Immigrants fined up to $1.8 million for remaining in US sue Trump administration
A significant lawsuit was filed on Thursday against the federal government, representing over 21,500 immigrants who are facing exorbitant fines for remaining in the United States without legal status. These fines, which can reach up to $1.8 million per individual, have been imposed at a rate of $998 per day, aimed at encouraging immigrants to voluntarily leave the country. The legal action, initiated in Massachusetts on behalf of two women, seeks class-action status to advocate for those affected by what the plaintiffs’ attorneys describe as “ruinous civil fines” that are disproportionate to the severity of the alleged immigration violations. The lawsuit argues that these fines are unconstitutional and that the immigrants involved have been diligently trying to comply with U.S. immigration laws, including pursuing legal relief through immigration courts and agencies.
One of the plaintiffs, identified only as Nancy M. to protect her identity, exemplifies the plight of many immigrants facing these penalties. Despite holding an “order of supervision” and regularly meeting with immigration officials in her quest to become a legal permanent resident, Nancy received a staggering bill of approximately $1.8 million earlier this year. Her case underscores the harsh realities many immigrants face under the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies, which have reportedly led to fines totaling over $6 billion. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has defended the fines, asserting that the lawsuit represents an attempt to undermine federal immigration law. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that the plaintiffs are in the U.S. illegally and are seeking to evade consequences for their status, reiterating the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws without exception.
This legal battle sheds light on the broader implications of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have been characterized by aggressive measures to deter illegal immigration. The administration’s stance has been to impose significant financial penalties on undocumented immigrants, framing it as a necessary strategy to uphold immigration laws. As this case unfolds, it raises critical questions about the balance between enforcing immigration regulations and ensuring fair treatment for those navigating the complex and often daunting immigration system. The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for thousands of immigrants who find themselves caught in a web of legal challenges and financial burdens, highlighting the urgent need for reform in the U.S. immigration policy landscape.
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A lawsuit was filed Thursday against the federal government on behalf of
immigrants facing fines
reaching up to $1.8 million each for staying in the U.S. illegally.
Daily penalties of $998 have been levied against more than 21,500 immigrants, whose lawyers say they were attempting to comply with federal immigration laws. The fines were implemented to encourage immigrants to leave the country.
The lawyers said their clients were slapped with “ruinous civil fines” that are “grossly disproportionate to the gravity” of any immigration violations, arguing that the fines are unconstitutional.
The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts on behalf of two immigrant women, seeks class-action status to represent people facing fines that lawyers say have totaled more than $6 billion under President
Donald Trump’s
mass deportation policies.
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“The people we serve are doing exactly what the law requires — pursuing legal relief through immigration courts and immigration agencies,” Hasan Shafiqullah, a supervising attorney with The Legal Aid Society, one of the groups representing the immigrants, said in a news release. “In return, the government is threatening to seize their wages, cars, even their homes.”
One of the two plaintiffs, a woman residing in Florida who was identified in the complaint only as Nancy M. to protect her from retribution, was instructed to leave the U.S., but also had an “order of supervision” and was meeting annually with immigration officials as she attempted to become a legal permanent resident.
Despite this, she received a bill earlier this year for about $1.8 million, which appeared to be reached through daily $998 fines for the past five years.
The
Department of Homeland Security
purported that the lawsuit was “just another attempt to nullify federal immigration law through activist litigation.”
“The plaintiffs in this case are here illegally and are suing so they can remain in the country illegally without any consequence or penalty – contrary to decades-old federal law,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
Shortly after Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration revealed a series of moves to encourage immigrants to leave the country, including DHS’ announcement in February that illegal immigrants could face “significant financial penalty” if they choose not to self-deport.
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Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now,” McLaughlin said in February.
“The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws — we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce,” she added at the time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
