The Trump administration is preparing to reinstate steep daily fines—up to $998—for illegal immigrants who ignore final deportation orders. The move also opens the door for seizing property from those who don’t pay.
Key Facts: Deportation Fines for Illegal Immigration
- Illegal immigrants ignoring deportation orders could face fines of $998 per day, under a law dating back to 1996.
- Trump officials want to apply the fines retroactively up to five years, possibly totaling over $1 million per person.
- Property seizures may be used to collect unpaid fines, involving the DOJ’s civil asset forfeiture unit.
- The policy would impact approximately 1.4 million migrants with final deportation orders.
- CBP and ICE are debating which agency should enforce the fines; CBP warned of staffing shortages and tech limitations.
The Rest of the Story: Inside Trump’s Deportation Fines Push
The Trump administration is moving to revive a dormant 1996 immigration law that allows for daily fines against illegal immigrants who defy deportation orders.
First used during Trump’s first term, the law was dropped under Biden but is now poised for a comeback.
Fines of up to $998 per day could apply retroactively for five years, targeting over a million migrants already ordered to leave the country.
According to internal government emails, the administration is also considering using civil asset forfeiture to seize property from non-compliant migrants.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the new push, saying illegal immigrants must self-deport using the CBP Home app—or face consequences.
However, CBP flagged major logistical hurdles, including the need for over 1,000 new staff members to administer the fines.
The policy shift comes amid wider efforts to tighten immigration enforcement.
While critics argue the goal is to intimidate immigrant communities, officials say it’s about upholding the rule of law.
Commentary: Deportation Fines Are a Step in the Right Direction
Fining illegal immigrants who defy court-ordered deportations is common sense.
If someone has exhausted due process and still refuses to leave, there must be consequences.
A $998 daily fine signals that ignoring the law comes at a steep price.
That said, the policy raises serious questions about practical enforcement.
Most illegal immigrants living under deportation orders don’t have the financial means to pay tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Nearly a quarter live below the poverty line, according to Census data.
Fines may stack up on paper, but collecting them in the real world could prove almost impossible.
Still, this kind of penalty has value as a deterrent.
Even if many can’t pay, the looming threat of financial ruin may pressure some to leave voluntarily—especially if paired with tools like the CBP Home self-deportation app.
The proposed property seizures add another layer of enforcement.
Using existing asset forfeiture mechanisms, especially through the DOJ, could help recover costs or compel compliance.
But this too must be carefully managed to avoid collateral damage to U.S. citizens in mixed-status households.
The deeper issue is simple: if immigration laws are never enforced, they cease to mean anything.
These fines, even if only partially enforceable, restore credibility to our legal system.
Americans are tired of a border crisis with no end in sight and little accountability.
While implementation hurdles remain, the idea of stiff financial penalties for those defying deportation orders is both lawful and justified.
It won’t fix the entire system—but it’s a serious start.
The Bottom Line: Deportation Fines and Illegal Immigration Enforcement
Trump’s plan to fine illegal immigrants nearly $1,000 a day for defying deportation orders is bold and legally sound.
Though collecting from low-income violators may be difficult, the fines send a strong message that ignoring U.S. immigration law has serious consequences.
Property seizures could add teeth to the effort, but implementation challenges remain.
Even so, restoring this policy marks a tough but necessary step in addressing a broken immigration system.
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