Trump’s immigration crackdown puts illegal immigrants on notice: Self-deport or face crippling $998 DAILY penalties that could quickly exceed $1 million.
At a Glance
- The Trump administration will impose $998 daily fines on migrants who ignore deportation orders
- Fines can be applied retroactively for up to five years, potentially exceeding $1 million
- Migrants’ property can be seized if fines remain unpaid
- Self-deportation through the CBP Home app offers benefits including eligibility for future legal immigration
- Those failing to self-deport face not only fines but potential jail time and permanent exclusion from legal entry
Finally, A Border Policy With Teeth
After years of watching the Biden administration roll out the welcome mat for virtually anyone who wants to stroll across our southern border, we’re finally seeing what actual immigration enforcement looks like. The Trump administration is implementing a serious consequence for those who have been ordered to leave but decided America’s laws don’t apply to them. A whopping $998 per day penalty will be imposed on illegal immigrants who ignore final deportation orders – and yes, that adds up exactly as fast as you think it does. For those migrants bad at math, that’s nearly $365,000 per year they choose to remain illegally.
This isn’t some new overreach of executive power, either. The policy draws on a 1996 federal law that has been on the books for decades but was largely unenforced until Trump revitalized it in 2018. The message couldn’t be clearer: America’s immigration system is not a suggestion, and those who refuse to comply with legal orders will face serious financial consequences. Unlike the toothless policies of previous administrations, this approach hits lawbreakers where it hurts – their wallets.
The Trump administration plans to impose fines of up to $998 per day on migrants who remain in the United States after receiving a deportation order, utilizing a rarely enforced 1996 law.
These fines could be applied retroactively for up to five years, potentially accumulating… pic.twitter.com/memss88qd0
— Auden B. Cabello (@CabelloAuden) April 8, 2025
Self-Deportation: The Smart Choice
In a refreshingly straightforward approach to the issue, the Department of Homeland Security is actively encouraging illegal immigrants to simply leave on their own terms before facing these massive penalties. They’ve even created an app for that. The CBP Home app allows for organized self-deportation, offering several benefits that make it the obvious choice for anyone with an ounce of common sense. Self-deporters get to keep the money they’ve earned in the U.S., maintain eligibility for future legal immigration, and in some cases may even receive subsidized flights back to their home countries.
“Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin warned in no uncertain terms.
The administration is distributing informational flyers that spell out the stark choice in simple terms. “Self-deportation is safe,” explains one section, while another bluntly warns: “If you fail to self-deport, you may be subject to jail time.” This isn’t complicated. Follow the law and leave voluntarily, or face crushing financial penalties and potential incarceration. The choice should be obvious to anyone not living in liberal fantasy land where borders are just imaginary lines and laws are merely suggestions.
Serious Consequences for Non-Compliance
The days of catch-and-release and empty threats are over. If migrants choose to ignore their deportation orders, they’re looking at financial ruin. The fines can be backdated for up to five years, potentially resulting in penalties exceeding $1 million. And for those thinking they can simply ignore the fines, think again. Customs and Border Protection has the authority to seize assets and property to satisfy these penalties. The Trump administration isn’t just talking tough – they’re putting real enforcement mechanisms in place.
“Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don’t, they will face the consequences. This includes a fine of $998 per day for every day that the illegal alien overstayed their final deportation order.”
This approach recognizes a simple truth that the left has long ignored: incentives matter. When there are no real consequences for breaking immigration laws, people will continue to break them. When staying illegally costs you nearly a thousand dollars a day, suddenly returning home doesn’t seem so bad. For the 26% of unauthorized migrants living below the poverty line, these fines would be financially devastating – and that’s precisely the point. Following our immigration laws should always be the more attractive option than breaking them.
America’s Immigration System Restored
What we’re seeing is the restoration of something fundamental that has been missing for years: respect for American sovereignty and the rule of law. The Supreme Court recently cleared the way for the use of a 1798 wartime law to deport Venezuelan gang members, demonstrating a renewed judicial commitment to border security. These developments, combined with the new financial penalties, signal that America is finally getting serious about who enters and remains in our country. Every nation on earth has immigration laws, and every functional nation enforces them.
Self-deportation benefits both America and the migrants themselves. Those who leave willingly maintain a path to potential legal immigration in the future, while those who resist face not only financial penalties but also permanent exclusion from legal entry. This is what common-sense immigration policy looks like – clear rules with meaningful consequences for breaking them. After years of watching our southern border turned into a revolving door of illegal entry, it’s about time we restored order and respect for our immigration system.
