- 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."
In the past few weeks, about 4,500 migrants received a notice from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding fines of up to $1.8 million. The fines, exceeding $500 million, stem from a 1996 immigration law that allows the government to charge migrants $998 per day for remaining in the U.S. after receiving a final deportation order. Though the provision existed for decades, it was rarely enforced until 2018 under the first Trump administration. (Related: ICE raids underway as Trump administration launches historic DEPORTATION operation.)
For instance, Wendy Ortiz, a 32-year-old Salvadoran immigrant working at a Pennsylvania meatpacking plant, received a notice from ICE demanding $1.8 million. Ortiz, who earns $13 an hour and supports her six-year-old autistic son, a U.S. citizen, had been pursuing an asylum claim since crossing the border in 2015.
Her legal team claimed she never received a court notice and was ordered deported in absentia in 2018. On Jan. 8, 2021, just 12 days before the inauguration of President Joe Biden, her attorney filed a request for humanitarian relief, citing threats in El Salvador and her son's need for specialized care. Shortly after, Trump officials launched the fines campaign.
Meanwhile, Maria, a Honduran woman living in Florida, is also charged with about $1.82 million for remaining in the U.S. nearly 20 years after being ordered to leave. In 2005, Maria missed an immigration hearing, which led to a removal order. Despite this, she stayed and raised her three children. Now, ICE is charging her 500 per day since 2005 for her continued presence.
If these migrants fail to pay for 30 days, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will potentially seize their assets.
Illegals remain in the U.S. despite prior "leave now or face permanent ban" warnings
Legal attorneys of those illegal immigrants fined argued that the fines are inhumane, despite earlier notice that the Trump administration is set to penalize those living in the U.S. illegally under that immigration act.
In February, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced a multimillion-dollar nationwide and international advertising campaign warning undocumented immigrants to leave the United States immediately or face deportation with a permanent ban on reentry.
The campaign, authorized by President Donald Trump, will deploy targeted ads across radio, television, digital platforms and social media, reaching both illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and those abroad considering crossing the border unlawfully. The ads will be broadcast in multiple languages and dialects to ensure maximum reach.
"Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border and putting America first. President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you. 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," Noem said. "If you are a criminal alien considering entering America illegally: Don't even think about it. If you come here and break our laws, we will hunt you down. Criminals are not welcome in the United States."
Head over to InvasionUSA.news to read related stories.
Watch this clip from the "X22 Report" featuring Sheriff Richard Mack of the CSPOA explaining how people can help with the mass deportation plans.
This video is from the Sanivan channel on Brighteon.com.
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Democrats under fire for helping illegal immigrants evade deportation.
Sheriffs gear up to join Trump's MASS DEPORTATION crusade.
Honduras threatens to expel U.S. military over Trump's deportation plans.
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