Trump administration will fine immigrants $1,000 per day if they don’t deport

Immigrants who don't leave the country after being ordered by a court to go

could now be fined up to $1,000 for every day they stay

The increased penalties are being implemented by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to

in their words, make it easier and more efficient to fine immigrants who are in the country unlawfully

The new fines that are being implemented are up to $998 per day for willfully failing to comply with a removal order

$100 to $500 for unlawful entry, and $1,900 to $9,900 for failing to honor a voluntary departure

order. According to DHS, the fines apply to three main groups, immigrants in the country unlawfully

immigrants who either ignore or delay a court-ordered removal, and immigrants who don't

honor agreements to leave voluntarily. Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, financial penalties like these are just one more reason why illegal aliens

should use CBP Home to self-deport now before it's too late. Congress created the fines in 1996 with the Immigration Reform Act but they were rarely enforced Immigration officers will now be allowed to send fines by regular mail and the immigrant will have 15 business days to file

an appeal. Previously, the fines had to be either hand-delivered or sent via certified mail

and the recipient had 30 days to appeal. There are at least 1.4 million people in the United

States with a final order for removal. American Immigration Council Senior Fellow Aaron Reikland

Melnick, wrote, that could put people in serious risk of financial ruin on top of deportation

a fate that is likely to further create fear in immigration communities nationwide

In May, ICE fined a woman from Honduras $1.8 million for failing to leave the country

after receiving a removal order in April 2005. The woman now lives in Florida with three children

who are U.S. citizens, although she remains undocumented. She entered the country illegally

in California and months later failed to appear at an immigration court hearing

resulting in an automatic order for removal. She's now asking for mercy

I'm Ree Bogan for Straight Hour News. For more reporting, download the SAN app