A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protecting Asylum Integrity Act" would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to charge a fee of at least $100 for every credible fear interview. This fee must be collected before the interview takes place. The cost will be adjusted annually for inflation starting in fiscal year 2027. Half of the money collected will go to the Immigration Examinations Fee Account for processing and operations, while the other half goes to the general fund of the Treasury.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +4
Does this tighten control of the border?
Generates revenue specifically to support border security and immigration enforcement activities.
- Scored +3
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
Promotes cost recovery for administrative processing of immigration claims.
- Scored +2
Does this give the federal government more power?
Increases the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect fees.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -8
Would immigrants be better off under this?
Directly imposes a mandatory fee for the credible fear interview required for asylum.
- Scored -7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Imposes a financial barrier on vulnerable populations seeking asylum.
- Scored -6
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Requires payment before an interview, potentially delaying or blocking access to due process for asylum seekers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Fiscal Responsibility and Revenue: The bill states that a user fee promotes fiscal responsibility and generates revenue to support immigration enforcement activities and border security (Section 2(a)(4)).
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Reducing Frivolous Claims: The bill finds that charging a fee deters people from filing meritless or frivolous claims (Section 2(a)(4)).
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Operational Support: 50 percent of the fees are deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account to support U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processing and operations (Section 2(b)(ii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden on Applicants: Individuals seeking asylum or other protection claims must pay a fee of not less than $100 before their credible fear interview can be conducted (Section 2(b)(i)).
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Increasing Costs: The fee is subject to annual inflation adjustments starting in fiscal year 2027, meaning the cost for individuals will likely increase over time (Section 2(b)(ii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — Directly imposes a mandatory fee for the credible fear interview required for asylum. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Imposes a financial barrier on vulnerable populations seeking asylum.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — Promotes cost recovery for administrative processing of immigration claims. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — Generates new federal revenue for the general fund of the Treasury.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect fees. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Requires payment before an interview, potentially delaying or blocking access to due process for asylum seekers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — Generates revenue specifically to support border security and immigration enforcement activities. Does this make it easier for immigrants already here to become citizens? — Creates a financial barrier for individuals seeking the first step of the asylum process. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Imposes a new cost on potentially destitute individuals seeking protection.
- 6/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in Senate
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina