Rising Deportations Coincide with Higher Immigration Lawyer Fees

(NEW YORK) Immigration lawyers across the United States 🇺🇸 report a sharp rise in client costs as deportations climb and a sweeping new fee regime takes hold under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), signed into law on July 4, 2025. Attorneys say the combined effect of stepped-up enforcement and mandatory government fees, many of them non-waivable, is squeezing low-income families at the very moment they need legal help the most.

The new costs, which federal agencies began enforcing with strict payment checks as of August 21, 2025, are reshaping budgets for thousands of households and putting pressure on a legal system already stretched by a growing court backlog.

New fee structure under H.R. 1

At the center of this shift is the new fee structure written into H.R. 1. Key changes include:

• $100 filing fee for asylum applications (previously free)
• $100 annual fee for pending asylum cases starting October 2025
• $500 for initial Temporary Protected Status (TPS) registration (up from $50)
• $250 for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJS) applications
• $275 to $550 for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), depending on category

Government agencies have layered these charges on top of existing costs, often doubling or tripling what applicants and their lawyers must budget to keep cases moving. Critically, many of these fees are not waivable, including for groups that historically relied on fee waivers due to hardship.

USCIS and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) began applying the new schedule alongside existing fees and tightened payment checks on August 21, 2025. Applications are being rejected if the exact amount is missing or miscalculated, increasing the risk that time-sensitive cases fall through the cracks.

How fees affect legal costs and practice

Law firms report immediate effects on attorney fees and workflows:

• Typical deportation-defense fees now range from $1,500 to $15,000 or more, depending on complexity, location, and experience.
• Hourly attorney rates commonly fall in the $150 to $350 range and can reach $600 in major metropolitan areas.
• These legal fees are separate from government filing fees required by USCIS and immigration courts.
• Increased administrative work—tracking payments, re-submissions, and agency rules—pushes attorney time (and costs) higher.
• Pro bono capacity is stretched, and small firms must rework budgets to cover extra administrative load.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combined total that clients face is steadily rising as more people confront high-stakes deadlines, rejections for incorrect payments, and decisions that carry life-changing consequences.

“The combined effect of stepped-up enforcement and mandatory government fees… is squeezing low-income families at the very moment they need legal help the most.”

Government rationale vs. advocates’ concerns

Federal officials defend the changes as a way to fund services without relying on congressional appropriations—making users pay for the system they engage. The government contends that shifting to user-fee funding helps stabilize agency budgets and allows for better staffing and planning.

Immigration advocates and many legal experts counter that the changes act as a paywall around humanitarian protections. Their concerns include:

• Non-waivable fees for asylum seekers, juveniles seeking safety, and TPS applicants undercut fairness.
• Higher costs may delay filings, increase rejections for incorrect fees, and ultimately add to the immigration court backlog.
• Low-income applicants may be pushed out of the process despite strong claims.

Practical effects on applicants, families, and courts

These developments coincide with rising deportations and enforcement policies that widen the pool of people facing removal. The practical consequences include:

• Low-income asylum seekers filing fewer applications and risking missed deadlines.
• Rejections for incorrect fee amounts causing delays that can jeopardize status or court timelines.
• Families rationing legal help and sometimes self-filing despite complex rules.
• Increased retainer amounts to cover repeated agency contacts and rejected submissions.
• Longer waitlists at legal aid organizations and more people turned away for lack of funds.

For mixed-status families, the financial squeeze is especially acute. A breadwinner in removal proceedings may need counsel for multiple hearings while dependents seek protection or work permits tied to the same case. If an application is rejected due to a fee issue, the family can lose months and risk falling out of status while paying lawyers to reopen or resubmit.

Attorneys also note the emotional toll: clients facing trauma and fear of return now also face financial decisions between paying for essential filings and covering basic needs like housing, food, or school supplies.

Guidance for applicants and attorneys

Attorneys advise careful planning rather than delay, because increased deportations in 2025 raise the risk that enforcement actions will cut off options. Common guidance includes:

1. Consult counsel early to map out all fees tied to a case or defense strategy. Missing a required payment can derail relief.
2. Budget for both attorney time and the full slate of government charges. Build in room for future increases.
3. Expect tight scrutiny of payments and receipts, especially when multiple applications are linked to the same case.
4. Check official guidance often. Agencies have signaled more adjustments beginning in October 2025 and beyond.

Practical steps to reduce risk:
– Prepare fee payments and supporting documents well before deadlines.
– Keep copies of all receipts and confirmations.
– Track annual asylum fees that start in October 2025.
– Coordinate with attorneys to avoid duplicate or incorrect payments.

Those seeking up-to-date agency information can review the USCIS Fee Schedule here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees. EOIR also posts fee-related guidance for immigration courts on Department of Justice webpages. Legal service providers continue to publish charts and explainers to help families plan for the total cost of a case.

How lawyers and communities are adapting

Firms and communities are changing practices to help clients manage costs:

• Some law firms offer staged payments tied to milestones (intake, initial filings, court appearances, appeals).
• Others set flat fees for defined tasks to give clients clearer expectations.
• Local bar associations report higher inquiries and increased demand for low-cost clinics.
• Faith organizations and mutual-aid groups are raising funds to cover mandatory government fees where waivers are unavailable.

Despite these adaptations, higher filing charges and complex fee rules continue to push overall costs upward.

Potential downstream effects to watch

Stakeholders will monitor secondary effects as the new framework matures:

• Whether fewer asylum filings occur due to the $100 filing fee.
• Whether TPS registrations dip after the jump to $500.
• Whether SIJS requests slow under the $250 charge.
• Whether the EAD fee range ($275–$550) influences renewals or category changes, affecting workplaces and family income.

Advocates warn that more people appearing without lawyers could lengthen hearings and increase continuances, slowing the system for everyone. Government officials maintain that user-fee funding brings predictability and helps agencies plan staffing.

Current reality and outlook

For now, the combination of rising deportations, non-waivable fees under the One Big Beautiful Bill, and strict payment enforcement has reshaped the financial reality of immigration cases. From border towns to big-city courts, the price of defending a case or seeking protection is higher, and the room for error smaller.

Families, lawyers, and community groups are recalibrating in real time, hoping that careful planning—and stable support—can keep doors open that the new rules have made harder to reach.