Chicago – April 08, 2025
The Trump administration plans to fine migrants up to $998 a day if they don’t leave the United States after being ordered to do so. The fines could go back as far as five years, leading to potential fines of over $1 million for some individuals. Additionally, the government is considering taking the property of migrants who fail to pay the fines.
This move is based on a 1996 law that was first used in 2018 during President Trump’s first term. According to government emails, the Trump administration may seize assets through the Department of Justice’s civil asset forfeiture division.
In a statement, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said that immigrants in the U.S. illegally should use a mobile app called CBP Home to leave the country. If they don’t, they could face daily fines of $998 for each day they stay past their deportation order.
The White House has urged U.S. Customs and Border Protection to manage the penalties and property seizures, as well as the sale of assets. This plan targets around 1.4 million migrants who have already been ordered to leave the U.S. by an immigration judge.
