Trump Admin Looks to Charge Some Immigrants $18k to Deport Them

Source: Newsweek

Published May 19, 2026 at 02:59 PM EDT updated May 19, 2026 at 05:06 PM EDT


The Trump administration is considering tripling the amount some immigrants are fined if they miss court hearings and are later deported.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the amount immigrants currently pay is not enough to cover the cost of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents locating, detaining and deporting them.

The proposed change comes amid a sharp rise in people failing to appear for immigration court hearings, which experts say is a result of multiple factors, including fear of detention.

"The move to 18K for in absentia orders, where it is not clear if the recipient even knew about the hearing is extreme," Claire Trickler-McNulty, a former senior ICE official, told Newsweek. "To add these fees, while Congress is debating giving ICE billions of dollars more for enforcement against people who have been working in the U.S. for decades and may even have relief available, makes no sense and continues to criminalize and bankrupt our neighbors."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-charge-some-immigrants-18k-deportation-11967794