Overview
- The Department of Homeland Security announced a one-time $3,000 payment and a free flight for migrants who register to leave the United States by December 31 using the CBP Home app.
- The agency promotes the process as quick, free, and easy, describing self-deportation as “the best gift” for those without legal status.
- The offer expands a May initiative that provided $1,000 to migrants who used the app’s self-deportation feature.
- DHS cites an internal May figure of $17,121 as the average cost per person for arrest, detention, and deportation to justify the incentive.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem urged eligible migrants to take the offer, warning that those who do not self-deport will be found and arrested, while DHS claims about 1.9 million voluntary departures since January, a number not independently verified.