The Trump administration has announced plans to collect up to $6.1 billion in fines from immigrants who have allegedly disregarded deportation orders.
DHS Warns Immigrants Of Lawsuits, Tax Bills, Fines
The Department of Homeland Security has initiated measures to recover these penalties, reported The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. The government has warned immigrants of potential lawsuits, debt collectors, and substantial tax bills if they fail to pay the fines.
After President Donald Trump returned to office, DHS imposed 21,500 fines aimed at pressuring people to depart the U.S. in a move to alleviate the backlog of the immigration court system. The administration has also introduced a $1,000 “exit bonus” for those who choose to self-deport.
The fines, which can be as high as $998 per day, are typically levied retroactively for five years, amounting to $1,820,352 per person.
“These fines are targeted toward illegal aliens who ignore removal orders and do not honor voluntary departure agreements,” said DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. The department also cautioned that …