Undocumented immigrant hit with $1.8 million DHS penalty after moving to Mexico

Hector “Alessandro” Negrete, an undocumented Mexican who grew up in Los Angeles, was billed $1,820,352 by the Department of Homeland Security for failing to comply with a 2009 deportation order, even though he relocated to Guadalajara in early 2026. After crossing the border at Tijuana in September 2025, he provided multiple documents—friend declarations, lease agreements, flight records and a Mexican ID—to prove his exit, but DHS deemed the proof inadequate and denied two appeals.

The fine is part of a wider enforcement effort that has targeted more than 100,000 undocumented residents since the second Trump administration, generating over $84 billion in penalties, though only $1.2 million has been collected to date. Critics, including attorney Charles Moore of Public Justice, say the penalties are used to intimidate immigrants and may violate constitutional limits on excessive fines. DHS maintains the program is authorized by longstanding statutes and offers debt forgiveness for those who record their departure via the CBP Home app, a step Negrete has not taken. His legal team is preparing additional evidence, including a passport stamp, and is weighing participation in a Massachusetts lawsuit that challenges the fine regime.