U.S. offers free flights and cash to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave
The Trump administration has launched a new initiative offering undocumented immigrants in the United States free airline tickets and $1,000 in cash if they agree to return to their home countries voluntarily.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said May 5 that the program is aimed at reducing the strain on immigration enforcement agencies by encouraging people to self-deport. According to DHS, the first participant has already left the country, flying from Chicago to Honduras.
Those interested in the program are being instructed to use a government-run app called CBP Home, which was originally introduced during the Biden administration to manage legal border entries. The app now allows migrants to register their intent to leave the country.
Under the program, participants who demonstrate they are actively preparing to depart will not be prioritised for arrest or detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The DHS said the $1,000 stipend will be issued once a departure has been confirmed.
Officials are promoting the program as a more “dignified” option compared to arrest and forced deportation. They also argue it will save money. The government estimates that detaining and deporting a person through standard procedures costs more than $17,000.
The administration says thousands have already self-deported under similar past efforts, though this is the first time financial incentives and flight assistance are being offered at this scale.
Immigration advocates say the promise of cash and reprieve from detention could put pressure on vulnerable migrants to leave the country, even if they have strong ties to the U.S. Many who have lived in the U.S. illegally for over a year face a 10-year ban on reentry once they depart.
While DHS officials claim that voluntary departures could make it easier for individuals to apply to return legally in the future, immigration lawyers note that most applicants without family or employer sponsors are unlikely to qualify for a visa.
It remains to be seen how widely the new program will be used and what its long-term implications will be for immigration policy and affected communities.
