United States: $15,000 Visa: Trump Administration Imposes Bail on Certain Foreigners

Up to $15,000: That's the deposit foreigners from certain countries may have to pay if they require a visa to travel to the United States, under a State Department pilot project announced Monday. The decision, which is to be published in the Federal Register this Tuesday and take effect 15 days later, is part of the Trump administration's efforts to combat illegal immigration.

Its main objective is to ensure that visa applicants do not overstay their authorized stay in the United States. The pilot project is scheduled to last 12 months. According to the State Department's notice, it applies to both tourist and business travel.

This initiative "reinforces the Trump administration's commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration laws and protecting national security," according to a spokesperson. This includes "nationals of countries identified by the State Department as having high overstay rates" or those whose "screening and verification information is deemed insufficient," at the discretion of consular officials.

According to the document, some 500,000 people overstayed their authorized stay in the United States during fiscal year 2023 (October to October). The State Department did not release the list of countries affected. However, some 40 countries, mainly in Europe, participate in a visa waiver program for a limited period of 90 days.

In recent months, the US president has begun tightening visa requirements for many countries , particularly in Africa, amid Washington's anti-immigration crackdown. On Monday, the United States announced it was suspending visas to Burundians, citing "repeated violations" by citizens of the impoverished African country.

Since returning to power in January, Donald Trump has made the relentless fight against illegal immigration a top priority. At the end of July, the NGO Human Rights Watch denounced the "degrading and dehumanizing" conditions in several migrant detention centers.