Bloomberg reported on 8/9 that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking approximately 66,300 individuals who were deported from the country but still owe money to the government, totaling about 423 million USD.

CBP has signed two-year contracts, each valued at up to 9 million USD, with four companies to track down these individuals. The companies may use housing images, utility bills, employment records, and court documents to locate deported individuals and assess their ability to pay.

This effort raises questions about how Washington can enforce debt obligations on individuals no longer in the US. Documents from President Donald Trump's administration do not clearly explain how they can compel deported individuals living abroad to settle their debts.

CBP agents escort undocumented immigrants onto a C-17 transport aircraft in Texas in 1/2025. Photo: US Department of Defense

Another practical issue is whether these individuals can afford to pay. Some may have limited financial resources or no bank accounts in the US, which is one of the payment methods for fines outlined in federal government documents.

Some immigrants could face fines of nearly 1,000 USD per day if they remain in the US after receiving an order to leave. This can lead to accumulated fines reaching hundreds of thousands or even millions of USD.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), from President Trump's return to power on 20/1/2025 to 16/7, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued over 103,000 administrative fine decisions totaling more than 84 billion USD. However, as of 16/7, the government had collected only about 1.2 million USD.

Juan Cuellar Torres, director of policy advocacy at the Kino Border Initiative, stated that many Mexican citizens deported from the US this year received letters sent to their addresses in Mexico.

An immigrant arrested by ICE agents in Arizona on 26/1. Photo: Reuters

These documents warn that interest will accrue on the debt and that non-payment could be considered in future US entry procedures. Therefore, for deported individuals intending to apply for a visa or return to the US in the future, outstanding debts could become new legal obstacles.

In parallel, the US government also offers incentives for immigrants who voluntarily depart through the CBP Home application, including covering travel costs and providing cash assistance in some cases. The DHS also indicated that some outstanding fines might be waived for these individuals.

Ngoc Anh (According to Hindustan Times, Bloomberg)