The Trump administration has revealed plans to add even more incentives for illegal migrants to self-deport.
According to Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, those who do not self-deport could face fines of up to $998 per day.
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, McLaughlin said the fine could be applied for every day an illegal migrant overstays a final deportation order. She also echoed President Trump by encouraging illegal aliens to use the CBP Home App to self-deport.
“Illegal aliens should use the CBP Home app to self-deport and leave the country now. If they don’t, they will face the consequences,” McLaughlin said.
The new fine policy is based on a 1996 law that was previously used by President Trump during his first term in 2018. The policy was ended by the Biden administration in 2021.
The fines would be directed towards nearly 1.4 million migrants who have been ordered to be removed from the country. In addition to fines, those who do not self-deport could also be subject to property seizures.
The Trump administration has promoted self-deportation as effective and the safest option for both migrants and law enforcement. In addition, self-deportation offers the benefit of preserving eligibility for immigrating to the country legally in the future.