In its latest immigration crackdown, the Trump administration is preparing to impose heavy fines on undocumented migrants who fail to leave the United States after receiving a final deportation order. According to official reports, migrants could be fined up to $998 each day they remain in the U.S. past their deportation deadline.
Migrants Warned to “Self-Deport”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned migrants to leave the country on their own, using the CBP One app to report their departure. A spokesperson from DHS told The Independent, “Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don’t, they will face the consequences.”
Officials say the safest option is self-deportation. Those who self-deport might be allowed to legally enter the U.S. again in the future, while those who are forcibly deported will be banned from returning.
Law From 1996 Allows Civil Penalties
The plan is based on a 1996 immigration law which allows the government to charge up to $500 per day to any migrant who refuses to leave after being ordered to do so. However, under the Trump administration’s new proposal, that penalty will nearly double to $998 per day.
Even more concerning, the administration is planning to apply this fine retroactively for up to five years. That means some immigrants could owe more than $1 million in total, a senior official revealed.
Property Seizure and Jail Time Possible
If migrants don’t pay the fine, the government can seize their property or take legal action. The DHS also warned of extra fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for those who say they will self-deport but fail to do so. In some cases, jail time could also be considered.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will handle issuing the penalties and managing asset seizures, according to Reuters.
Many Migrants May Not Be Able to Pay
Experts have raised concerns about how realistic these fines are, especially for poorer migrant families. A 2019 study from the Migration Policy Institute showed that around 26% of undocumented migrants in the U.S. live below the poverty line. For these individuals, paying such large fines is nearly impossible.
Not the First Time Fines Have Been Used
This is not the first time the Trump administration has used this law. In 2018, during his first term, President Trump ordered heavy fines against nine migrants who stayed in the U.S. despite deportation orders. Some were fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, many of those fines were later reduced or canceled.
Other Legal Moves on Immigration
This latest news comes just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use an old 1798 wartime law to deport suspected Venezuelan gang members. The court also temporarily blocked a judge’s order that would have required the administration to bring back a Maryland father who was deported to El Salvador.