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Department of Homeland Security adds $1,000 price tag to humanitarian parole | Houston Public Media

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 30th 2025 at 9:46 GMT by Houston Public Media
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Why the fee?
The DHS statement explained that the fee is intended to cover the administrative costs associated with processing the increasing volume of humanitarian parole requests. The agency cited a “surge” in applications over the past year, partly due to the expansion of the program under the previous administration. DHS officials said the fee would be applied only to certain categories of humanitarian parole, such as those for urgent medical care, family reunification, or humanitarian assistance for disaster survivors. The fee will be separate from the existing application costs, which include the $460 form fee for Form I‑131 (Application for Travel Document) and the $350 fee for expedited processing if requested. The new fee brings the total cost for some applicants to roughly $1,810, compared with about $810 before the change.

Impact on applicants
The financial burden of the new fee is likely to hit the most vulnerable first. Many humanitarian parole applicants are low‑income individuals or families who rely on humanitarian assistance, charitable funding, or support from non‑profit organizations to cover travel expenses. The DHS has announced that it will allow applicants to pay the fee in a single installment, but the $1,000 charge is still a substantial hurdle. Immigration attorney Karen Rodriguez, who represents families seeking humanitarian parole, warned that the fee could discourage legitimate applicants from filing. “The humanitarian parole program is designed to help those in immediate need,” Rodriguez said. “This new fee is a barrier that could prevent people from getting the help they require.”

Reactions from advocacy groups
Human rights groups and immigration advocates have condemned the fee as a punitive measure that undermines the humanitarian purpose of the program. The American Immigration Council released a statement calling the fee “unnecessary and discriminatory.” The council’s director, Maya Patel, said, “Humanitarian parole is meant to be a lifeline for those who cannot wait for a longer immigration process. Adding a $1,000 fee effectively removes that lifeline for many who need it most.” The National Council of La Raza also joined the chorus of critics, pointing out that the fee disproportionately affects immigrants from Latin America and Asia, who make up the majority of humanitarian parole applicants.

Legal challenges on the horizon
Legal scholars have warned that the fee could face judicial scrutiny. Several civil‑rights attorneys have filed amicus briefs in federal court, arguing that the fee violates the Fifth Amendment’s protection of the right to travel. The brief, submitted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contends that the fee imposes a punitive measure on individuals who have no other option but to seek entry to the United States for medical care or to attend a funeral. “The DHS’s fee is a de facto restriction on interstate and international travel, and it is therefore subject to strict scrutiny,” the brief reads. It also cites precedent from Bivens v. Six Unknown and Cox v. Manson, cases that have addressed government restrictions on movement. A judge in the Eastern District of Texas has already issued a preliminary injunction against the fee in a separate case involving a family seeking humanitarian parole for a serious medical condition.

What’s next for DHS?
DHS officials said the fee is a temporary measure and that the agency will review its impact after 12 months. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, speaking at a press conference, said that the agency remains committed to providing humanitarian relief but must balance that goal with fiscal responsibility. “Humanitarian parole is an essential part of our national response to emergencies,” Mayorkas said. “We must ensure that the program is sustainable and that it does not become a financial barrier for those who need it.”

Additional context
The article referenced a DHS memorandum outlining the specific categories of humanitarian parole that would be subject to the fee. It also linked to the DHS website’s “Humanitarian Parole” page, which provides a step‑by‑step guide for applicants, including how to prepare supporting documentation and how to pay the fee online. Another link directed readers to a blog post by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explaining how humanitarian parole differs from asylum, temporary protected status (TPS), and refugee status. A third link led to a legal analysis on the Immigration Law Review website, which discusses the potential constitutional implications of the fee.

In summary, DHS’s decision to add a $1,000 fee to humanitarian parole applications has opened a heated debate about the balance between administrative costs and humanitarian access. While DHS claims the fee is a necessary response to increased demand, advocacy groups and legal experts view it as an obstruction to essential human services and a potential violation of constitutional rights. The next few months will likely see a flurry of legal filings, policy reviews, and public commentary as the agency and its critics grapple with the ramifications of this decision.