This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
On November 9, 2019, the Trump administration proposed a range of fee hikes for immigration and citizenship, sparking widespread criticism from advocates and experts.
The proposed changes would increase citizenship fees by more than 60%, to $1,170 from $725, for most applicants, with some facing an 83% increase. Asylum seekers would be charged a $50 application fee and $490 for work permits, making the US one of four countries to charge people for asylum.
The proposal would also increase renewal fees for hundreds of thousands of participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as 'Dreamers,' to $765 from $495. This move comes just days before the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the validity of President Trump's justification to terminate DACA.
According to Doug Rand, a founder of Boundless Immigration, a technology company in Seattle that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship, the proposal is an 'unprecedented weaponization of government fees.' Rand added that the move is part of the administration's broader campaign to restrict legal immigration and citizenship.
However, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, the acting director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, defended the proposal, stating that it would alleviate an 'overextended system' and help address an annual deficit of nearly $1.3 billion.
Former agency officials and immigration lawyers have criticized the decision to charge asylum seekers, arguing that it erases a long-held principle of not placing a financial burden on vulnerable individuals seeking protection.
The proposal has been met with skepticism, with some speculating that the changes are politically motivated to reduce the number of immigrants who are able to become naturalized citizens before the 2020 presidential election.
