The Trump administration has launched a controversial new initiative aimed at reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States by offering financial incentives for voluntary departure. According to an official statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), undocumented migrants who choose to self-deport are now eligible to receive $1,000 in travel support and a cash stipend.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the program in a press briefing, saying, “If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering financial travel assistance and a stipend to support voluntary return through the CBP Home App.”
The new program is administered through the CBP One mobile application, a platform previously used for asylum scheduling and border appointments. This marks the first time it has been integrated into a self-deportation incentive program.
According to DHS, deporting a single undocumented individual through the traditional route, which includes arrest, detention, court proceedings, and removal, costs taxpayers approximately $17,000. By comparison, the self-deportation stipend program is seen as a more cost-efficient alternative, potentially saving millions in enforcement and administrative expenses.
An unnamed DHS spokesperson confirmed that the program has already been utilised. “An individual who entered the country under the Biden administration recently took advantage of the initiative to return to Honduras on a flight from Chicago,” the agency said. “Additional flights are scheduled in the coming weeks.”
The initiative has sparked strong reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters argue it is a pragmatic solution that reduces the taxpayer burden while maintaining a tough stance on immigration. Critics, however, describe it as a morally questionable attempt to coerce vulnerable populations into leaving.
Immigrant advocacy groups swiftly condemned the program. “Paying people to leave under threat of arrest is not voluntary—it’s extortion under the guise of policy,” said María Torres, spokesperson for United Migrant Defence. “This program targets families who have built lives here and pressures them to self-remove under financial duress.”
Legal analysts are also raising concerns over the program’s implementation and oversight. “The fact that this is being done through a mobile app raises questions about accessibility, transparency, and data privacy,” said Professor James Altman, an immigration law expert at Georgetown University.
The Trump administration claims it has deported roughly 152,000 people since returning to office in January 2025. This figure is lower than the 195,000 deportations carried out from February to April 2024 under President Biden, despite Trump’s hardline immigration rhetoric.
The program is expected to expand in the coming months, with DHS planning to promote it more broadly through consulates and migrant support centers. However, with a heated election season underway, the initiative is likely to remain a flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
Whether the $1,000 incentive will significantly impact undocumented migration patterns remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: immigration enforcement continues to be a defining issue of the Trump presidency.
Written By Queen Diana Story
Subscribe to Follow Global Trends for daily global news.
Find Out How To Make Money As A Full-Time Writer/Blogger Guide.
To Advertise or Publish A Press Release, send a mail to info.followglobaltrends@gmail.com
Related Articles
Trump Administration Freezes $175M in UPenn Funding Over Trans Athletes Policy
Cyril Ramaphosa Responds Strongly to Donald Trump’s Comments on South Africa’s Land Policy
President Trump Suspends Senior USAID Officials Amid Foreign Aid Policy Dispute
Donald Trump Jr. Hints at Potential Shift in US-Ukraine Aid Policy
