[heleny]

Now that the 245i extension has passed, is it possible to raise the $1000 filing fee to, say, $5000 or $10,000, and add requirements for background checks?

The higher fee should subsidize the background checks and deportation costs for illegals. If legal residency has a supply-and-demand curve, perhaps the higher price will keep demand lower, too.

[sarcasm]

Bush will probably find a way to waive the fee.

[Regulator]

to raise the $1000 filing fee to, say, $5000 or $10,000

They'll just steal it. No one will arrest them. They have more rights than we do. They can commit crimes and the government absolves them.