Trump Launches Self-Deportation Campaign for Undocumented Migrants

President Donald Trump has initiated a 'self-deportation' campaign aimed at encouraging undocumented migrants to voluntarily leave the U.S. with the prospect of returning legally in the future. During a cabinet meeting, Trump described the program as a 'very big self-deport operation' and introduced a new app called CBP Home to facilitate this process, replacing the previously established CBP One app under the Biden administration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported that thousands of migrants have already participated in the self-deportation initiative, which includes cooperation with governments in El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico to provide food and shelter for returnees. Trump emphasized the need for certain migrant labor, indicating possible temporary work allowances for sectors like agriculture and hospitality. The administration's approach includes significant penalties for those who do not comply, with potential fines for undocumented immigrants remaining in the U.S. past a specified deadline. These measures reflect immigration as a pivotal issue in Trump's 2025 policy agenda.