The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday a new initiative aimed at encouraging voluntary self-deportation by offering travel assistance and a $1,000 stipend to undocumented immigrants who agree to return to their home countries.
According to the DHS, the program will operate through the CBP Home App, a digital platform allowing eligible individuals to arrange their departure independently. Once an individual’s return has been verified through the app, they will receive the $1,000 stipend.
“Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U.S., allowing individuals to avoid encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the DHS said in a statement. “Even when factoring in the stipend, the cost of voluntary return is projected to reduce deportation expenses by approximately 70%. Currently, the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an undocumented immigrant is $17,121.”
The DHS noted that the program has already been used successfully, citing a case in which an undocumented immigrant was provided airfare from Chicago to Honduras. Additional travel arrangements are reportedly scheduled for the coming weeks.
“This is the safest, most efficient, and most cost-effective solution for undocumented individuals, law enforcement, and U.S. taxpayers,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “We urge eligible individuals to download the CBP Home App and take advantage of this opportunity.”
Those who opt into the program will also be deprioritized for ICE enforcement actions, provided they demonstrate active steps toward departure. Participation in the voluntary return program may also preserve an individual’s eligibility for future legal entry into the U.S.
The DHS emphasized that this approach offers significant savings while easing the logistical burden on federal immigration enforcement resources