US hires firms to collect $423 million in fines from deported migrants

September 8, 2026 at 09:12 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

US Customs and Border Protection is hiring private contractors to locate deported migrants in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala who owe $423 million in unpaid fines. The agency agreed to pay up to $36 million to four firms under two-year contracts. The move extends President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement beyond US borders.

Key Facts

CBP is seeking to recover about $423 million in fines and fees from more than 66,300 removed individuals.
The agency agreed to pay up to $36 million to four firms to locate deportees in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.
From Jan. 20, 2025 through July 16, 2026, ICE issued over 103,000 civil fines totaling more than $84 billion.
By July 16, 2026, the government had collected just $1.2 million of those fines.

Contract Awards

CBP awarded two-year contracts last month to Global Recovery Group, The Baptiste Group, Caduceus Inc. and Response AI Solutions. Each agreement has a maximum value of $9 million. The contractors may photograph homes or obtain utility bills, employment records or court papers to locate deportees and establish their ability to pay. The companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Collection Challenges

It is unclear whether the US can legally require people who have been removed from the country to pay. The contract notice does not explain how the US could compel payments or what role the governments of Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala would have. Many deportees may have limited resources or lack access to a US bank account, which is required to pay the fines. In past cases, the US has threatened that unpaid fines could affect future immigration cases.