DHS Raises Penalties for Carriers Transporting Passengers to the U.S. without Required Documentation

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule adjusting civil monetary penalties for inflation in 2025. The updated penalties include fines for certain employment-related violations under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Among these are increased penalties for carriers transporting passengers to the U.S. without the required documentation.

Penalties for bringing aliens to the United States without the required documentation have increased to $7,093 from $6,913. Penalties for bringing aliens subject to denial of admission on health-related grounds have also risen to $7,093 from $6,913. Additionally, penalties for failing to prevent the unauthorized landing of aliens have increased to $7,093.

Penalties for bringing alien crew members into the United States with the intent to evade immigration laws have increased to $23,647 from $23,048. Fines for violations of removal orders related to aliens transported on vessels or aircraft under section 241(d) of the INA, or for costs associated with removal under section 241(e) of the INA, have risen to $3,988 from $3,887.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) imposes civil monetary penalties under various titles of the United States Code (U.S.C.) and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). According to the final rule published in the Federal Register, the new penalty amounts will take effect for violations occurring after November 2, 2015, if penalties are assessed after January 2, 2025.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforces civil monetary penalties for certain employment-related violations under the INA. ICE’s penalties, outlined in Title 8 of the CFR, have also increased. For instance, civil penalties for failure to depart voluntarily under INA section 240B(d) have risen to $1,992-$9,970 from $1,942-$9,718.