Trump administration slapped undocumented migrants with massive fines
05/24/2025 // Laura Harris //
The Trump administration imposed extreme financial penalties (up to $1.8 million) on thousands of undocumented migrants under a 1996 law, charging $998 per day for remaining in the U.S. after a deportation order.
ICE issued fines to around 4,500 migrants in early 2021, just before Biden took office. Cases like Wendy Ortiz (a Salvadoran mother earning $13/hour) and Maria (a Honduran mother in the U.S. for 20 years) highlight the severe financial burden placed on low-income families.
If migrants fail to pay, CBP may seize their assets, despite many having U.S.-born children and long-standing ties to the country.
The Trump administration had previously launched a DHS ad campaign warning undocumented immigrants to leave or face permanent deportation bans, yet many stayed and now face penalties.
Immigration advocates argue the fines are excessively punitive, especially for individuals who may not have received proper legal notices or have humanitarian claims.
The Trump administration has imposed staggering financial penalties on thousands of undocumented migrants, with some fines reaching as high as $1.8 million to pressure individuals into "self-deporting."
https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-05-24-trump-slapped-undocumented-migrants-with-massive-fines.html