![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
The United States has announced a mandatory $250 visa integrity fee for non-immigrant travellers, with no room for waivers.
The new fee is contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the Donald Trump administration.
The bill also permits the secretary of homeland security to set the fee higher.
Travellers may get a reimbursement if they comply with all the conditions of their visas.
These include not accepting unauthorised employment, not seeking to extend their validated stay, and departing the US not later than five days after the last day of such period.
Visitors who are granted the status of a lawful permanent resident are also qualified for a refund. However, there are no details about the procedures for such a claim.
According to the provision, the fee is paid when the visa is issued. This means potential non-immigrants whose visa requests are denied will not be charged.
Tourists, business travellers, and international students who frequent the US are likely to be the hardest hit by the new policy.
Increase In Price For Form I-94
The Form I-94 is the official record of a foreign national’s admission to the US.
It is typically issued by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
While most travellers arriving by air or sea receive this record electronically, others—especially those entering by land—are issued paper I-94s.
Land travellers are currently mandated to pay a $6 fee.
But with the new law, a $24 fee will be required for each issuance of Form I-94.
It is not clear which category of travellers will be affected.
ESTA, ASYLUM APPLICATION, IMMIGRATION COURT FILING FEES HIKED
The Big Beautiful Bill Act also introduced other notable immigration-related fees.
In addition to the visa integrity fee and the Form I-94 increase, charge hikes were also introduced for travellers who use the electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA).
The law mandates that ESTA include “not less than $13 per travel authorization”, allowing for annual inflation-based adjustments.
This change applies to travellers from visa waiver programme countries—mostly European and Asian countries.
Other increases include:
Temporary protected status (TPS) fees.
$500 TPS application fee.
$550 for initial EAD, $275 for renewals.
Asylum application and employment authorisation document (EAD) fees.
$100 annually for pending asylum applications.
$550 for initial EAD, $275 for renewals.
Humanitarian parole fees.
$1,000 parole application fee.
$550 for initial parole-based EAD, $275 for renewals.
Immigration court fling fees.
$1,500 for adjustment of status.
$600 for cancellation of removal.
$900 for most appeals and motions.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
