A lawsuit has emerged, initiated by a group connected to George and Alex Soros’ Open Society Foundations, accusing President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of unfairly fining undocumented immigrants who don’t voluntarily leave the country.
On Thursday, two women, both undocumented, filed the case with support from the Immigration Law Resource Center. They are seeking a federal court’s intervention to stop DHS from enforcing substantial fines that could total hundreds of thousands of dollars for not self-deporting.
The Immigration Legal Resource Center receives millions annually from Soros’ Open Society Foundations, including $3.9 million. In 2021, the organization obtained nearly $1 million in grants from the same source.
The two women involved in the lawsuit have both been ordered to leave the U.S. by federal immigration judges but continue to reside in the country.
Here’s a closer look at the plaintiffs:
Plaintiff Maria L. lives in eastern Massachusetts and is facing a final removal order. She remains in the U.S. to seek humanitarian immigration relief that could enable her to adjust her status to a lawful permanent resident (essentially, get a green card). She has been fined several hundred thousand dollars under Section 1324(d). [Emphasis added]
Plaintiff Nancy M. is from southern Florida and also has a final removal order. Currently, she is allowed to stay in the U.S. under a supervision requirement from ICE, which involves annual check-ins—a condition she has met consistently. Nancy aims to obtain family-based immigration relief to become a lawful permanent resident and has been imposed a civil penalty of approximately $1.8 million under Section 1324(d). [Emphasis added]
Both undocumented immigrants and their attorneys contend that the fines from DHS are illegal.
As previously reported, DHS has issued over 31,600 penalty notices, racking up more than $9.6 billion in fines aimed at illegal aliens.
“Our message is clear: If you are in the country illegally, leave now or face the consequences,” stated Tricia McLaughlin from DHS regarding the penalties.
The ongoing lawsuit is titled Maria L. vs. Noem and is being heard in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
