The Trump administration has launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging undocumented migrants to voluntarily return to their home countries, offering free airfare and a $1,000 stipend for those who choose to leave the United States on their own.
President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, said the program is designed to ease the burden on the immigration system while providing a potential legal pathway back to the U.S. for certain individuals. “We’re going to work with them so that maybe someday… they can come back in if they’re good people,” he said.
The initiative, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is being implemented through the CBP Home App—a platform developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to facilitate self-deportation. Noem described it as the “best, safest, and most cost-effective” alternative for undocumented migrants seeking to avoid arrest.
According to DHS, the incentive package is issued after the migrant’s return has been verified. By offering this voluntary route, officials say the U.S. government can reduce deportation-related expenses by up to 70 percent. Deporting a migrant through traditional methods currently costs the government an estimated $17,121 per person.
The department also confirmed that at least one individual from Honduras has already used the program to return home.
While Trump stated that 21 million undocumented migrants reside in the U.S., data from the Pew Research Center estimates the figure to be closer to 11 million as of 2022.
