Ema Alice: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it is tripling the financial incentive for migrants without legal status to self-deport over the Christmas period, now offering a $3,000 “exit bonus” until the end of December for those who leave using the CBP Home app.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a news release that 1.9 million migrants who had been living in the U.S. illegally had voluntarily self-deported since President Donald Trump’s second term began in January.
“Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” Noem said in a statement.
DHS said all eligible participants who depart by December 31 would receive free airfare to their home countries and have waived certain civil fines or penalties associated with remaining in the U.S. illegally, provided they voluntarily self-deport. Individuals who voluntarily left the U.S. through the self-deportation program were previously offered $1,000 to do so.
The Trump administration has highlighted CBP Home as a tool for individuals to leave the U.S. without encountering Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody—while also including features for people who regularly cross the border legally, such as when traveling to and from Mexico.
The app, which replaced CBP One, allows users to declare their intent to depart, provide confirmation once they have left and track their status with the government.
According to DHS, the self-deportation feature is intended for individuals in the country illegally or whose parole has ended following the expiration of certain protections. By notifying the government of their departure, users may be able to avoid more severe consequences, such as detention or expedited removal.
DHS previously told Newsweek that tens of thousands of migrants had used the CBP Home app to voluntarily leave the U.S., but the agency did not provide a precise figure.
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