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Trump Administration Pressures Some Immigrants to Self-Deport With Fines Up to $1.8 Million
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Trump administration is intensifying the use of civil fines, up to $1.8 million, to pressure undocumented immigrants into self-deportation by charging $998 per day for unlawful stay after a removal order.
- Over 100,000 individuals have been notified by the Homeland Security Department about these fines, a tool allowed since 1996 but previously unused at this scale by any president before Trump.
- After resuming office, President Trump directed the enforcement and collection of these fines as part of a broader mass deportation campaign, leading to a significant increase in the issuance of such penalties.
- For affected immigrants, these fines pose a severe financial threat, forcing them to choose between leaving the country or risking substantial debt accumulation, which can total millions over time.
