Given President Donald Trump’s clear immigration agenda, there has been a surge in self-deportations among those who want to avoid being kicked out of the country by border agents.
That trend might accelerate now that the Trump administration is offering payments of $1,000 t0 help cover the expenses of leaving the country voluntarily.
And fiscal conservatives will be happy to hear that, according to White House estimates, that sum is a lot less than what it costs to deport immigrants the old-fashioned way.
As The Hill reported:
It’s an unusual strategy but one the Trump administration argues could save money, pegging the current cost of arrest, detention and removal of migrants at more than $17,000.
“Self-deportation is a dignified way to leave the U.S. and will allow illegal aliens to avoid being encountered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the DHS said in a press release.
“Illegal aliens submitting their intent to voluntarily self-deport in CBP Home will also be deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure as long as they demonstrate they are making meaningful strides in completing that departure,” the department added.
The intriguing solution has sparked significant social media discussion:
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 this is 💯 correct and a smart move. Methodically and less cost to Americans. This is a brilliant way to clean up our country. If they want to be Americans get in line and do it legally. Self deport and come back legally. #Business 12,500$ saved per person. pic.twitter.com/N2hVqoxSVH
— Red Trumper 🗽🎺🎺🎺🗽 (@Redhead4645) May 5, 2025
It definitely will. Their welfare and hotel alone cost way more
— J 🇺🇸 (@blackhawkce457) May 5, 2025
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO‼️
Free flights and $1,000 for illegals to self deport! 🪇 https://t.co/94t3Dq6hAZ pic.twitter.com/caYxokmsNH
— CHRIS’WORLD (@CHRISsW0RLD) May 5, 2025
The New York Post also covered the development:
Stephen Miller, President Trump’s top policy and homeland security adviser, said on X Monday that the “savings are as much as $1 million per illegal alien family given the long-term costs of free welfare and public support.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that “self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way” for illegal immigrants to avoid arrest by ICE.
ADVERTISEMENT“Download the CBP Home App TODAY and self-deport,” said Noem.
The first illegal immigrant who cashed in through the program was “allowed” into the US by the Biden administration before choosing to return to Honduras from Chicago, according to DHS.
In Trump’s first 100 days back in the White House, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers already deported nearly 66,000 illegal immigrants, the agency said last week.
“We’re just 100 days into this administration and thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is using every tool at its disposal to enforce our country’s immigration laws and protect our communities,” acting ICE director Todd Lyons said.
Here’s some additional coverage of Trump’s push to encourage self-deportation:
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