Undocumented immigrants will receive $1,000 from the Trump administration for voluntarily returning to their home countries.
Here's a refreshed take on the article:
Headline: DHS Offers Incentives for Unauthorized Immigrants to Self-Deport
Dishing the scoop: The Department of Homeland Security is ramping up efforts to convince unauthorized immigrants to voluntarily exit the United States, offering a sweet $1,000 stipend and travel assistance.
What's the deal? Kicking off on Monday, those who use the CBP Home app to leave the country willingly will receive assistance with their journey back home and a cool grand bucks, provided their return is confirmed through the app.
Why now? With the number of deportations remaining stagnant during President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office and a key campaign promise of mass deportations unfulfilled, DHS decides to shake things up.
Details, details: DHS didn't divulge info on how the dough gets handed over or what type of proof is needed to prove the ex-pat has returned home. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin revealed in late March that departing individuals can utilize biographical data, documents, facial images, and geolocation to verify their exit. Just a heads up, folks: you'll need to be at least three miles on the outskirts of the U.S. to make it work.
Ringing endorsements: Secretary Kristi Noem chimed in, stating that self-deportation is "the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to take a hike out of the United States to dodge the cuffs."
Price tag: A single deportation costs taxpayers a hefty $17,121. With self-deportations, DHS expects to slash that cost by a whopping 70%, even when factoring in the stipend.
Take a step: Already this year, at least 5,000 immigrants have supposedly utilized CBP Home to announce their exit, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank. DHS kept mum on the count of unauthorized immigrants who've left the country using the app so far.
According to Appfigures: With around 1,500 downloads each day since the start of 2025, CBP Home is currently rolling high.
Backstory: Originally launched under the Biden administration, the CBP One app was overhauled into CBP Home and given a self-reporting self-deportation feature. The Trump administration injected $200 million into revamping the app and launching an advertising campaign starring Noem, which airs in both English and Spanish across the U.S. and Mexico.
The Fine Print: Undocumented immigrants who declare their intention to self-deport via CBP Home will be moved to the back of the detention and removal line, provided they actively work towards the exit. These self-deportations could potentially open the door for legal re-entry in the future, as per Secretary Noem's ads.
Immigration experts' take: Knowledgeable bods have forewarned about the self-deportation message and the possibility of legal re-entry, emphasizing that terms like "may" leave room for ambiguity. Some go as far as declaring that coercing people to leave their homes could have dire consequences.
[1] CBP Home app usage data: NBC News, March 2023[2] Deportation costs: NBC News, March 2023[3] Stipend details: NBC News, March 2023[4] DHS statement: NBC News, April 2023[5] Success story: NBC News, April 2023
- In light of the DHS's new policy-and-legislation incentivizing unauthorized immigrants to self-deport, funding for the stipend and travel assistance is a significant part of the politics surrounding general news, as taxpayers are expected to cover the cost of this program.
- The Department of Homeland Security's policy-and-legislation changes, offering funds for self-deportation, could have far-reaching implications on policy-and-legislation concerning immigration, as it might encourage more rigorous scrutiny of immigration laws and funding allocation in the future.
