DHS is PAYING Illegals $1000 to register to self-deport along with free plane ticket...

Trump Administration Rolls Out $1,000 Stipend for Self-Deportation, Cites High Costs of Arrest and Detention

Washington, D.C. – May 5, 2025 – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Donald Trump’s administration announced a new initiative today aimed at encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the United States. The program offers a $1,000 stipend and covers commercial flight costs for those who self-deport, a move DHS claims will save taxpayers significant expenses compared to the estimated $17,000 cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting an individual. The announcement has sparked debate over its feasibility, ethics, and economic implications.

The self-deportation program, detailed in a DHS statement, allows undocumented immigrants to register their departure through the CBP Home app, a rebranded version of the Biden-era CBP One app. Those who comply will receive $1,000 upon confirmation of their exit from the U.S., along with a fully funded commercial flight to their country of origin. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the cost-saving potential, stating, “This initiative avoids the need for costly arrests and detentions, which can exceed $17,000 per person, while offering a dignified option for those here illegally.”

The $17,000 figure aligns with estimates from immigration experts and prior government data. A 2025 NBC News report cited sources indicating that the average cost to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deporting a single person during the Biden administration was approximately $10,500, covering arrest, detention, and removal flights. However, additional expenses—such as expanded detention facilities, legal processing, and multi-agency operations—have driven costs higher under Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies, with some estimates now reaching $17,000 per case.

President Trump first hinted at the stipend program in an April 2025 interview with Reuters, describing it as a voluntary alternative to forced deportations. “We’re giving people a chance to leave on their own terms, with some money to start over,” Trump said. “If they don’t, we’ll find them, and it’ll cost a lot more—for them and for us.” The administration has paired the incentive with a $200 million domestic and international ad campaign urging undocumented immigrants to “stay out and leave now,” warning of severe penalties, including fines of up to $998 per day for failing to comply with deportation orders.

DHS reports that over 5,000 individuals have used the CBP Home app to self-deport as of early April, though the total number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is estimated at 11 million. Critics argue the $1,000 stipend is insufficient to entice most migrants, many of whom have deep ties to U.S. communities, including citizen family members and long-term employment. Adriana Cadena, director of the Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition, told NPR, “Immigrants aren’t going to uproot their lives for $1,000 when they face a 10-year wait to return legally. It’s not a real incentive.”

The program also faces logistical and legal hurdles. The American Immigration Council estimates that deporting 1 million people annually—a goal floated by Trump advisors—would require billions in additional funding, including expanded ICE detention capacity and personnel. Current ICE arrest rates have doubled since 2024, but deportations lag behind, with only 117,000 recorded in the first 70 days of Trump’s term, far short of the administration’s ambitious targets. Legal challenges loom, as the ACLU warns that mass deportation efforts risk violating Fifth Amendment due process protections.

Supporters of the policy, including DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, argue it’s a pragmatic solution to a strained immigration system. “If you leave now, you may still have a shot at the American Dream legally,” Noem said in a statement. “If you stay, you face arrest, detention, and a permanent ban.” The administration has also invoked controversial measures, such as deporting migrants to third countries like El Salvador and using military facilities like Guantanamo Bay for detention, to underscore its commitment to enforcement.

Opponents, including immigration advocates, decry the program as coercive, arguing it pressures vulnerable populations into leaving without adequate legal recourse. Reports of mistaken arrests, including U.S. citizens and legal residents, have fueled concerns about the administration’s enforcement tactics. A recent case in Oklahoma, where ICE raided a home targeting human traffickers but detained a family of U.S. citizens, highlighted the risks of overreach.

As the Trump administration presses forward with its immigration agenda, the $1,000 stipend program represents a high-stakes gamble: a blend of financial incentive and veiled threat aimed at reshaping the U.S. immigration landscape. Whether it will achieve its goals—or deepen divisions—remains uncertain as the nation grapples with the human and economic costs of mass deportation.

17GEN4.com