Nearly 20 years after being ordered to leave the United States, a woman living in Florida has been hit with large fines by federal immigration authorities. The woman, originally from Honduras, received a letter on May 9 from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement notifying her that she owes $1.82 million in civil fines. She has been given 30 days to either pay the fine or provide evidence explaining why she should not be required to pay it.
What led to the fine?
She spoke to CBS News Miami and asked to be identified only as “Maria” for privacy reasons. Maria says she was first ordered to return to Honduras in 2005, but she stayed in the U.S. and is the mother of three children.
“It would be extremely painful to be separated from my children, this is their country, this is all they know,” she told the station.
Maria and her attorney said she entered the United States through California and failed to appear at an immigration hearing in 2005. Two months later, a judge issued a formal order for her removal.
“I told the immigration officer I didn’t have any family in this country or a specific place to stay,” Maria told CBS. “I never received any document and they did not know where I was going to be.”
ICE is using that 2005 removal order as the basis for fining her $500 for each day she has remained in the United States since then which her attorney called “absolutely nuts.”
The attorney said the request to reopen Maria’s case was denied under the Trump administration in March 2025 without further guidance. In contrast, under the Biden administration, ICE attorneys have been given discretion to reopen certain deportation cases like Maria’s. The attorney said they plan to file an appeal.
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
The fine stems from a rarely used provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which allows the federal government to financially penalize individuals who fail to comply with deportation orders. The section of law was revived during the Trump administration, which instructed ICE to begin issuing civil fines to undocumented immigrants who ignored removal orders.
The law states undocumented migrants “shall pay a civil penalty of not more than $500 to the Commissioner for each day the alien is in violation of this section.”
Trump officials push immigrants to self-deport
Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a campaign to warn undocumented immigrants to leave the country willingly or face deportation.
“President Trump has a clear message: if you are here illegally, we will find you and deport you,” Noem said. “You will never return. But if you leave now, you may have an opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American Dream.”
Immigration officials have also used a tool known as the CBP One app to allow individuals living in the U.S. illegally to self-deport. Those who choose to leave voluntarily may avoid civil fines and could be exempt from penalties that would bar them from returning to the United States in the future.
Another case in Pennsylvania
A similar case out of Pennsylvania involves Wendy Ortiz, who also received a warning and fine from ICE. Like Maria, Ortiz was ordered to pay $1.8 million in civil penalties. According to Reuters, she says she cannot afford to pay the fine, as she currently earns just $13 an hour.
Ortiz is also the mother of a U.S.-born child. She left El Salvador a decade ago, citing threats from gangs and a violent former partner.
Maria and Ortiz both explained that they aren’t criminals and want their kids to stay in a safe environment.
Reuters reports that 4,500 migrants were issued fines after failing to leave the U.S., with total penalties exceeding $500 million. ICE has not publicly commented on either case beyond confirming the notice was issued to news outlets.
