Hook: The Department of Homeland Security has announced a new incentive for migrants living in the United States illegally, offering a $3,000 stipend to those who choose to leave the country voluntarily by the end of the year.
New Incentive for Self-Departure
On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that DHS is tripling the “exit bonus” for individuals who register to self-deport through the CBP Home app before the year’s end. The program will also provide a free ticket and will forgive any civil fines or penalties owed for overstaying visas or otherwise failing to leave the country.
Program Details and the CBP Home App
The initiative, described by DHS as a “dignified” way to leave the United States, allows participants to return home as regular travelers-without arrest, detention, or restraints. According to the program’s website, it is a safe, orderly alternative that provides assistance and flexibility, not fear. Migrants can use the CBP Home app to plan their return, including the opportunity to depart in a timely manner and to wrap up work, school, and personal matters before leaving.
Historical Context and Cost Savings
When the program launched in May, it offered a $1,000 stipend. DHS noted that the app would decrease deportation costs by about 70 percent. The agency stated that the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove a migrant from the U.S. is $17,121. By offering a higher stipend and a free ticket, the new $3,000 bonus is intended to further reduce the financial burden on the Department.
Secretary Noem’s Message on Fox & Friends
“If you voluntarily want to go home now to your country, if you’re in this United States of America illegally, we will give you $3,000 through the holidays to send you home. We’ll buy you a ticket, give you $3,000 to go home – and that includes people that have not been detained, maybe have interacted with us, are detained and don’t have criminal charges against them,” Noem said in an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
Encouraging a Return Path
“Raise your hand. We’ll help you get home, we’ll facilitate it, and you might get the chance to come back to this country the right way someday,” she continued. “If you wait until we interdict you and detain you and arrest you and have to deport you ourselves, you’ll never get the chance to come back.”
Key Takeaways
- DHS is offering a $3,000 stipend for voluntary self-deportation through the CBP Home app.
- The program provides a free ticket and forgives civil fines or penalties for overstays.
- The initiative aims to reduce deportation costs, which average $17,121 per case, by up to 70 percent.
Closing: The Department’s move to triple the exit bonus reflects a shift toward a more orderly and humane approach to managing unauthorized presence in the United States, while also maintaining the possibility of future lawful entry for those who choose to return.
