Immigrant Wants to Pay $368,000 in Fines, but Broken Payment System Won’t Let Him

Daniel, an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. two decades ago on a legal tourist visa, faced a difficult situation recently. Upon filing an asylum application, he was eventually denied, and 11 years later, he received a deportation order alongside a letter from the government stating he owed approximately $368,000 in fines. These fines were imposed by President Donald Trump's executive order, which levies daily penalties for immigrants who "willfully fail or refuse" to leave the country after receiving a removal order.

The fine amounts have increased over time, with the maximum penalty now reaching $1.8 million, although unpaid fines can also attract interest.

The Trump administration has issued fines of up to $1.8 million for the maximum five-year period, while unpaid fines can accrue interest. As of July, over 100,000 immigrants had received fines totaling more than $84 million. The administration says it will forgive the debts if immigrants leave the country. Daniel, along with his U.S. citizen spouse and two children, faced a barrier to legal status through marriage, as Daniel's deportation order presented a hurdle in his case.

The letters immigrants receive regarding these fines are typically brief, including the date of the removal order and a checkbox stating the individual willfully failed or refused to depart. However, these letters lack crucial information, such as the explanation of how the figures were calculated, the application of interest, and the tolling date or potential cessation of fines.

Moreover, the letters only provide a 15-day window to contest the fines, which many immigrants have missed. Daniel and other immigrants have been unable to pay the fines due to a lack of necessary information and a broken payment system that doesn't accept standard payment methods like cashier's checks or money orders.