Trump’s $1,000 Self-Deportation Offer Targets Undocumented Migrants
The Trump administration has introduced a new incentive-based immigration policy offering $1,000 and free transportation to undocumented migrants who voluntarily exit the United States.
The self-deportation initiative, announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, aims to reduce costly deportation efforts by encouraging migrants to leave on their own terms. Migrants who accept the offer will avoid detention and may be eligible for legal re-entry in the future, according to Trump.
“This is the most affordable and dignified option for migrants who wish to avoid arrest,” Noem said. The plan also leverages the CBP One app to digitally track and verify a participant’s departure.
The Department of Homeland Security noted that the program had already seen its first success, with a migrant flying from Chicago to Honduras under the scheme. Officials estimate that voluntary returns could save the government over $17,000 per deportee, significantly cutting immigration enforcement costs.
Speaking to reporters, Trump hinted that migrants who leave voluntarily and meet certain criteria may be given a path to return legally in the future. “If they’re good people, the kind we want in this country, we’ll work with them,” he stated.
The policy, however, has drawn sharp criticism. Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat of Dominican heritage, slammed the move on X, saying: “We don’t bribe people to leave. We build a country where everyone belongs.”
Despite ongoing controversy, the Trump administration points to a drop in illegal border crossings and increased ICE detentions as signs the broader immigration crackdown is yielding results. Border Patrol recorded just over 7,000 arrests in March, the lowest figure in years.
Still, Trump has faced legal obstacles. Courts have blocked several efforts, including his bid to end birthright citizenship for certain children born in the U.S.
With immigration remaining one of the most contentious issues in Trump’s second term, the self-deportation program signals a shift toward cost-saving, voluntary enforcement strategies—with promises of reward and threats of enforcement walking a thin political line.
