Thousands of undocumented immigrants must decide between arranging their own deportation, a process commonly known as voluntary departure, or paying civil fines that in some cases can exceed $1.8 million per individual. According to CNN, some people still face such fines even after they have left the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) explained these fees are part of the normal removal process and and are waivable if a person reports their departure using the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Home App.
Background
After an immigration judge issues a removal order, the government can fine an undocumented individual $998 for each day they remain in the country. Although the government has had the penalty in place since 1996, it largely left the provision unenforced for decades. The first Trump administration attempted to enforce the penalty but encountered a practical problem: officials sent the notices by certified mail, which requires signatures, and many recipients never received them. The Biden administration abandoned the policy in 2021. The present administration restored it on the first day of its second term and, by mid-2025, made the process more efficient. The Department of Homeland Security now states that it has issued about 103,000 of these fines, totaling around $84 billion. However, the government had collected only approximately $1.2 million of that money by mid-July 2026.
Impact of the Policy
Cases like Hector Negrete’s highlight the stark gap between what people owe and what the government collects. He came to the U.S. from Mexico at three months old and lived in Los Angeles for more than four decades. After a 2009 removal order, he spent roughly fifteen years trying to find a path to legal status before deciding, amid the current administration’s enforcement push, that staying was no longer sustainable. He left the country in September 2025. Because he never registered his departure via the CBP Home app, he was later billed $1.8 million, even though he had already left.
The lesson for anyone facing a removal order is the fine attaches the moment the order is issued and continues to accrue until it’s addressed. People who can’t pay and are still in the U.S. have an option worth knowing about. Registering a voluntary departure through the CBP Home app doesn’t just eliminate the risk of a fine. DHS says it also comes with a $2,600 payment and a free flight out of the country.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.