ICE is hitting immigrants sheltering in sanctuary churches with massive fines

The Trump administration is handing out massive fines to undocumented immigrants taking sanctuary in churches, The Associated Press reports.

Maria Chavalan-Sut, an indigenous woman from Guatemala, has been staying in a United Methodist church in Charlottesville, Virginia, as she attempts to avoid complying with a deportation order. Her efforts have made her one of several immigrants taking refuge in churches to receive letters from immigration authorities threatening them with fines. Chavalan-Sut's fine is currently up to $214,132. At least six people have received letters so far, with two of those fines reportedly costing $295,630 and $497,777.

Carissa Cutrell, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said that Chavalan-Sut failed to appear for an immigration hearing in July 2017, though Chavalan Sut's immigration attorney, Alina Kilpatrick, said that the order did not have a date and time, which she says is common practice. Regardless, Cutrell said the Immigration and Nationality Act allows ICE to impose fines on individuals who fail to leave the U.S. after removal orders.

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Chavalan-Sut, who fled Guatemala after her house was set on fire while she, her children, and their father were inside, says there's no way she could ever pay the sum. "Where am I going to get that money from?," she said. "I don't know." Read more at The Associated Press.