Detained illegal immigrants will face $5K ‘apprehension fee’: Border Patrol chief
In a significant policy shift, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced that nearly all illegal immigrants detained will now face a $5,000 “apprehension fee.” This fee applies to individuals aged 14 and older who enter the country without proper inspection, as mandated by a provision in a sweeping immigration bill signed into law by President Donald Trump in July. Banks emphasized that this fee will be enforced regardless of the immigrants’ entry point, duration of stay, or ongoing immigration proceedings. This announcement comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed against the federal government on behalf of 21,500 immigrants who are facing hefty daily penalties for their illegal status, highlighting the contentious legal landscape surrounding immigration enforcement.
In addition to the apprehension fee, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a $1,000 fee for migrants paroled in the U.S. as part of efforts to curb fraud in the parole system. This week, DHS launched a controversial “holiday deal of a lifetime,” encouraging illegal immigrants to self-deport by offering free flights home along with a $1,000 bonus. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to manage immigration costs, as the average expense for arresting, detaining, and deporting an individual is reported to be around $17,000. The DHS has also hinted at possible forgiveness of civil fines for those who voluntarily leave, potentially paving the way for legal re-entry in the future.
The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies have been met with mixed reactions, as they aim to address the complexities of illegal immigration while also striving to meet record deportation goals. As reported, the administration is on track to exceed historic records, with projections of 600,000 deportations by the end of Trump’s first year back in office. The DHS reported that over two million illegal immigrants have exited the U.S. this year, including a significant number who self-deported. This multifaceted approach to immigration enforcement reflects the administration’s ongoing commitment to stringent border control measures, including the deployment of additional personnel to the southern border and the termination of the “catch-and-release” policy. As these developments unfold, the implications for both immigrants and U.S. immigration policy remain a topic of intense debate and scrutiny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8iDdQ-K37Q
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks announced that nearly all
illegal immigrants
detained will be charged a $5,000 “apprehension fee.”
In a post on X on Thursday, Banks said illegal immigrants ages 14 and older who entered the country without inspection will face a fee, a provision included in the “big, beautiful bill,” which President
Donald Trump
signed into law in July.
“This message applies to all illegal aliens — regardless of where they entered, how long they’ve been in the U.S., their current location, or any ongoing immigration proceedings,” Banks wrote.
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The warning came after a lawsuit was filed Thursday against the federal government on behalf of 21,500 immigrants facing daily penalties of $998, reaching up to $1.8 million each for staying in the U.S. illegally.
Their lawyers argued they were attempting to comply with federal immigration laws.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced in October that
migrants paroled in the U.S.
would also face a $1,000 fee “to institute accountability and prevent rampant fraud of the parole system.”
DHS this week launched a “holiday deal of a lifetime,” offering illegal immigrants a “Cyber Monday” incentive to self-deport.
All illegal immigrants in the country could receive a free flight home and a $1,000 bonus for
voluntarily leaving the country
. The average cost to arrest, detain and deport someone is $17,000, according to DHS.
People in the U.S. illegally may also qualify for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties incurred for failing to depart, DHS said, allowing the possibility for them to return legally.
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The Trump administration previously announced it closed out fiscal year 2025 with 237,565
Border Patrol apprehensions
, the fewest since 1970.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital in October that the administration was “on pace to shatter historic records” by tallying 600,000 deportations by the end of Trump’s first year back in office.
More than two million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. this year, she said, including 1.6 million who have self-deported, 515,000 deportations and another 485,000 who were arrested.
Trump deployed additional personnel to the southern border after taking office and ended “catch-and-release,” the practice of releasing illegal immigrants as they wait for hearings.
Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo, Bonny Chu and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
