Trump Immigration Fines Shock Low-Income Migrants: Wendy Ortiz, a low-income migrant, was fined 1.8 million for staying in the US illegally. She earns $13 an hour and supports her autistic son. The Trump immigration fines target 4,500 migrants, totaling over $500 million. Many cannot afford these penalties.
The fines aim to push migrants to leave voluntarily. Lawyers call the amounts unrealistic and unfair. This policy has left families struggling and confused.
Also Read | Trump Ends TPS for Venezuelans as Supreme Court Rules in His Favor
Trump Immigration Fines Shock Low-Income Migrants: Insights
- The Trump administration issued fines up to $1.8 million to migrants.
- Over 4,500 migrants received penalty notices.
- Fines stem from a 1996 law, enforced aggressively under Trump.
- Many affected migrants have U.S. citizen children.
- Lawyers question how the government will collect such high amounts.
Background
In 2018, Trump began enforcing a 1996 immigration law. It allows fines for migrants who ignore deportation orders. The policy was rarely used before. Fines can go up to $998 per day. Some penalties apply retroactively. Biden dropped these fines in 2021, but Trump revived them. Many migrants were unaware of their deportation orders. Now, they face impossible financial burdens.
Main Event
Wendy Ortiz fled El Salvador due to violence. She has lived in the U.S. for 10 years. In January, she requested humanitarian relief. Instead, she got a $1.8 million fine. She is not alone. Reuters found 4,500 migrants facing similar penalties.
A senior Trump official confirmed the fines. Migrants have 30 days to contest them. Many cannot afford lawyers. Some fines target spouses of U.S. citizens. One woman’s husband was fined $5,000 while she battled cancer.
ICE issued the fines, but CBP must collect them. The process is unclear. Lawyers say seizing property is unlikely. Still, the fear is real. Rosa, a U.S. citizen, worries her husband will have to work extra hours to pay.
Under the afternoon sun, Wendy Elizabeth Ortiz Hernandez and her young son Axel take a quiet walk along a tree-lined street in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, on May 17, 2025.
Photo Credits: REUTERS.
Implications
These Trump immigration fines hurt low-income families the most. Many have U.S.-born children. They cannot pay, yet face losing everything. Businesses may lose workers. Courts could be overwhelmed with appeals. Advocates call the policy cruel. The government has not explained how enforcement will work.
Conclusion
The future of these fines remains uncertain. Legal challenges may arise. Advocates hope for policy changes. For now, families like Wendy’s live in fear. The Trump immigration fines show no mercy. Will courts intervene? Only time will tell.
