The Trump administration is reportedly considering a $100,000 bond for green card applications, as it intensifies its immigration crackdown.

The move is part of an initiative to ensure immigrants are "financially self-sufficient" and "contribute to our society more than they take from it," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on Thursday, as reported by The Hill.

Pigott further explained that the administration is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to strengthen enforcement of U.S. laws, preserve the integrity of the immigration system, and shield public benefits programs from the costs associated with foreign nationals requiring expensive medical care or other services.

The State Department is exploring the use of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require certain visa applicants deemed likely to become a public charge to post a bond, demonstrating they have adequate financial resources to support themselves, according to the official.

The proposed bond would represent a substantial increase over current immigration fees. It would be paid by applicants or their U.S.-based family members and refunded at a later date.

Currently, individuals filing Form I-485 within the U.S. pay a standard fee of $1,440, with additional charges for work authorization and travel documents. Applicants applying from abroad typically pay a $325 DS-260 immigrant visa application fee and a separate $235 USCIS immigrant fee.

According to the Wall Street Journal, since August, visa applicants from Malawi and Zambia have been required to post a $15,000 bond, which is forfeited if they overstay or seek a different immigration status after entering the U.S. The Trump administration said the policy, later extended to 50 other African countries, helped achieve a 97% visa compliance rate, though State Department officials reported fewer visas being issued.

Trump Expands Immigration Curbs

The proposed green card bond appears to be the latest in a series of efforts by the Trump administration to control immigration and ensure financial self-sufficiency among immigrants.

In May, the administration tightened immigration rules by requiring many foreign nationals seeking green cards to leave the U.S. and complete the application process from their home countries. Under the new guidance, temporary visa holders seeking green cards will generally be required to apply through U.S. embassies or consulates rather than adjust their status from within the U.S.

USCIS said the change is intended to enforce immigration law as written, close perceived loopholes, and free up resources to process other applications.

This move followed an attempt to impose a $100,000 fee on certain new H-1B visa applications, which was ruled unlawful by a federal judge in June. The judge stated that the fee was effectively a tax that Congress never authorized.