US Provides $1,000 Incentive for Migrants to Self-Deport

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will provide a $1,000 incentive along with travel assistance for migrants who choose to voluntarily leave the United States. This initiative was detailed by the Department of Homeland Security.

The proposed stipend and possible airfare for those who opt for self-deportation is expected to be more cost-effective than traditional deportation procedures. The current average expense for arresting, detaining, and deporting an undocumented individual is approximately $17,000, according to DHS.

Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump, a Republican, has pledged to deport millions, but his administration’s rates of deportation have lagged behind those of his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. The Biden administration has dealt with elevated illegal immigration levels and has swiftly returned many individuals caught attempting to cross the border.

According to DHS, Trump’s administration has deported 152,000 individuals since January 20, which is below the 195,000 deportations that occurred from February to April of the previous year during Biden’s term.

Efforts by the Trump administration to motivate migrants to leave voluntarily have included the threat of steep fines, attempts to revoke legal status, and the deportation of migrants to well-known detention facilities in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.

“If you are residing here illegally, self-deportation is the most prudent, safest, and economical option for leaving the United States to evade arrest,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

This past March, the administration introduced a revised mobile application called CBP Home aimed at facilitating the process of self-deportation. Formerly known as CBP One, this app was utilized by the Biden administration to assist migrants in entering the U.S. legally.

In an announcement last month, Trump hinted at this stipend initiative, suggesting that the U.S. might entertain possibilities for allowing migrants to return.

“If they are well-behaved, and if we desire to bring them back, we will collaborate with them to expedite their return,” he remarked.

In its latest announcement on Monday, DHS indicated that individuals who opt to leave may help safeguard their chances for legal reentry, although no specific details about this pathway or program were provided.