The Trump administration is making headlines with a drastic new measure aimed at undocumented migrants who refuse to leave the United States after receiving deportation orders. Starting soon, individuals who remain in the U.S. in defiance of such orders will face daily fines of $998, a policy based on a 1996 law. The fines could be applied retroactively for up to five years, meaning some migrants could incur penalties exceeding $1 million. Along with these substantial fines, the government is considering the use of civil asset forfeiture to seize the property of individuals who fail to pay the penalties ye-Popping Fine Illegal Migrants Will Have to Pay per Day if They Don’t Voluntarily Leave the U.S. – American Renaissance](https://www.amren.com/news/2025/04/the-eye-popping-fine-illegal-migrants-will-have-to-pay-per-day-if-they-dont-voluntarily-leave-the-u-s/) [oai_citation:5,Trump plans $998-a-day fines, property seizure for migrants defying deportation: Report](https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2025/Apr/08/trump-plans-998-a-day-fines-property-seizure-for-migrants-defying-deportation-r hift is part of a broader strategy to force compliance with deportation orders, with a specific push for migrants to use the rebranded CBP Home app to “self-deport.” If migrants refuse to leave voluntarily, the penalties will continue to accrue until they comply. Critics have warned that this could create fear and hardship within immigrant communities, particularl d-status households, where legal residents might be impacted by the financial burden of fines .

The plan comes as part of an ongoing debate within the administration, with officials considering how best to implement these fines and asset seizures. There are also concerns about the administrative capacity to manage such a vast enforcement effort. As the Trump administration presses forward with these measures, the timeline for their rollout remains unclear