The agencies will apply greater pressure on illegal immigrants for them to self-deport from the country.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice announced a new joint federal rule that streamlines the process of issuing fines for illegal immigrants, making it easier and more efficient, DHS said in a June 27 statement.
“The current process requires giving illegal aliens 30 days’ notice of the intent to fine them before a fine is issued,” said the statement. The new rule will “eliminate the 30-day notice period, authorize DHS immigration officers to send fines to illegal aliens by regular mail, and shorten the process that applies if illegal aliens contest their fines.”
According to the DHS, the new fining process applies to foreigners who have entered the United States illegally, who delay their removal from the country or ignore such orders, and who do not adhere to agreements to comply with voluntary departure orders issued by judges.
For every unlawful entry or attempted entry, a fine of $100 to $500 shall be charged. Failure to comply with a removal order attracts a fine of up to $998 per day, while refusal to honor a voluntary departure order triggers a fine of $1,992 to $9,970.
DHS said such fines were initially issued under President Donald Trump’s first term but were stopped after President Joe Biden took office.
Under Trump’s second term, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began issuing failure-to-depart fines again. So far, ICE has issued almost 10,000 fine notices, DHS said.
“The law doesn’t enforce itself; there must be consequences for breaking it,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem “are standing up for law and order and making our government more effective and efficient at enforcing the American people’s immigration laws. 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.”
Illegal immigrants who register to voluntarily depart from the United States through the CBP Home App will receive a $1,000 bonus as well as cost-free travel, according to the DHS. In addition, any fines imposed on such illegal immigrants for failing to depart the country shall be forgiven.
