• The Trump administration will impose daily fines of up to $998 on migrants with deportation orders who fail to leave the U.S.
• The fines may apply retroactively for up to five years and can result in penalties exceeding $1 million.
• Property seizures are planned for non-compliant migrants as part of a renewed crackdown on illegal immigration.
• Critics warn that these measures could severely impact low-income families and create fear within immigrant communities.
• Supporters claim this strategy will deter illegal immigration and enforce U.S. laws effectively.

The Trump administration is advancing a stringent new immigration enforcement strategy, threatening fines of nearly $1,000 per day against migrants who disregard final deportation orders. The proposed policy, reported by multiple sources including Reuters, aims to target approximately 1.4 million undocumented individuals who have been ordered to leave the United States. Migrants who fail to voluntarily depart could face a hefty financial burden, as the administration intends to levy fines retroactively, potentially exceeding $1 million over five years. According to a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the fines are rooted in a 1996 law that the Trump administration aims to reinvigorate, applying new penalties that were previously inactive. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized, “If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” indicating that these consequences include substantial daily fines for overstaying a final deportation order. The costs could severely impact lower-income migrants, with studies showing that a significant percentage of households with unauthorized immigrants live below the federal poverty line. In addition to the fines, the Trump administration is considering **property seizures** from those who do not comply with the fines, as documented in internal emails obtained during the review. Measures would involve U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) overseeing the fines and property seizures, necessitating additional staffing resources to handle the expected administrative burden. To mitigate these penalties, the administration is promoting the rebranded CBP Home app, which provides a platform for individuals with immigration issues to declare their intent to self-deport voluntarily. This initiative offers a way for undocumented immigrants to leave the country without facing immediate punishments. “The app provides illegal aliens in the United States with a straightforward way to declare their intent to voluntarily depart,” said Pete Flores, acting commissioner of CBP, reinforcing the administration's commitment to enforcing immigration laws. Critics of the proposed fines argue that the intended implementation goes beyond the enforcement of immigration law and straddles into creating a climate of fear within immigrant communities. Former ICE policy official Scott Shuchart remarked that the tactics could serve to instill fear rather than actually enforcing compliance, stating, “Their point isn't really to enforce the law; it's to project fear in communities.” As President Trump emphasizes a strict immigration policy and pushes immigration enforcement resources to their limits, the expected rollout of fines and the potential for asset seizures raises concerns regarding the future of immigration in the U.S. Advocates urge the administration to reconsider these plans given the disproportionate impact they could have on vulnerable populations. For further details, please see the original articles by India Times and Newsweek.