DHS Announces Increase in Humanitarian Parole Fees to $1,000 per Applicant

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HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) — The Department of Homeland Security has issued a new directive requiring every immigrant granted humanitarian parole in the United States to pay a $1,000 fee.

According to a statement from the office of Homeland Security’s Kristi Noem, this fee will be applicable to those granted parole starting October 16.

The introduction of this charge aims to deter fraudulent applications and enhance system accountability, the agency stated.

“By instituting this fee, President Trump and Secretary Noem are ensuring that individuals seeking to reside in the U.S. are committed to the process and not abusing the system. This notice about the immigration parole fee is yet another measure to protect the integrity of our immigration framework and reinforce law and order in our nation,” Homeland Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained.

Migrants legally paroled and allowed to be in the United States wait for assistance at the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, on June 24, 2021. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report File Photo)

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.