Some Immigration Enforcement Fees Will Go Up to $5,300 in October
Starting October 16, 2026, two specific fees for certain people caught breaking immigration rules will increase to $5,300.
Affects: · Source: Federal Register
What happened
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that two special immigration fees will increase. These fees apply to certain people who have broken immigration rules.
The new fee amount will be $5,300 for each of these two situations. This change will start on October 16, 2026.
The government says it will tell each person who owes these fees directly. They will also provide instructions on how to make payments.
By the numbers
- $5,300 — The new amount for two specific immigration enforcement fees
- $5,130 — The previous amount for these fees in Fiscal Year 2026
The bigger picture
In 2025, a law called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (also known as HR-1) created these two specific immigration enforcement fees. Before this law, these exact fees did not exist. This law also requires the government to adjust these fees each year for inflation.
The government is raising these fees now because the HR-1 law tells them to. They must adjust the fees every year to keep up with the cost of living, using a measure called the Consumer Price Index.
What this means for you
Asylum seekers
If you are seeking asylum and are caught trying to enter the U.S. between official border crossings and are found to be inadmissible, you might have to pay this fee. The fee will be $5,300 starting October 16, 2026.
Green card applicants
No direct change for you. These fees are for very specific situations related to immigration enforcement, not for regular green card applications.
H1B workers
No direct change for you. These fees do not apply to H1B visa holders unless they are ordered removed and arrested, or found inadmissible at the border, which is a different situation than typical H1B status.
All immigrants
Most immigrants will not be affected by this change. These fees only apply to people in two very specific enforcement situations: those who missed their court date and were later arrested, or those caught trying to enter the U.S. between official border crossings and found inadmissible.
What you should do
- Nothing right now — just good to know. If these fees apply to you, the government will contact you directly.
Key dates
- 2026-10-16: New fee amounts become effective
Words explained
- Inflation
- When prices for things like food and clothes go up over time, so your money buys a little less.
- In absentia
- This means 'in someone's absence' or 'when someone is not there.' In this case, it means someone was ordered to leave the country even though they didn't show up for their court hearing.
- Inadmissible
- This means someone is not allowed to enter the United States because they don't meet the rules.
- Apprehended between ports of entry
- This means someone was caught trying to enter the U.S. in a place that is not an official border crossing, like between two towns along the border.
- Fiscal Year
- A 12-month period used for budgeting by the government, which starts on October 1st and ends on September 30th of the next year.
Common questions
Who has to pay this $5,300 fee?
This fee applies to two groups of people. First, those who were told to leave the U.S. but didn't show up for their court date, and then were later arrested by immigration officers. Second, it applies to people who are not allowed to enter the U.S. and are caught trying to cross the border in unofficial spots.
Does this mean all immigration fees are going up?
No, this announcement is only about two very specific fees related to immigration enforcement. It does not affect fees for things like applying for a green card, a work visa, or student visas.
When does this new fee start?
The new fee of $5,300 will start on October 16, 2026. If you are someone who might owe this fee, the government will contact you directly with instructions.
Why are these fees going up?
A law passed in 2025, called HR-1, created these fees and requires the government to adjust them each year for inflation. This means they go up a little bit to keep pace with the general increase in prices over time.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.