Daily fine of $998 for ignoring deportation order: Trump's new plan

The administration of President Donald Trump plans to impose fines of up to $998 daily to migrants with deportation orders that they do not leave the country. Additionally, it contemplates confiscate their assets if they do not pay the fines, according to official documents reviewed by Reuters.

The legal basis for this measure comes from a 1996 law, first applied in 2018 during Trump's first term. According to a senior official from his team, who requested anonymity, the plan includes implementing the sanctions. retroactively for a period of up to five years, which could result in accumulated fines exceeding one million dollars for some immigrants.

This offensive is part of a broader strategy by President Trump to strengthen immigration control and increase deportations. In his first term, he attempted to fine nine migrants who were taking refuge in churches, with penalties reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. Although these fines were initially withdrawn, they were later resumed with lower amounts, close to $60,000 per person, according to court records.

Daily fine of 998 dollars for those who do not self-deport

The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, confirmed in a statement that those who are in the country illegally should use the CBP Home mobile application (formerly CBP One) to self-deport and leave the country immediatelyOtherwise, he warned, "they will face the consequences," including the daily fine of 998 dollars for each day they remain after receiving a final deportation order.

According to internal government emails cited by Reuters, the White House is pressuring the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to manage not only the imposition of fines, but also seizure and auction of properties of the migrant delinquents. There is even consideration being given to involving the Department of Justice's civil asset forfeiture division.

Currently, more than 1.4 million migrants they have deportation orders issued by immigration judges in the U.S. Although President Joe Biden suspended these fines upon taking office in 2021, Trump intends to reactivate them, which can have a intimidating effect among migrant communities and its defenders, who are already anticipating potential legal challenges.

This measure has been described as one of the most aggressive in recent history of US immigration policy, with potential humanitarian, economic, and legal consequences.