Minara Helen: The Trump administration has announced a new incentive program offering $2,500 to migrant children who agree to voluntarily return to their home countries. The offer would initially apply to 17-year-olds, according to officials.
Documents obtained by the Associated Press show that children ages 14 and older were told they had 24 hours to decide. No penalties were outlined for those who decline.
Immigration advocates and lawyers expressed concern that the amount could pressure children into abandoning their legal rights. “For a child, $2,500 might be the most money they’ve ever seen, making it difficult to weigh the long-term risks,” said Melissa Adamson of the National Center for Youth Law.
Advocacy groups argue the plan effectively forces children back into unsafe conditions without fair hearings. U.S. law requires minors to appear before an immigration judge before deportation.
Meanwhile, children have been spending longer periods in federal shelters under stricter scrutiny since the Trump administration imposed tougher rules, including fingerprinting, DNA testing, and family checks before release.
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