Nearly 7,000 illegal aliens fined under expanded self-deportation effort; Trump calls it a “beautiful flight” home.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on illegal aliens to voluntarily leave the United States by imposing billions of dollars in civil fines and offering financial incentives for self-deportation, according to a report released Thursday.
As part of an aggressive immigration enforcement policy, DHS has imposed fines totaling $2 billion on nearly 7,000 individuals who either defied court orders to leave or reneged on voluntary departure agreements. The daily fines — nearly $1,000 per day — are aimed at encouraging rapid compliance with removal orders.
“The Trump administration has found a new way to pressure undocumented immigrants to leave the country. It is penalizing some of them with fines of nearly $1,000 a day for every day they stay in the country illegally,” the New York Times reported. “So far, the administration has imposed $2 billion in fines on nearly 7,000 people who have failed to leave the country after either being ordered to do so or saying they would voluntarily go, according to Tricia McLaughlin, a homeland security spokeswoman.”
In addition to financial penalties, the administration is sweetening the deal for voluntary departures. Earlier this month, President Trump announced a policy offering a $1,000 check and chartered airfare to illegal aliens who agree to self-deport and can provide proof that they returned to their home country.
“What we thought we’d do is a self-deport where we’re going to pay each one a certain amount of money and we’re going to get them a beautiful flight back to where they came from … it’s called self-deportation,” Trump said.
The policy draws on models adopted in parts of Europe. Countries like Germany and Denmark have successfully used similar tactics to encourage voluntary repatriation and reduce long-term illegal immigration.
DHS officials argue the approach balances strict enforcement with practical solutions for an overburdened immigration system. The fines serve as a deterrent and an enforcement mechanism, while the financial incentive encourages nonviolent departures, avoiding detention and prolonged legal proceedings.
The Trump administration’s push is part of a broader strategy to tighten border security and internal enforcement mechanisms, including restoring compliance with deportation orders, limiting sanctuary policies, and increasing resources for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The White House has not yet announced how many self-deportation incentive payments have been made, nor whether the program will be expanded, but Trump has signaled that additional policies are forthcoming as part of a broader immigration overhaul in his second term.