Amid US government’s ongoing efforts to expedite deportations in an increasingly hostile climate against illegal immigrants, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has offered a new Cyber Monday ‘deal’ for illegal immigrants.
Calling the offer the “holiday deal of a lifetime”, illegal immigrants have been offered the option to self-deport with a $1,000 incentive with a free flight back home.
Under the deal, participants may also qualify for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties incurred for failing to depart, keeping the door open for a potential legal return to the US, Fox News reported.
How can people avail the offer?
The DHS announced that self-deportees can redeem the offer through the CBP Home App.
An individual can depart within 10 days if all of their information is accurate in the CBP Home app, they respond to outreach attempts, and agree to have their ticket booked as soon as possible, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
The exit bonus will be provided upon confirmation through the app and once return has been completed, McLaughlin added.
“Your choice is simple: Choose self-deportation and reap the rewards, or stay here and continue breaking our laws, which will lead to you being arrested and deported…Make the right choice for you and your family this Christmas and join the 2 million illegal aliens who have already left the country,” McLaughlin added.
Illegal immigrants who self-deport also have the option to return to the country legally later, the Trump administration had confirmed previously.
How many people have self-deported since Trump took office?
According to a DHS press release, about 1.6 million voluntary self-deportations alongside over 400,000 formal deportations, totalling more than 2 million departures in less than 250 days.
The agency said it is on pace to deport nearly 600,000 people by the end of Trump’s first year back in office.