Also suing for $450 is ridiculous whether you have money or not. It is a cost of average traffic ticket and most people just pay it without involving any lawyer.
On the base of what, though? It's well known that the USCIS is mostly self sustained (e.g. minimal government funding) so that money has to come from somewhere. I believe the thought is that getting a visa/permanent residency is considered a privilege, not a right.
If they were only the first to be taken to the court for outrages fees.
> It's well known that the USCIS is mostly self sustained
They are part of DHS; therefore founded through DHS that is government founded.
> I believe the thought is that getting a visa/permanent residency is considered a privilege, not a right.
What does this have to do with losing or getting your GC stolen? As long as they can prove it costs around $450 to product a piece of plastic, they are fine in my book.
It costs about $27 in Cali to get a dup of your lost DL [1]; while your Green Card replacement costs... $450! [2]
[1] http://www.dmv.org/ca-california/replace-license.php
[2] https://www.bridge.us/articles/misplace-green-card/
Its very obvious USCIS prays on the fact that most immigrants do not make enough money to actually hire (expensive) lawyer and take them to the court and fight this outrageous fee down to something reasonable. Obviously US citizens have no standing in such lawsuit cause one thing USC can never get is a Green Card :)