Protecting Asylum Integrity Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4771
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T20:45:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4771: Protecting Asylum Integrity Act
Purpose
This legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect a fee for credible fear interviews. The goal is to recover administrative costs, promote fiscal responsibility, deter certain claims, and generate revenue for border security and enforcement activities.
Key Provisions
- Credible Fear Processing Fee: The Secretary must assess and collect a fee of at least $100 for each credible fear interview, with payment required before the interview takes place.
- Inflation Adjustment: Starting in fiscal year 2027, the fee amount increases annually based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
- Fee Distribution: Half of the collected fees go to the Immigration Examinations Fee Account for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processing and operations; the other half goes to the general fund of the Treasury.
- Findings: The bill notes that credible fear interviews are a required part of the expedited removal process and that such fees align with existing policies for recovering costs on immigration claims.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill adds a new subparagraph (H) to section 235(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, introducing a mandatory fee requirement for credible fear interviews that did not previously exist.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Provides additional revenue to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services without needing further congressional approval, while directing funds to the Treasury.
- Citizens and Applicants: Requires payment from individuals undergoing credible fear interviews as part of asylum or protection claims.
- International Relations: No direct effects are specified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders
- Individuals seeking asylum or other protection through the credible fear process.
- The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- The U.S. Treasury.
Notable Implications
- Legal: The fee is presented as consistent with the Secretary's existing authority to collect fees for immigration applications and claims under section 286(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Constitutional or Political: The measure is described as a budgetary action to increase federal revenues, with no other constitutional issues noted in the bill.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Protecting Asylum Integrity Act — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (4 pages)