U.S. Immigration Fines Surpass $84B for Non-Voluntary Departures

Friday 24 July 2026 - 07:45

By: Azzat Manal

U.S. Immigration Fines Surpass $84B for Non-Voluntary Departures

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported that it has imposed more than $84 billion in immigration-related fines on non-citizens living in the United States without legal status who refuse to depart voluntarily. The department said the measure has been applied since the start of 2025, describing it as part of a tougher enforcement posture under the current administration.

According to DHS, its immigration authorities have issued around 103,000 fines during the same period, with each penalty set at $998 per day that a person remains in the country unlawfully after a final order of removal has been issued. However, the department noted that the amounts actually recovered—amounting to about $1.2 million by mid-July—remain far lower than the total assessed fines.

DHS also linked the policy to a broader message to those affected, emphasizing that individuals in irregular status effectively face two paths: either use a DHS platform—CBP Home—to access return-related options, including free travel back and $2,600 in assistance for departure, or face continued penalties alongside potential arrest and removal.

The reporting comes after DHS and the U.S. Department of Justice announced steps in June 2025 intended to expand the fines program. Among the changes cited were the removal of a 30-day advance notice period previously used to inform people of an impending fine, and the authorization for immigration officers to send fine notices through regular mail rather than relying on longer, formal notice windows.

The department also indicated that the revised process shortens timelines for certain parts of the appeals or challenge procedures involving the fines.

As U.S. immigration enforcement remains a politically and legally sensitive issue, the initiative highlights the administration’s focus on deterrence measures—attempting to pressure individuals ordered to leave to comply voluntarily rather than remain in the country after final removal decisions are issued.