An undocumented Honduran mother living in South Florida faces a $1,821,350 fine imposed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for remaining in the country without authorization since 2005 after receiving a deportation order.
- Why was the $1.8 million fine imposed?
- What legal options does the Honduran woman fined by ICE have?
- History of financial penalties imposed by ICE
- How can other immigrants in similar situations protect themselves?
- What impact do these types of penalties have on families with U.S. citizen children?
- Recommendations for the Latino community amid new immigration policies
The woman, publicly identified only as “María”, is the mother of three U.S.-born children who are currently minors. She entered the country through California in February 2005 after fleeing Honduras and did not attend a scheduled immigration hearing two months later. Since then, she has lived in Miami-Dade.
The fine amount is based on a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows penalties of up to $500 per day for individuals who do not comply with removal orders. This is one of the highest financial penalties imposed by ICE since the reactivation of this practice during the Donald Trump administration.
Why was the $1.8 million fine imposed?
The official notice was issued on May 9, 2025, by the ICE Civil Fines Department. The document informs María that she has accumulated a daily penalty since April 2005, when a deportation order issued in absentia took effect.
The document details that the total fine amounts to $1,821,350, calculated at $500 per day for over 3,600 days in an irregular status.
The woman claims she never received prior notices about this penalty or the implications of missing her hearing. She stated that in 2005, she had no fixed address or family in the U.S., which made it difficult to locate her. Since then, she has lived stably in Florida, with no criminal record and steady employment.
What legal options does the Honduran woman fined by ICE have?
In 2024, her attorney, Michelle Sanchez, filed a motion to reopen the case, invoking Cancellation of Removal under immigration law, also known as the 10-Year Law. This provision allows certain immigrants to cancel their removal order if they demonstrate more than a decade of continuous residence in the U.S., good moral character, and that their deportation would cause “exceptional hardship” to U.S. citizen family members.
Sanchez argues that her client meets all legal requirements: she has resided in the country for over 10 years, has U.S. citizen children, works regularly, and has no criminal record. Despite this, the motion was denied in March 2025.
“The fine came two months after the denial. This is part of a stricter policy that was already implemented in the previous administration and has been reinstated,” the attorney told The Independent.
History of financial penalties imposed by ICE
The use of civil fines is not new. During the Trump administration, between 2017 and 2021, ICE activated a policy of financial penalties against individuals who had ignored deportation orders, including those who were taking sanctuary in churches.
In 2019, Mexican national Edith Espinal, who was protected in a church in Ohio, was fined $497,777 for remaining in the country after receiving a deportation order. The fine was eventually dismissed after a legal dispute.
These penalties typically ranged between $300,000 and $500,000. María’s case represents a significant escalation in the application of such measures, raising concerns among migrant communities and legal organizations.
How can other immigrants in similar situations protect themselves?
Immigration attorneys have reminded those with old deportation orders that they may still have legal options to reopen their cases. Among the alternatives are:
- Review of in absentia removal orders, if the individual was never notified.
- Cancellation of removal under the 10-Year Law, if time and family ties requirements are met.
- Request for prosecutorial discretion when humanitarian factors exist.
Additionally, they recommend keeping addresses updated with the immigration court to receive any notices and avoid decisions made in absentia. Individuals with old cases can consult with attorneys accredited by the Department of Justice or seek help from community legal organizations to assess their situation at no cost.
What impact do these types of penalties have on families with U.S. citizen children?
Community organizations have noted that the application of these penalties can have a disproportionate impact on mixed-status families, particularly when there are U.S. citizen minors who depend emotionally and financially on their parents.
Attorney Sanchez argued that María’s potential deportation would cause exceptional hardship to her three children, all born in the U.S. and with school and community ties in Florida.
“For them, this is their home, their language, their school. Separating them from their mother would have serious consequences for their development,” she said.
Recommendations for the Latino community amid new immigration policies
In a stricter legal environment, experts recommend that the immigrant community:
- Regularly check their immigration status with trusted attorneys.
- Avoid legal fraud and do not pay for services from unauthorized individuals.
- Keep copies of all immigration documents, notices, and proof of continuous residence.
- Assess eligibility for any form of immigration relief, such as DACA, TPS, or adjustment of status through family ties.
- Stay informed through community organizations and trusted media.
María’s case has reignited the debate over the legal tools ICE can use against individuals in irregular status and the impact these decisions have on thousands of families who have lived in the U.S. for years.
Image: Infobae
