“They really want to kind of push people out of this country and not have people, you know, meaningfully be able to participate in these proceedings, be able to present their claims.”Meanwhile, the new asylum fee – $100 at the time of application, then another $100 for each year the case remains pending, which can be a long time given the immigration courts’ 3.75m case backlog – has proved a particular source of confusion and chaos for asylum seekers and their attorneys.Immigration judges have responded in a wide variety of ways across the country to asylum petitions filed through the immigration courts, an arm of the Department of Justice (DoJ) in the executive branch of government, not the judicial branch.Risk and stress appear to be ratcheting up for petitioners whose own judges cannot provide clarity.“Generally, folks that are undergoing removal proceedings in immigration court are already quite anxious, trying to make sure that they fulfill all requirements their immigration judge has asked for. And so being in this grey area where even the court does not yet have clear guidance only heightens that anxiety that people are feeling,” said Gabriela Lopez, a DoJ-accredited representative with the El Paso-based Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center.The situation has been confusing and even terrifying for many, with the new payment portal including strict rules that will be especially challenging to navigate for asylum seekers without attorneys and those in custody.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionAnd then there is the simple question of affordability.“Imagine you’re coming here for the first time,” said Johnson. “You want to file this asylum application.