Immigration fines can create immediate fear, especially when a government notice claims that someone owes hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Receiving a notice does not mean you should ignore it, assume the amount is correct, or make a rushed decision about leaving the United States.
In a recent interview for the Spanish-language segment Inmigración, Tus Derechos, immigration attorney Haim Vasquez discussed who may receive these fines, how quickly they can add up, and what to do after receiving a notice.
This article expands on the information discussed during the interview and explains the current process for challenging immigration fines.
To hear Attorney Haim Vasquez discuss this issue directly, watch the full interview on the Haim Vasquez Legal Group YouTube channel. You can also follow the firm on Facebook and Instagram for additional immigration updates in English and Spanish.
What Are Immigration Fines?
Immigration fines are civil financial penalties that the Department of Homeland Security, commonly known as DHS, may impose for certain violations of federal immigration law.
The legal authority for some of these penalties has existed since 1996. However, the government has changed how the penalties are enforced and how individuals can challenge them.
Current federal procedures cover penalties involving:
- Failure to leave during a voluntary departure period
- Willful failure or refusal to leave after a final removal order
- Failure to apply for required travel documents
- Failure to appear at the time and place designated for removal
- Certain actions that delay or prevent removal
- Certain unlawful entries or attempted entries into the United States
A decision imposing immigration fines should identify the legal basis, the amount assessed, and the government’s reasons for imposing the penalty.
Who May Receive Immigration Fines?
An important point from the interview is that immigration fines are not automatically imposed on every undocumented immigrant.
The penalties discussed in the interview primarily concern people who have a final removal order and who the government claims failed or refused to leave the United States.
Penalties may also apply to someone who received voluntary departure but did not leave within the period authorized by the immigration judge.
DHS may impose a separate civil penalty on certain individuals encountered while unlawfully entering or attempting to enter the United States. The exact legal basis should be listed in the decision received from DHS.
Do not assume the government’s calculation is correct without reviewing:
- The date the removal order was entered
- Whether the order became final
- Whether the person received notice
- Whether an appeal or motion was pending
- Whether the required warnings were given
- How DHS calculated the number of days
- Whether the person was legally or physically unable to depart
How Can Immigration Fines Become So Large?
For certain people with final removal orders, federal law permits a civil penalty of up to $998 for each day the person willfully fails or refuses to depart.
Because this amount can accumulate daily, immigration fines may grow rapidly. A penalty calculated across several years could reach hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. DHS announced in July 2026 that it had issued more than $84 billion in civil fines related to failures to depart.
The size of the notice does not determine whether the government followed the proper process. The person’s immigration history, removal order, notice, warnings, and ability to leave should still be examined.
What Is a Final Removal Order?
A final removal order generally means the immigration court process has reached a stage where the government may execute the order.
An immigration judge’s decision may become final when the deadline to appeal passes without an appeal. An order may also become final after the Board of Immigration Appeals decides the case.
Some people do not realize that they have an old removal order. This can happen when:
- They missed an immigration court hearing
- Notices were mailed to an outdated address
- They did not understand the judge’s decision
- A former representative did not explain the result
- They believed another application stopped the order
- They did not know they were required to leave
An old removal order should be reviewed carefully. The date and circumstances of the order may affect both the immigration case and any immigration fines imposed by DHS.
Can You Appeal Immigration Fines?
Yes. A person who receives a decision imposing immigration fines may have the right to file a written administrative appeal.
For penalties initiated under procedures effective June 27, 2025, the written notice of appeal generally must be postmarked within 15 business days from the date the decision was served. Extensions of this filing period are prohibited under the current procedure.
The appeal must be filed according to the instructions and address listed in the decision.
A person may submit:
- A written defense
- Documentary evidence
- Records disputing the government’s allegations
- Evidence explaining why the person could not leave
- Evidence of an appeal, stay, or other immigration proceeding
- Information showing an error in the government’s calculation
If no appeal is filed within the required period, the decision imposing the immigration fines may become final.
Who Reviews the Appeal?
