The US Department of Homeland Security proposes to raise the fee for applying to delay deportation or removal from $155 to $755. This change aims to cover the actual cost of processing these applications, a cost that has not been updated since 1989.
Why it matters
People facing deportation often apply for a stay to buy time, gather evidence, or seek legal counsel. This fee increase makes that option significantly more expensive, potentially forcing quicker decisions or making it harder for low-income individuals to access this legal avenue. It shifts the financial burden of processing these applications more directly onto the applicants themselves.
The signal
Watch for data on how many fewer applications for stays of deportation are filed in the first year after the fee increase takes effect.