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U.S. Border Patrol officials will begin charging a $5,000 apprehension fee to migrants caught entering the country illegally, marking the latest enforcement step under President Donald Trump’s border crisis crackdown.
Chief Michael Banks announced the policy in a statement outlining the new penalty, which applies to anyone 14 or older who entered the United States without inspection.
“Under 8 USC §1815, all illegal aliens age 14 or older who entered the United States without inspection will be assessed a $5,000 apprehension fee,” Banks said. “In addition, violations under 8 USC §2339 and 8 USC §1324 will also apply. This message applies to all illegal aliens, regardless of where they entered, how long they’ve been in the U.S., their current location, or any ongoing immigration proceedings.”
The fee was authorized under President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed earlier this year. The measure expands enforcement tools and directs $170 million toward immigration operations over the next four years. It follows a separate policy announced earlier in the year imposing a $1,000 fine on migrants who overstay a deportation order.
According to the Wall Street Journal, roughly 21,500 fines tied to deportation violations had been issued by late August, totaling about $6.1 billion in collections.
The administration has also introduced incentives for voluntary departure. Some illegal immigrants have been offered $1,000 to self-deport through the CBP Home app, an updated version of the Biden-era CBP One system that Trump officials argue facilitated mass migration.
The new apprehension fee marks one of the most aggressive financial penalties ever imposed on people in the country illegally, signaling a broader effort to deter unlawful crossings and speed removal proceedings.
The news also comes after the Department of Homeland Security announced a recent seven-month period with zero Border Patrol releases into the U.S.
“President Trump and Secretary Noem are delivering results that were once thought impossible: 7 consecutive months with ZERO U.S. Border Patrol releases into our country,” the agency’s X account posted last week. “MOST SECURE BORDER IN HISTORY.”