Trump will charge $15,000 to tourists from high-risk countries to enter the US

To curb illegal immigration and foster cooperation with foreign governments, the Department of State will implement a new pilot program that will require some tourists who want to visit the United States to pay a bond deposit of up to $15,000 to enter the country.

The pilot program, which will be in effect from August 20 for a period of 12 months, aims to target the hundreds of thousands of people who overstay their visas each year.

The filter proposed by the Department of State is that this new rule will be applied to citizens of countries identified as having high rates of overstays and where the information for reviewing and evaluating immigration documents is considered deficient.

Bonds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000.

This way, consular officers will be authorized to require that nonimmigrant visa applicants from countries with high rates of overstays pay a bond deposit that may range from $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 during their stay in the United States.

The amount will depend on individual circumstances and official discretion, and as long as the traveler doesn't overstay in the United States beyond what their visa allows, it will be refunded once they leave the country.

Trump's White House had already attempted to implement a program with similar characteristics during his first term in 2020, but that trial never went into effect due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic.

Curving illegal immigration as a tool of diplomacy.

"By its design and intent, the Pilot Program is a tool of diplomacy, intended to encourage foreign governments to take immediate action to reduce the rates of overstays by their nationals when traveling to the United States for temporary visits," the notice states.

"The goal is to encourage countries to improve their evaluation processes, travel security, and civil documents, including the granting of citizenship," it concludes.

Since 2015, the number of people who remain illegally in the U.S. after their visa expires has averaged in the hundreds of thousands each year, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. That entity determined that in 2023 alone there were around 500,000 cases of overstays.