US News
Federal judge halts Trump administration deportation fines of up to $1.8 million
A federal judge granted preliminary relief blocking the penalties after finding procedural violations, according to Fox News.
The short version
- U.S. District Judge George O'Toole in Boston issued preliminary relief halting the Trump administration from imposing fines of up to $1.8 million on migrants who fail to depart after final removal orders.[Fox News]
- The decision stems from a class-action lawsuit challenging penalties of $998 per day that could be applied retroactively for up to five years.[Fox News]
- The court found that the penalty notices failed to provide specific allegations, violating the Administrative Procedure Act and threatening migrants with insolvency.[Fox News]
- It remains unaddressed whether the Department of Homeland Security will appeal the preliminary ruling or revise its fine-assessment procedures.[Fox News]
Key facts
- U.S. District Judge George O'Toole ruled that the Trump administration's civil penalties against migrants violated the Administrative Procedure Act.[Fox News]
- The fines reached up to $1.8 million based on daily assessments of $998 applied retroactively for up to five years.[Fox News]
- The Department of Homeland Security reported issuing over 103,000 penalties totaling roughly $84 billion since January 2025.[Fox News]
- Civil penalties for failing to depart were authorized by Congress in 1996, but no administration sought to enforce them until Trump's presidency.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- It is unknown whether the federal government will appeal the preliminary injunction or adjust its enforcement protocols to comply with administrative law.[Fox News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.