Trump Administration Launches $1,000 Incentive Program for Migrants to Voluntarily Leave U.S.

The Trump administration announced a new initiative offering $1,000 stipends and travel assistance to migrants who voluntarily choose to leave the United States.

The move, aimed at reducing the costs associated with formal deportations, marks the latest in a series of measures by the administration to curb undocumented immigration.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the financial incentive is designed to encourage “self-deportation” and lower the overall burden on the immigration enforcement system.

According to DHS estimates, the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting an undocumented migrant is approximately $17,000—significantly more than the cost of a voluntary departure supported by a stipend and airfare.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.

The initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which has emphasized stricter enforcement and deterrence. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has deported approximately 152,000 individuals.

While this figure is substantial, it trails the 195,000 deportations carried out between February and April of the previous year under President Joe Biden.

Trump, who campaigned on promises to deport millions, has used a variety of tools to encourage voluntary departures, including the threat of steep fines, efforts to strip legal protections, and the controversial practice of deporting some migrants to prisons in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.

To support the new policy, DHS also unveiled a rebranded mobile application, now called CBP Home. Formerly known as CBP One, the app was initially developed during the Biden administration to help migrants enter the U.S. through legal channels.

The updated version now serves as a portal for individuals seeking to self-deport, offering logistical support and application tracking.

Trump first previewed the stipend idea in April, suggesting that some migrants who depart voluntarily might eventually be welcomed back under certain conditions. “If they’re good, if we want them back in, we’re going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can,” he said.

While DHS noted that voluntary departure could potentially help preserve a migrant’s ability to return legally in the future, the agency did not specify any existing pathway or policy that guarantees reentry.

The absence of concrete guidelines has prompted questions from immigration advocates and legal experts about how the policy will be applied.

The stipend initiative comes as the administration seeks to reduce border apprehensions and manage the complex dynamics of immigration enforcement.