A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s effort to impose fines of up to $1.8 million on migrants who did not leave the country after receiving deportation orders. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued this ruling in Boston, responding to a class-action lawsuit brought by migrants penalized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Judge O’Toole found that the process used by the administration to issue these fines violated federal law. He highlighted the economic vulnerability of the migrants, stating that the substantial fines could lead to insolvency for many. “The plaintiffs live in an economically precarious position even without the imposition of the government’s exorbitant fines,” O’Toole wrote.
If they were ultimately successful in this suit, there is no indication that simply requiring the government to vacate their fine notices would make the plaintiffs whole or return the circumstances to the status quo.
The judge pointed out that the fines could lead to worsened financial situations for the migrants, potentially resulting in wage garnishments, loss of vehicles and homes, and other legal issues. An example involved a plaintiff named Nancy M., fined over $1.8 million while working two low-paying jobs for over 60 hours a week. This financial strain caused significant stress affecting her daily life.
The court also criticized the administration for using vague notices that did not detail specific reasons for penalties, violating the Administrative Procedure Act. These fines were found to be unlawful, pushing migrants in difficult economic positions towards insolvency.
DHS has enforced more than 103,000 fines totaling about $84 billion since Trump returned to office in January 2025. Despite defending the fines as a legal measure under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, the plaintiffs successfully challenged the policy. They argued that the fines were issued using generic forms without assessing whether an individual’s failure to leave was deliberate.
In recent changes, DHS and the Department of Justice attempted to streamline the fine process by eliminating the 30-day notice period and expediting penalty assessments. However, the plaintiffs opposed this, citing a lack of public input in policy changes. This was seen as non-compliance with rulemaking procedures.
Some Congressional lawmakers, such as Senators Alex Padilla and Dick Durbin, have voiced concerns over these fines. They urged DHS and DOJ to reconsider the penalties under the law.
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