The US government is now offering illegal migrants a $1000 ‘stipend’ to self-deport amid an escalating immigration crackdown. President Donald Trump has made immigration a cornerstone of his campaign — with authorities deporting thousands including legal immigrants, cancelling visas, pausing green cards and more over the past four months. But it has been a costly resource-intensive endeavour for the Republican administration with just deportation flights averaging $4,675 per person.
“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers. Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport,” urged US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Monday.
Officials said that an “illegal alien” who had been allowed into the country by the previous Joe Biden administration had already made use of the new policy to return to Honduras. According to the Homeland Security notification, additional tickets “have already been booked for this week and the following week”.
President Trump had previewed the stipend plan last month — saying the US would consider allowing migrants to return in certain cases. The department of Homeland Security also indicated on Monday that choosing to leave voluntarily “may help preserve” the ability to return legally. It did not cite any
“If they’re good, if we want them back in, we’re going to work with them to get them back in as quickly as we can,” the POTUS had said.
