Republicans Seek $1,000 Fee for Asylum Seekers in Sweeping Immigration Plan

House Republicans have introduced a proposal that would require migrants to pay $1,000 to apply for asylum, marking the first time the U.S. government would impose a direct fee on such requests.

The bill, under consideration by the House Judiciary Committee, is part of a broader immigration and budget bill aimed at funding expanded enforcement and detention efforts while discouraging unauthorized immigration.

In addition to the $1,000 asylum application fee, asylum seekers would be charged $100 annually while their case is pending and a separate $550 fee to apply for work authorization. Sponsors of unaccompanied minors would also face a $3,500 fee. If a sponsor fails to appear in immigration court, the release fee could rise to $5,000. The figures would be indexed in accordance with inflation, Forbes detailed.

Renewing or extending work authorization for individuals under TPS, parole, or asylum would cost at least $550, with the renewed permit valid for six months or less.

The proposed legislation also introduces a $250 "visa integrity fee" for temporary visa applicants, which could be reimbursed under specific conditions. Other proposed charges include $400 to apply for a diversity visa, $250 to enter the visa lottery, $1,500 to apply for permanent residency in immigration court, and $900 to file an appeal from a Department of Homeland Security decision or immigration judge ruling.

The collected fees are intended to help fund a dramatic expansion of immigration enforcement. The self-titled "reconciliation bill" allocates $45 billion through 2029 to expand detention capacity, $14 billion for removal operations, and $8 billion to hire at least 10,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel, as The New York Times explains.

The bill, which bypasses the Senate filibuster, also includes language to limit judicial oversight by restricting contempt powers against government officials unless plaintiffs post financial security.

Critics argue that the fee increases will make it prohibitively expensive for vulnerable individuals to access legal protections. "This new fee will have a chilling effect on those filing from such countries as those located on the African continent where GDP [Gross Domestic Product] is the lowest" said immigration attorney Jonathan Grode to Forbes, referring to the proposed diversity visa lottery fee.