USA
Picnews
The US Department of Homeland Security is offering undocumented migrants $3,000 and a free flight home if they voluntarily leave the country by December 31, 2025. This initiative, part of “Project Homecoming,” aims to accelerate voluntary departures and reduce enforcement costs. The program is available through the CBP Home app, which was previously used for asylum appointments but has been repurposed for self-deportation.
To qualify, migrants must register through the CBP Home app and confirm their departure. Those who participate will receive the $3,000 stipend, a free flight home, and forgiveness of civil fines or penalties for overstaying their visas. The Trump administration estimates that forced deportation costs around $17,000 per person, making this program a cost-effective alternative.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that this offer is a limited-time opportunity, stating, “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.” Since January 2025, approximately 1.9 million undocumented migrants have voluntarily left the US, with tens of thousands using the CBP Home program
The CBP Home app was launched in March 2025 and allows migrants to report their self-deportation. The app was previously known as CBP One and was used by the Biden administration for asylum scheduling. The Trump administration has repurposed the app to facilitate voluntary self-deportation.
This initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which includes hiring more immigration agents, opening new detention centers, and partnering with private companies to track undocumented migrants. The administration aims to remove 1 million immigrants annually but has so far deported around 622,000 people this year.
The offer is available until December 31, 2025, and migrants who do not take advantage of it may face arrest, forced removal, and permanent re-entry restrictions.
