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House Republicans have unveiled a plan to require migrants applying for asylum to pay a $1,000 fee — a change immigrant advocates warn could block the most desperate from finding refuge.
While proponents frame the fee as a way to manage strained resources and prevent abuse, critics argue it targets people already fleeing danger and poverty, placing safety even further out of reach, according to the New York Times.
Currently, seeking asylum in the U.S. is free. This longstanding policy reflects a belief that those escaping violence or persecution shouldn’t be priced out of protection. The new proposal would reverse decades of humanitarian practice by requiring a $1,000 payment to file an asylum application — an amount that could mean sacrificing basic necessities for many.
Supporters argue the immigration system is overwhelmed, and it’s unfair to expect taxpayers to cover all the costs. Representative Tom McClintock said he believes a real asylum claim would not be derailed by a $1,000 fee, insisting it would help weed out fraudulent cases. However, many immigration experts say the real-world impact would be devastating for those with legitimate claims and little to no money, according to a report from American Faith.
On the front lines, advocates paint a starkly different picture. Migrants often arrive at the U.S. border with only the belongings they can carry, exhausted and broke after fleeing violence or persecution. Introducing a $1,000 barrier would deny safety to the people asylum laws were designed to protect, according to critics.
The proposed fee comes just months after major fee adjustments were announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services earlier this year. A $600 “Asylum Program Fee” was introduced as part of a broader overhaul, but that cost falls on employers filing immigration petitions, not on migrants themselves. The new $1,000 fee would shift the financial burden directly onto the shoulders of asylum seekers.
Republicans who support the proposed plan argue it is essential for preserving the asylum system, particularly given the unprecedented surge in border crossings, according to USA Today. They argue a mandatory fee would discourage fraudulent claims and bring financial relief to an overburdened system.
The concern for many legal experts is that high fees tend to punish the most vulnerable, not the dishonest. A recent Immigrant Legal Resource Center report found most immigration applicants already struggle to afford basic filing costs, with more than 80% qualifying for fee waivers. That figure highlights how unreachable a $1,000 price tag could be for asylum seekers.
Beyond domestic policy, the proposed fee raises alarms about America’s international obligations. The 1951 Refugee Convention — a cornerstone of postwar humanitarian law — encourages countries to avoid imposing barriers blocking people from seeking asylum. Legal scholars warn that while the treaty doesn’t explicitly ban fees, such a steep cost could be seen as violating its spirit.
U.S. law also currently prevents asylum seekers from legally working until at least six months after they submit their applications. That leaves migrants in a situation where they are required to pay up front but are not allowed to earn money to cover the cost.
