Trump Admin Levies $500 Million in Fines on Migrants Who Fail to Leave
As part of the president’s continued crackdown on illegal migrants in the US, the Trump administration has started issuing fines of nearly $1000 per day for each day a migrant who has been deported remains on US soil.
According to Reuters, the first outlet to report on the plan, the fines, which start at 998.00 per day, can go up to a maximum of $1.8 million per individual who fails to leave the United States for up to five years once so ordered by an immigration judge. The reports said that the administration would be in a position to seize their property or any assets the deportee may have to cover the fines.
So far, according to Reuters, the Trump administration has issued notices to 4,500 migrants with penalties totaling more than $500 million, which includes those who have received the maximum penalty of $1.8 million.
At least some individuals have been told they can have 30 days to contest the fine and can request an interview, and present evidence that they are in the country legally, but they may run the risk of further exposing themselves to being detained or disappeared without due process if they engage further with immigration authorities.
The fine stems from a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows the federal government to financially penalize individuals who fail to comply with deportation orders. The section of the law was revived during the Trump administration, which instructed ICE to begin issuing civil fines to undocumented immigrants who ignored removal orders.
The law states undocumented migrants “shall pay a civil penalty of not more than $500 (adjusted for inflation) to the Commissioner for each day the alien is in violation of this section.”
The fines come as the administration has also been incentivizing illegals to “self-deport.” Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a campaign to warn undocumented immigrants to leave the country willingly or face deportation.
“President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you,” Noem said. “You will never return. But if you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream.”
Immigration officials have also used a tool known as the CBP One app to allow individuals living in the US illegally to self-deport. Those who choose to leave voluntarily may avoid civil fines and could be exempt from penalties that would bar them from returning to the United States in the future.
Trump promised to deport 14 million people. As he gathers the low hanging fruit of those in the court systems, those who pay taxes from work, and others he can easily find, he moves to other methods, most of which are PR efforts by showing how cruel we can be. So, hobbling guys, shaving heads, put them on really expensive military deportation flights, masked police, masked guards, third world death camp gulags black bag drop offs. Black bag drop offs to war zones in Africa, no money, can’t speak the language. And now, egregious fines that will never be paid. It all makes for great Trump TV, but does very little to get to Trump’s promised 14 million. A plan straight out of Project 2025, but he is way short of goals so far.
He tried the fines in Trump 1; they did not work. This time he has made them retroactive, is that legal? And combined them with his “gift” of $1,000 and a free flight. There is no doubt he will get some takers; but the numbers will be low. Think about it; there are black bagging you to a death camp, are you worried about the fine? But it makes for great TV and the sheeples believe great deportations are happening, so far only a few dozens have self deported.
All I can say is the half dozen latinos that just painted my deck did not look worried. They did get their grand, in pay though.
As I said before, implement E-Verify across the land and no undocumented will work. Then tighten up on any fake social security numbers being used, which they are already doing via IRS records, while looking at yours too no doubt. But that takes actual planning and work, something that fines do not. Fines are easy, low hanging fruit, but won’t get Trump the numbers he needs. E-Verify throws all undocumented out of work. And then free flights start looking a lot better.
I just don’t understand how he thinks “good TV” and cruelty PR photo ops and perp walks will get the job done. Downside seems to advertise our cruelty and abandonment of our rule of law, habeas corpus, and the right of due process formerly enshrined in our Constitution in the Fifth and 14th amendments. Have to imagine that a brilliant non-US scientist was thinking of coming to America where streets of gold await, our competitive strength, will have pause to consider before bringing their skills to our economy and culture. Especially if they have to pay Trump’s $5M gold card fee to get in. We may not feel the loss right now, but remember —– without foreign scientists we would not have the atom bomb, space flight, and so many other inventions created by immigrants. TACO.
I’m watching the slow disintegration of the economy as illegals leave or go into hiding, as whole industries shut down for lack of workers.