A migrant mother residing in the city of Houston, Texas, succeeded in having the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) overturn an immigration fine of 1,820,352 dollars that had been imposed by the federal government.
The notification reached him on July 9, with approximately 30 days to respond.
The woman acknowledged that at first she thought it might be a scam, but she decided to consult with an immigration lawyer, who confirmed that the debt was entirely real, according to a report by Telemundo Houston.
The crossroads: pay or leave the country
After responding to the notification, the federal government presented two options: to take on a payment plan of approximately 3,000 dollars per month, or to leave the country with your family through voluntary self-deportation.
"I did not have that amount," the woman stated, who also received documents related to a possible voluntary departure from U.S. territory.
None of the two options were viable for her, so she decided to seek legal advice and appeal the case.
The key: an active migration process since 2021
The central argument of his defense was that since 2021 he has maintained an active immigration status linked to a U visa, a humanitarian status intended for victims of serious crimes who assist authorities in criminal investigations.
In addition, the woman had obtained a work permit and a Social Security number, which strengthened the argument that her stay in the country did not constitute a willful disobedience of a deportation order, but rather part of an ongoing legitimate immigration process.
On August 10, DHS notified you via email that your case had been annulled and closed, completely eliminating the million-dollar debt.
What are these fines and why do they reach such high amounts?
The Trump administration reinstated in 2025 the imposition of cumulative civil fines of up to $998 per day against individuals with final deportation orders who do not leave the country, based on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
These sanctions can be applied retroactively for up to five years, which explains why the figures reach around 1.8 million dollars, the maximum possible during that period.
Since June 2025, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued at least 10,000 penalty notices under this policy.
In March 2026, a Cuban resident of Phoenix, Arizona, identified as "Mario", received a fine of $1,800,000 for failing to comply with a deportation order issued in 2010. The migrant claimed that he was never notified because he had been incarcerated since 2007.
What to do if a similar notification arrives?
The immigration lawyer Naimeh Salem, unrelated to the case of the mother from Houston, explained to the outlet that this type of fine is applied to individuals with a final deportation order who did not leave the country when the government instructed them to do so, and emphasized that each situation must be analyzed individually.
Some individuals may have reopened cases, dismissed orders, or other circumstances that allow them to contest the penalty.
The government also offers as an alternative the voluntary self-deportation program through the CBP Home application, which includes a total waiver of fines, a free flight, and a bonus of $1,000 upon confirming departure, although this benefit does not apply to already accrued debts.
Salem was emphatic in her recommendation for those who receive a similar letter: "Do not ignore it and seek legal advice to understand the options available in your case," given that the deadline to appeal an ICE civil fine has been reduced to 15 business days in many cases since June 2025.
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