Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Apr 8: In a major escalation of its immigration enforcement strategy, the Trump administration is preparing to fine undocumented migrants under final deportation orders up to $998 per day if they fail to leave the United States. Additionally, the administration is exploring legal avenues to seize the property of those who do not pay, according to internal documents and emails reviewed by Reuters.
The fines are based on a 1996 immigration law, but this provision was enforced for the first time in 2018 during Trump’s previous term in office. Now, the administration is looking to apply the penalties retroactively for up to five years, which could result in fines exceeding $1 million for some individuals.
A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the plans and said the penalties would serve as a “powerful deterrent.” Emails between White House and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials indicate pressure on Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to oversee the collection of fines and seizure of property.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, responding to Reuters, emphasized the government’s position: “Illegal immigrants with final deportation orders must use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don’t, they will face the consequences.”
The fines are targeted at approximately 1.4 million individuals who have already been ordered removed by an immigration judge. A DHS social media post on March 31 publicly warned of these penalties.
Emails reveal that both the White House National Security Council and senior policy advisor Stephen Miller have been actively pushing CBP to implement and enforce the measures. However, a CBP memo dated April 1 stated that the agency’s infrastructure is not equipped to handle such a program and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be a more suitable agency for the task. The memo also estimated a need for over 1,000 new paralegal staff to support the initiative.
The potential for civil asset forfeiture has raised concerns among immigration advocates and legal experts. Scott Shuchart, a former ICE policy official under the Biden administration, criticized the move, saying it is more about spreading fear than enforcing the law.
“These measures disproportionately affect lower-income and mixed-status families,” said an official from FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group, adding that millions of undocumented individuals reside with U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
President Joe Biden had rescinded similar fines after taking office in 2021. However, with Trump seeking a return to office, the revival of these penalties signals a renewed crackdown on undocumented immigrants with deep roots in the country.
DHS has not confirmed when the fines would be implemented or addressed questions about the role of Stephen Miller or the operational challenges involved.