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Emigration and immigration

Congressional Republicans Propose Fees on Immigrants Seeking Asylum or Humanitarian Parole

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Legislation moving through the House of Representatives could require immigrants to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to seek asylum, care for a minor in government custody, or apply for humanitarian parole. This move has been warned to create insurmountable financial barriers for vulnerable immigrants. Experts who work with immigrants say putting more economic pressure on people attempting to navigate US immigration laws could drain what little money they have, force them into exploitative work arrangements, or push them to leave the country altogether.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed legislation would require immigrants to pay up to $1,000 to apply for asylum, $100 to keep an application active each year, and $550 for a work permit.
  • The bill also includes fees for humanitarian parole ($1,000), Special Immigrant Juvenile Status ($500), and immigration court continuances ($100 each time).
  • Adults would have to pay $3,500 to partially pay back the government for the care of unaccompanied minors and another $5,000 to ensure the child attends their court hearings.
  • The fees are targeted at people who seek to sponsor children who crossed the border without a parent or guardian and wind up in the government's care.
  • Experts warn that the fees could create a complete barrier to forms of relief for low-income clients, forcing them to work under the table, take out high-interest loans, or face labor trafficking.
  • Heidi Altman, vice-president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, stated that the new fees appeared targeted at the sorts of immigrants that the Trump administration has prioritized keeping out, such as asylum seekers.
  • Victoria Maqueda Feldman, director of legal programs at Ayuda, warned that the fees would place vulnerable immigrants in danger, such as asylum seekers, children, and survivors of crimes.

Statistics:

  • Over $50bn is allocated in the legislation to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border and fortifications elsewhere.
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will receive $45bn for detention facilities, $14bn for its deportation operations, and billions of dollars more to hire 10,000 new agents by 2029.
  • Some 10,000 new ICE agents are expected to be hired by 2029, but it is unclear how this will impact the US immigration system.
  • The bill includes fees that do not currently exist under US law, including a $100 fee to keep an immigration application active each year.

Sources:

  • "Congressional Republicans Propose Fees on Immigrants Seeking Asylum or Humanitarian Parole"

+ Lawmakers propose fees that could amount to thousands of dollars to seek asylum or humanitarian parole

+ Victoria Maqueda Feldman, director of legal programs at Ayuda, warns that the fees would place vulnerable immigrants in danger

+ Heidi Altman, vice-president of policy at the National Immigration Law Center, states that the fees are targeted at the sorts of immigrants that the Trump administration has prioritized keeping out

  • Photograph: Michael Brochstein/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

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