US Immigration: A Florida-based undocumented immigrant is facing a staggering $1.82 million (over Rs 15 crore in Indian currency) civil fine for failing to comply with a deportation order issued nearly two decades ago. The fine, revealed in a notice dated May 9 from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) civil fines division, has brought renewed scrutiny to long-dormant sections of US immigration law.
Daily fines over 20 years
The 41-year-old Honduran national, a mother of three US-born children, has been fined $500 for each day she remained in the country after being ordered removed in April 2005. The total — $1,821,350 — reflects nearly 20 years of unauthorised stay. CBS News has chosen not to name the woman.
The fine stems from provisions in the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows civil penalties for undocumented immigrants who defy deportation orders. While still on the books, these fines have rarely been enforced until recent years.
Trump-era policy resurgence
According to her attorney, Michelle Sanchez, the Trump administration revived this dormant policy in 2020 as part of a broader crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Although the Biden administration has since adopted a more discretionary approach to enforcement, some Trump-era policies, like civil fines, continue to impact immigrants like the Honduran woman.
Sanchez explained that the removal order was issued in 2005 after her client missed a court hearing — something the woman says she was never properly advised about.
Legal challenge
In 2024, Sanchez filed a motion to reopen the case, arguing that the woman qualifies for US residency. She has lived in the country for over a decade without a criminal record and is the mother of three children who are US citizens. According to immigration law, individuals with qualifying relatives who would suffer “exceptional hardship” from deportation may be eligible for relief.
ICE, however, refused to reopen the case in March 2025, citing lack of procedural guidance from the Trump administration on how to apply discretion in such cases.
Fear and legal uncertainty
The issuance of such a massive fine has sent shockwaves through immigrant communities. “ICE is terrorizing individuals without even having to pick them up,” said Sanchez. “They’re using fear tactics by sending these notices with life-altering financial penalties.”
While the fine can be contested, Sanchez cautions against showing up for interviews without legal representation. “They’re going into the lion’s den,” she said. She plans to appeal the fine, arguing her client was unaware of the legal consequences of remaining in the US.