Florida Judge Upholds $668,000 Fine for Ignoring Deportation Order: What Cubans with I-220A Need to Know

A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida has imposed a hefty $668,390.95 fine on a Honduran national, identified as K.E.V.D., who overstayed in the United States for over three years following an immigration court's deportation order. The announcement was made by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.

Judge Ed Artau of the Southern District of Florida issued the default judgment—meaning the defendant did not appear to contest the case—under the case number 26-cv-80141. The original deportation order was handed down by an immigration judge on July 22, 2022, and became final on August 23 of the same year. Despite receiving a Notice of Intent to Fine and a bill, K.E.V.D. neither left the country nor responded to the federal lawsuit.

The substantial amount includes a civil fine of $998 per day for willful non-compliance, along with legal interest calculated up to February 6, 2026. Judge Artau determined that the individual had "voluntarily" breached the immigration court's directive.

Implications for Cubans with I-220A

This case serves as a stark warning to those facing deportation. Stay informed on the latest developments in deportation, I-220A, and immigration processes in our U.S. Immigration section.

"Immigration court orders are not suggestions," stated federal prosecutor Jason A. Reding Quiñones. "This $668,390.95 judgment highlights the severe consequences of willfully ignoring a final deportation order."

What sets this case apart from previous administrative fines is its enforceable nature: as a federal judgment, the Department of Justice can utilize methods like wage garnishment, property liens, and tax refund seizures to enforce collection.

Why This Matters to Cubans with I-220A

Thousands of Cubans in South Florida have final deportation orders but remain in the U.S. under supervision orders because historically, Cuba accepted very few deportees. Although since February 2026, the regime has started accepting repatriation flights—including one with 170 Cubans—the execution remains limited.

Over 42,000 Cubans currently have active final deportation orders in the U.S., and from October 2025 to June 2026, immigration courts issued over 4,000 new orders against Cubans, just in Florida.

According to U.S. law, particularly section 274D of the Immigration and Nationality Act, penalties apply for not voluntarily departing or obstructing departure—not merely staying in the country when deportation is physically impossible. However, distinguishing between these scenarios requires individual legal analysis, and K.E.V.D.'s case underscores the risk of disregarding both the fine notice and the federal lawsuit.

The I-220A form is a supervised release order from ICE: it does not equate to residency, does not grant permanent immigration status, and does not prevent further detentions or deportations.

Steps to Take if You Receive a Fine Notice

The default judgment was issued because K.E.V.D. did not respond to the lawsuit. Ignoring a Notice of Intent to Fine can lead to an enforceable court debt.

Previous cases show that these fines can be contested: a woman in Houston managed to overturn a $1,820,352 penalty by proving she had an active U visa process since 2021.

It's important to note that the judicial halt in Massachusetts on the expedited fines rule—suspended on September 30 by Judge George A. O'Toole Jr.—does not offer protection against this type of procedure. The judge clarified that the government may continue imposing penalties using pre-existing mechanisms, which is precisely what happened in Florida.

Furthermore, ICE has recently allowed appeals for certain fines beyond the deadline when delays were due to documented postal issues.

Immigration experts advise against ignoring any notice and recommend seeking legal counsel immediately to explore available options, which may include reopening the immigration case—typically within 90 days of the final order—or requesting a stay of deportation before the fine continues to accrue.