Under the current process, the appeal is generally not decided by an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals.
A supervisory DHS immigration officer who did not issue the original decision reviews the written record. The officer may request additional information before issuing a final written decision.
The review is conducted on the written record. The current process does not provide an option to request an in-person interview as part of the administrative appeal.
Notices issued before June 27, 2025, may be governed by an earlier process. That is why the date and exact title of the document should be reviewed before responding.
Possible Defenses to Immigration Fines
The available defense depends on the person’s immigration record and the reason DHS imposed the penalty.
The Person Did Not Receive Notice
A person may not have known about a removal order because the hearing notice or decision was sent to the wrong address.
It may be necessary to review:
- Court notices
- Address-change forms
- Mailing records
- The immigration court file
- Communications with a former attorney or representative
Failure to receive notice does not automatically cancel immigration fines, but it may be important when evaluating whether the alleged failure to depart was willful.
The Required Warning Was Missing
In certain proceedings, an immigration judge must warn the person about the consequences of failing to leave, including possible financial penalties.
During the interview, Attorney Haim Vasquez explained that some older removal orders may not contain adequate information about these penalties. The actual order and court record should be reviewed to determine what warnings were provided.
The Person Could Not Leave
Evidence may be relevant when circumstances outside the person’s control prevented departure.
Examples may include:
- Hospitalization
- Incarceration
- A serious physical condition
- Inability to obtain a passport
- A foreign government’s refusal to issue travel documents
- A valid stay preventing removal
- Other circumstances that made departure impossible
Medical records, jail records, passport applications, embassy communications, and immigration orders may help explain why the person did not leave.
An Appeal or Other Matter Was Pending
The case should be reviewed to determine whether an appeal, stay of removal, or another immigration matter affected the government’s ability to execute the removal order.
Filing an application or motion does not always stop removal automatically. The effect depends on the type of filing and whether a legal stay was in place.
What Should You Do After Receiving a Fine Notice?
The most important step is to avoid ignoring the notice.
Check the Deadline Immediately
Review the date of service and the instructions for appealing. The current process may provide only 15 business days.
Waiting until the final days can make it difficult to obtain the immigration record, locate evidence, and prepare a complete response.
Keep the Envelope and Every Page
The envelope may provide evidence of when the decision was mailed or delivered. Keep all pages, attachments, payment instructions, and appeal forms together.
Do Not Send an Improvised Explanation
A rushed response may leave out important facts or include statements that affect other parts of the person’s immigration case.
Before responding to immigration fines, review the notice together with:
- The removal order
- Immigration court decisions
- Board of Immigration Appeals decisions
- Hearing notices
- Prior applications and petitions
- Entry and departure records
- ICE or DHS correspondence
- Any motions previously filed
Gather Supporting Evidence
Useful evidence may include medical records, court documents, jail records, proof of address, passport requests, travel-document applications, and communications with a consulate or embassy.
Contact an Immigration Attorney
An attorney can review the notice, identify the appeal deadline, examine the removal order, and determine whether evidence supports a challenge.
Have you received a notice of immigration fines? Contact Haim Vasquez Legal Group promptly at (214) 833-3277 to discuss the document and the deadline listed in your notice.
Can the Government Garnish Wages or Take Property?
Receiving a fine notice does not necessarily mean the government can immediately take a home, vehicle, or paycheck.
The penalty generally must first become a final federal debt. If the debt becomes delinquent, it may be referred for federal collection efforts.
Federal debt collection methods may include:
- Collection letters and phone calls
- Referral to a private collection agency
- Offsetting certain federal payments
- Administrative wage garnishment
- Other civil collection procedures
Administrative wage garnishment may permit a federal agency to direct a private employer to withhold up to 15 percent of a person’s disposable income for a delinquent federal non-tax debt. A court order is not necessarily required, although the debtor has certain notice and hearing rights.
The government’s available collection methods depend on whether the decision is final, whether the debt is delinquent, and what notices have been issued.
What If the Person Cannot Pay?
An inability to pay does not automatically cancel immigration fines.
