Drougba v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

Background

Jocelin Drougba submitted this civil action to the Southern District of New York by email. The court explained that a plaintiff must either pay the required filing fees or submit a signed application to proceed without prepaying fees, commonly called an application to proceed in forma pauperis.

Order

The court directed Drougba, within 30 days of November 26, 2025, to do one of two things: pay $405 in fees or complete, sign, and submit the attached application to proceed without prepaying fees. The order states that the $405 consists of a $350 filing fee and a $55 administrative fee, subject to possible updates to the fee schedule.

Until the fees were paid or a completed and signed application was received, the court said no further action would be taken, no summons would issue, and the defendants would not be required to answer. If Drougba complied, the clerk’s office would process the case. If the court granted the application, Drougba could proceed without prepaying the fees.

Disposition

If Drougba failed to comply within the allowed time and did not request an extension, the action would be dismissed without prejudice to refiling. The court also certified that any appeal from the order would not be taken in good faith and denied permission to proceed without prepaying fees for purposes of an appeal. Judge Laura Taylor Swain signed the order. The opinion does not decide the merits of Drougba’s claims against the defendants.