A major federal court decision in District of Columbia federal court (case cite Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. et al. v. Executive Office for Immigration Review et al., No. 1:20-cv-03812 (D.D.C. Mar. 30, 2026)) just changed the landscape for immigrants navigating removal proceedings — and it’s a win for access to justice.

A judge in Washington, D.C. has struck down multiple immigration court fee increases that were set to dramatically raise the cost of defending against deportation. These fee hikes, introduced in 2020, would have increased some filing costs by as much as 800%, including appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Why the Court Blocked the Fee Increases

The court found that the Executive Office for Immigration Review — the agency that runs immigration courts — failed to properly consider how these drastic fee increases would impact legal aid organizations.

This is critical.

Organizations like Catholic Legal Immigration Network, KIND, and others provide free or low-cost legal representation to immigrants who cannot afford private attorneys. The court recognized that increasing filing fees would not just burden immigrants — it would reduce the ability of these organizations to represent people at all.

The government argued that fee waivers would solve the problem. The judge disagreed.

Where the low-income immigrant files for an immigration benefit with a high fee, the legal representative submits a fee waiver with detailed proof of the low income and that the applicant meets the low income threshold to be eligible for said waiver. With the fee hikes, this has forced organizations like Catholic Legal Immigration Network to send in a large amount of waiver requests to immigration agencies.

In reality, more fee waivers mean:

More administrative work for already overwhelmed legal providers
Fewer resources to take on new clients
More immigrants left without representation in court

The court made it clear: ignoring this impact was not just an oversight — it was legally unacceptable.

What Fees Were Affected

Six major fee increases were vacated. Most importantly:

The proposed increase for appealing a deportation order (from $110 to $975) will not go into effect

These increases had already been blocked since 2021 during litigation — and now the court has permanently invalidated them.

Why This Matters for Immigrants

This decision directly affects immigrants in removal proceedings:

Access to appeals remains affordable
Legal aid organizations can continue taking cases
Fewer barriers to fighting deportation in court

Without this ruling, many immigrants would have been priced out of even filing basic motions or appeals.

And in immigration courts, filing a motion or appeal is often the only thing standing between a person and deportation.

The Bigger Picture

This case highlights a growing issue in immigration law:
the system is becoming more complex, more expensive, and harder to navigate — especially for those without legal help.

The court’s decision sends a strong message:
access to the immigration courts cannot depend on a person’s ability to pay.

What You Should Do If You Have a Case

If you or a loved one is in removal proceedings:

Do not assume you cannot afford to fight your case
Explore legal aid options and fee waivers
Act quickly — deadlines in immigration court are strict

Most importantly, understand that you may still have options, even if your case has been denied.

Need help with your immigration case?
Call Shepelsky Law Group at 718-769-6352 or book a consultation:
https://shepelskylaw.cliogrow.com/book

Your future in the United States is worth fighting for.