President Donald Trump smiles during a meeting with Chilean president Sebastian Pinera, in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

There’s a new move on the part of the Trump administration where it concerns those in the country illegally: They’re going to be subjected to fines up to $500,000 for not leaving after being told to.

Something tells me they may not be able to pay that. So does it matter?

Regardless, here’s NPR:

The Department of Homeland Security sent out a batch of notices across the country to targeted individuals ordering them to pay fines of up to nearly $500,000 for “failing to depart the U.S. as previously agreed,” among other factors. The letters come as the Trump administration prepares to carry out delayed immigration sweeps of migrant families who have received deportation orders. President Trump said Monday, while signing legislation providing $4.6 billion in funding to address the influx of migrants from Central America, that the immigration raids will begin after the July 4 holiday if Congress can’t pass new restrictions on asylum laws.

As for ponying up a cool half mil, NPR acquired a particular notice sent to an illegal immigrant stating the following:

“It is the intention of ICE to order you pay a fine in the amount of $497,777.”

ICE official Matthew Bourke explained that it’s part of a comprehensive approach:

“ICE is committed to using various enforcement methods — including arrest, detention, technological monitoring and financial penalties — to enforce U.S. immigration law and maintain the integrity of legal orders issued by judges.”

Are the fines legal? They are, ICE claims, as per the Immigration and Nationality Act.

This week, Trump also talked of a citizenship question being added to the 2020 census:

The News Reports about the Department of Commerce dropping its quest to put the Citizenship Question on the Census is incorrect or, to state it differently, FAKE! We are absolutely moving forward, as we must, because of the importance of the answer to this question. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019

He also offered a very simple and direct solution to illegal immigration:

…..Now, if you really want to fix the Crisis at the Southern Border, both humanitarian and otherwise, tell migrants not to come into our country unless they are willing to do so legally, and hopefully through a system based on Merit. This way we have no problems at all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019

And then there was this from the President on detention center conditions, which I covered previously:

“I think they do a great job with those facilities, but you know how it can be taken care of? Number one: Tell them not to come because it’s illegal.”

See more here.

Back to the notion of an astronomical bill:

[Illegal immigrant Edith Espinal], 42, said she could not believe the U.S. government thought she would have almost half a million dollars. She has been living in sanctuary at an Ohio church since an immigration judge ordered her removed two years ago. The church, its congregation and the community have largely supported her and her family. “They want to scare me,” Espinal said, adding, “because they know I am in sanctuary. And they know I don’t have this amount of money.”

I’d think such a high cost would be less potent than something somewhere near the realm of the possible. We seem to have gone full Austin Powers:

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-ALEX

Relevant RedState links in this article: here.

See 3 more pieces from me:

In Solidarity With Transgender People (& Credit Card Thieves?), Mastercard No Longer Requires A Legal Name Or Proof Of Identity

Phoenix Mayor Responds To Incredible Video Of Cops Pointing Guns & Swearing At Pregnant Family Over A Doll. A $10 Million Lawsuit Looms

South Carolina Woman Gets Pulled Over For Driving Drunk – In A Bad*** Toy Mini-Truck

Find all my RedState work here.

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