Treasury Department Cracks Down on Cross-Border Transfers

On November 28, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department issued an alert urging money service businesses to increase monitoring of cross-border financial transfers, specifically those conducted by undocumented immigrants. The alert is an extension of anti-immigrant executive orders issued by the Trump Administration since early 2025. Issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the alert reportedly seeks to mitigate financial transfers related to unauthorized migration and/or employment.

Individuals who plan on making cross-border transfers should be aware of the stricter scrutiny for cross-border transfers, including the potential to trigger Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) by money service businesses. Although SARs typically identify unusual, large, or unexplained international transfers, the new FinCEN guidance could increase scrutiny for remittances from individuals in the United States meant to support family members in their countries of origin.

Remittances are lifelines for millions of families worldwide. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), remittance flows globally now surpass official development assistance, fueling education, health care, and local economies. Over-regulation could risk disrupting these vital contributions to global development, and—counter to the stated objectives of FinCEN’s alert—contribute to increased regional migration due to lack of economic support.