The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Department of Justice, enacted a new rule on Friday that eliminates a previous 30-day notice period before penalties could be imposed on illegal immigrants who fail to comply with removal orders.
Under the new rule, illegal immigrants who ignore deportation orders may now face fines of up to $998 per day immediately upon noncompliance. Additionally, the new rule authorizes DHS immigration officers to issue fines by mail and shortens the process for contesting them.
The penalties apply to individuals who entered the US illegally, ignore removal orders, and fail to follow through with voluntary departure arrangements set by immigration judges. Fines range from $100 to $500 per unlawful entry or attempted entry, $1,992 to $9,970 for failing to honor a voluntary departure agreement, and up to $998 per day for willfully ignoring a final order of removal.
Fines of this nature were first implemented during Trump’s first term, but were halted under the Biden administration when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stopped issuing them. ICE resumed issuing failure-to-depart fines on June 13, and nearly 10,000 notices have already gone out.
“The law doesn’t enforce itself; there must be consequences for breaking it,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. “President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for law and order and making our government more effective and efficient at enforcing the American people’s immigration laws. Financial penalties like these are just one more reason why illegal aliens should use CBP Home to self-deport now before it’s too late.”
The renewed enforcement effort coincides with the administration’s ongoing promotion of the CBP Home app, which allows illegal immigrants to self-deport. DHS says those who choose to self-deport through the app will have their fines forgiven.
“All illegal aliens are encouraged to start their CBP Home self-deportation process immediately,” the department said.
