HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) — Every immigrant who receives humanitarian parole in the United States must pay $1,000, the Department of Homeland Security has announced.
The new fee applies to anyone who receives humanitarian parole after Oct. 16, Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s office said Thursday.
The agency says it is to prevent fraud and increase accountability.
“Through the implementation of this new fee, President Trump and Secretary Noem are guaranteeing that foreign nationals, who wish to stay here, have skin in the game and do not exploit the system. This immigration parole fee notice is another tool to stop the degradation of our immigration system and restore law and order to our country,” Homeland Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
The fee will be levied to all non-citizens applying for parole, those applying to renew their parole, and those released on parole by the agency.
The fee will not be collected upon application but only when it is granted.
“The fee will not be due when an application is merely submitted or when a travel document is issued, but rather, DHS will collect the $1,000 fee after it determines that the alien merits a grant of parole as a matter of discretion and the alien either appears for inspection at a port of entry or is already physically present in the United States,” according to a notice in the Federal Register.
There are some exceptions to the fee including:
- Medical emergencies whereby the non-citizen cannot obtain necessary treatment in a foreign nation and the situation is life-threatening.
- Parents or legal guardians of someone afflicted with a medical emergency who needs immediate entry into the United States.
- The non-citizen is donating an organ or other tissue for transplant and needs to be admitted into the United States.
- The non-citizen has a family member in the United States whose death is imminent.
- The non-citizen is attending the funeral of a close family member.
- The non-citizen is an adopted child with an urgent medical condition.
- The non-citizen has applied for parole and is returning after temporary travel.
- To attend an immigration hearing.
The agency says it might increase the fee annually, depending on the consumer Price Index. Price adjustments will be posted in the Federal Register.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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