The United States government under President Donald Trump has launched an initiative aimed at incentivizing undocumented migrants to return to their countries of origin. Individuals without legal status in the United States who opt for self-deportation will receive financial assistance of $1,000, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS detailed that migrants who use the CBP Home app to notify the government of their intent to return to their country will not be priority targets for detention and removal by immigration authorities, which means a lower likelihood of being arrested during the departure process.
In the words of Homeland Security officials, self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the country, one that will prevent migrants from being intercepted by agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
A Measure Aimed at Reducing Deportation Costs
DHS estimates indicate that, considering the $1,000 payment to undocumented migrants, using CBP Home for these purposes will result in savings on deportation costs of “approximately 70%,” compared to the average cost of arresting, detaining, and removing individuals without permission to be in the country, which is $17,121.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the DHS, stated that her department is now offering undocumented migrants financial assistance for travel. In addition to the aforementioned $1,000, to return to their countries of origin using the CBP Home app, formerly known as CBP One.
“This is the safest option for law enforcement and foreigners, and it represents a 70% savings for American taxpayers. Download the CBP Home app today and self-deport,” emphasized the Homeland Security Secretary.
Noem described this strategy as the “best way and the most economical” to leave the United States and avoid arrest.
The New Face of CBP One, Now CBP Home
The app, through which eligible foreigners can submit their “intent to depart”. It was a tool that, during the administration of former President Joe Biden, allowed the legal entry of nearly one million people into the U.S.
It permitted them to work and granted appointments to up to 1,450 people per day at eight different border crossings. A number that was quickly overwhelmed by demand, as an average of 280,000 migrants competed daily for a slot by the end of 2024.
It was created at the end of Trump’s first term and was used for customs agents to schedule inspections, but Biden expanded its use to migrants.
On January 20, the current U.S. president ended the use of the app, and with this, all previously scheduled appointments were canceled.
In early April, all migrants who had obtained temporary permission through CBP One received orders to leave the country “immediately.”
DHS press officials stated that the cancellation of these permits was “a promise kept to the American people,” focused on protecting borders and national security.
At the time, a Honduran family that entered the country legally using the app said they received a message stating, “it’s time for you to leave the U.S.,” as reported by AP.
By December 2024, a total of 936,500 people had entered the country through border crossings with Mexico.
Some of the individuals who received these messages from DHS were from Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. This was explained by the nonprofit organization Al Otro Lado, which provides legal support to migrants.
Image: Infobae
