New fees for asylum seekers and employment permits are now law
What happened
The US Department of Homeland Security has made several immigration fees and procedures permanent. This means asylum seekers will pay new annual fees, and some employment permits will have different validity periods.
Why it matters
The US government is now charging asylum seekers for their applications and for annual processing. This adds a new financial barrier to a process that was already complex and lengthy. It also changes how long some people can legally work in the US.
The signal
Watch for data on how these new fees affect the number of asylum applications and the processing times for employment permits.