What used to be a mostly ignored judicial deportation order is no longer a mere suggestion. Under President Trump’s renewed administration, DHS has taken decisive action to enforce the law. Gone are the days of toothless “self-deportation” rhetoric.
Now, ignoring a deportation order comes with consequences. DHS is imposing civil penalties of roughly $1,000 per day for noncompliance. With days turning into months or even years, some fines balloon into the millions—no joke, even for low-wage workers.
But the administration isn’t just leaning on intimidation. There’s a civil alternative: comply and take the exit route. If individuals self-deport, they can avoid paying these massive fines and collect a $1,000 “exit bonus.” This stick-and-carrot approach makes the choice clear and keeps it fair.
According to the Wall Street Journal, about $6.1 billion in fines have been issued to around 21,500 individuals since the administration took office. These fines come with real enforcement tactics: lawsuits, debt collectors, tax liabilities. But step out voluntarily—and respectfully—and your fine disappears, and the government even helps you leave with some financial help.
Critics may call this “psychological warfare,” but that’s just defensive rhetoric. When a person chooses to ignore a lawful order, consequences follow. From criminals to those who bring nothing but debt and entitlement, this administration is saying: "You broke the law—own it—or go home the civil way."
One high-profile case involved a restaurant worker in Brooklyn who had been ordered deported since 1998. He’s now staring at a $1.8 million fine. His attorney said the fine was “obviously never meant to be collected”—just a scare tactic. But that misses the point: the client made an active choice to ignore the law—and now he faces the consequences.
DHS isn’t exactly banking on collecting every dime. They’re using these penalties as a lever, not a cash cow. The goal? Ensure compliance with legal processes. It’s about law and order, not profit. People may laugh at the fines—but every day someone is forced to act within the law.
America remains a nation of laws—not whims or shortcuts. If you want to be here, you do it legally. If you choose otherwise, fine—but leave respectfully, and maybe we'll even help you. That’s not cruel; it’s common sense.