Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration on Monday unveiled a new initiative offering $1,000 and paid travel expenses to undocumented migrants who voluntarily leave the United States and return to their home countries.
The program, introduced by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, is designed to reduce the financial and logistical burden of forced deportations while encouraging self-removal through what officials describe as a more “dignified” process.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Secretary Noem said in a statement.
The initiative will operate through the CBP Home App, a mobile platform that allows eligible individuals to apply for financial travel assistance and receive a $1,000 stipend—disbursed only after their return has been confirmed.
DHS: Program Could Cut Deportation Costs by 70%
The Department of Homeland Security noted that the average cost of arresting, detaining, and removing an undocumented migrant currently stands at $17,121. By comparison, the new program could reduce those costs by up to 70%.
“Even with the travel assistance and stipend, self-deportation is significantly less expensive than formal deportation proceedings,” DHS stated.
The department also confirmed that at least one undocumented migrant from Honduras has already taken advantage of the program to return home.
The policy marks a shift toward incentivized voluntary departures, part of former President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which he vowed to intensify during his campaign by pledging to deport millions of undocumented migrants.
DHS framed the initiative as a way to ease pressure on immigration enforcement agencies while offering undocumented individuals a less confrontational route to exit the country.
“Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U.S. and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the department said.
The program is already drawing attention from immigration advocates and policy experts, who are expected to weigh in on its effectiveness and humanitarian implications in the coming weeks.