ICE withdraws big fines for immigrants taking sanctuary in churches

Oct. 24, 2019, 10:01 AM EDT
By Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is reversing course months after threatening six-figure fines against immigrants taking sanctuary at churches.

Seven women have been notified that ICE, using its discretion, is withdrawing its intent to pursue fines ranging from $300,000 and $500,000 for their refusal to leave the country as ordered, according to the National Sanctuary Collective, a coalition of attorneys, organizers and other advocates for them. They count it as a victory.

"We knew that these exorbitant fines were illegal and were nothing more than a tool to scare our clients and retaliate against them for fighting back and standing up to this administration," attorney Lizbeth Mateo, who represents a Mexican woman living at an Ohio church, said in a statement. Mateo said immigration officials should exercise the same discretion "to release sanctuary families."

The immigrants have remained in the U.S. in violation of the law and still are subject to removal orders that ICE will enforce "using any and all available means," agency spokesman Richard Rocha said in an email. He said ICE also could reassess the fines.

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