President Trump’s administration Monday offered to pay undocumented immigrants $1,000 each to leave U.S. voluntarily — plus plane fare to sweeten the deal.
In a dramatic shift for the usually tough-talking White House, the Department of Homeland Security made the four-figure offer to any undocumented immigrant who says they plan to return home without a fight.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.
“This is the safest option for our law enforcement (and undocumented immigrants),” Noem added.
Noem, who said the offer included a $1,000 “stipend” plus plane fare, also said those who accept the generous offer will be “deprioritized” for detention and removal by immigration enforcement.
The cash windfall would only hit immigrants’ bank accounts after they are confirmed to have left the U.S.
A DHS spokeswoman says immigrants can trust the Trump White House to fork over the cash.
“We’re giving our word that we will give you this money and that you can leave today,” said spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.
DHS says one unnamed undocumented Honduran immigrant had already participated in the program, scoring a one-way plane ticket for a flight from Chicago to the central American nation. It says more departures and payments are in the pipeline.
“Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week,” it asserted, without offering more details.
Border czar Tom Homan, who has built a reputation as a blunt-spoken proponent of mass deportations, gave his uncharacteristic blessing to the plan.
“I think we’ll have some movement,” Homan said, adding that undocumented immigrants are “starting to get the message” that self-deportation can be a good option.”
Noem said the payment and one-way flight home plan would save taxpayers 70% from the estimated $17,000-plus estimated cost to detain and deport one undocumented immigrant.
Immigrants can access the self-deportation payment offer through the CBP Home app, which is a rebranded version of the CBP One app that the Biden administration used to streamline applications for asylum.
Immigrant advocates warn people could be giving up many of their legal rights by voluntarily agreeing to leave the U.S. voluntarily, especially while accepting the government’s help. Although Trump officials say accepting the self-deportation option might make it easier for an immigrant to return legally to the U.S. in the future, advocates warned against taking those promises at face value.
Trump has made immigration enforcement and the mass deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants a major priority. It’s sparked high-profile court battles by invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport some accused immigrant gang members without any due process.
Trump and his supporters have also bitterly criticized payments of any kind to migrants.
But actually implementing Trump’s mass deportation goal in a widespread way would be an extraordinarily expensive and difficult operation, experts say. So far, the new administration has succeeded in dramatically limiting border crossings, but deportation numbers are about the same as under former President Biden.
“They’re not getting their numbers,” he said.Aaron Reichlen-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, which advocates for immigrant rights.
Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are pushing for a massive increase in resources for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the DHS department responsible for removing people from the country, even as they seek to dramatically slash the overall federal budget.
