This week, NPR obtained government documents showing that the Trump administration has fined some immigrants who are in the United States illegally, after “failing to depart the U.S. as previously agreed.”
The Department of Homeland Security sent out notices to targeted individuals with fines up to nearly $500,000.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) referenced the Immigration and Nationality Act which allows the agency to issue “civil fines on aliens who have been ordered removed or granted voluntary departure and fail to depart the United States.” According to the act, the fines should not exceed $500 for each day the person is in violation of this section.
These fines, as part of a continued effort to enforce immigration policy at the border and within the United States, follow reports of, for now, delayed immigration sweeps of individuals and families who have received deportation orders.