A Washington man was recently shocked when he received a $1,820,352 bill from the Department of Homeland Security. The civil fine was reportedly issued because he remained in the United States after receiving a final removal order in 2007.
It may sound like he ignored an order to leave the country. However, his immigration attorney, Olia Catala, says there is much more to the story.
The man came to the United States from Vietnam as a 5-year-old refugee in the early 1980s. He is now in his late 40s, but his name has not been released because he fears it could affect his immigration case.
Catala said her client has been unable to leave because Vietnam does not issue passports to some refugees. He also has work permits and has continued attending his annual immigration check-ins.
The Fine Came to $1,820,352
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Catala told KING 5 that she had heard about similar letters, but the amount still shocked her. She encouraged anyone who receives one to contact an immigration attorney and find out whether they can appeal.
The fine is based on a federal law that allows DHS to charge up to $998 for every day someone remains in the country after a removal order.
The Law Has Been Around Since 1996
The law behind the fines is not new. It was passed in 1996, but the federal government rarely used it until the Trump administration brought it back and made the process easier in 2025.
DHS and the Department of Justice said fines could reach $998 per day for willfully failing to follow a removal order. The government has also offered to forgive the fines for people who leave through the CBP Home app.
However, Catala says her client is unable to return to Vietnam because he cannot obtain the required travel documents. She did not say whether he plans to appeal the fine.
Thousands of Similar Fines Have Been Issued
This man is far from the only person to receive one of these bills. The Legal Aid Society says DHS had issued more than 65,000 fine notices totaling over $36 billion by March 18, 2026.
A federal lawsuit, Maria L. v. Mullin, is challenging the fines. The case seeks to represent people across the country who received them while applying for immigration relief, checking in with immigration officials or being unable to return home.
The lawsuit was still active as of August 2026. It asks the court to stop DHS from issuing or collecting the fines under the current process.