DHS Is Billing Unaccompanied Immigrant Kids $5,000

Homeland Security Billings Unaccompanied Immigrant Minors Thousands of Dollars in Fine

The Department of Homeland Security has sent unaccompanied immigrant teenagers thousands of dollars in fines for entering the United States without an adult sponsor. According to youth advocates and fine notices reviewed by New York Focus, at least 10 teenagers in New York and one in Michigan have been issued with $5,000 fines.

The fine is part of a new set of financial penalties created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law by President Donald Trump in July. The law also includes fees for immigrants to apply for asylum, work permits, and removal from the country.

Critics say the fine will be difficult for unaccompanied minors to pay, as they have no ability to work and are often relying on government services for their care. "It's really about creating fear," said Ana Raquel Devereaux, attorney representing one of the teenagers in Michigan. "There's no way that a child in this situation would be able to pay this, and the penalties are so severe."

Advocates argue that the fine will incentivize people to cross at legal entry points rather than risk dangerous desert terrain. However, supporters of the fine say it's intended to discourage parents from paying smugglers to bring their kids into the country.

The fine is one of several ways the Trump administration has sought to pressure unaccompanied minors into returning to their home countries. In recent weeks, the government has attempted to deport dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children in custody and offered $2,500 to minors who agree to leave the country.

It's unclear how many immigrants have received the fine, but advocates say it may be targeting those in federal custody, where minors are particularly vulnerable due to their lack of access to lawyers. The number of unaccompanied children crossing the border has plummeted under Trump, from over 6,000 last October to around 2,000 on average this September.

The Intercept reports that court orders are being ignored, and MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse, and news outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or investigated.

As the situation continues to unfold, advocates are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the government. "We're seeing a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government," said Theo Liebmann, a law professor at Hofstra University. "This is not hyperbole."

just thinkin about this fine bein given to these kids who are already in a super tough spot... like how r u s'posed 2 pay $5k when ur parents didn't bring u or u even know where they are? its all good 4 them smugglers makin money offa desperate ppl tho https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...ccompanied-immigrant-minors-thousands-dollars

Man, this is just getting crazy I'm not sure what's more disturbing - the fact that these kids are being fined thousands of dollars or the fact that some people think it's a good idea to penalize them for trying to escape from violent situations in their home countries . Like, come on, we're talking about minors here who have been forced to leave their families behind and risk life and death to get here. Do we really want to add financial stress to an already impossible situation? It's just not right.

And don't even get me started on the whole "incentivizing people to cross at legal entry points" argument - what about the kids who can't just walk up to a border crossing and say "oh, I'd like to enter the country please"? They're still gonna need help, whether it's from smugglers or government services. We need to find a better way to deal with this crisis than piling on more financial punishment .

By the way, has anyone seen the latest news about Congress being stripped of its power? It's like we're living in some kind of dystopian novel

I'm really worried about these unaccompanied minors being fined thousands of dollars . I mean, can you even imagine having to pay that kind of money? It's like, they're already in this super tough situation, and now they're facing this huge fine? And it's not just the financial burden, but also the emotional toll of being forced to leave their family and everything they know behind.

I don't think fines are the answer here... I think we should be focusing on finding ways to help these kids stay in the US safely and without breaking them or their families . And what's with the whole "encouraging" parents not to send their kids through smugglers thing? Like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying we're leaving these kids vulnerable to exploitation?

We need to have a serious conversation about how we can improve the system and make sure these kids are treated with dignity and respect . This fine is just another example of how the current policies are failing, and it's time for some real changes .

man this fine is so harsh on those kids i feel bad for them they dont even know how to take care of themselves and now they're being hit with 5k like what r they gonna do with that money anyway? its just another way to punish immigrants and make their lives harder instead of helping them maybe the ppl in charge should think about how their policies affect real people

omg u guys this is soooo messed up thousands of dollars in fines for these poor kids? it's like they're trying to crush them i'm all about wanting those kids to have a safe way to come into the country, but this fine is just cruel and what's with the whole 'parents pay smugglers' thing? like, don't they know that parents are already struggling to make ends meet? it's not fair to punish them even more. i'm really worried about these kids in federal custody - they need help and support, not fines

I'm kinda thinkin that fines on unaccompanied immigrant teens aren't the most effective way to handle things ... I mean, they're basically gettin' bammed with a $5k fine 'cause they don't know any better, right? It's like, come on, folks, we gotta be considerate of these kids. They're already goin' through so much stress and uncertainty, addin' a huge fine to the mix is just cruel ... I guess the government thinks it'll discourage people from smugglin' 'em in, but what about those who can't afford to pay? It's all about creatin' fear, man ...

OMG have you seen these fines?! They're like $5k! and we know most of these kids can't even get a job to pay it off because they're all minors, no work permit, no adult sponsor... it's super unfair . The number of unaccompanied kids crossing the border is way down under Trump (2k avg this Sept vs 6k Oct last year), but still like thousands are getting fined . And what about their families? Do they get to pay for those fines too? It's like, another way to make life harder for already vulnerable kids . I'm all for stricter immigration laws, but this fine thing is just so harsh .

I'm really worried about these unaccompanied immigrant minors being fined thousands of dollars for just trying to come to America in search of a better life . It's so unfair that they can't even work to pay off the fine, and it's like the government is trying to scare them away from seeking help. I think it's more about the parents who might be able to afford lawyers to fight these fines, not the kids themselves .

