The annual asylum fee temporarily suspended following lawsuit filed by ASAP members

In early October, the organization ASAP (Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project) filed a lawsuit against the new $100 annual fee for asylum seekers, arguing that the measure was unfair, confusing, and harmful to individuals with pending cases.

As a result, a federal judge ordered the government to review and improve the collection process, noting that the current system lacked clarity and could cause harm to applicants. The decision includes a temporary suspension of the annual payment, meaning that, for now, no one is required to make the payment until the government establishes an adequate procedure.

You can also read. “Safe Third Country agreement between the U.S. and Belize will allow the transfer of asylum seekers”

However, this pause is not final. If your asylum application has been pending for more than a year, it is possible that the fee will soon be reinstated. In that case, any changes to the process will be immediately announced through ASAP’s official channels and the corresponding agencies, such as USCIS and the Immigration Court.

As a result of this legal action, the immigration court system also implemented for the first time a formal way to make the fee payment and began adjusting its internal procedures.

ASAP emphasized that the lawsuit is still ongoing, and although the final outcome is not yet known, they celebrate this initial victory as an important achievement for thousands of asylum seekers who faced confusion and unnecessary difficulties.

From: https://asaptogether.org/es/noticias-miembros/

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