The U.S. government, under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, explored offering financial incentives to migrants who agreed to leave the United States voluntarily. The proposed plan involved providing approximately $1,000 to cover wages and travel expenses, according to data released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Economic Rationale

DHS argued that providing wages and plane tickets for migrants to depart the U.S. would be more cost-effective than the expenses associated with detaining and processing them through the legal system. The department estimated that the cost of arresting, detaining, and legally processing each undocumented individual was around $17,000.

Trump’s Immigration Policies

Mr. Trump, a Republican, made a promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants a central theme of his presidency. However, statistics indicated that the number of deportations during his tenure did not surpass those under his Democratic predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

Deportation Statistics

DHS statistics revealed that approximately 152,000 immigrants were deported under Mr. Trump’s administration from Jan. 20 onward. This figure was lower than the 195,000 deportations that occurred between Febuary and April of the previous year under the Biden administration.

Intimidation Tactics

The Trump administration reportedly attempted to encourage voluntary departures by threatening undocumented immigrants with substantial fines, revocation of legal residency status, and potential imprisonment in facilities known for harsh conditions, such as those in Guantanamo Bay and El Salvador.

If you are illegally here self -deporting is the best. The safest And the most economical in traveling from the United states To avoid being arrested.
Former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf

CBP Home Application

In March, the U.S. government introduced the CBP Home application to streamline the self-deportation process. This app,previously known as CBP One,was initially used to register immigrants traveling to the U.S. during the Biden administration.

Potential for Future Return

Mr. Trump suggested in April that the U.S. might consider allowing self-deported individuals to return under certain conditions.

If they have good behavior And if we want them back We will work with those immigrants to bring them back to the United states. quickly,
Former President Donald Trump

DHS later stated that immigrants who chose to self-deport “may” be eligible to return to the U.S. legally in the future,but did not specify any specific channels or programs to facilitate this.

Criticism and Concerns

Organizations like Make the Road New York criticized the self-deportation initiative and advised immigrants to consult with legal counsel before making any decisions.