Federal immigration officers would get 25% pay bonus under HR 8805

What does this do?

HR 8805 would give federal immigration enforcement officers an annual lump-sum bonus equal to 25 percent of their base salary, with an additional 15 percent for officers working in designated higher-risk metro areas including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC. The bill would also add surcharges on wire transfers sent from the US to specific foreign countries, including a flat $199 fee for transfers to countries such as Haiti, Somalia, Iran, and Yemen, and a $99 fee for transfers to any country where more than 2 percent of visa holders have overstayed. Both surcharges can apply at the same time, stacking on top of an existing 1 percent tax.

Who does it affect?

Federal immigration enforcement officers working on identifying, arresting, detaining, or removing people without legal status would see a significant pay increase. People in the US who send money to relatives or others in the listed countries would face substantially higher transfer fees.

Why does it matter?

Officers in the named metro areas would receive a combined 40 percent bonus because those locations are classified as higher-risk, and additional cities could be added later based on crime levels or documented threats to officers. People who regularly send remittances to the listed countries would pay up to $298 in flat surcharges per transfer, beyond the existing 1 percent tax, with no cap or exemption specified in the summary.

What does it cost, and who pays?

• $199 surcharge to listed countries
• $99 fee for high visa-overstay nations
• Pay source for bonuses unspecified