The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is promoting self-deportation among unauthorized immigrants by offering a $1,000 stipend and travel assistance through its CBP Home app. Announced recently, the program aims to facilitate voluntary departures from the U.S., promising the stipend after individuals confirm their return home via the app.
This initiative coincides with President Donald Trump’s stagnant deportation numbers during his first 100 days, despite his campaign promise to implement mass deportations. To verify departures, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin noted that users must provide biographical data, documents, facial images, and geo-location to confirm they have left the U.S. Successfully utilizing the app requires being at least three miles outside the country.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized self-deportation as a cost-effective alternative to detention, citing that each deportation costs taxpayers around $17,121. The agency projects a 70% reduction in costs through self-deportations, even after accounting for the stipend. Reports indicate about 5,000 immigrants have expressed intent to leave using the app this year, while its downloads have surged, reaching around 300,000 since 2025.
The Trump administration has invested $200 million in revamping the app, originally designed for asylum seekers, and is actively promoting its use through an advertising campaign. DHS also stated that immigrants who voluntarily self-deport may be deprioritized for detention and removal, potentially preserving future re-entry options—a claim met with skepticism by immigration experts. They warn that many who leave may find re-entry impossible or barred for years, raising ethical and socio-economic concerns regarding forced departures from the U.S.
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