The U.S. offers more money at Christmas to immigrants who self-deport

The U.S. government announced this Monday a new federal program that for undocumented immigrants who choose to voluntarily leave the country before the year ends, as a holiday stipend.

The measure, confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its website and social media, states that those who sign up for the program through the government application CBP Home will receive a stipend of $3,000, in addition to a free flight to their country of origin.

According to the DHS, using the application also allows beneficiaries to avoid civil fines or penalties for not having left the country on time. The platform, developed by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office, is presented by the Government as a "quick, free, and orderly" mechanism to facilitate voluntary departure from the nation.

Both the DHS and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actively promoted the program on social media during the holiday season, describing it as a "limited time offer". Authorities urged undocumented immigrants to take advantage of the benefit before the year ends.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, stated that since January 2025, 1.9 million undocumented immigrants have voluntarily self-deported, and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home app. "During the holiday season, the American taxpayer is generously tripling the incentive to voluntarily leave the country," she said.

In the statement, Noem also issued a direct warning: "Illegal immigrants should take advantage of this gift and self-deport, because if they don't, we will find them, arrest them, and they will never be able to return to the United States."

The government made it clear that those who do not participate in the program will face detention, forced deportation, and a permanent ban on re-entry, reinforcing the coercive nature of a policy that has raised concerns among human rights advocacy organizations.

Although the Trump Administration presents the plan as a “humanitarian” and orderly alternative, critics point out that using economic incentives under the threat of arrest constitutes a form of pressure on vulnerable migrant communities, especially in a context of legal uncertainty and widespread fear.

Self-deportation through the CBP Home application is presented as the best gift an undocumented immigrant can give themselves and their family this holiday season. 

It is also described as a fast, free, and simple process: just download the app, fill out the required information, and DHS will take care of the rest, including organizing and paying for the return trip.