Judge Blocks Trump Administration's $1.8 Million Fines for Undocumented Immigrants

A federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration's plan to impose fines of up to $1.8 million on undocumented immigrants who fail to leave the United States after receiving final deportation orders. U.S. District Judge George O'Toole, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, ruled on Monday that the fines were unlawful, stating they were "exorbitant" and would likely push migrants into financial ruin.

The fines were part of a broader immigration crackdown and the administration's push for migrants to "self-deport." In July, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began sending notices to thousands of migrants with final deportation orders, informing them of the new financial penalties. These penalties included daily fines of $998 and allowed DHS to retroactively impose fines for up to five years, potentially reaching a maximum of $1.8 million.

DHS had previously stated that it had issued more than 100,000 such fines, totaling approximately $84 billion in civil fines against undocumented immigrants. A group of migrants filed a class-action lawsuit against DHS in November, challenging the fines. Their legal team argued that the fines violated the Administrative Procedure Act, the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause, and other constitutional protections.

Judge O'Toole noted that the fines would disproportionately harm migrants, who often "live in an economically precarious position." The Department of Justice stated it is reviewing the judge's decision. The administration's immigration policies have faced numerous legal challenges since their implementation.