Trump Proposes Daily Fines of $998 for Migrants with Deportation Orders
Former President Donald Trump’s administration has announced its intention to impose fines of up to $998 per day on immigrants who remain in the United States despite having a final deportation order, according to documents obtained by Reuters. This measure is based on a rarely used 1996 federal law and also includes the confiscation of property in cases of non-payment.
According to officials close to the administration, the fines could be applied retroactively for up to five years, accumulating totals exceeding one million dollars in some cases. This policy targets approximately 1.4 million migrants who currently have a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge.
Also Read: “United States Revokes Permits for Migrants Who Entered with CBP One and Orders Immediate Departure”
Use of Technology for “Self-Deportation”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin explained that migrants will be required to use the CBP Home mobile application (formerly CBP One) to begin the voluntary departure process. In DHS’s words: “If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” referring to the established daily fine.
In addition to economic sanctions, the administration is considering activating property seizure processes through the Department of Justice, particularly via the civil asset forfeiture division, in cases where sanctioned migrants are unable to pay the fines.
Social and Economic Implications
Migrant rights organizations warn that this measure could have a significant impact, especially in mixed-status households, where undocumented individuals live alongside U.S. citizens or permanent residents. According to data from the group FWD.us, nearly 10 million immigrants currently live in such households.
Furthermore, an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, based on 2019 Census data, reveals that 26% of households with unauthorized immigrants have incomes below the federal poverty line, which would lead to severe financial hardship in the face of penalties of this magnitude.
Operational and Logistical Obstacles
An internal memorandum from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notes that their current systems are not equipped to process this type of fine and that implementation would require a considerable expansion of legal staff, with at least 1,000 new paralegal specialists. This would entail high costs and operational delays.
Although the official start date for the application of sanctions has not yet been defined, the White House has urged CBP and ICE to coordinate efforts to establish the enforcement and collection mechanism for these measures.
Conclusion
The plan to impose daily monetary fines on immigrants who do not comply with a deportation order represents one of the harshest immigration measures recently proposed in the United States. While it is based on existing law, its implementation would involve significant legal, technical, and social challenges, affecting vulnerable communities and sparking intense debate around immigration management in the country.
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Tag:CBP ONE, Departamento de Justicia, ICE, multas, TRUMP
