CIUDAD ACUNA, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 20: Haitian immigrants cross the Rio Grande back into Mexico from Del Rio, Texas on September 20, 2021 to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico. As U.S. immigration authorities began deporting immigrants back to Haiti from Del Rio, thousands more waited in a camp under an international bridge in Del Rio and others crossed the river back into Mexico to avoid deportation. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new program offering undocumented immigrants a $1,000 stipend to voluntarily leave the United States, as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to accelerate deportations and reduce enforcement costs.
Described by the DHS as a “historic opportunity,” the initiative will provide both financial and travel assistance to those who choose to “self-deport” using the CBP Home app, a rebranded version of the Biden-era CBP One platform. Migrants will receive the stipend after the app verifies their return to their country of origin.
“Self-deportation is the safest, most cost-effective option for those in the U.S. illegally,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in a statement. “We are now offering financial and travel support to facilitate that process.”
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The DHS also suggested that participating in the program could improve a migrant’s chances of legally reentering the U.S. in the future. However, the administration has simultaneously warned that those who do not comply could face criminal prosecution.
This announcement comes amid a significant decline in illegal border crossings, which have reportedly dropped to their lowest levels in decades since President Donald Trump returned to office in January.
In a related effort to reshape U.S. immigration policy, the White House is also promoting a new “gold card” program that would grant a path to citizenship to wealthy foreigners for $5 million. The proposal would replace the EB-5 visa system, which also offers residency in exchange for economic investment.
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