It also does not mean that leaving the United States is the person’s only option. Departing may create separate immigration consequences, including reentry bars, execution of a removal order, and difficulty returning legally.
Before deciding how to respond, the person should understand:
- Whether the fine can be appealed
- Whether the amount was calculated correctly
- Whether the removal order has legal or procedural issues
- Whether a motion involving the immigration case is available
- What may happen if the person leaves
- What may happen if the person remains
- Whether collection actions could affect wages or property
The government’s ability to collect and the person’s immigration options are separate issues that may need to be addressed at the same time.
Does Self-Departure Cancel Immigration Fines?
DHS currently states that certain failure-to-depart fines will be forgiven when a person registers and completes departure through the CBP Home process.
However, self-departure is not a simple financial decision.
Forgiveness of immigration fines may not eliminate:
- A final removal order
- Unlawful-presence penalties
- Reentry restrictions
- Previous immigration violations
- Criminal or family-law concerns
- Difficulty applying to return legally
Before using a government application, reporting an intention to leave, or departing the United States, speak with an immigration attorney about the possible consequences.
Appealing a Fine Is Not the Same as Reopening a Case
Appealing immigration fines and asking the immigration court to reopen a removal case are separate legal processes.
An administrative appeal challenges the financial penalty imposed by DHS. A motion to reopen asks the immigration court or Board of Immigration Appeals to review the underlying immigration case again.
Appealing the fine does not automatically reopen the removal order. Filing a motion to reopen also does not automatically extend the deadline to appeal the fine.
Depending on the circumstances, both matters may need immediate attention.
Stay Informed Through Our Social Media
Immigration policies and enforcement procedures can change quickly. Educational videos can help families recognize an issue and understand when they may need legal guidance.
For additional information:
- Watch Attorney Haim Vasquez’s full interview on the Haim Vasquez Legal Group YouTube channel
- Follow Haim Vasquez Legal Group on Facebook for immigration updates
- Follow the firm on Instagram for short educational videos in English and Spanish
- Share the interview with someone who has received correspondence from DHS or ICE
Social media provides general education, but it cannot replace a legal review of a specific notice or immigration record.
How Haim Vasquez Legal Group Can Help
Haim Vasquez Legal Group helps individuals and families understand complex immigration matters, including final removal orders, ICE proceedings, and civil penalty notices.
Our legal team can:
- Review the decision imposing immigration fines
- Identify the applicable appeal deadline
- Analyze the removal order
- Examine prior immigration proceedings
- Evaluate possible defenses
- Prepare a written administrative appeal
- Explain the risks of leaving or remaining in the United States
Our team provides bilingual assistance in English and Spanish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Immigration Fines
Can every undocumented immigrant receive a million-dollar fine?
Not automatically. The government must identify a legal basis, such as failure to leave after a final removal order, failure to comply with voluntary departure, or another covered violation.
How long do I have to appeal immigration fines?
For many decisions issued under the procedures effective June 27, 2025, the deadline is 15 business days from the date of service. Follow the instructions in your specific notice.
Is the appeal filed with an immigration judge?
Under the current process, the written appeal is generally filed with DHS and reviewed by a supervisory immigration officer.
What happens if I ignore the notice?
The decision may become final, and the government may begin efforts to collect the debt.
Does leaving the United States automatically erase the fine?
DHS currently offers forgiveness of certain failure-to-depart penalties through CBP Home. However, leaving may produce serious immigration consequences that should be reviewed before departure.
Can immigration fines affect my wages?
Once a federal non-tax debt becomes final and delinquent, administrative collection methods may include withholding part of a person’s disposable wages.
Speak With an Immigration Attorney Before the Deadline
A notice claiming that you owe an enormous amount can be frightening. Fear, however, should not prevent you from taking action.
Review the notice, preserve every document, confirm the appeal deadline, and seek legal guidance before submitting a response, making a payment, or deciding to leave the United States.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration laws, enforcement policies, and procedures may change. Speak with an immigration attorney about the specific facts of your case.
