Immigrants with removal orders are being fined up to $998 each day and sued by the Trump administration for non-compliance
The Trump administration is now issuing large fines to immigrants with removal orders and suing those who do not comply in an effort to force self-deportation, immigration lawyers told ABC News.
As per the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun using a 1996 law to issue fines to individuals with removal orders. Notices warned immigrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily to avoid financial penalty.
In June, the Trump Administration announced that it would impose new fines, decrease the time for appeal and no longer give a 30-day notice period. ICE claimed they issued over 10,000 fines within that same month. Said fines range from $100-$500 for each unlawful entry or attempted entry, and up to $998 daily for up to five years.
In June, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the fines apply to those who enter the country illegally, ignore removal orders or do not comply with “voluntary departure orders.”
“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,” Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, said in the statement.
Before July, people received a notice of intent, which they could appeal. Now, however, individuals are simply receiving invoices, Florida immigration attorney John Gihon told ABC News.
Those who received fines and did not comply are now being sued by the Trump administration. Gihon noted that one of his clients was unable to comply due to a lack of proper travel documents. New York immigration attorney Edward Cuccia told ABC News that his clients have received million-dollar fines despite the fact that they work minimum wage jobs.
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Attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Merle Kahn, told ABC News, “They could be fined over $1.8 million if they have an outstanding deportation order and didn’t leave.”
Elizabeth Ahern
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