The US Department of State has launched a pilot program that requires certain would-be immigrants from the Dominican Republic to post bonds of up to $250,000 each. The initiative, which began on Wednesday, aims to prevent these individuals from collecting government benefits in the US. According to reports, the program targets Dominicans who have previously been denied visas due to concerns that they may become a ‘public charge,’ or someone who is primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.
The bonds, which range from $100,000 to $250,000, would be forfeited if the individual uses American government benefits, such as food stamps, housing vouchers, or Medicaid. The State Department has stated that consular officers will set bond amounts based on an assessment of the totality of the circumstances of each case. This program may be expanded to cover immigrants from other countries in the future.
The visa bonds are the costliest measure imposed on immigrants and other visitors to the US by President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump’s 2024 campaign included pledges to restrict immigration and carry out the largest mass deportation operation in US history. The new visa bonds will be refundable after five years if visa holders haven’t needed any government assistance.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can also decide when to cancel a bond or declare it’s been breached and subject to forfeiture. This move comes after the State Department began a one-year pilot program last year that required tourists and business travelers from 50 countries to post visa bonds of $5,000 to $15,500. The program was made permanent earlier this week, with increased bond amounts of $10,000, $15,000, or $20,000.
The Center for Immigration Studies has reported that 53% of immigrant households used one or more major welfare programs in 2024, compared to 37% of US-born households. However, a study by the Cato Institute found that in 2023, immigrants to the US comprised 14.8% of the population and received just 10.4% of means-tested welfare and entitlement benefits on a per capita basis.
The State Department has emphasized that immigrating to the US is a privilege, not a right, and those who seek to obtain that privilege must demonstrate that they will be a benefit, rather than a burden, to the nation.
