The Trump administration revealed Monday that it will offer $1,000 in financial support to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the United States using government-provided travel assistance.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), individuals who are in the country illegally and utilize the CBP Home app to facilitate their departure will receive the $1,000 stipend once they confirm their return through the 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. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement to Fox News.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin was first to report the launch of this new self-deportation initiative. Originally introduced during Trump’s presidency, the CBP Home app is designed to streamline the self-deportation process and provide easier access to U.S. Customs and Border Protection services. The app is a modified version of the Biden-era CBP One app, which former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas used to aid migrants entering the country, rather than curb illegal immigration.
DHS noted that at least one undocumented individual has already made use of the app’s travel aid to book a return flight to Honduras. Voluntary departure through this program allows individuals to exit the U.S. on their own terms, avoiding direct interaction with immigration enforcement officers.
Officials estimate the new self-deportation initiative will cut deportation costs by 70 percent, even with the financial stipend factored in. Presently, the government spends upwards of $17,121 to apprehend, detain, and remove a single undocumented immigrant.
“The savings are as much as $1 million per illegal alien family given the long-term costs of free welfare and public support,” said top White House policy advisor Stephen Miller in a statement on X.
Those who opt into the self-deportation program via the CBP Home app may be given lower priority in active deportation operations, especially if they are already in the process of departing. This option also preserves the potential for reentering the country legally in the future.
According to a CBO report, Biden’s illegals cost taxpayers $100k a year EACH, so this could be a bargain–so long as it doesn’t become a routine for recurring illegals. Remember how many of the violent illegal alien criminals have been deported multiple times? Too bad they can’t be tattooed on the way out, or a chip implanted. Anyway, it’s worth a try, assuming they can’t get the money until they’re back in their home country AND we maintain and improve our own border security in the south, the north, and east and west coastal areas.
Bring back our military from most of the 130 foreign countries where we have military bases now, and let them protect our borders.