Parliamentarian rejects GOP attempt to impose fees on asylum-seekers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

06/27/25 4:57 PM ET


The Senate parliamentarian on Friday ruled that a Republican attempt to charge migrants a $1,000 fee when applying for asylum violates the Senate’s Byrd Rule and cannot be included in the GOP megabill to enact President Trump’s legislative agenda. The mandatory $1,000 fee for asylum applications is one of several immigration-related fees the parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, rejected in her review of the massive budget reconciliation package set for a vote Saturday.

She ruled against a section of the bill to impose a $100 fee on migrants who request a continuance in immigration court and a provision to require the Department of Homeland Security to impose a $250 fee for applying to the diversity visa lottery and a $400 fee to process diversity visa applications.

MacDonough advised against language to require a $5,000 bond to sponsor an unaccompanied child who fails to appear in immigration court, a bond that would be returned if the child does not receive an in absentia removal order. She also rejected language expanding expedited removal procedures for migrants who are arrested of crimes — removal procedures that were beefed up earlier this year when Congress signed and Trump signed the Laken Riley Act.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, applauded the parliamentarian’s rulings. “We have been successful in removing parts of this bill that hurt families and workers, but the process is not over, and Democrats are continuing to make the case against every provision in this Big, Beautiful Betrayal of a bill that violates the Senate rules,” he said in a statement.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5374214-parliamentarian-asylum-fees-trump-bill/

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Link to Senate Budget Committee Democrats' PRESS RELEASE - Senate Parliamentarian Advises on More Byrd Bath Violations in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill”

TALLY OF ITEMS STRIPPED BY PARLIAMENTARIAN SO FAR (plus the OP)

(Agriculture Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143482891
(Banking, Environmental, Armed Services Committees) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143482360
(Judiciary Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143483730
(Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143484256
(Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143484336
(Energy and Natural Resources Committee) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143485062
(Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143486073
(Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143486091
(Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143486329

[maxsolomon]

1. The last line of defense.

I'm amazed her rulings are being respected. MFer must be livid.

[republianmushroom]

2. But, but his red card.

[Skittles]

3. WWJD

*NOTHING* that these fascist fucks are doing

[forgotmylogin]

4. Thank god the Parliamentarian reads the bill if Congress will not.

[Oeditpus Rex]

5. Why not just sell citizenship?

Fifty thousand and you're completely "legal"? A hundred thousand? No exam required.

They'd even give you a receipt to present on ICE's demand. (Too bad if you lose it.)

[BumRushDaShow]

6. 45 was pretty much headed that way

Trump's $5 million Gold Card offers the rich a fast lane to residency

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. The Senate Parliamentarian has struck several significant immigration-related provisions

Link to tweet

NEW: In the latest batch of Byrd Rule rulings, the Senate Parliamentarian has struck several significant immigration-related provisions.

This includes a $1,000 mandatory fee to apply for asylum, which would have applied even to children and to people detained making $1/day.