Maria, a 41-year-old mother of three legal US citizens, is facing a $1.8m fine by the ICE for overstaying in the country. She came to the US twenty years ago from Honduras, and she entered California illegally in 2005. There was no documentation, and she continued to stay in Miami-Dade. She gave birth to her children here, who are now teenagers.
She has now been fined such a hefty fine as per the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has calculated this amount by adding $500 for every consecutive day she has stayed in the country. The exact amount comes out to be $1,821,350, and she just has a month to pay this.
Maria gave an interview to CBS News Miami, where she was crying on camera over the sad news. She’s also in shock and has appealed for clemency. This can be done on behalf of her kids, who are US citizens. If she gets deported, they will be alone here and have no one to look after them.
“MARIA” Has been directed to LEAVE numerous times since she IS HERE ILLEGALLY
BUT Maria remains in Miami sniffling bragging about anchor babies she had to access US GOVERNMENT WELFARE 🙄 https://t.co/iDTC2VJaXb pic.twitter.com/hxBukPl4AF
— TCA Public Relations (@tcapr) May 18, 2025
She was contacted to appear for an immigration hearing, but she did not do that or return home. Instead, she chose to settle in the country. Many netizens have reacted to her appeal. Some support her while others question if she can’t even speak English and should be deported.
Those on her side and Trump supporters have two different opinions about the case. The Latino community is on her side as they all understand the impact of such scenarios on immigrant families. The law that has been used to hit her with the fine is not frequently used in the country, so we’re yet to see how the fine and deportation will be settled.
Illegal from Honduras, who’s been in the US for twenty years illegally, has been fined over $1.8 million by ICE.
Her sob story doesn’t give her permission to break the law.
That fine continues to increase daily.
Illegals better self-deport. pic.twitter.com/hB11NAKOkU
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 19, 2025
Ever since she received the letter from the ICE on May 9, Maria has been anxious; she cannot sleep and does not want to go back. She said in her interview how painful it would be to be separated from her kids. She has asked for mercy so she can stay with her children, as reported by Independent.
Michelle C Sanchez is Maria’s attorney, who is trying to get her the justice she deserves. She has called the fine “absolutely nuts”, as the department never informed her client about the consequences. The letter that Maria received there does not mention a date, so she does not know how or when to comply with the penalties.
This will be part of her argument in the court appeal. Being her attorney, she understands the repercussions if Maria gets deported, her three children will suffer. They will have to deal with extreme hardships as their mother will be returning to Honduras. This does not make sense as her kids are US citizens, and she is deemed an illegal immigrant who could be deported.
Her deportation is not something we have heard of in the news. There have been several stories amidst the Trump administration’s immigrant crackdown. Trump has promised to remove immigrants and deport them to ensure there are no illegal immigrants using up the US’s resources. Since joining the office in January, he has carried out the biggest mass deportation in history.
