US seeks private firm to pursue deportees abroad for unpaid immigration fines

The U.S. government is looking to contract a private firm to track down deportees residing in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras who have outstanding immigration fines. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a solicitation seeking a company capable of locating these individuals outside the United States, informing them of their debts, and facilitating payment.

The contractor must be a U.S.-registered company with the ability to perform enhanced debtor location services in at least Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Once an individual is found, the company would need to communicate the amount owed and arrange for full payment, a payment plan, or another resolution. The fines could be paid by the immigrant or a third party. The firm must also provide evidence to U.S. authorities that the correct person has been located, potentially through photographs, utility bills, or employment records.

CBP estimates that around 66,387 immigrants who have been expelled or voluntarily left the U.S. have unpaid civil fines. In July 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimated the total amount of unpaid immigration fines to be approximately $423 million. The Trump administration revived the collection of civil fines for various immigration violations, including failure to comply with a deportation order, which can incur daily penalties now amounting to $998.

While private companies are already used to collect debts within the U.S., this new initiative aims to expand that capability internationally. Current contracts involve companies attempting to locate debtors abroad via mail or phone, but none had successfully found a debtor outside the U.S. as of July. This new contract seeks to enable direct location of debtors in their countries of residence.