A new federal rule now allows immigration officers to fine illegal immigrants who defy court orders to leave. The change revives a rarely enforced law and speeds up the penalty process, cutting down notice and appeal timelines.
Key Facts:
- The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice (DOJ) issued a new joint rule authorizing fines for illegal immigrants who ignore departure orders.
- The 30-day advance notice requirement for fines has been eliminated; fines can now be mailed directly.
- Appeals have been transferred from the DOJ to DHS and the timeframe has been shortened.
- Fines range from $100 to $500 per unlawful entry, up to $998 per day for willful refusal to comply with a removal order.
- ICE has already issued nearly 10,000 fine notices as of June 13.
The Rest of The Story:
The new rule updates a portion of U.S. immigration law that had largely gone unenforced until the Trump administration.
Under the amended regulations, DHS can issue civil fines to illegal immigrants who enter unlawfully, ignore voluntary departure agreements, or fail to follow federal removal orders.
The rule also allows DHS to skip the previously required 30-day notification period and instead send fines directly by mail.
The financial penalties are steep.
Those who violate voluntary departure agreements may be fined up to $9,970.
If someone deliberately refuses to leave the U.S. after a judge’s order, they can face a daily fine nearing \$1,000.
A DHS statement explained, “This applies to aliens who enter illegally, ignore removal orders, or delay their departure.”
The Biden administration halted enforcement of these penalties, but the second Trump administration reinstated them in May.
🚨NEW: The Trump administration will now fine ILLEGAL ALIENS up to $1,000 A DAY for remaining in the U.S. after being ordered to leave.
They broke our laws. Now they’re paying for it. Literally.
— Rod D. Martin (@RodDMartin) June 28, 2025
Commentary:
On paper, this rule looks like a firm step toward accountability.
If someone refuses to leave the country after multiple warnings and court rulings, there should be consequences.
The law has existed for decades but was ignored by most administrations, making its enforcement long overdue.
However, this move raises practical questions.
How many people who are here illegally and refusing to comply with deportation orders will actually pay these fines?
Most don’t have legal status, stable income, or assets the government can easily seize.
Sending a bill may be symbolic but lacks teeth if it can’t be collected.
And if DHS has enough information to mail these fines—meaning they have the immigrant’s address—then why are they mailing fines instead of dispatching agents to detain and deport?
Mailing penalties to people who are actively evading the law feels like an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars.
The transfer of the appeals process from the DOJ to DHS also deserves scrutiny.
It consolidates power in one agency, potentially reducing checks and balances in the system.
That might speed things up, but it could also limit oversight.
Another concern is whether this process becomes just another bureaucratic loop.
Will DHS track fine compliance?
Will non-payment result in future enforcement, or will it be forgotten like unpaid tolls?
This rule may help tally violators, but if there’s no follow-through with actual deportations, it risks being just paperwork.
America needs immigration enforcement with consequences, not just clerical busywork.
The Bottom Line:
The federal government has revived a long-dormant policy allowing civil fines for illegal immigrants who refuse to leave.
While the move suggests a tougher approach, critics question its practicality.
If DHS knows where to send fines, many ask: why not just send someone to remove the violator instead?
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