The United States Donald Trump administration has unveiled a new policy that offers financial incentives to undocumented migrants who voluntarily return to their countries of origin, in a move officials describe as both cost-effective and humane.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Monday that the federal government will now cover travel costs and provide a $1,000 stipend to undocumented migrants who choose to “self-deport” using the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s CBP Home App.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Noem said.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the stipend will be paid only after an individual’s return to their home country is confirmed through the CBP Home App, a digital platform that facilitates voluntary departure arrangements.
The department emphasized that the initiative offers a respectful and practical alternative to traditional immigration enforcement procedures.
“Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the US and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” DHS said in a formal statement.
Despite the upfront cost of travel and the stipend, DHS projects that the new initiative will significantly cut expenses associated with deportations.
“It is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 per cent,” the department noted.
Currently, DHS estimates the average cost of arresting, detaining, and removing an undocumented migrant stands at $17,121 per person. By contrast, the new approach could reduce that figure dramatically, potentially saving federal resources.
The agency also disclosed that the program has already begun to see uptake. An undocumented migrant from Honduras recently used the CBP Home App to return voluntarily, DHS confirmed.
The announcement follows through on a central promise made by President Donald Trump during his White House campaign — to deport millions of undocumented migrants. The administration continues to pursue that agenda with a mix of traditional enforcement and now, incentivized self-removal strategies.
