Trump administration enforces US$5,000 penalty for unauthorized entry

Santo Domingo.- The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic announced that a new immigration measure signed by President Donald Trump has come into effect, imposing a US$5,000 fee on foreigners detained for entering the United States illegally.

According to the embassy’s Instagram post (@embajadausaenrd), the fee applies to anyone 14 years or older arrested for unauthorized entry. “This fee is final, non-negotiable, and cannot be appealed. Failure to pay will result in additional financial consequences,” the statement noted.

The policy aims to strengthen economic sanctions against irregular immigration under the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance approach. It targets all “inadmissible” foreigners, including those entering without documentation, with expired visas, or via illegal border crossings.