Government Raises Prices on Breaking Federal Laws Due to Inflation
Published Date: 1/2/2025
Rule
Summary
Starting January 2, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security is raising civil penalty amounts to keep up with inflation. This means anyone facing fines from DHS-related violations after November 2, 2015, will see updated, usually higher penalties. These changes help keep penalties fair and effective in stopping rule-breakers.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Employers face higher immigration-related fines
Under the ICE adjustments effective January 2, 2025, employer penalties for hiring or retaining unauthorized workers and related violations rise. Examples: first-offense hiring penalties become $716–$5,724 per unauthorized worker; second-offense $5,724–$14,308; third-or-subsequent $8,586–$28,619; I-9 paperwork penalties become $288–$2,861; the indemnity bond penalty becomes $2,861.
DHS fines increased for inflation
Starting January 2, 2025, DHS is increasing its civil monetary penalties using the OMB cost-of-living multiplier 1.02598. The new amounts apply to penalties assessed after January 2, 2025 for violations that occurred after November 2, 2015.
Maritime and environmental Coast Guard fines go up
The Coast Guard adjusted many maritime and pollution-related civil penalties effective January 2, 2025 using the 1.02598 multiplier. Examples: pollution-from-ships penalties rise to $93,058, certain oil-discharge totals to $295,564, and shore protection penalties to $65,653. Some Tariff Act–enacted penalties remain unchanged (for example, Failure to Stop Vessel When Directed remains $5,000).
TSA raises aviation and security penalty limits
TSA updated penalty limits effective January 2, 2025 using the 1.02598 multiplier. Examples: a violation of 49 U.S.C. chapter 449 can be up to $42,657 per civil penalty action; certain individual or small-business penalty totals rise to $17,062; other title 49 penalties rise to $14,602.
Travelers and carriers face slightly higher CBP fines
CBP penalty amounts are adjusted effective January 2, 2025 using the 1.02598 multiplier. Examples include arrival/departure manifest penalties rising to $1,740, landing requirement penalties to $4,730, and improper entry penalties to $100–$500.
No CFATS penalty change due to expired authority
DHS did not adjust the maximum civil penalty for the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) because CFATS regulatory authority lapsed on July 28, 2023. The CFATS regulation text in 6 CFR part 27 remains inactive, so DHS is not changing that penalty amount now.
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