A coalition of attorneys filed suit in Massachusetts challenging $998-a-day immigration fines that can accumulate to about $1.8 million per person. The complaint, brought on behalf of two women and seeking class-action status, contends the penalties are "grossly disproportionate" and unconstitutional. Lawyers say more than 21,500 people have been assessed the fines, which they estimate total over $6 billion since enforcement increased. One plaintiff under supervision received a bill of roughly $1.8 million after five years of daily fines.
Lawsuit Challenges Daily $998 Immigration Fines That Can Balloon to $1.8M
A coalition of attorneys filed suit in Massachusetts challenging $998-a-day immigration fines that can accumulate to about $1.8 million per person. The complaint, brought on behalf of two women and seeking class-action status, contends the penalties are "grossly disproportionate" and unconstitutional. Lawyers say more than 21,500 people have been assessed the fines, which they estimate total over $6 billion since enforcement increased. One plaintiff under supervision received a bill of roughly $1.8 million after five years of daily fines.
11:30 PM, 11/20/2025Politics
A coalition of attorneys has filed a lawsuit in Massachusetts challenging civil fines of $998 per day imposed on people living in the United States without authorization. Lawyers say these penalties, intended to encourage departures, have been assessed against more than 21,500 individuals and can accumulate to roughly $1.8 million for a single person.
The complaint, filed on behalf of two women and seeking class-action status, argues the fines are "grossly disproportionate to the gravity" of immigration violations and therefore unconstitutional. Attorneys estimate the assessed penalties have totaled more than $6 billion since the administration stepped up enforcement earlier this year.
One of the named plaintiffs, identified only as Nancy M. to protect her identity, is a Florida resident who was under an "order of supervision" and met annually with immigration officials while pursuing permanent residency. Instead of relief, she received a bill for about $1.8 million — a figure the complaint says was calculated by applying the $998 daily penalty over five years.
What the lawyers say
"The people we serve are doing exactly what the law requires — pursuing legal relief through immigration courts and immigration agencies," said Hasan Shafiqullah, a supervising attorney with The Legal Aid Society, one of the groups bringing the case. "In return, the government is threatening to seize their wages, cars, even their homes."
Government stance and context
Attorneys noted that the fines follow a broader enforcement push announced shortly after the administration took office. In February, the Department of Homeland Security warned that unauthorized immigrants who remain in the country could face a "significant financial penalty." DHS officials emphasized a message aimed at encouraging departures.
In a public statement, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the administration would "enforce all our immigration laws" and urged those in the country illegally to "leave now," referencing the administration's enforcement priorities.
The lawsuit asks the court to block the fines and declare them unconstitutional. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.