Comment Submitted by Anonymous
AnonymousOpposeIndividual
Summary: An individual is opposing the proposed fee increase for Form I-246, arguing that the jump from $155 to $755 is unreasonable and creates a significant financial barrier for those facing deportation. They express concern that the high cost will prevent people from accessing legal options and suggest that the fee should be tied to improvements in processing efficiency instead.
I am writing regarding the DHS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase the fee for Form I-246, Application for a Stay of Deportation or Removal, from $155 to $755.
I oppose this extreme fee increase and urge you to reconsider.
I understand that the fee has not been adjusted for many years. However, the proposed increase is unreasonable. I have firsthand experience in supporting someone who has gone through the Application for Stay of Deportation or Removal process and the suggested increase is outrageous given the need for improvement in the processing times or adjudication efficiency of these urgent applications.
Additionally, this proposed fee would be a significant financial burden for people (and their families) who are already facing removal from the US. For many people this would prevent them from being able to attain legal options for their cases. This could and likely would result in significant harm to individuals and their families. I understand that while fee waivers do exist, there is no clear historical records for the rates of success and attainability to ensure that this important legal option will be accessible.
For these reasons, I urge DHS to reconsider and withdraw this proposed rule.