URGENT: If you have received a civil penalty notice from U.S. Customs & Border Protection, read this page immediately.

(213) 262-2000

Attention: Immigrants Facing CBP Civil Fines

They Sent You a Bill for Hundreds of Thousands — Even Millions of Dollars.
An Immigration Civil Penalty Lawyer Can Help You Fight Back.

The government is counting on you to feel helpless and pay up. But these penalties can be challenged — and we know exactly how to do it. Your home, your savings, and your family's future may depend on acting now.

Yes — I Want to Fight This Fine →

Free consultation  ·  Confidential  ·  Act before enforcement begins

If you or someone you love has received a civil penalty notice from U.S. Customs and Border Protection demanding $100,000, $500,000, a million dollars or more — you are probably terrified right now.

And honestly? That's exactly what they want.

They send these notices on official government letterhead with an enormous dollar amount and count on you to feel like you have no choice. That the government has already decided, and you just have to accept it.

But that's not true. And we're going to explain exactly why.

"Will they take my house?"

A lien on your home is not automatic — and there are legal steps that can stop it before it ever happens.

"Can I ever pay this back?"

Most of our clients could never realistically pay these amounts. Courts recognize this — and it matters legally.

"Is it too late to fight?"

Even after an administrative appeal is denied, you have the right to challenge this in federal court. The clock is ticking, but it is not too late.

"Was this even fair?"

In many cases, these penalties are issued on boilerplate forms with no individual review. That can make them legally invalid.

What They Don't Put in That CBP Civil Penalty Notice

The government is required by law to prove that your failure to depart was willful. In many cases, they never do. They use a standardized form with checkboxes — the same form for every single person — with no individual facts, no evidence, and no real analysis of your specific situation.

The U.S. Constitution also prohibits excessive fines. The Supreme Court has said so explicitly. A penalty of $1 million or more against a working-class person — with no individual finding of wrongdoing — may be unconstitutional on its face.

These are not loopholes. These are your legal rights. And our immigration civil penalty lawyers know exactly how to use them.

    What a legal challenge can accomplish

  • Stop enforcement and collection while your case is heard in federal court
  • Prevent a lien from being placed on your home or property
  • Vacate or dramatically reduce the penalty based on constitutional grounds
  • Force the government to justify the fine with actual evidence — something they often cannot do
  • Buy critical time to pursue lawful immigration relief in parallel

How Our Immigration Fine Appeal Attorneys Fight for
You — Step by Step

number-1

Free consultation — understand exactly where you stand

We review your penalty notice, immigration history, and circumstances. We tell you honestly what options you have and what fighting back could mean for your family.

number-2

Emergency protection for your home and assets

Before we file anything in court, we take immediate steps to protect your property — beginning within days of you retaining us.

number-3

Federal court challenge — APA complaint and injunction

We file a complaint in federal district court challenging the penalty as arbitrary, unlawful, and unconstitutional. Simultaneously, we seek a court order freezing enforcement while the case proceeds.

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Fight on every front until you get justice

We pursue every available avenue — the courts, constitutional challenges, negotiation — until we achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.

Frequently Asked Questions About CBP Civil Penalty Appeals

I already lost my administrative appeal. Can an immigration civil penalty lawyer still help me?

Yes. The administrative appeal is only the first step. Federal courts review CBP decisions independently — and regularly overturn penalties imposed without proper legal analysis. Losing the administrative appeal does not mean the fight is over.

What if I cannot afford to pay the fine — or the attorney?
How quickly can the government place a lien on my house?
Will challenging the fine hurt my immigration case?

Book Your Free Consultation Now

Confidential. No obligation. We respond within one business day — often the same day.

FORM - CBP Civil Penalty Lawyer

Your information is completely confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. We will never share your information with any third party.

P.S. — The government will not warn you before they begin collection. By the time you receive a demand letter or a lien notice, your options narrow fast. The families we have been able to help the most are the ones who called us before enforcement began — not after. If you received a CBP civil penalty notice, today is the right day to call.

Attorney Advertising. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Results in prior cases do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship until a written retainer agreement is signed. Goldstein Immigration Lawyers is licensed to practice law in California. If you are located outside these states, we will refer you to qualified local counsel.