A. M. The new tax law approved tuesday by the U.S. Senate, with a Republican majority, contemplates a significant increase in the costs of various immigration procedures. Among the most controversial measures is the establishment, for the first time, of a US$1,000 fee to apply for asylum, a legal figure designed to protect people fleeing persecution in their countries of origin.
The cost for processing a work permit was set at US$550, with validity reduced to six months. In addition, those with a pending asylum application will have to pay an annual fee of US$100, which represents an additional burden for thousands of people awaiting an immigration resolution.
Other important procedures are also becoming more expensive: appealing an immigration judge’s decision will now cost US$900, up from US$110; while applying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will go from costing less to a new fee of US$500. These increases could limit access to fundamental rights for vulnerable communities.
The bill, pushed by President Donald Trump as part of his mega-budget bill, will channel billions of dollars into immigration enforcement initiatives. As detailed, the immigration budget will be eight times that of the FBI and 13 times that of the DEA, reflecting a clear priority on border security.
Human rights organizations have warned that these new measures will make access to the asylum and protection system even more difficult, raising economic barriers for those already facing extremely vulnerable conditions.
