House Republicans have introduced a budget reconciliation bill that, if passed, would give the Trump administration up to $200 billion in funding to conduct mass deportations without due process while also imposing much higher immigration application fees and restricting work permits.
The proposal would impose:
- $1,000 application fee for asylum seekers and parole applicants
- $3,500 fee for sponsors of unaccompanied children and a $2,500 fine if they fail to appear in court
- $100 annual fee while asylum cases remain pending
- $1,500 fee to apply for adjustment of status (green card)
- $500 fee for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- $250 penalty for visa overstays
In addition, the bill proposes to limit employment authorization documents (EADs) to grants of 6 months.
This would make it very difficult for EAD holders to renew their permits timely, could result in millions losing their employment, and would create uncertainty for American businesses.
Curiously, a large portion of these fees would not go to fund the work of the agencies that review and decide these applications but instead would go to the Department of Treasury fund.
This means that, without the funding that the filing fees would provide otherwise to these agencies, the immigration system would suffer additional backlogs and inefficiencies.
Notably, much of the new fee revenue would not go to USCIS or other agencies who process and issue decisions on applications, but instead would be directed to the Department of Treasury or enforcement agencies, such as ICE and CBP, to fund detention, deportations, and expanded enforcement infrastructure.
This diversion of funds from USCIS would exacerbate existing backlogs and inefficiencies, as USCIS is primarily funded by application fees and relies on them for operational capacity.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified immigration attorney.
