Congressional Republicans are advancing legislation that would impose a wide range of new fees on immigrants, a move critics warn could create serious financial barriers for vulnerable people seeking legal protection in the U.S.
The proposal, moving through the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, would require immigrants to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for processes such as seeking asylum, applying for humanitarian parole, or caring for unaccompanied minors in government custody.
Republican lawmakers argue the fees are necessary to cover the cost of former President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda. But immigrant advocates say these financial demands would severely burden low-income individuals, potentially forcing them into debt, exploitative labor, or even pushing them to abandon their legal claims and leave the country.
“These are targeted attacks on some of the most vulnerable people in our immigration system—children, asylum seekers, and survivors of violence,” said Victoria Maqueda Feldman, director of legal programs at Ayuda, a nonprofit supporting low-income immigrants in the DC, Virginia, and Maryland region.
The proposed legislation is part of what Trump has called “one big, beautiful bill” — a sweeping tax and spending package designed to implement his hardline immigration policies. Facing Democratic resistance in the Senate, Republicans hope to pass the bill using the budget reconciliation process, which allows legislation focused on revenue and spending to pass with a simple majority in both chambers.
Jim Jordan, Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, defended the proposal. “These fees will allow us to invest in immigration enforcement without placing additional strain on American taxpayers,” he said.
However, Heidi Altman of the National Immigration Law Center criticized the plan as a punitive approach aimed at deterring humanitarian migration. “It treats fees as a penalty for simply seeking protection,” she said.
Under the bill:
Asylum seekers would have to pay a $1,000 application fee, plus $100 each year to keep the application active.
Work permits would cost $550.
Humanitarian parole applications would require a $1,000 payment.
Children applying under the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status program would be charged $500.
Immigrants seeking a court delay would pay $100 per continuance request.Currently, none of these fees exist under federal law, and the bill would make them non-waivable in nearly all cases.
One of the steepest fees targets adults trying to sponsor unaccompanied children in U.S. custody. To assume custody, sponsors would need to pay $3,500 to cover part of the government’s care costs and a refundable $5,000 to ensure the child attends court hearings.
“That could mean placing $3,500 between a parent and their child’s release from custody,” said Altman.
The legislation aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to deter immigration, including programs that offer cash incentives for voluntary departure. The bill also lays the groundwork for even more restrictive measures if Congress approves Trump’s requested tens of billions of dollars in funding.
The bill includes over $50 billion to expand the border wall with Mexico and other physical barriers. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would receive $45 billion for detention, $14 billion for deportation operations, and additional funding to hire 10,000 new agents by 2029.
Feldman warned that the financial burden would push many of Ayuda’s clients into risky situations. “They might raise the money, but by working off the books or taking high-interest loans, which opens them up to labor trafficking or long-term debt,” she said.
Despite being a top priority for House Republicans, the bill’s path forward is uncertain. On Friday, rightwing members of the party blocked its progress in a key committee, arguing the overall bill does not go far enough in cutting federal spending.
Still, the fee provisions moved quickly through the House Judiciary Committee last month, with little dissent from Republican lawmakers.