The Trump administration has unveiled a new incentive program offering undocumented immigrants $1,000 and complimentary travel arrangements if they agree to voluntarily leave the United States.
Announced on Monday, the initiative—described as a cost-effective alternative to traditional deportation proceedings—was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The agency stated that formal removals, which involve arrest, detention, and legal procedures, currently cost the federal government an estimated $17,000 per individual.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement released to the media.
According to Reuters, the program is aimed at reducing the burden on immigration enforcement agencies while giving migrants a voluntary option to return to their home countries without the legal consequences of being formally deported.
Since returning to the office in January, President Donald Trump has overseen the deportation of 152,000 individuals. The figure falls short of the 195,000 removals that occurred during the same time last year under President Joe Biden’s administration.
The numbers have raised questions about the pace and efficiency of Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy, which has been central to his political platform.
Migrants who wish to take part in the new self-deportation program can apply through a revamped mobile application called CBP Home. The app is a rebranded version of CBP One, which was originally introduced during the Biden administration.
Trump had previously floated the idea of incentivised voluntary departures in April. At the time, he hinted that undocumented migrants who left the country under positive terms might be allowed to return legally in the future under specific conditions.
However, Monday’s statement from the DHS did not include any formal details about a potential pathway for return, leaving the long-term implications of the initiative unclear.
