
<p>The Department of Homeland Security has tripled its &#8220;exit bonus&#8221; for undocumented migrants who voluntarily depart the United States through self-deportation, increasing the financial incentive from $1,000 to $3,000 for those who register with the U.S. government and depart the country by the end of the calendar year.</p>



<p>DHS says all qualified participants who leave by Dec. 31, 2025, will also receive free airfare to their home countries and be waived of certain civil fines or penalties tied to remaining illegally in the U.S., if they voluntarily self-deport using the rebranded CBP Home app.</p>



<p>Under the Trump administration&#8217;s policy, migrants are instructed to use the platform to signal their intent to depart. If determined to be eligible, DHS officials say they will receive travel assistance plus the $3,000 paid stipend once the U.S. government confirms the individual has left the country.</p>



<p>In a statement to the press, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says that those who do not take advantage of the temporary incentive will be &#8220;found,&#8221; &#8220;arrested&#8221; and &#8220;never return&#8221; to the U.S.</p>



<p>The CBP One app was originally built under the previous administration to schedule asylum appointments, but under the Trump administration&#8217;s mass deportation agenda, it has been remodeled under a voluntary departure framework to permit those without lawful status to track their exit.</p>



<p>The DHS statement went on to say the bonus stipend is part of a holiday season campaign aimed at accelerating removals and reducing taxpayer costs, with travel support typically considered less expensive than traditional detention and deportation operations. As of May 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement estimated the average cost to arrest, detain and remove an undocumented migrant is approximately $17,000.</p>



<p>As part of the self-deportation program, DHS says participants are deprioritized for ICE arrest and detention so long as they demonstrate &#8220;meaningful strides&#8221; toward leaving the U.S., though officials have not released detailed guidance explaining how long that protection lasts or how any compliance is judged.</p>



<p>DHS says that since January 2025, 1.9 million undocumented immigrants have &#8220;voluntarily self-deported,&#8221; with &#8220;tens of thousands&#8221; doing so through the CBP Home program specifically.</p>

DHS Offers Migrants a $3000 “Holiday Bonus” to Self-Deport by the End of the Year
