The United States Department of Homeland Security has increased its financial incentive for undocumented migrants who choose to leave the country voluntarily, raising the payment from $1,000 to $3,000. The offer applies to migrants who register with the US government and depart the country on or before December 31, 2025, according to an announcement reported by CBS News. The move is part of the Trump administration’s wider immigration enforcement strategy.
DHS said migrants who qualify for the program will also receive free airfare back to their home countries. In addition, certain civil fines and penalties linked to unlawful presence in the United States will be waived if participants complete the process through the newly rebranded CBP Home app, which is managed by US Customs and Border Protection. The app replaces the earlier CBP One platform that was used under the previous administration for asylum appointments.
Under the new policy, undocumented migrants are asked to use the CBP Home app to declare their intention to leave the US. DHS officials will review each case, and once eligibility is confirmed, participants will receive travel support. The $3,000 stipend will be paid only after the government confirms that the migrant has fully exited the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the incentive is temporary and warned that migrants who fail to take advantage of the offer could face arrest and permanent bans from reentering the United States. She stressed that the administration is determined to enforce immigration laws while encouraging voluntary departures as a faster and cheaper alternative to detention and forced deportation.
DHS explained that the program is designed to reduce costs for US taxpayers. As of May 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) estimated that arresting, detaining, and deporting one undocumented migrant costs an average of $17,000. Officials say voluntary departures, supported by airfare and stipends, are significantly less expensive.
Migrants who enroll in the self-deportation program are said to be temporarily deprioritized for ICE arrest, as long as they show real progress toward leaving the country. However, DHS has not clearly explained how long this protection lasts or how compliance is measured, raising concerns among immigration advocates.
The self-deportation policy is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the number of undocumented migrants in the US. Alongside large-scale enforcement operations, the government has promoted financial incentives to encourage families and unaccompanied minors to return to their home countries voluntarily.
DHS claims that since January 2025, about 1.9 million undocumented migrants have voluntarily left the United States, with tens of thousands using the CBP Home program. These figures have not been independently verified, and the department has not released detailed data showing how many migrants received stipends or government-funded travel.