Trump administration warns migrants of nearly $1,000 fine per day
Illegal immigrants could face fines of up to $998 per day if they fail to self-deport, under plans by the Donald Trump administration.
"Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don't, they will face the consequences. This includes a fine of $998 per day for every day that the illegal alien overstayed their final deportation order," a senior Department of Homeland Security official told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump returned to the White House with a renewed pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, responding to a surge in southwest border crossings over the past four years. The administration is ramping up pressure on immigration authorities to accelerate deportations—efforts that are currently constrained by limited resources and detention space. The fines could deter illegal immigrants from staying in the country and lead to them signing up to self-deport.
What to Know
The fines originate from a 1996 law that was first enforced in 2018 during President Donald Trump's initial term. Now, the Trump administration intends to apply the penalties retroactively for up to five years—a move that could lead to fines exceeding $1 million, according to Reuters, which spoke to a senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential plans.
The Trump administration is also weighing the option of seizing property from immigrants who fail to pay the fines, according to government emails reviewed by Reuters.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning about the fines in a March 31 social media post.
The proposed fines are aimed at the approximately 1.4 million illegal immigrants who have been ordered deported by an immigration judge.
During his first term, Trump invoked the 1996 law to impose fines totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars on nine migrants who had sought sanctuary in churches. Although the administration later withdrew those penalties, it went on to issue smaller fines—around $60,000 per person—against at least four of the individuals, according to court records viewed by Reuters. When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, he halted the issuance of such fines and revoked the related policies.
The hefty fines could disproportionately affect lower-income immigrants. An analysis of 2019 Census data by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute revealed that 26 percent of households with unauthorized immigrants had incomes below the federal poverty line.
In March, the Trump administration relaunched the U.S. Border Patrol's app, now rebranded as "CBP Home," offering undocumented immigrants a way to voluntarily notify the government of their intent to self-deport.
Previously known as CBP One during former President Joe Biden's term, the app is now being promoted by the administration as the safest and most efficient method for individuals without legal status to exit the country.
What People Are Saying
A DHS official told Newsweek: "The safest option for illegal aliens is to self-deport."
Pete Flores, U.S Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner, said in a press release: "CBP Home App strengthens our mission to secure the U.S. border by ensuring lawful entry for travelers and supporting effective enforcement. The app provides illegal aliens in the United States with a straightforward way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart, offering them the chance to leave before facing harsher consequences. This reinforces our commitment to enforcing U.S. laws and safeguarding national security."
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement: "The Biden Administration exploited the CBP One app to allow more than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States. With the launching of the CBP Home app, we are restoring integrity to our immigration system. The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream. If they don't, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return."
What Happens Next
The Department of Homeland Security is expected to begin issuing the fines, starting with individuals who have already received final deportation orders.