WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has issued more than 103,000 civil fines totaling approximately $84 billion against illegal aliens who have refused to leave the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced.
The massive financial penalties are part of the administration’s escalating effort to enforce final removal orders and compel illegal aliens to leave the country voluntarily.
The fines can reach $998 for every day an illegal alien remains in the country after receiving a final order of removal.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, DHS is working faster than ever before to remove criminal illegal aliens from our country,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis said. “Our message to illegal aliens is clear: LEAVE NOW. If you don’t you will face the consequences, including fines, arrest, and deportation.”
Bis said illegal aliens facing removal have a choice.
“They can use the CBP Home app and receive a free flight home and $2,600, or be fined, arrested, and deported,” she said.
The $84 billion represents fines issued rather than money already collected. DHS officials separately told Fox News Digital that approximately $1.2 billion in fine payments had been collected as of July 2026.
President Donald Trump promised during his 2024 campaign to carry out an unprecedented immigration enforcement effort.
“We will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country,” Trump said before returning to the White House.
DHS and the Department of Justice streamlined the process for assessing immigration fines in June 2025.
The changes eliminated a 30-day notice period previously required before the government could issue a fine. Immigration officers were also authorized to deliver notices through regular mail, while the process available to illegal aliens contesting their penalties was shortened.
Federal law allows DHS to impose a penalty of $998 per day against someone who willfully refuses to comply with a final removal order. Because the fine accumulates daily, individuals who defy an order for several years could potentially owe hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars.
The administration has warned that it may pursue wages, savings, vehicles, homes and other property to collect unpaid penalties.
DHS is offering to forgive civil fines for illegal aliens who arrange their voluntary departure through the CBP Home application. Participants may also receive a government-funded flight and a $2,600 departure payment.
“Those illegal aliens who don’t take advantage of this special offer today have only one alternative: They will be arrested, deported, and they will never be able to return to the United States,” DHS said.
The department did not release a state-by-state breakdown showing how many of the fines were issued to illegal aliens living in Iowa.
No member of Iowa’s congressional delegation had issued a statement specifically addressing the $84 billion announcement as of publication. Iowa Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, however, have repeatedly endorsed stronger immigration enforcement and the removal of illegal aliens who violate additional criminal laws.
“I applaud the Trump administration for its work to uphold the rule of law and protect Americans,” Grassley said in April 2025 while supporting legislation targeting illegal aliens convicted of sex crimes.
Ernst said the safety of American citizens must remain the government’s priority.
“President Trump and his team have hit the ground running reversing the damage from the last four years, but we must ensure that every last sexual predator let in by Joe Biden is deported,” Ernst said. “The health and safety of our citizens must always come first, and I am proud to continue working with President Trump to protect the American people. These violent, criminal illegal aliens need to BE GONE!”
Those comments addressed criminal-alien legislation and were not made in response to the newly announced fines.
Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla of California and Dick Durbin of Illinois have challenged the administration’s use of immigration penalties. The senators claim some fines have been assessed without sufficient individual review, including against immigrants with pending applications or temporary authorization to remain in the country.
The administration maintains that the penalties are authorized under federal immigration law and are being used to enforce lawful removal orders.
For illegal aliens already ordered removed from the United States, the Trump administration’s message is direct: leave voluntarily with government assistance and possible fine forgiveness—or remain, accumulate daily penalties and face arrest and deportation.
Good luck collecting money from the grifters.
Sounds great. How are they going to pay these exorbitant fines?
Maybe trump will lend them money from his tariff kitty. Ha ha
Maybe, you’ll start a go fund me for them. Ha ha