The US Department of Homeland Security announced on Monday that undocumented immigrants can receive $3,000 if they agree to leave the United States voluntarily by the end of the year. To get the money, they must agree to self-deportation using the CBP Home app. The offer is being presented as a holiday-time incentive, but it comes with a very clear warning from the government.
US offers $3,000 to leave the country on your own
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a strict warning, saying that people who do not take this offer will face serious consequences. According to her, those who stay in the country illegally will be found, arrested, and deported, and they will never be allowed to return to the US again. Earlier, the Trump administration was offering $1,000 to people who chose to leave voluntarily. The new plan triples that amount to $3,000, making it the highest incentive offered so far for self-deportation, in Trump’s immigration crackdown era.
To qualify, they must register through the CBP Home app, which was earlier known as CBP One. This offer is only valid until December 31. According to a DHS press release, people who use the CBP Home app to leave will also get relief from any civil fines or penalties they may have faced for overstaying in the US or not leaving earlier.
DHS described self-deportation as the “best gift” undocumented migrants can give themselves and their families during the holiday season. “Illegal aliens who sign up to self-deport through the CBP Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend in addition to a free flight home. Using the CBP Home app also qualifies recipients for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the country,” a DHS press release said.
The note added, “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.”
Millions already left the US voluntarily
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that since January 2025, around 1.9 million undocumented migrants have already left the country on their own. She added that the government is tripling the incentive only for a short time during the Christmas season and urged people to make decisions before the deadline.
“Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported, and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home program. During the Christmas Season, the US taxpayer is so generously TRIPLING the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally- offering a $3,000 exit bonus, but just until the end of the year,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press release.
Immigration has been a major issue for President Trump since he returned to office. He campaigned on a promise of mass deportations and has since tightened the system so much that even legal ways of entering the US have become harder.
In recent weeks, DHS has utilised the holiday season to promote its immigration message. The department shared Christmas-themed social media posts that drew strong criticism.
The CBP Home app was launched in March. One of its key features allows people suspected of being in the country illegally to report when they are self-deporting. The app replaced the CBP One system, which the administration closed this year.
