Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) put forth a bill on Thursday aimed at escalating civil penalties for individuals who unlawfully enter the United States or fail to leave after being ordered. The legislation would also impose stiffer penalties on employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers.
Named the “Illegal Immigrant Cost Recovery Act,” Scott’s bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana).
This legislation seeks to enhance federal immigration laws by increasing penalties in three main areas: 1) Individuals who “enter or attempt to enter the United States without authorization.” 2) Those who “are subject to a final removal order and fail or refuse to leave.” 3) Employers who “knowingly employ unauthorized aliens.”
The proposed changes would raise civil fines for illegal entry to between $200 and $1,000, a notable increase from the current $50 to $250 range. Additionally, fines for failing to leave the country would jump from $500 to $1,996.
For employers who intentionally hire unauthorized workers, first-time offenders would see fines rise from a range of $250 to $2,000 to a new range of $1,432 to $11,448. Repeat offenders would face even steeper fines, moving from $2,000-$5,000 to $11,448-$28,616 for second offenses. For subsequent violations, the range would increase from $3,000-$10,000 to $17,172-$57,238.
The bill intends to have these revised penalties adjusted annually for inflation starting October 1, 2027, using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers. The Secretary of Homeland Security would need to announce these updates in the Federal Register by December 15 each year, with the new amounts taking effect for fines issued the following January.
In an exclusive statement, Scott remarked, “Illegal immigration is illegal, and it has consequences. President Trump is working to restore order, and Congress must do its part. Years of open border policies have led to significant costs that Americans bear. Those who enter illegally should indeed face consequences. This bill reinforces the law, ensuring that illegal aliens can’t just stay.”
Senator Lee further commented, “Illegal immigrants often exploit public services meant for citizens. While financial penalties for illegal immigration have been in place, only Trump has truly enforced them. I support Scott’s act, as it doubles the financial penalties, allowing us to return hard-earned money to Americans.”
Senator Sheehy added, “The taxpayers in Montana shouldn’t have to bear the costs of illegal immigration. This legislation enhances accountability and supports immigration enforcement, ensuring that those who break the law, rather than American families, pay the price.”
A press release framing the proposal suggests it aims to transition immigration enforcement into a self-sustaining financial model. By holding offenders accountable, the bill could boost “non-tax revenue” and lessen the dependence on taxpayer funding.
The release also noted that fines were infrequently enforced by DHS before Trump’s presidency and have been completely put on hold under Biden. However, ICE resumed issuing fines for non-departure on June 13, 2025, reportedly sending out nearly 10,000 penalty notices since then.