I'm so down with this new fine - 5k to unaccompanied minors is just too harsh... I mean who doesn't love a good financial penalty to throw in their lap when they're already dealing with the stress of being alone and far from home? It's like, they should be grateful for the opportunity to even try and make it in this country! And let's be real, who hasn't had to work multiple jobs just to get by at some point? I'm sure these teens are totally capable of raking in that cash...

ugh this is so wrong thousands of dollars in fines for unaccompanied minors who are already scared and alone? it's like they're trying to traumatize them even more these kids are just trying to escape violence and poverty back home, not looking to get in trouble with the law. the fact that they have no way to work or pay this fine is just heartbreaking i feel so bad for these kids and their families who are already struggling to make ends meet can't we find a more compassionate solution here?

I'm really worried about these unaccompanied immigrant minors getting hit with thousands of dollars in fines . It's just so unfair that they're being punished for trying to reach a better life in the US. I mean, can you imagine if your parents did something like that and got fined? It's crazy. The system should be helping them, not hitting them with huge bills. And what about all the kids who are already living without care and support? How are they supposed to pay this fine on their own?

I'm still thinking about this homeless crisis in America . I mean, thousands of dollars in fines for unaccompanied minors? It's just so unfair . They're already going through so much, being separated from their families and stuff. The fact that they have no ability to work and rely on government services is just not right .

And what about the parents who are trying to protect their kids? Shouldn't we be helping them instead of fining them? I know the law says you need an adult sponsor, but sometimes those parents can't make it across the border. It's not like they're asking for a free ride or anything .

I'm also thinking about the fact that the number of unaccompanied kids crossing the border has plummeted under Trump... how is that even possible? Is it because people are too scared to come in anymore? I don't know what's going on, but this whole situation just feels so confusing .

And can we talk about the way the government is treating news outlets that challenge them? That's not right at all . We need to be able to question our leaders and hold them accountable for their actions .

i feel so bad about these unaccompanied minors getting fined thousands of dollars... it's just not right they're already in a super vulnerable position, and now they gotta worry about paying a huge fine? it's like, don't they deserve some protection and support instead of being penalized even more? i think the fine is more likely to make them feel scared and anxious than actually deter parents from sending their kids across the border anyway, let's hope the government can find a better way to handle these situations

this bill is so messed up thousands of dollars in fines for kids who just trying to survive and get help they need... it's like the gov is more worried about collecting money than taking care of ppl. and what's with the law that makes news outlets that challenge trump get investigated or banned? this isn't right, especially when they're silencing people who actually care about transparency and accountability.

this is so messed up , i mean these teens are literally trying to escape some serious situation in their home country but then they get fined $5k? what if they don't have any money or a job? it's like the gov is playing a twisted game of "let's see who can survive on nothing". i think it's actually encouraging people to take these illegal risks rather than use legit channels, and it's just cruel to hit them with fines when they're already in such vulnerable situations

omg the fine is so harsh like what even is the point of fining them thousands of dollars? they're just kids who got lost or scared to come here with their parents and now they're stuck in some detention center without a clue how to get out and yeah it's basically creating fear which is super not cool

i mean i guess it's meant to deter parents from paying smugglers but like isn't that already happening? kids are still crossing over and getting caught, so what's the diff? and what about all those other ways trump is trying to pressure them back home? like deporting them or offering some cash to leave? that sounds super sketchy too

anyway i think advocates have a point though, we do need more transparency and accountability from gov, especially when it comes to these kinda issues what's the government hiding? and yeah court orders are being ignored and it looks like trump is just using his minions to get away with stuff

I'm really worried about these unaccompanied minors being fined thousands of dollars . It's like they're being forced to pay for making a desperate decision to leave their homes in search of safety. I mean, can you imagine being a 16-year-old kid with no job and no money, having to deal with the weight of that fine? It's just not fair .

The fact that it's intended to discourage parents from sending their kids through smugglers is also really problematic . What if those parents are genuinely desperate and can't afford to send them back on their own? It's like we're pitting families against each other in a game of survival .

We need to be thinking about the human cost of these policies, not just the numbers and statistics . These kids are people too, with hopes and dreams and fears. They deserve compassion, not fines .

man... thinkin about those 10-15 year olds gettin fined $5k cuz they didn't got to the US with an adult... it's like, what's the deal? They're already in a tough spot, bein separated from their families and tryin to make sense of this whole new world... then they gotta worry 'bout payin a huge fine? it's just so harsh. And for what? So we can say we're discouragin people from comin here without an adult sponsor? that don't even sound like the right reason to me... and what about all them other youngins in federal custody who might be gettin taken advantage of by smugglers or lost in the system? we gotta make sure these kids are treated with dignity and respect, not just thrown a bunch of financial hoops to jump through.

I'm so concerned about these unaccompanied immigrant minors getting hit with $5k fines It's just not fair, they're already in such a vulnerable position being separated from their families and navigating the US immigration system. I mean, who can afford to pay that kind of fine? They're basically stuck between two bad options: either stay in the country without documentation or get deported back home. It's like the government is piling on more stress and trauma for these kids And what about the parents who are being forced to make this impossible choice? They're already feeling guilty and anxious about their kids' safety, now they're being penalized too? This fine just seems like a cruel punishment to me