Immigration Landscape: 2025 Review

By [ Austin Gold ]
11/24/2025

There have been sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy in 2025, marking one of the most significant shifts in decades. With the Trump administration’s second term prioritizing enforcement and raising the price of visas, employers—especially in retail—are navigating new rules, and rising compliance burdens. These changes, driven mostly by executive actions and some congressional measures, are reshaping workforce dynamics across industries. RILA has been watching these changes closely and facilitating up to date information to retail members.

Regulatory & Administrative Action
Throughout 2025, regulatory changes sharply reduced humanitarian programs that were utilized by many immigrants to obtain work authorization and tightened employment-based immigration, creating major workforce challenges. Key developments include:

Termination of TPS for nine countries and rescission of the CHNV parole program (Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans), eliminating work authorization for hundreds of thousands and worsening labor shortages across industries.
DACA remains, but under stricter limits. And with a potential for repeal by the Supreme Court on the horizon.
H-1B petitions now carry a $100,000 fee per petition (up from $10), alongside proposed lottery reforms favoring high-wage roles, dramatically raising costs for retailers seeking specialized talent in e-commerce and supply chain operations.
Asylum access narrowed with new fees, reinstated border programs, and refugee admissions cut to 7,500 for FY2026.
DHS ended automatic EAD extensions, increasing compliance burdens and risks of employment gaps due to processing delays.

Most of these changes took effect in late 2025, with visa fee increases and EAD policy shifts fully implemented in October.

Congressional Action
Congress focused on enforcement and modernization:

The FY 2025 Reconciliation Bill, signed in July, raised immigration application fees, expanded funding for border security and deportation operations, and shortened work authorization validity periods—adding compliance costs for employers.
The DIGNITY Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), proposes pairing enhanced border security and mandatory E-Verify with legal status programs for long-term undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients. It also includes visa modernization measures to reduce backlogs and raise caps, representing the most comprehensive reform effort this year. If enacted, the DIGNITY Act could expand legal pathways for long-term undocumented workers, offering potential relief for industries facing chronic labor shortages.
House Resolution 2, introduced last year, passed the House as a GOP immigration and enforcement package but stalled in the Senate and has not been formally reintroduced. It now serves as a baseline for Republican priorities, with House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan (R-OH) and other leaders emphasizing they won’t move ahead of the White House, framing HR 2 as a marker rather than an aggressive push.

Looking Ahead & RILA Actions
Looking ahead to 2026, employers should expect continued strict enforcement and higher costs for both humanitarian and employment-based immigration. Processing backlogs and the increased visa fees are likely to persist. Congress is unlikely to pass major legalization, especially given the midterm elections, which typically limits the prospects for significant legislative action.

In addition, the Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling on the legality of DACA in the second half of 2026, a decision that could have sweeping implications for hundreds of thousands of workers and the employers who rely on them. The Supreme Court will also hear a case about Trump’s first term policy of turning away asylum seekers at the border, a case that could also reshape the administration’s authority to unilaterally alter immigration policy.

As these regulatory and legislative changes continue to reshape the landscape, RILA will continue to advocate alongside the Critical Labor Coalition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other partners to preserve work authorization, modernize visa programs, and reduce compliance burdens. RILA remains committed to advancing practical immigration solutions that stabilize the workforce and support the industry’s long-term growth.