Trump administration unveiled a controversial program offering undocumented migrants a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance to voluntarily “self-deport” using the rebranded CBP Home app, a move aimed at reducing the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Speaking at a White House event, President Donald Trump emphasized a potential path for legal reentry, stating, “We’re going to pay each one a certain amount of money, and we’re going to get them a beautiful flight back… If they’re good people, we’re going to work with them to get them back in.” The initiative, part of Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda, has sparked debate over its efficacy, legality, and ethical implications.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem framed self-deportation as “the best, safest, and most cost-effective way to leave,” projecting a 70% cost reduction compared to the $17,121 average for traditional deportations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that one migrant from Honduras has already used the program, with thousands more engaging the app, which was repurposed from the Biden-era CBP One used for asylum processing. Migrants submitting an “Intent to Depart” via CBP Home are deprioritized for detention, with DHS claiming participation “may preserve the option” for future legal reentry, though critics like Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council call this promise deceptive, noting the vague “may” and risks of abandoning legal proceedings.
The CBP Home app, relaunched in March 2025, replaces CBP One, which Trump shuttered on January 20, stranding over 900,000 migrants with pending asylum appointments. Now a cornerstone of a $200 million “Stay Out and Leave Now” campaign, the app facilitates voluntary departures and tracks compliance, with 300,000 downloads since January per Appfigures. DHS has funded flights, including one from Chicago to Honduras, but immigration experts warn that leaving via the app could jeopardize ongoing asylum or removal cases, potentially triggering deportation orders.
Trump’s push, backed by executive orders and a national registry mandating biometric data from undocumented migrants over 14, has deported 152,000 since January, trailing Biden’s 195,000 from February to April 2024. ICE arrests have surged to 1,200-1,500 daily, with detention capacity expanding to Guantánamo Bay. Critics, including 22 states suing over policies like the birthright citizenship ban, argue the stipend program is coercive, exploiting economic desperation while offering false hopes of reentry. X posts reflect polarized views, with @libsoftiktok praising the app’s repurposing and @DecodingFoxNews citing fears of “theater designed to terrify migrants.” As deportations lag Trump’s 1-million-a-year goal, the program underscores his strategy to incentivize voluntary exits amid logistical and legal challenges.
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