DHS warns there will be no amnesty for immigrants ‘not now, not ever’

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ruled out any possibility of amnesty for undocumented immigrants in the United States on Thursday, stating it will not happen «not now, not ever.» The official position ratified the continuity of operations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), amid growing political controversy and the tightening of sanctions against asylum application fraud.

Why did the DHS rule out amnesty for immigrants?

The federal government’s statement responded directly to public criticism from Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar. The Florida legislator warned in a video that deportation operations have gone too far and that thousands of Latino voters feel betrayed.

Breaking News—For the first time ever, @DHSgov is seeking to fine an immigration attorney for allegedly filing false asylum claims.

And the fine is enormous—$250,000.

DHS claims that attorney Vinod Doddamani filed 32 immigration cases in which he filed 64 fraudulent documents,… pic.twitter.com/dQnwKfG7wT

— Joseph Bovino, Esq. (@joebovino) June 24, 2026

Facing these questions, a DHS spokesman set the White House position: «Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Markwayne Mullin, there will be no amnesty for undocumented immigrants. Not now, not ever.» The government agency stressed that federal forces are focused on executing the most extensive mass deportation campaign in the nation’s history.

The immigration authority insisted that ICE agents strictly enforce laws approved by Congress. Therefore, the Executive rejected softening its immigration strategy ahead of the November 2026 legislative elections.

What sanctions did the government announce against asylum fraud?

Parallel to the denial of general regularizations, DHS General Counsel James Percival sent a formal letter to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The letter warned that the agency will pursue criminally and financially attorneys who manage fraudulent or frivolous asylum petitions.

The federal department argued that some meritless applications are improperly used to delay deportation orders, process temporary work permits, or avoid detention in custody. According to official government data, courts of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) have accumulated nearly 3.5 million pending cases. About 2.3 million of these cases correspond to asylum proceedings.

Percival emphasized in an official statement that this type of practice distorts the system and delays the removal of offenders. Likewise, the agency clarified that allegations based solely on common gang violence, economic hardship, or generalized domestic violence do not necessarily constitute persecution protected under asylum statute.

What does the federal legal framework establish against applications?