The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new rule that is already in effect. Under this rule, immigration officers can now immediately mail fines to undocumented individuals without the previous 30-day advance notice.
These fines can be issued for illegal entry or attempted entry (ranging from $100 to $500 per violation), failure to comply with voluntary departure orders (from $1,992 to $9,970), and refusal to follow a deportation order — in which case fines can go up to $998 for every day of delay.
Since June 13, ICE has already issued about 10,000 fine notifications. Officials emphasize that people who choose to leave the U.S. voluntarily using the CBP One app may have their fines forgiven.
This change especially impacts communities with large numbers of people who already have final deportation orders. For example, according to TRAC data, around 3,000 Nepali nationals remain in the U.S. despite final removal orders, and nearly half of them live without any legal protection.
The new rule allows fines to be imposed daily and without advance warning, which can lead to massive debts. Notices are sent by regular mail, and individuals might not find out in time. While it’s still possible to appeal, the lack of preparation time makes this significantly more difficult.
U.S. Immigration Detention Centers on the Brink of a Humanitarian Crisis
The U.S. immigration system is currently experiencing an unprecedented breakdown. As of June, over 56,000 people are being held in immigration detention centers — facilities designed to hold no more than 41,000.
Many are forced to sleep on concrete floors, go weeks without showers, and suffer without necessary medications or medical care. In Los Angeles, some detainees were even held in federal building basements meant only for short-term (12-hour) stays, but they were kept there for weeks.
One detainee, an 18-year-old from Brazil, shared that he lost 15 pounds (about 7 kg) in just six days. He was held without a shower or clean clothes, and had to drink tap water just to swallow the food provided.
Some centers have reported deaths, including suicides. People with chronic illnesses are denied essential medications — for example, one diabetic detainee suffered a severe attack after being refused insulin.
The most alarming aspect is not just the physical conditions, but also the legal limbo. Detainees are denied access to lawyers, moved between states without notifying their families or attorneys, threatened, and pressured into “voluntary deportation.”
Meanwhile, Congress is considering a $45 billion budget to expand immigration detention — ten times the current amount. This is seen by many as a deeply worrying sign.
Trump Proposes “Temporary Status” for Undocumented Agricultural and Hospitality Workers
Former President Donald Trump announced on Fox News that his administration is working on creating a temporary status for undocumented immigrants working in agriculture and the hospitality industry.
According to Trump, this new mechanism would:
— temporarily legalize workers who have spent years on farms or in hotels,
— require them to pay taxes,
— give employers more control over the situation,
— and avoid mass workplace raids and deportations of these employees.
He emphasized that these are people who have “worked for 15–20 years” and “do hard jobs that are not easy to replace.”
However, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reiterated that there will be no “safe zones” for employers hiring undocumented workers, particularly if they are linked to crimes or attempts to circumvent immigration laws.
In recent weeks, Trump’s administration has alternated between suspending and resuming workplace raids in these sectors. Discussions are also underway regarding possible changes to the H-2A and H-2B visa programs for seasonal workers.
U.S. Could Start Stripping Citizenship From Children of Immigrants as Early as July — Trump’s Order Ready for Implementation
But this will not happen nationwide. It will only take effect in 28 states where the order has not been challenged in court.
Here are the 22 states (and DC) that filed collective lawsuits against Trump’s order and where no changes to birthright citizenship are expected until the Supreme Court issues a final decision, likely in fall 2025:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
The Department of Justice stated in court that Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship could start taking effect on July 27, 2025.
Trump signed this order on his first day of his second term. Under it:
— Children born in the U.S. will no longer automatically receive citizenship if at least one parent is not a U.S. citizen or green card holder.
— Federal agencies are instructed to deny citizenship documents to such children.
The order was immediately challenged and blocked in courts. However, in June, the Supreme Court issued a ruling limiting federal courts’ power to impose nationwide injunctions, allowing the administration to move forward with implementation preparations.
At an emergency hearing in Maryland, Judge Deborah Boardman demanded clarification:
“Is the government planning to deport children affected by this order?”
DOJ responded that July 27 is the earliest date when the order might start being enforced, as part of a 30-day delay granted by the Supreme Court.
The problem is that the order has not yet been declared unconstitutional on its merits, so its full legal fate remains uncertain. Meanwhile, organizations like the ACLU and CASA have already filed new group lawsuits in Maryland and New Hampshire to stop it.
Roughly 150,000 children are born in the U.S. each year to undocumented parents. These children currently receive citizenship at birth under the principle of jus soli (right of the soil).
Trump’s order is a direct attack on a principle that has existed for over 100 years and is enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
Human rights advocates warn of disastrous consequences: children could become stateless, lose their rights, and even face deportation.
Behar International Counsel, APC provides a full-range of immigration legal assistance to our clients. Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
