Fee Hike Puts New Price Tag on American Dream

On July 30th, as excessive immigration fee hikes went into effect, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) introduced bill H.J. Res. 47, which would stop the recent fee increases set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The bill would void the new fee structure and reinstate the previous fee structure.

Advocates and members of Congress contend that the USCIS failed to effectively justify the increases or outline a concrete plan. "Our immigration services need to move into the 21st century...But, USCIS has consistently failed to explain or justify the amounts and distributions of this new fee increase," Representative Lofgren said.

"The USCIS says they need to improve the system, and that is very true," said Gabriela Flora, regional organizer with AFSC's Colorado office. "I'm not so sure this is going to result in that. And putting it on the backs of hardworking people in this country doesn't make sense," she said.

"We're setting up a system that creates barriers," Flora said (Rocky Mountain News).

>For the full text of the bill click here.

>For the final fee schedule click here.

Take Action: Contact your Congressional representatives (Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202 - 224 - 3121) and urge them to support H.J. Res. 47.