Washington man faces $1.8M fine for defying deportation order after 17 years
A Washington man has been fined nearly $2 million for failing to leave the United States after a deportation order. The Department of Homeland Security issued the penalty, which totals $1,820,352. The case highlights the financial consequences of a legal change introduced during the Trump administration.
The man, a refugee from Vietnam, arrived in the U.S. as a child at age 5. He received a final order of removal in 2007 but has been unable to leave due to Vietnam's passport policy. Under current rules, the country does not issue travel documents to certain deportees.
In June 2021, the Trump administration amended an existing law to simplify the process of fining immigrants who overstay removal orders. Daily penalties can now reach up to $998, accumulating rapidly over time. The man's fine reflects this updated policy, though no official figures exist on how many others face similar penalties since the change.
An immigration attorney has suggested that appealing such fines may be the best course of action. The case underscores the challenges faced by long-term residents who cannot comply with deportation orders due to bureaucratic barriers.
The $1.8 million penalty stems from a policy shift that increased fines for non-compliance with removal orders. The man's situation remains unresolved, as Vietnam's passport restrictions prevent his departure. Legal experts recommend challenging the fine, but the outcome of any appeal is uncertain.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
