Illegal immigrants who want to stay in the United States while awaiting a court date or medical procedure will now have to pay $1,000, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Oct. 16.
The agency said the new fee for foreign nationals paroled into the country, which became effective on Oct. 16, is expected to create more accountability and prevent fraud within the parole system.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the abuse of the country’s immigration system under the previous administration turned parole into a “de facto amnesty program” and allowed millions of unvetted illegal immigrants into the United States.
“Through the implementation of this new fee, President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem are guaranteeing that foreign nationals who wish to stay here have skin in the game and do not exploit the system,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “This immigration parole fee notice is another tool to stop the degradation of our immigration system and restore law and order to our country.”…