ICE seeks to fine some undocumented immigrants potentially thousands of dollars

ICE began issuing notices of its intent to fine migrants last December following President Donald Trump's executive order, issued a year earlier, instructing the agency to begin collecting fines from migrants unlawfully in the US.

"ICE is committed to using various enforcement methods -- including arrest; detention; technological monitoring; and financial penalties -- to enforce US immigration law and maintain the integrity of legal orders issued by judges," said ICE spokesperson Matthew Bourke in a statement.

The Washington Post first reported the threat of fines on Tuesday.

A former ICE official told CNN that this was done as part of ongoing efforts to address the population of migrants who have been ordered removed from the US but have not left the country.

"But there's implications to that. You take somebody into custody, and then you fine them, you know, a couple of thousand dollars. These are not big companies, these are people, individuals," said the official.

According to ICE, migrants who fail to voluntarily depart the US are subject to a $3,000 fine, unless an immigration judge sets a different amount.

Migrants who do not comply with a final order of deportation from an immigration judge are subject to a fine of no more than $799 per day.

The number of fines issued by the agency was not available, according to ICE. Many are pending appeal and the agency has not been able to confirm receipt of others.

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