Mexican migrant in SoCal hit with $1.82M fine for living in the US illegally: ‘Leave now or face consequences’
A woman in Southern California says she was stunned to receive a $1.82 million fine from the Department of Homeland Security for living in the United States without legal status, even as she has spent more than a decade trying to obtain permanent residency.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for her safety, said she was terrified when she opened the notice. She described the amount as shocking and hard to comprehend.
She explained that she came to the United States from Mexico as a young teenager. In 2003, a judge issued a voluntary departure order requiring her to leave the country, but she said she was unaware of it until immigration authorities contacted her in 2013. Since then, she says she has been actively working to resolve her status and follow legal procedures.
Her attorney, William Menard, said she has no criminal record and does not pose any public safety risk. He added that she has spent years cooperating with immigration officials while applying for a green card through her father and three adult children, all of whom are U.S. citizens.
Menard said the case has been delayed for years due to bureaucratic complications, with required waivers caught in a slow-moving system.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said that having a pending green card application does not grant legal status and emphasized that the administration is enforcing immigration laws. The statement also warned that individuals who remain in the country after receiving deportation orders could face penalties.
Since President Trump took office, the administration has issued billions of dollars in fines to individuals who did not comply with removal orders. Reports indicate that total fines have reached at least $6.1 billion, with some individuals facing penalties in the millions.
Menard argued that the original 2003 order in his client’s case limited fines to $5,000 and said that she was later allowed to remain in the country while her case moved through the system. He questioned why such a large penalty was issued now, noting that the government has long been aware of her identity and whereabouts.
The woman, who works as a house cleaner, said paying such a large fine is impossible. Her attorney agreed, saying the penalties are far beyond what most people in similar situations could ever afford.
A similar case has emerged in Seattle, where another individual reportedly received a nearly $2 million fine for failing to leave the country after a deportation order.
An immigration attorney representing that individual said her client came to the United States as a young child, fleeing the Vietnam War with his family. He has lived in the country for decades and is now in his late forties.
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