With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today .
Judge Temporarily Blocks Steep Fee Increase For US Citizenship Application
Immigrants await their turn for green card and citizenship interviews at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in New York. (John Moore/Getty Images)
()
Major fee increases for citizenship and other immigration benefits were blocked late Tuesday under a nationwide injunction.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was set to increase the cost of applying for U.S. citizenship by more than 80%, from $640 to $1,170, starting this Friday.
A federal judge with the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction putting the fee hike on hold, saying that the Trump Administration had failed to justify the increases as required by law. Also blocked were changes like a first-ever fee of $50 for those applying for asylum.
The judge also questioned the legitimacy of the fee increases under the acting secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, who was not properly appointed to the position.
Support for LAist comes from
The decision came as the result of a lawsuit filed this summer by a coalition of immigrant rights organizations.
Among the plaintiffs is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, whose executive director Angelica Salas told LAist that the steep fee hikes would have served only a small number of affluent immigrants, "the wealthy immigrants who can pay these enormous fees that determine these kind of legal benefits," she said.
"Legal petitions would be absolutely out of reach of moderate-income and low-income communities," Salas said.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is a "fee funded" agency and has raised fees for naturalization and other services in the past, but this citizenship fee increase was especially steep: The last time naturalization application fees increased in 2016, during the Obama administration, they went up about 21 percent.
In addition to fee increases, those who have already applied for U.S. citizenship in recent years have been facing much longer wait times.
MORE ON CITIZENSHIP FEES AND BACKLOGS:
- The cost of applying for U.S. citizenship is dramatically increasing (USA TODAY)
- Citizenship Backlog Could Prevent Hundreds of Thousands From Voting (KQED)
- Immigrants waiting longer for US citizenship as backlog builds (KPCC)
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The historic properties have been sitting vacant for decades and were put on the market as-is, with prices ranging from $750,000 to $1.75 million. -
Users of the century old Long Beach wooden boardwalk give these suggestions to safely enjoy it. -
The Newport Beach City Council approved a new artificial surf park that will replace part of an aging golf course. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come as quickly as four months after people submit a claim. But accepting the money means you'll have to forego any lawsuits. -
The City Council will vote Tuesday on a proposal to study raising the pay for construction workers on apartments with at least 10 units and up to 85 feet high. -
The study found recipients spent nearly all the money on basic needs like food and transportation, not drugs or alcohol.
Best of LAist