US Government Says Illegal Immigrants Who Ignore Departure Orders Face More Than $84 Billion in Fines

The move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to strengthen immigration enforcement and encourage compliance with federal law.

US says it has slapped huge fine
The $84 billion total, officials said, is the sum of civil penalties levied against individuals who did not leave the US after their removal or deportation orders became final.

The penalties are meant to deter and encourage people to comply voluntarily, rather than having to pursue them through legal action later, authorities said. 

“Those fines send a strong message that there are consequences when you ignore final orders of our immigration courts,” a senior DHS official said.

New federal rule makes collecting penalties easier  
In June, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new federal rule to simplify the issuance and collection of civil fines.

The new process will enable immigration authorities to serve and process penalty notices more quickly without the need for individual court hearings in each case, officials said. The rule applies to undocumented people who have exhausted their appeals and have not left by the deadline in their removal order.

How much of the $84 billion the government expects to actually collect has not been revealed. Many of those fined are no longer in the US or have no traceable assets, the government has said.

Part of a harder line on immigration  
The fine policy is one of several measures introduced this year to step up border security and enforcement. Other measures include stepping up workplace inspections, speeding up the handling of removal cases, and expanding the use of detention facilities.

The administration says the financial penalties along with deportation orders will help reduce backlogs and deter people from staying after a final legal ruling.

“Compliance with immigration law is not optional,” the DOJ said in a statement. “People who don’t follow a judge’s order should face both legal and financial consequences.”

The immigration policy debate continues
The announcement has rekindled a debate about US immigration policy.

Supporters say stronger enforcement is necessary to protect the integrity of the immigration system and to ensure compliance with court orders. Without consequences, removal orders serve no purpose, they say.

Some lawmakers and immigrant rights groups say such large fines are unrealistic. They say most affected people can’t afford to pay, and the policy could cause more hardship without solving underlying immigration system problems.

The issue is anticipated to be a primary focus of conversation during upcoming congressional hearings on border security and immigration reform.