The Donald Trump administration launches a controversial program offering $1,000 and paid flights to undocumented migrants who voluntarily self-deport using the CBP Home app.

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 5 a new program to encourage self-deportation of undocumented migrants in the United States by offering a $1,000 payment and the cost of a return flight to their home countries. This measure is part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to accelerate deportations and reduce operational costs, under the promise to carry out the largest expulsion operation in the country’s history.

The initiative uses the CBP Home app, originally developed during Joe Biden’s administration, which allows migrants to notify authorities of their intention to leave the country on their own. The payment and flight ticket are delivered once the migrant’s departure is confirmed, aiming to avoid detention and prolonged legal processes that typically accompany forced deportations.

According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, self-deportation is “the safest and most cost-effective” way for undocumented migrants to avoid arrest and detention. Additionally, the government promises that participants in the program could maintain the option to legally re-enter the United States in the future, provided they comply with the established terms.

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.

This is… pic.twitter.com/2f02wLWQi5

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) May 5, 2025

Economic impact: millions saved for the state and pressure on migrants

The DHS claims this approach will reduce deportation costs by 70%, which currently average $17,000 per person, by avoiding expenses related to detention and chartered flights. The total cost per self-deportation, including flight and stipend, is estimated at around $4,500, representing significant savings for the U.S. treasury.

Several organizations and media criticize this measure as an attempt to force migrants out under economic and political pressure, in a context where the Trump administration has increased detentions and violated human rights, especially of migrant children and families. They denounce that incentivized self-deportation does not address the structural causes of migration and perpetuates xenophobia and institutional racism in the United States.

This self-deportation program represents a shift in U.S. immigration policy, combining economic incentives with the implicit threat of sanctions and detentions, deepening the humanitarian and social crisis faced by millions of migrants in the region.

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