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Homeland Security Sweetens the Deal for Voluntary Departures, Tripling “Exit Bonus” to $3,000
In a significant policy shift, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has boosted its financial incentive for undocumented migrants who voluntarily leave the United States, increasing the “exit bonus” from $1,000 to $3,000. This enhanced offer is available to those who register with the U.S. government and depart the country by the end of the calendar year.
Qualified participants who self-deport by December 31, 2025, will also receive free airfare to their home countries and be waived of certain civil fines or penalties associated with unlawful residency in the U.S. To take advantage of this program, individuals must utilize the rebranded CBP Home app, a smartphone application modeled after the Biden administration’s CBP One platform.
Under the current administration’s policy, migrants are instructed to use the app to signal their intent to depart. If deemed eligible, DHS officials will provide travel assistance and the $3,000 stipend once the U.S. government confirms the individual has left the country.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a stark warning to those who do not seize this temporary opportunity, stating that they will be “found,” “arrested,” and “never return” to the U.S.
The CBP One app, originally developed under the previous administration for scheduling asylum appointments, has been repurposed under the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda. It now functions within a voluntary departure framework, allowing those without lawful status to track their exit from the country.
DHS asserts that this bonus stipend is part of a holiday season initiative aimed at accelerating removals and reducing taxpayer costs. The agency notes that providing travel support is typically more cost-effective than traditional detention and deportation operations.
As of May 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) estimated the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an undocumented migrant at approximately $17,000.
As part of the self-deportation program, participants are prioritized for deprioritization from ICE arrest and detention, provided they demonstrate “meaningful strides” toward leaving the U.S. However, officials have not yet released detailed guidance on the duration of this protection or the criteria for judging compliance.
While nationwide arrests by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are widely considered the most visible aspect of the administration’s sweeping immigration crackdown, the president has also actively encouraged the self-deportation of families and unaccompanied children who entered the country without permission.
In October, the U.S. government announced plans to offer migrant teenagers a $2,500 stipend if they voluntarily choose to return to their home countries.
DHS reports that since January 2025, 1.9 million undocumented immigrants have “voluntarily self-deported,” with “tens of thousands” specifically utilizing the CBP Home program. These figures have not been independently verified, and DHS has not publicly released a detailed breakdown indicating how many individuals received government-funded travel or stipends versus those who departed independently.
According to internal government figures, over the first six months of President Trump’s second term, the administration deported nearly 150,000 people and recorded 13,000 who self-deported.