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House Republicans have proposed charging so-called “asylum seekers” $1,000 to enter the United States as part of an effort to deter illegitimate asylum claims.
The proposal is just one part of a 116-page bill that the House Oversight Committee released to the public on April 28, which the GOP plans to attach to a larger package designed to implement President Donald Trump’s policies.
Individual “asylum seekers” would be hit with a $1,000 fee, while a person sponsoring children would face a $3,500 fee. Any “asylum seeker” who is already in the United States would be charged a $550 fee to apply for a work authorization document.
NEW: The House GOP's reconciliation package would DRAMATICALLY reshape immigration via fees, and mostly end asylum for the poor.
The bill imposes a $1,000 unwaivable fee to apply for asylum, plus $550 every 6 months for work permits and $100 for every year the case drags on.
🧵 https://t.co/IU5sVkj7x4 pic.twitter.com/gMsT7dpqcf
— Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) April 28, 2025
Revenue from these fees would be allocated to building new illegal alien detention centers, hiring more staff at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and helping to staff immigration judge’s courts. According to the New York Times, the House Republicans’ budget blueprint requests $45 billion for immigrant detention centers and $8 billion for additional ICE staff.
Supporters of the proposal argue that it would help shrink the total number of asylum claims and would make it easier for people with legitimate asylum claims to be admitted to the U.S. Supporters also note that the $1,000 fee would help weed out fake “asylum seekers” who are just trying to get a free ride into the U.S., and would deter illegal entries at the border.
If House Republicans are successful in passing this measure, it would be the first time in history that the U.S. charged people to claim asylum from countries where they are allegedly being persecuted.
This comes soon after House Republicans passed a budget plan to get started on implementing Trump’s domestic agenda. The plan also allowed for House and Senate lawmakers to begin developing their own legislation to add to the larger bill. According to The Daily Wire, “The House Judiciary Committee is set to discuss its legislation, which includes the plan for asylee fees, this week. After House committees mark up individual bills that deal with their respective jurisdictions, Republicans will combine them into one reconciliation measure and try to pass the legislation with a simple majority vote.”
.@HomelandGOP and @HASCRepublicans just advanced historic border security & national defense reconciliation packages that deliver on @POTUS' Promises Made, Promises Kept.
We’re building the wall, stopping the cartels, rebuilding our military, & restoring American strength. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/P43eIxocZh
— Congressman Morgan Luttrell (@RepLuttrell) April 29, 2025
This news also comes as border crossings have hit historic lows in the first 100 days of the Trump administration:
