US Offers $1,000 for Immigrants to Voluntarily Return Home

The Trump administration has announced it will pay immigrants living in the United States without legal status $1,000, along with travel assistance, if they voluntarily return to their home countries, as part of its ongoing mass deportation agenda. Those opting to self-deport can use the CBP Home app to notify authorities, which will result in their cases being deprioritized for detention and removal by immigration enforcement. Administration officials describe self-deportation as the safest and most cost-effective way for undocumented immigrants to avoid arrest, positioning it as an alternative to resource-intensive mass deportations. The initiative comes as the administration seeks increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and continues to emphasize strict immigration enforcement as a campaign priority. Critics argue that the policy may present significant challenges and uncertainties for migrants considering self-deportation. The program has already begun, with the Department of Homeland Security confirming it has paid for at least one migrant's return ticket and plans additional departures.