republicans aim to restrict public benefits access to only green card holders and citizens.
Legal Immigrants' Low Benefit Use
- Undocumented immigrants cannot apply for public benefits like SNAP, but can apply on behalf of their U.S. citizen children.
- Participation of legal immigrants in these programs is low due to fear of negative immigration consequences.