DHS, DOJ Raise Immigration Civil Penalties to $2,800

By Amanda Reynolds Raleigh, NC · POLITICS DESK

Published Updated 1 min read

The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice finalized a rule raising weekly civil penalties for immigration violations to nearly $2,800.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice finalized a rule titled Imposition and Collection of Civil Penalties for Certain Immigration-Related Violations on October 9, 2026. The final rule increases weekly civil penalties for aliens who fail to depart or enter unlawfully from approximately $930 to nearly $2,800.

The Departments issued an interim final rule to streamline assessment of civil penalties under the Immigration and Nationality Act on June 27, 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued 66,000 civil penalties for unlawful entry from June 27, 2025, through September 14, 2026. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued approximately 110,000 failure to depart civil penalties during the same period.

More than 82,000 aliens with removal or voluntary departure orders self-departed from March 2025 through September 14, 2026. Approximately 1.5 million aliens were on ICE's non-detained docket with final removal orders prior to the rule.

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The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice finalized a rule titled "Imposition and Collection of Civil Penalties for Certain Immigration-Related Violations."
Source: govinfo.gov
The final rule increases weekly civil penalties for aliens who fail to depart or enter unlawfully from approximately $930 to nearly $2,800.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued 66,000 civil penalties for unlawful entry from June 27, 2025, through September 14, 2026.
More than 82,000 aliens with removal or voluntary departure orders self-departed from March 2025 through September 14, 2026.
Approximately 1.5 million aliens were on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s non-detained docket with final removal orders prior to the rule.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review issued more than 282,000 final removal orders in fiscal year 2024.
Approximately 10 percent of final removal orders issued by the Executive Office for Immigration Review in fiscal year 2024 were executed.
Source: govinfo.gov

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Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report.

President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion," on January 20, 2025.
Section 8 of Executive Order 14159 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, to ensure the assessment and collection of all fines and penalties authorized by law from aliens unlawfully present in the United States.
Section 12 of Executive Order 14159 directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, to adopt policies and procedures to encourage aliens unlawfully in the United States to voluntarily depart as soon as possible.
President Trump issued Executive Order 14165, "Securing Our Borders," on January 30, 2025.
Section 2 of Executive Order 14165 directs departments to take action to secure borders, including deterring and preventing the entry of illegal aliens and obtaining complete operational control of the borders.
President Trump issued Proclamation 10935 establishing Project Homecoming on May 14, 2025.
Project Homecoming presents illegal aliens with a choice to leave the United States voluntarily with federal support and financial assistance or face consequences.
The Departments issued an interim final rule to streamline assessment of civil penalties under the Immigration and Nationality Act on June 27, 2025.

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DHS, DOJ Raise Immigration Civil Penalties to $2,800

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