ICE Cancels Fines on Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary
Stephen Dinan, Washington Times, October 22, 2019
The government’s deportation agency has canceled the fines of up to $500,000 it had tried to levy on some illegal immigrants who are living in protection in churches, the sanctuary movement said Tuesday.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had fired off notices to a number of migrants earlier this year telling them they owed massive fines for defying deportation orders.
After an outcry from the migrants, and mocking from immigrant-rights advocates, ICE relented.
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That’s prompted a number of migrants to take up residence at churches, using them as a shield against deportation.
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ICE had issued nine fines. Eight of them have been withdrawn. But the agency said each of them has been ordered removed, remains a fugitive, and is a priority for deportation.
These individuals are subject to final orders of removal and they remain in the United States in violation of law,” the agency said. “ICE will pursue enforcement of these removal orders using any and all available means, and has reserved the right to reassess fines in these cases.”
