Bill Overview
Title: ORR Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies various immigration-related provisions. For example, the bill (1) increases to $25,000 (currently $1,500) the minimum amount of a security bond that the Department of Homeland Security may require before releasing a detained non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from custody while a decision is pending as to whether to remove that non-U.S. national from the United States, and (2) imposes additional requirements before an individual may be considered an unaccompanied alien child (immigration law imposes various requirements relating to the treatment of unaccompanied alien children).
Sponsors: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison [R-NC-11]
Target Audience
Population: Non-U.S. nationals affected by U.S. immigration law changes
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill impacts non-U.S. nationals detained in the U.S. whose removal is pending, particularly due to the increase in the security bond from $1,500 to $25,000.
- It affects the procedures and requirements concerning unaccompanied alien children, potentially impacting a number of minors trying to enter the U.S.
- The general care and processing of unaccompanied alien children within the U.S. immigration system will be governed by the changes in this bill.
Reasoning
- The policy mainly impacts non-U.S. nationals detained in the U.S., so the simulated individuals will include both affected non-U.S. nationals and U.S. citizens working within the system or with immigrants.
- Given the security bond increase, the policy might have a significant financial impact on detained individuals awaiting court decisions and potentially prolong detentions.
- For unaccompanied children, stricter requirements could impact their treatment and processing time, affecting wellbeing scores.
- The indirect impact on U.S. citizens is expected to be minimal but must be considered for immigration-related jobs.
Simulated Interviews
Immigration Lawyer (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new bond amount is prohibitively high for many of my clients, which means they will remain detained longer while waiting for their cases to be heard.
- This makes it more difficult for me to provide effective legal assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Detained Non-U.S. National (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The bond increase is daunting and makes it impossible for people like me to get out of detention while waiting for a decision.
- Being detained is highly stressful and impacts my mental health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Social Worker (El Paso, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about the policy adding complexity to processing unaccompanied children; it seems it will increase their stay in shelters.
- There needs to be a focus on supporting these children effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Detained Father's Child (Miami, FL)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will keep my dad detained longer because we can't afford the bond.
- It's painful to see this affecting our family life and his wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Community Volunteer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy makes my work more critical but also more challenging because it adds stress to the communities I work with.
- I am worried about the children and families affected by the new rules.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
ICE Officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The bond increase adds complexity to our workload without clear additional resources to assist.
- It might lead to more tensions with detainees and their families.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Unaccompanied Child Arrival (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The stricter requirements mean I'll stay in the group home longer, it's really hard to deal with.
- I miss my family and want a stable situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Agricultural Worker (Wausau, WI)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about my family and how the policy might hit them.
- We live with uncertainty if rules change like this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Public School Teacher (Oakland, CA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about how this affects my students and their families.
- We may need more resources to support children dealing with family detention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Policy Advocate (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy reflects a harsher stance that doesn't align with more humane approaches I've been advocating for.
- It complicates legal and support processes for vulnerable groups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $775000000 (Low: $520000000, High: $1030000000)
Year 3: $800000000 (Low: $540000000, High: $1060000000)
Year 5: $850000000 (Low: $570000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 10: $900000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1150000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1300000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy directly impacts non-U.S. nationals, but broader societal and economic interactions may have indirect effects on U.S. citizens.
- The changing bond requirements could lead to fewer early releases or compliance issues, affecting both costs and resource allocation.
- The impact on unaccompanied alien children will require careful consideration of legal and humanitarian obligations, potentially leading to budget adjustments.