The Clock Is Ticking: A Hidden Consequence Most Americans Don’t Know
Trump Administration to Impose $998 Daily Fines on Illegal Immigrants Who Refuse to Leave
The Trump administration has unveiled an aggressive new immigration enforcement measure that would impose nearly $1,000 per day in fines on undocumented immigrants who ignore final deportation orders and remain in the United States.
Under the new policy, illegal immigrants who have been formally ordered to leave the country will face penalties of $998 per day for every day they overstay their deportation deadline. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says the fines are designed to discourage defiance of removal orders and encourage voluntary compliance through a self-deportation system.
“Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in an interview with Fox News. “If they don’t, they will face the consequences — including a fine of $998 per day for each day they overstay their deportation order.”
An Old Law Revived
The fines stem from a 1996 immigration law that allowed the government to penalize immigrants who ignore deportation orders but was rarely enforced for decades. The Trump administration briefly activated the rule during his first term in 2018, but the effort was suspended under the Biden administration.
Now, the rule is being revived — and expanded. According to Reuters, the policy will be applied retroactively for up to five years, meaning immigrants who have ignored deportation orders for extended periods could face accumulated fines exceeding $1 million.
Federal officials also confirmed that the government may seize property or assets from those who refuse to pay the penalties.
A DHS official, speaking on background, said the measure is part of a “larger strategy to restore the rule of law in immigration enforcement.”
The Push for Self-Deportation
To manage the process, DHS is promoting the CBP Home app, a digital tool designed to help immigrants schedule and verify their voluntary departure. Flyers distributed by the department outline both the “benefits” and “consequences” of self-deportation.
According to the flyer, self-deportation allows individuals to “leave on their own terms by selecting their own flight,” offering a more dignified exit than forced removal. Those who comply voluntarily can retain their earnings, avoid criminal penalties, and remain eligible for future legal immigration opportunities.
For migrants unable to afford the cost of airfare, DHS says limited subsidized flights may be available.
The flyer also spells out the alternative — enforcement action. Migrants who ignore deportation orders will be “apprehended by DHS with no opportunity to get your affairs in order beforehand,” and may be barred from reentry into the U.S. through legal immigration channels.
Additionally, DHS warns that violators could face fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for failing to self-deport after initially agreeing to do so, and possible jail time if they continue to defy federal orders.
Secretary Noem Joins the Front Lines
While the fines drew national attention, another development captured headlines for a different reason — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem personally joined a federal raid targeting undocumented felons in Phoenix, Arizona.
The operation, which took place before dawn on Tuesday, involved more than 100 federal agents from multiple agencies, including ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the DEA.
The New York Post reported that Noem was on the front lines, wearing tactical gear and participating directly in the raid. During the operation, agents apprehended three undocumented immigrants with long criminal histories tied to drug trafficking, weapons violations, and money laundering.
At one point, a suspect reportedly kicked at the secretary. Noem dodged the blow, joking to nearby agents, “You’re not scaring me with your Croc.”
A Coordinated National Crackdown
Before the raid began, Noem met with agents in an underground parking garage to review intelligence briefings and day-of objectives. Standing beside armored vehicles, she thanked the officers for their service and vowed to secure the resources needed to strengthen enforcement operations nationwide.
“The level of coordination we’re seeing between agencies right now is unprecedented,” Noem told The Post. “We’re multiplying our efforts across the country — anyone here illegally who has committed crimes will face the consequences.”
She added, “We’ll be sweeping them up faster than ever before.”
Leading the convoy herself, Noem drove the lead BearCat armored vehicle, accompanied by a dozen other tactical units.
Riding beside her was Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager and current adviser to DHS. Although Lewandowski introduced himself to agents as “chief of staff,” a DHS official later clarified that he serves as a special government employee with advisory duties.
A Broader Message of Deterrence
The Trump administration’s new fine structure — paired with high-profile enforcement raids — appears designed to send a message of deterrence to undocumented immigrants resisting removal orders.
Officials say the goal isn’t just to punish violators but to create a system that rewards voluntary compliance while freeing enforcement resources for more serious criminal cases.
For critics, the move represents a dramatic escalation in immigration enforcement that could face legal challenges in federal court. But for supporters, it’s a long-overdue application of existing law — one that reflects the administration’s renewed emphasis on border control, accountability, and sovereignty.
As Secretary Noem summarized it: “We’re a nation of laws. If you’re here illegally and you’ve been ordered to leave — it’s time to go.”