I received a government notice saying I owe a huge civil fine. Is this real?
It may be. DHS has issued substantial civil fines to certain individuals who allegedly failed to depart after a final removal order, with some penalties reaching $1,820,352. DHS reported issuing 65,101 civil fines totaling more than $36 billion between January 20, 2025 and March 18, 2026.
Do not assume a notice is a scam because of the amount, but do not simply pay or respond without reviewing it either. The legal basis for the fine, how it was calculated, whether the alleged violation was willful, and the available procedures for challenging it can all matter. Have an immigration attorney review the notice and its response deadline promptly.
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Related questions
If a civil immigration fine becomes a delinquent, legally enforceable federal debt, the government may use collection tools that include:
- Withholding certain federal payments, such as tax refunds
- Garnishing wages
- Referring the debt to a private collection agency
- In some cases, referring the debt for litigation
Federal administrative wage garnishment can generally reach up to 15% of disposable pay without a court judgment. The available collection measures and opportunities to challenge them depend on the status of the fine, so it is important to review the notice and available response procedures before the debt reaches the collection stage.
Yes. You can have an immigration attorney review your history before any notice arrives to understand whether you may be exposed to a civil fine, whether you have any available immigration options, and what to do if you receive a notice.
Bring any records you have relating to your immigration history, especially:
- Removal orders
- ICE notices
- Prior immigration filings
If a fine notice does arrive, have it reviewed promptly because the notice itself will state the alleged violation and applicable response procedures.