Trump Fee Hikes for ‘Vulnerable’ Migrants Blocked by U.S. Judge

(Bloomberg) -- A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from immediately jacking up the fees immigrants pay when they come to the U.S.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in Oakland, California, wrote in a 35-page opinion that the proposed fees would “prevent vulnerable and low-income applications from applying for immigration benefits” and “block access to humanitarian protections.”

The new fees were to have taken effect Oct. 2. One raised the price for naturalization from $640 to $1,170. Another required asylum seekers to pay $550 for an employment authorization document.

The judge also said he had doubts about the legality of new fees in light of the fact that they were approved by appointees of President Donald Trump who were not confirmed by the Senate. The two are Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Kevin McAleenan, the former acting secretary of the department.

“The court concludes the public has an interest in avoiding overreach of executive power with respect to appointments that require the informed consent of the Legislative branch,” the judge wrote.

Representatives of the Citizenship and Immigration Services didn’t immediately respond to a request for a comment.

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